Registration is open for OCD SoCal’s Orange County Speaker Series. The event is happening at the Costa Mesa Marriott hotel at 500 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 on Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 10am – 3pm PST. A catered lunch, beverages, and parking are provided. For more information and to register for the event, click here: OCD SoCal Speaker Series Orange County Ticket Registration – EventBrite. Here are the event’s speakers in alphabetical order by first name:
Barbara Van Noppen, Ph.D., LCSW
Website: http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/
Bio: Barbara Van Noppen, Ph.D. is the Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Director of Well-being, and Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at University of Southern California (USC), Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles. Dr. Van Noppen is co-Director (with Adam Frank, MD) of the OCD Treatment and Research Program at Keck Medicine, USC. As an internationally recognized specialist in cognitive behavioral therapy and family-based treatment, Dr. Van Noppen has treated OCD for 39 years and “coined” the term “Family Accommodation” for OCD in 1990.
She teaches and supervises in the residency training program at LA General Medical Center, serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation, the Scientific Advisory Committee of The Canadian Institute for Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (CIOCD) and International Accreditation Task Force. Dr. Van Noppen is most well known for her contributions in OCD family treatment, particularly the development of a Multifamily Behavioral Treatment (MFBT), Family Accommodation Scale (FAS), group CBT for OCD and she has numerous publications and clinical research in these areas. In addition, Dr. Van Noppen is a faculty member for the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute of the International OCD Foundation, and is on editorial boards for peer reviewed journal articles on OCD.
Chris Trondsen, LMFT
Website: https://www.gatewayocd.com/chris-trondsen/
Bio: Chris Trondsen suffered with severe OCD, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), major depressive disorder, along with the anxiety that came with these disorders, until receiving specialized treatment. No longer under the control of the disorders, Chris now works as a licensed clinician in the mental health field, treating OCD, BDD, and related disorders at The Gateway Institute in Costa Mesa, California. Chris has shared his story of recovery on the Montel Williams Show, Dr. Drew, Fox 5 San Diego, Vox, Vice, Buzzfeed, NBC, Wondermind, as well as speaking at IOCDF annual conferences. He is Vice President of OCD Southern California and also serves on the Board of Directors of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). Additionally, he is one of the IOCDF’s lead advocates publicly sharing his recovery story. He is also a leader of multiple IOCDF Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and created the Young Adult Track at the annual IOCDF conference. He hosts a livestream (“Ask The Experts” and “Lunch and Learn”) every Wednesday, from 9am – 10am PST, with co-host Dr. Liz McIngvale.
Curtis Hsia, Ph.D.
Website: https://ocanxietycenter.com/bio/
Bio: Dr. Curtis Hsia attended UCLA for his undergraduate degree in psychology and then attended Hofstra University, where he earned his doctoral degree in a combined clinical and school psychology program. He has written and presented several peer reviewed articles and learned the intricacies of cognitive behavioral therapy, and in particular, exposure and response prevention. In 2012, he opened the Orange County Anxiety Center, continues to engage in research, and has presented at OCD Southern California’s conferences.
Dr. Jennifer O’Connor
Website: https://drjenniferoconnor.com
Bio: Dr. Jennifer O’Connor is a licensed psychologist with a private practice in San Clemente. She has 20 years of experience treating OCD, anxiety and eating disorders in children, teens, and adults, and she has been featured as an anxiety specialist on the Anderson Cooper Show, CNN Headline News, and A&E’s “Obsessed,” a TV series documenting CBT treatment of individuals with OCD. Dr. O’Connor is passionate about working with the family system to create support for loved ones as they journey towards freedom from anxiety, self-doubt, and isolation. She believes that the efficacy of exposure therapy rests upon the ability of the therapist to effectively access the trust and the willingness of their client as they embark on a journey of seeking freedom together. Dr. O’Connor believes that all people have an innate drive towards self-growth and is committed to finding that inner drive in each one of her clients.
Kelley Franke, LMFT
Website: https://centerforocd.com
Bio: Kelley Franke is the Director at The Center for OCD, a private practice specializing in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, with a focus on Exposure & Response Prevention, in adults, adolescents, and children suffering from OCD, and other Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders. Kelley completed her master’s in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. She received her initial training at The OCD Center of Los Angeles. Additionally, she received training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy from Behavioral Tech Research through The Linehan Institute. Kelley is also the co-host of Purely OCD and has spoken at numerous conferences specifically related to the treatment of OCD.
Kevin Foss, MFT
Website: https://calocd.com
Bio: Kevin Foss, MFT, is the director of the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center in Fullerton, CA. His clinical specialization spans the full range of the anxiety spectrum. In addition to speaking on various aspects of OC-spectrum disorders and writing for Psychology Today, he is the host of the FearCast Podcast, a question and answer based show about OCD and anxiety.
Lauren Rosen, LMFT
Website: https://theobsessivemind.com
Bio: Lauren Rosen is a psychotherapist and the director of the Center for the Obsessive Mind, an outpatient clinic serving individuals in California, Florida, Utah, Nevada and Oregon. Lauren specializes in treating OCD, Anxiety Disorders & Eating Disorders and supports people using Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure & Response Prevention and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Lauren has her BA and MA in Psychology from UCLA and Antioch University, trained at the OCD Center of LA and is a certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. In addition to her work as a therapist, Lauren co-hosts the Purely OCD Podcast and does social media advocacy.
Mary Sponaugle, LMFT
Website: https://ocdla.com/ocd-anxiety-treatment-orange-county-inland-empire
Bio: Mary Neustaedter (Sponaugle), LMFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California. Mary is currently working as clinician and supervisor at the OCD Center of Los Angeles, specializing in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related-anxiety disorders. Mary has over a decade of experience using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness techniques. Mary’s work at the OCD Center focuses on CBT for adults, adolescents and children suffering from OCD. Mary has experience working with children ages 9-17 and collaborating with schools to form IEP and 504 accommodations. Prior to joining the clinical staff of the OCD Center, Mary worked as a psychotherapist at The Gateway Institute in Costa Mesa, CA, specializing in the treatment of OCD and related disorders.
Matt Codde, LCSW
Website: https://www.restoredminds.com
Bio: Matt Codde is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in helping people overcome OCD & Anxiety-Related disorders. Matt is the founder of the online platform Restored Minds, the host of the OCD & Anxiety Show, and the author of From Stuck to Unstuck. Matt offers a unique approach to treatment that draws from both personal and clinical experience. You can connect with Matt through his website www.restoredminds.com.
Sanjaya Saxena, MD
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjaya-saxena-md-8424ba12/
Bio: Dr. Saxena is the Director of Clinical and Research Affairs for the International OCD Foundation. He is a Psychiatrist who specializes in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Hoarding Disorder, other OC-Related Disorders, Anxiety Disorders. He is also Clinical Professor (non-salaried), UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Saxena is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.
Dr. Saxena also served as the psychiatric consultant for the motion picture, “As Good As It Gets” (Sony Pictures, 1997), in which the lead character, played by Jack Nicholson, suffered from OCD. Dr. Saxena’s research has focused on the neurobiology and treatment of OCD, Hoarding Disorder, and related disorders. He has authored or co-authored over 80 scientific articles and book chapters. He has received awards and grants from the American Psychiatric Association, American Neuropsychiatric Association, International OCD Foundation, and the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Saxena serves on the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board for the International OCD Foundation and was an advisor to the DSM-5 Workgroup on Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.
His research has garnered attention from local and national media, and he has been featured on ABC, CNN, Larry King Live, MSNBC, the Discovery Channel, National Public Radio, BBC News, the New York Times, Time Magazine, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and Facebook Live.
Sheva Rajaee, MFT
Website: https://www.caocd.com
Bio: Sheva Rajaee is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California, and the founder and director of CAOCD. Sheva received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC). Sheva is also the author of the popular book, Relationship OCD: A CBT-Based Guide to Move Beyond Obsessive Doubt, Anxiety, and Fear of Commitment in Romantic Relationships. She has been featured on CNN, Huffington Post, TED Talks, and various publications and podcasts throughout the years.
Stephanie Davis, Ph.D.
Website: https://www.drdavistherapy.com/
Bio: Dr. Stephanie Davis is a licensed psychologist who runs a private practice in Orange County specializing in OCD, anxiety disorders, and misophonia. She began her clinical career counseling young adult populations at universities (BYU, Texas A&M, and St. Edward’s). While there she led anxiety and OCD groups, supervised graduate students in their clinical work, and supervised employees at a university crisis hotline. To further solidify her specialization in anxiety disorders and OCD, Dr. Davis completed a second post-doctoral position at the Orange County Anxiety Center and continued working there until opening her private practice. Dr. Davis offers consultation services to clinicians and is a frequent speaker at conferences and community events addressing OCD and anxiety-related concerns.
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We look forward to seeing everyone at the OC event. Make sure to register before the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: OCD SoCal Speaker Series Orange County Ticket Registration – EventBrite.
OCD SoCal also wants to thank the following treatment providers and specialty clinics that are sponsoring this event, making the OCD Speakers Series possible! Please click on their names, which are linked to their website: Dr. Jennifer O’Connor, Curtis Hsia, Ph.D. and the OC Anxiety Center, The Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorders, Newport Healthcare, and Rogers Behavioral Health!