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An Affiliate of the International OCD Foundation

Articles by Chris Trondsen

Published January 3, 2021

New Year’s Greeting and Announcement From the OCD Southern California Board!

To our OCD SoCal community,

We have missed our wonderful, personal gatherings for our annual walk, OCD Awareness Week events and fabulous conference (in 2019, we had over 350 in attendance). Though this pandemic has not permitted in-person gatherings, we were able to offer two OCD SoCal zoom panel talks which were well received. 

Our annual conference and all other events live are postponed until we can hold them safely. In the meantime, we will try to be creative about offerings on our website (OCD SoCal.org) and any other virtual events.

After over 3 years serving as President, Dr. Barbara Van Noppen is stepping down and Melissa Mose, LMFT will be taking over that role as of 1/1/2021! Congratulations, Melissa!

Here are some messages of gratitude from the OCD SoCal Board:

Barbara Van Noppen, PhD (President)-“I am grateful for the honor of serving on the OCD SoCal board and all of our OCD SoCal community. Though apart by physical distance, we have a unity and feeling of oneness that instills hope. May the new year bring health and peace.”

Melissa Mose, LMFT (President Elect/Secretary)– “As the new year approaches, I want to send all of you my deepest gratitude and appreciation for your interest, your time, and your participation in our events and our community.  It is your presence and involvement with OCD SoCal that has supported and continues to inspire our mission. Thank you and may the upcoming year bring you both peace and joy.”

Chris Trondsen, MS, AMFT, APCC (Vice President)– “Thank you for attending the events OCD SoCal has put forth to support our local OCD community. By attending, you have built a supportive community so that those with the disorder—and their loved ones—are not in this fight alone. It has been an honor to plan these events for everyone and they could not have happened without our amazing volunteers and my incredible fellow board members. Thanks for being an amazing community and have a happy holidays!”

Patricia Bosvay Browne (Treasurer)– “I am eternally grateful for everyone in the OCD SoCal community- for all the sufferers working hard to overcome and educate, for the family members hanging in there to help, to the volunteers for all of our events, and especially the medical community (therapists, doctors, psychologists) for the above and beyond commitment in educating and working with not only the sufferers of OCD, but the family members as well.”

Liz Trondsen, RD (Event Planner)– “I am grateful for the many families who join our Family Support Group each month, share their experiences with us and provide hope and guidance to new families.” 

Sean Sassano, MD- “This holiday season, I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful community of clinicians, patients, and family members.” 

Thank you and we look forward to serving the local southern California OCD community in 2021!

Published December 4, 2020

Learn More About Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), an OCD Related Disorder!

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) affects 1.7 to 2.4 percent of the U.S. population, which translates to approximately one in fifty people.
Learn more about BDD here: BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER (BDD) 101 Virtual Panel

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the handbook used by health care professionals in the United States, and much of the world, as the authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders. DSM contains descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria for diagnosing mental disorders.

In the DSM, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is under the category of OCD and related disorders. One of these related disorders includes body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Individuals who struggle with BDD tend to be “overly preoccupied” with imagined flaws or minor flaws in their appearance. It is possible to have both OCD and BDD. To learn more about this disorder, click on the following recording of a recent live event explaining the basics of BDD, brought to you by the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation: BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER (BDD) 101 Virtual Panel

This virtual event included three mental health professionals, specializing in the treatment of BDD. They included Scott Granet, LCSW, Robyn L. Stern, LCSW, and Chris Trondsen, M.S., AMFT, APCC, who is also Vice President of OCD Southern California, an official affiliate of the IOCDF. All three of the professionals also have BDD themselves and shared some of their personal stories, in addition to clinical information. It was hosted by Phyllis Duarte, found of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, and also featured her son, Erik Duarte, who shared his recovery from BDD.

To learn more about the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, please visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/USABDDSUPPORT

Once again, here is the link to the recording of the recent, virtual event, Body Dysmorphic Disorder 101: BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER (BDD) 101 Virtual Panel

Published November 19, 2020

Thank You For Attending Our Recent Event, OCD So Cal Presents: “Support For Families: Part 2!” PowerPoint Slides Included!

Hello everyone,

     First off, thank you to those who attended OCD So Cal’s event held this past Saturday, Nov. 14, titled “Support For Families: Part 2!” Moving forward, we hold a Family and Loved One’s OCD Support Group every second Saturday of the month, from 11am to 1pm PST. If you would like to be on that list and receive the Zoom link for the support group each month, please email us at: Info@OCDSoCal.org.

Below are the PowerPoint slides for the talk on “Anger and OCD.” You can also download these slides by clicking on the “Download” link beneath the slides.

DOWNLOAD [893.12 KB]

Thank you and we hope that you join our monthly Family and Loved One’s OCD Support Group! If so, see you on December 12th!

Published November 14, 2020

Reminder: JOIN US Today (11/14/20) FOR OCD SOCAL’S EVENT, “SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES: PART 2!” (ZOOM LINK INCLUDED)

The event, “Support For Families: Part 2,” will take place today, Saturday, November 14th from 11am to 1pm, and feature the following presentations:

  • Melissa Mose, LMFT, (https://www.melissamosemft.com/ocd/) will be discussing treatment resistance and parent training. 
  • Tiffany Vicencio, LMFT, (https://www.gatewayocd.com/why-choose-gateway/meet-the-staff2/#toggle-id-3) will be presenting on setting boundaries in a loving and supportive way. 
  • Sean Sassano-Higgins, MD, (http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/) will be hosting a questionand answer segment on medications for OCD. 
  • Chris Trondsen, M.S., AMFT, APCC, (https://www.gatewayocd.com/why-choose-gateway/meet-the-staff2/#toggle-id-4) will be discussing how to deal with anger coming from a loved one with OCD.

Here is the Zoom link to join the event:

OCD Southern California is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: OCD SoCal Presents “Support For Families: Part 2!”
Time: Nov 14, 2020 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97563049266?pwd=OXdqVHg1eDNuSnVHZDFyMGtGdDJhZz09

Meeting ID: 975 6304 9266
Passcode: 159356

One tap mobile
+16699006833,,97563049266#,,,,,,0#,,159356# US (San Jose)
+12532158782,,97563049266#,,,,,,0#,,159356# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 975 6304 9266
Passcode: 159356
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abBzNrSx8h

 We look forward to seeing you today at 11am PST!

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