Chris Trondsen, LMFT, a clinician with OCD, and his mom, Liz, are excited to remind you about our June virtual, free, 2-hour Family and Loved Ones OCD Support Group. To join, simply email info@ocdsocal.org and ask for the Zoom link.

The support group is held every second Saturday of the month. Our next group is this Saturday, June 13th, from 11am to 1pm PT!

Please read the information for June 13th Family & Loved Ones’ OCD Support Group:

Are you finding it difficult to maintain a loving relationship with the person in your life with OCD while at the same time creating boundaries so as not to give in to the disorder? As a supporter of a loved one with OCD, one of the most difficult challenges is balancing having a close relationship with them while at the same time reducing accommodations, reassurance giving, and enabling of OCD. This topic is the main focus of our 2-hour support group for family members and loved ones this upcoming Saturday, June 13th, from 11am to 1pm PDT.

Whether you are a parent of a young child, a teenager, a young adult, or a full-grown adult, this talk is for you. 

Are you a spouse or in a relationship with someone who has OCD, or a sibling or loved one? This talk also has you covered! You, too, are trying to maintain a tight-knit relationship with someone you care for deeply but are also finding that you receive pushback when you refuse to drop your boundaries to give in to your loved one’s anxious demands.

We are joined by two special guest speakers, expert clinicians Jennifer O’Connor, Ph.D., and Elena Fasan, MSW, LCSW, who will focus the discussion on the delicate balance of supporting your loved one without enabling or interfering with their treatment.

Here is more information on the presentation, including the title and description:

Supportive Parenting in OCD: How to Stand Up to OCD While Holding onto Your Relationship with Your Loved One

Parents are the most powerful resource for their child with OCD during their recovery process, but it can be very difficult to stand up to OCD’s demands while still holding onto a strong relationship with your loved one. The presenters will explore common reasons why parents and other caregivers struggle to reduce accommodations and support at-home exposures, even when the importance of these steps is well understood.

A clear formula for supportive parenting will be offered, along with an opportunity to practice supportive communication through role playing. Attendees will leave with a greater understanding of how to reduce OCD’s presence in their children’s lives, no matter their age or if they do or don’t live at home and boost their confidence in their ability to cope with distress—all while maintaining a strong emotional connection with them. Additionally, there will be a discussion on how to be a supportive spouse, sibling, or family member to someone with OCD, and the unique challenges that come with these roles.

Learn more about the special guest presenters for our June support group:

Jennifer O’Connor, PhD – Dr. Jennifer O’Connor – PhD psychologist specializing in OCD, anxiety & eating disorders

Dr. Jennifer O’Connor is a licensed clinical psychologist and an expert in the field of anxiety and eating disorder treatment.  Dr. O’Connor 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 trained at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles/ USC’s Keck School of Medicine where she specialized in pediatric and adolescent mental health.  Dr. O’Connor then served as a direct patient care psychologist for 7 years in hospital and residential care settings, treating eating and anxiety disorders in children, teens and adults before transitioning to private practice in San Clemente.  She has been practicing as a licensed psychologist since 2005 and has served as Adjunct Faculty at University of West Alabama Online Counseling and Psychology Program since 2010.  Dr. O’Connor relies on evidenced-based practices including exposure therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy to help her clients discover freedom in their daily lives.

Elena Fasan, MSW, LCSW –  Meet Elena Fasan – Children’s OCD & Anxiety Collective

Elena Fasan (she/her) is an LCSW and psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of OCD, anxiety disorders, and related disorders in children, adolescents, and emerging adults. She is the founder and director of the Children’s OCD & Anxiety Collective and sees clients in person in Pasadena, CA, and virtually in CA, WA, FL, and some international countries. Elena trained at UCLA’s Child and Adolescent OCD Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program at the Semel Institute and worked at the OCD Center of Los Angeles as a staff therapist before going into private practice. She is passionate about providing evidence-based treatment grounded in CBT, including ERP, ACT, HRT, ComB, and SPACE and advocating for young people diagnosed with OCD and related disorders. Elena also has a special interest in educating and helping parents, caregivers, and others who support those young people. Her background in childcare and her academic study of child and adolescent development and then social work inform her work and collaboration with clients, parents, and families. She is also an educator, with experience working as an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Child and Adolescent Development at California State University, Northridge, her undergraduate alma mater.

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We look forward to seeing you this Saturday! To join, simply email info@ocdsocal.org and ask for the Zoom link.