Posts Tagged with anxiety

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Free, Virtual Family & Loved Ones OCD Support Group Saturday, September 12, from 11 to 1pm PT!

Chris Trondsen, LMFT, a clinician with OCD, and his mom, Liz Trondsen, two board members of OCD Southern California, are excited to remind you about our September virtual, free Family and Loved Ones OCD Support Group. 

The support group is held the second Saturday of every month. Our next group is Saturday, September 12th from 11am to 1pm PT.  Please read below for the information on the September 12th Family & Loved Ones’ OCD Support Group.

There have been multiple requests to discuss common co-occurring disorders that many of your loved ones experience in addition to OCD that often makes treatment challenging. In August, following a review of effective OCD treatment by Nathan Peterson, LCSW, therapists spoke on OCD and depression (Michelle Massi, LMFT), OCD and autism (Dr. Rebecca Sachs), and OCD and PTSD (Dr. Christina DiChiara).

For the month of September, we are excited to offer a special presentation with a panel of OCD experts including part 2 of our OCD and co-occurring disorder’s series. For the first part, Chris Trondsen, LMFT, will be doing a presentation for family members, loved ones, spouses, and siblings of someone with OCD titled, “Expected Treatment Milestones of Your Loved One’s Therapy.” This presentation will focus on the major goals and milestones your loved one should reach during evidence-based treatment and when to expect them to be met. For instance, after the first few sessions, your loved one should understand what obsessions and compulsions are, understand what is going on in their brain, and be aware of the evidence-based treatments offered. As a supporter of someone in your life with OCD, this will help you understand what your loved one is doing in therapy, what goals they should be meeting in treatment and when, give you a realistic timeline of recovery, and what to do if you feel as if your loved one is not making progress.

After that, there has been a request to discuss common co-occurring disorders that many of your loved ones experience in addition to OCD that often makes treatment challenging. We’re splitting up these co-occurring disorders into three presentations; September 12th will be Part Two.

Anthony Pinto, PhD, will discuss the intersection of OCD and obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). Many people confuse OCD and OCPD, however, they are entirely different disorders. OCPD features rigid thinking, perfectionism, preoccupation with order and details, and it often makes it difficult for interpersonal relationships.

Sara Vicendese, LMFT, will discuss the intersection of OCD and bipolar disorder. There are unique challenges when experiencing both disorders, including the medication prescribed and difficulties doing treatment in manic and depressive episodes.

Scott Granet, LCSW, who is an expert on both OCD and BDD, and has written several books on both disorders, will talk about how treatment is different for people with BDD and those with OCD, as well as the high co-occurrence rates.

Finally, Erin Jones, LCMHCS, will discuss OCD and anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders have the highest co-occurring rate with OCD at around 75 percent. Erin will discuss multiple anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety (also known as social phobia), and more!

Each individual will give a presentation that discusses the co-occurring disorder and how it differs from OCD, how having both can make OCD more challenging to treat, and how OCD treatment is modified to address these co-occurring disorders. This presentation will provide greater insight if your loved one has a diagnosis of one of these co-occurring disorders. If they don’t, you may see that your loved one is actually also experiencing the co-occurring disorder but has never been diagnosed.

The presentations will be followed by a Q&A session with all five presenters. The presenters will address questions family members of loved ones have about OCD or these related disorders. You can ask questions about the specific topics brought up in group, or general questions about your family’s experience with OCD. This group is perfect for family members, loved ones, spouses, siblings, or anybody supporting somebody with OCD to learn how to best support them, as well as getting information on common co-occurring disorders that may be relevant to your situation.

We look forward to seeing you Saturday! To join, simply email info@ocdsocal.org and ask to be on the mailing list for the Zoom link., as well as share this with people with OCD—or anyone else interested.


Scroll below to get information on our presenters.

Chris Trondsen, LMFT, suffered with severe OCD and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) until receiving specialized treatment. No longer under the control of the disorders, Chris is now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) at the Gateway Institute in Costa Mesa.  He received his bachelor’s degree in human development and psychology from California State University, Long Beach. Additionally, Chris earned a Master of Science (M.S.) Degree in Counseling at California State University, Fullerton.  Chris is on the Board of Directors for the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), as well as in leadership for four of their special interest groups (SIG) including the BDD SIG, Trauma & Grief SIG, and others. He also currently serves as the Vice President of the IOCDF’s Southern California Affiliate (OCD Southern California – OCD So Cal), leading efforts in OCD awareness and education in the local community. Chris is a national speaker on OCD and was the keynote speaker at the International OCD Foundation’s yearly conference in 2011. He continues to be a regular presenter at the IOCDF’s annual conferences. At the annual conference, Chris helped create the Young Adult Track, which is now an essential part of the conference’s program.

Website: Chris Trondsen: LMFT & OCD Specialist – The Gateway Institute

Erin Jones, LCMHCS, is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor at Bull City Anxiety & OCD Treatment Center with over 8 years of experience treating obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders in youth and adults.

She is trained in evidence-based practices including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She also has experience utilizing Habit Reversal Training to treat Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) such as skin-picking and hair-pulling.

She enjoys advocating for the OCD community through various speaking engagements and serves on the board of OCD North Carolina. Erin loves spending time with her spouse, two kids, and two dogs. 

Licensure: North Carolina; registered out-of-state telehealth provider for South Carolina and Florida residents.

Website: Erin Jones, LCMHCS — Bull City Anxiety & OCD Treatment Center
(919) 808-2318
info@bullcityanxiety.com

Scott M. Granet, LCSW, has been practicing adolescent and adult psychotherapy for over 35 years since receiving his master’s degree at New York University.  He has been treating OC Related Disorders for several decades, and in 2008 formed the OCD-BDD Clinic of Northern California. He has taught extensively throughout the US and has given numerous presentations on BDD internationally. Additionally, Mr. Granet is a clinical social worker with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health where he facilitates treatment groups for both panic disorder and OC Related Disorders, with the emphasis of each group being on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Scott has also written various articles, two books, writes a bi-monthly column, The Therapist’s Corner, and has appeared on national and local television and radio shows. Mr. Granet is co-founder and former president of the Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation of the San Francisco Bay Area, a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing support to people affected by the obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. 

Written by Scott Granet, LCSW:
The Complete OCD Workbook
Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Mine and Yours: A Personal and Clinical Perspective

To watch a 15-minute video of Scott’s story:  Scott Granet’s Personal Journey with BDD

Website: The OCD-BDD Clinic of Northern California

650-599-3325

Sara Vicendese, LMFT, is a psychotherapist with offices in Santa Monica and Calabasas. She is also able to see clients in New York and Ohio via teletherapy.  Sara trained at the UCLA Anxiety Clinics (pediatric & adult), the UCLA Mood Disorders Research Program, and served as a staff research associate at the UCLA Child & Adolescent Mood Disorders Clinic under Dr. David Miklowitz. She also trained in psychodynamic therapy at The Maple counseling Center in Beverly Hills.

Her specialties include the assessment and treatment of both OCD and bipolar disorder; she sees a lot of clients with both disorders. She also provides trainings and consultations covering this specific intersection of diagnoses and the experience of individuals living with both.

Website: Meet Sara Vicendese, LMFT in California — Sara Vicendese & Associates
info@svatherapy.com
(310) 909-7253

Anthony Pinto, PhD, is Director of the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Center, a specialized treatment program for OCD and related disorders, in Queens, NY, and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. In addition to providing evidence-based care for those affected by obsessive compulsive disorder, the Center is a training site for doctoral-level clinicians in exposure and response prevention treatment.

Dr. Pinto received a National Institute of Mental Health Career Award to study obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), including its phenomenology and neurocognition, and develop treatments for the disorder. Dr. Pinto’s extensive publication record in the area of OCD includes studies on the symptom subtypes and course of the disorder, novel treatment approaches, and the relationship between OCD and OCPD.
 

Website: Anthony Pinto, PhD | Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
(516) 562-FIMR

We will see you Saturday, September 12, 2026, for 2 hours from 11am to 1pm PT! Email info@ocdsocal.org to get on the mailing list to receive this Saturday’s Zoom link! It’s a free, virtual event!

Published

The Agenda and Program for OCD Southern California’s April 15th Orange County Speaker Series Event!

The Orange County Speaker Series is being held on Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 10am – 2pm PST. Check-in for the event will open at 9:30am. Coffee and tea will be served. We suggest you arrive early for check-in and then the event will begin promptly at 10am. If you have not registered for the event, there are still low-cost tickets available. Your registration includes a catered meal, beverages, and free parking. For more information and to register, visit: OCD SoCal Speaker Series – Orange County Tickets via EventBrite

There are 15 presenters for the event. To read each speaker’s bio, please visit: http://ocdsocal.org/3033/oc-speaker-series-presenter-information/

Here is a list with details of the break-out sessions being offered:

Registration: 9:30am PST

The check-in desk is located near the entrance of the hotel, to the right when you enter, in front of the Ballroom. You do not need to bring your EventBrite ticket; we have the names of everyone who registered and will check you in at the check-in table.

Introduction and Welcome: 10 – 10:15am PST

OCD Southern California board members Chris Trondsen, LMFT, APCC, Barbara Van Noppen, Ph.D., LCSW, and Sue Chudy, LCSW, (http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/) will welcome attendees, go over the day’s events, and announce additional important information. Then the event’s presentations will begin.

There will be three presentations occurring during each session. Attendees can pick a talk to attend during each session. There will be four sessions total, with three talks running concurrently during each of the first three sessions, with the final (fourth) session featuring all of the day’s speakers for an “Ask the Expert” Q&A Panel.

Session I: 10:15 – 11:00am PST

An OCD Recovery Roadmap: Navigating Diagnosis, Treatment, and Common Keys to Success on the Path to Healing – Matt Codde, LCSW https://www.restoredminds.com

In this discussion, the presenter will draw upon both personal and clinical experience to outline the three phases of OCD recovery and how to successfully navigate each phase. This will include understanding and accepting an OCD diagnosis, successfully implementing ERP and breaking the OCD loop, and implementing common keys to success along the path to recovery from OCD and anxiety.

Taboo Obsessions and Mental Compulsions – Kevin Foss, MFT https://calocd.com and Lauren Rosen, LMFT https://theobsessivemind.com

This presentation will shed light on taboo OCD themes and cover issues, like shame, that often come up for those dealing with these subtypes. Given that taboo obsessions and mental compulsions often go hand in hand, the two clinicians will also explore how to spot rumination and other mental behaviors that may be keeping you stuck. Ultimately, they’ll consider how ACT, Mindfulness, and ERP techniques can help you to navigate mental compulsions so you can get back to living life on your terms.

As If Having OCD Wasn’t Enough! Navigating Treatment While Having a Comorbid Disorder – Curtis Hsia, Ph.D. https://ocanxietycenter.com and Stephanie Davis, Ph.D. https://ocanxietycenter.com

Individuals with OCD are likely to be diagnosed with one or more additional psychiatric conditions in their life (69.3% comorbidity). In this presentation we will discuss a few of the most common comorbidities (anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, ADHD, autism, panic disorder, and OCPD). In particular, differential diagnosis, how comorbidities may affect treatment, as well as adaptations that may be necessary for treatment success will be addressed.

Session II: 11:10 – 11:55am PST

Families Unite!: Finding the Right Therapist and Family-Based Treatment for OCD – Barbara Van Noppen, Ph.D., LCSW http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ and Eda Gorbis, Ph.D., LMFT http://www.hope4ocd.com/index.php

This presentation will address key points to ensuring you and your family know what to look for to receive gold-standard care for OCD. Oftentimes people do not know the right questions to ask or what to look for in finding the right therapist. Also, in an effort to cope with challenging situations to help the person with OCD, families engage in behaviors that perpetuate OCD symptoms and interfere with treatment. Family accommodation worsens OCD symptoms, leaving family members feeling frustrated and at odds with one another. You will be provided information to help you find the best, most qualified therapist who has expertise to treat OCD. There will be a review of family accommodation and how to use behavioral contracting as an essential ingredient in family-based treatment for OCD.

Exhausted, Discouraged & Close to Giving Up? We Got You! 6 Strategies for the 5 Most Common OCD Treatment Roadblocks  – Chris Trondsen, LMFT, APCC http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ and Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT https://kimberleyquinlan-lmft.com

OCD is draining. Life with the disorder is a daily, emotional rollercoaster that feels as if it will never end. Long-term OCD recovery requires strategy, motivation, hope, and quite a bit of creativity. In this presentation, we will address the most common OCD pitfalls that can sabotage your treatment. No matter what stage of recovery you are in, whether recently diagnosed or in treatment for years, these 6 POWERFUL strategies will propel you in your OCD treatment and help you take your life back from OCD!

Scrubbing Hands, Saying Prayers, and Searching For the One: The Many Subtypes of OCD – Sheva Rajaee, MFT https://www.caocd.com

What makes OCD unique is that not everyone experiences the disorder the same. This is mainly due to the many subtypes individuals with OCD experience. There is relationship OCD (ROCD), moral What makes OCD unique is that not everyone experiences the disorder the same. This is mainly due to the many subtypes individuals with OCD experience. There is relationship OCD (ROCD), moral scrupulosity, harm OCD, sexual intrusive thoughts, existential OCD, and many more. Understanding key differences between subtypes, as well as core fears common to all subtypes, offers a powerful framework for enacting change. This presentation will define each subtype, cover core fears and important differences, and address what to do when themes switch and evolve over time. 

Session III: 12:05 – 12:50pm PST

Kids, Teens, and Young Adults, Oh My! OCD Treatment For the Younger Generation – Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C https://oc-therapy.com and Jennifer O’Connor, Ph.D. https://drjenniferoconnor.com

The treatment for OCD should be adjusted and tailored based on the client, and this is especially true when treating youth. How we navigate treatment for a 12-year-old is much different than what therapy looks like for an adult. This talk will highlight specific strategies that can help both kids, teens, young adults–and their parents feel more successful in facing challenges from OCD. The presenters will go over how successful treatment should look like at each of these major developmental stages and offer tangible strategies for each age group. Finally, the unique challenges each age group experiences in treatment and solutions will be offered.

An Overview of Medication and Neuromodulation Treatment for OCD – Adam Frank, M.D., Ph.D. http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/

There are many treatment options for OCD including therapy, medications, and neuromodulation. This talk will present the basics about 1st- and 2nd-line medications used in treating OCD, including expected response, time to response, and side effects. Additionally, the talk will provide an overview of neuromodulation techniques for OCD, including treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Lunch: 12:50pm PST

The Costa Mesa Marriott is providing a catered lunch and beverages. There will be different food options to choose from; you will select your preferred option at check-in. The lunches are provided in a portable dinnerware, we ask you to bring your food into the main Ballroom as we begin the final session presentation.

Session IV: 1:10 – 2:00pm PST

Ask The Experts: Summary Q&A Panel – All of the event’s presenters

Please join us for an opportunity to ask questions of a panel consisting of all of the event’s presenters. This is an opportunity to ask any of the questions you were unable to ask during the day, or if you were unable to attend one of the presentaitons, that talk’s presenters will be able to answer your questions at this panel. The panel will consist of leading OCD experts and individuals with OCD.

Event Concludes: 2:00pm PST

On your way out, please make sure to sign up for OCD Southern California’s mailing list, as well as visiting the front desk of the hotel to have your parking ticket validated. Parking for the event is covered by OCD SoCal.

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For more information and to register, visit: OCD SoCal Speaker Series – Orange County Tickets via EventBrite

A huge thank you to the sponsor of OCD Southern California’s Orange County Speaker Series, The Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorders.

The Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorders, Inc. was founded in 1997 to better serve the OCD and anxiety disorders community. Since then, Dr. Gorbis has successfully treated numerous patients from many parts of the world suffering from severe OCD, and has trained many clinicians from the United States and across the world on her intensive integrated method.

The mission of Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorders, Inc. is to properly train clinicians to be effective in treating OCD, to improve OCD treatment through rigorous research, to eliminate the stigma attached to OCD through media appearances, and to disseminate knowledge of OCD through public education.

For more information, please visit http://www.hope4ocd.com/index.php.

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You Can Get Better From OCD. Read Brian P.’s Inspirational Story of OCD Recovery!

Brian, pictured with his wife Shawnisty, son Hunter, and daughter Riley

I can write several novels about my life, but what I am providing here is really just scratching the surface of everything about me and the person I am. I have been diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome, OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from a very early age and it all stems from my childhood trauma with my biological father. All of the stress needed an outlet to escape and my lucky self got all of it. This made for a really tough time in middle school and high school with getting into fist fights with other kids for making fun of my Tourette’s Syndrome and constant twitching. This would eventually trigger me to completely black out and wake up somewhere else having someone tell me I just beat someone up. It was sometimes a friend that was just being a kid and really not knowing the repercussions of their actions, but I can tell you they learned a lesson. In the end I would hate myself for hurting someone. I am not really one to fight unless it’s for my family or someone’s safety. After months of struggling from stress and anxiety at the young age of 12, I began to experience suicidal thoughts. I had the intention of taking my life, but I wasn’t really ready to end it forever. However, I was definitely hurting. 

My Tourette’s Syndrome and OCD made it really difficult for me to learn anything in school because I was too busy constantly worrying about my issues in my own head. When I was young, I found that writing in a journal and trying to get everything in my head out onto paper really helped. Fast forward to now and I have gone through treatment at The Gateway Institute, using exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy for the OCD and did EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as well as hypnosis for my therapy to treat the PTSD. The most important thing that got me to where I am today is believing in myself because ultimately the only person that can change you is you. I am currently working as a Firefighter/Engineer for Cal Fire and have been in the fire service and medical profession for about 15 years now. I am now working my dream job with my dream fire department and I love every minute of it. I have worked very long and hard throughout my career and I have had many hard times in which I wanted to give up on multiple occasions, but I always knew that I have this burning desire to help people. 

For the past 13 years I have been with the most amazing woman on the planet. We have been married for the past 8 years and she has been my rock every step of the way. She has supported me through everything and stuck it out with me and I still can’t comprehend why, but I am so grateful. I also have 2 amazing kids, a 4-year-old son Hunter (A.K.A Wreck- It- Ralph) because he just wrecks stuff, and a 1.5-year-old daughter Riley that runs our whole house. My two little ones are so cute and amazing, and I really don’t know how I got so lucky with my little family. They are my everything and I never saw myself being where I am today in life. 

About 7 years ago my wife encouraged me to change my life for the better. We were living up north for my work, and during that time I had a therapist who overmedicated me. I was a zombie, and I was on too many medications to count. I hated my coworkers and my marriage was failing. My wife told me I was not the man she fell in love with. It was almost too late by the time I started to change things for the better. I busted my butt and ended up getting us a transfer closer to home. With the change of scenery came a change in medication. This is including my abuse of Norco that I had for my ruptured disks in my back as well as an herb called Kratom that just took all my pain and anxiety away but was ultimately just masking the pain and setting me back overall. My wife was 100% right that I was not the same person anymore. That hit me like a ton of bricks. I decided to try new forms of therapy and started to streamline my medications. As I started to come off of the large amount of medication I was prescribed, my OCD was extremely overwhelming and debilitating. I would have anxiety attacks at work from my OCD intrusive thoughts and mind reading and always caring way too much of what people think about me. I also had rituals that would really get in the way at work. The Gateway Institute saved me by giving me the tools to combat my OCD. Overtime, I came to the overall conclusion of having to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, every day of my life. I am always put to the test at work by being around a bunch of Type A personality firefighters and it’s probably the worst job I could have chosen, but it’s also the best job I have chosen. I have always loved helping people and being there for them during their worst days and trying to make it better. Battling my OCD is a constant challenge and sometimes I have to utilize the tools I learned to combat my OCD especially when I am tired or stressed. Just these last 5 years I have really started to feel myself, but it has been a constant battle and I always tell myself, it could always be worse. I have gone through a lot to get to where I am today, but I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and with a strong support system of family and friends you can make it through anything if you just believe in yourself. 

Signed,

Brian Page

Published

OCD Southern California’s 5th Annual (Virtual) Conference

OCD Southern California Conference 2021: A Virtual Event

Join us for the 5th annual OCD Southern California conference–a virtual event this year! We are thrilled to present the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)’s National and Lead Advocates as our keynote speakers. We are pleased to introduce our speakers:

Ethan S. Smith was born with OCD and struggled the majority of his life until receiving life-changing treatment in 2010. Ethan was the keynote speaker at the 2014 Annual OCD Conference in Los Angeles. He serves as an IOCDF National Advocate. He has devoted his life to reducing stigma around OCD and mental health, to education, and to supporting the OCD community.

Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD is the director of the McLean Houston OCD Program. Elizabeth is a National Advocate for the IOCDF and serves as a board member. She was diagnosed with OCD at age 12 and underwent both inpatient and outpatient therapy. Elizabeth engages in clinical work, research, and advocacy with the goal of improving access to care and OCD treatment.

Valerie Andrews received an OCD diagnosis in 2011 and, following treatment, began advocating in hopes of bringing awareness and inclusion within her own community and communities of faith. Her goal is to continue working as an IOCDF Lead Advocate and promoting change for women of age, color, and faith.

Tom Smalley, MS, CSCS was diagnosed with OCD at the age of 16 and shortly after became passionate about spreading awareness about OCD. Tom was the recipient of the 2019 IOCDF Hero Award. He speaks at the Annual OCD Conferences and has appeared on a variety of blogs and podcasts. Tom is particularly passionate about athletes and OCD and the stigma of mental health in sports.

Chris Trondsen, MS, AMFT, APCC, suffered from undiagnosed, severe OCD and BDD from childhood. Following treatment, Chris began advocating for mental health and shared his story on TV, newspapers and podcasts. Chris began speaking at Annual OCD Conferences, including giving the keynote with his mom at the 2011 conference. He also helped start the Young Adult Track at the annual conference.

Each of these advocates is a person with OCD who devotes time to support others with the disorder and to advocate for better mental health services.

Following the keynote speakers, there will be a total of 30 break-out sessions offered during three consecutive time slots.  Ten breakout sessions will be offered during each time slot. More information about our presentations, led by some of the top OCD experts in the United States, is now posted on our website: ocdsocal.org. We are also offering community discussion groups, two documentaries, and a mindfulness/yoga workshop during the lunch break. The conference will end with a Summary Q&A Panel and an opportunity drawing for various prizes.

Up to 5.25 CEs available for LMFT, LPCC, LCSW and psychologists.