Registration is open for OCD SoCal’s Inland Empire Speaker Series. The event is happening at the Chino Hills Community Center at 14250 Peyton Dr., Chino Hills, CA, 91709 on Sunday April 7, 2024 from 10am – 2pm PST. A lunch, beverages, and parking are provided. For more information and to register for the event, click here: The Inland Empire Speakers Series is Sold Out.. Here are the event’s speakers in alphabetical order by first name:
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.
Melinda Ramos
Bio: Melinda Ramos is a death care worker, small business owner, and proud mom to a small black pug named, Juelz. She enjoys watching wrestling with her pug, thrift store shopping and creating art. Her biggest pet peeve is when folks use OCD as an adjective. OCD isn’t a cute quirk, it’s a debilitating disorder.
Roy Robbins
Bio: Roy Robbins is an ordained Lutheran pastor and has served at Christ Lutheran Chino for over 8 years. Roy and his wife of 46 years, Jeanine, live in the parsonage and serve the church as a team. They have two children and 7 grandchildren. Roy is a late life pastor, worked for many years at Hughes Aircraft Co., and has owned 2 brick and mortar used bookstores. Roy enjoys reading, watching his beloved (while suffering) Anaheim Ducks and spending time with family. His dream is to write a book explaining to the world that OCD is not a joke or a funny little quirk.
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We look forward to seeing everyone at the IE event. Make sure to register before the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: The Inland Empire Speakers Series is Sold Out.
Registration is open for OCD SoCal’s San Diego Speaker Series. The event is happening at the Mira Mesa Library at 8405 New Salem Street, San Diego, CA, 92126 on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 10am – 1:30pm PST. A lunch, beverages, and parking are provided. For more information and to register for the event, click here: The San Diego Speakers Series is Sold Out.. Here are the event’s speakers:
OCD Spectrum / Related Disorders: What are They and How are They Treated
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.
After completing his residency and fellowship, he joined the faculty of the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and served as Director of the UCLA OCD Research Program and Associate Director of the UCLA Anxiety Disorders Program. He then moved to UC San Diego and served as Director of the UCSD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Program and Director of UCSD Outpatient Psychiatric Services. More recently, he was the Adult Psychiatrist for Rogers Behavioral Health San Diego.
Dr. Saxena was elected into Best Doctors in America every year 2005-2020, and elected into Castle Connelly’s and US News & World Report’s America’s Top Doctors every year 2008-2021. He continues to be heavily involved in teaching psychiatric residents and therapist trainees, and has won multiple teaching awards. He is also active in community education at the local, national, and international level.
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. He and his colleagues developed the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Hoarding Disorder.
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.
Bio: Katherine Pica, LCSW, is a therapist and owner of Resilience Counseling. Katherine has worked in this field for over 18 years and enjoys working with people to help them learn coping skills to overcome life’s struggles. She specializes in treating OCD, BFRBs, Trauma, and Anxiety. She utilizes evidenced-based methods to help, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Comprehensive Behavioral Model (COMB), and a Mindful Self Compassion based approach. By combining her clinical expertise with a natural ability to form warmth and connection, Katherine has been able to help so many clients throughout the years conquer the struggles that have kept them stuck. There is so much hope to healing. You are not alone.
Bio: Summer Contreras is a Certified Peer Support Specialist living in San Diego, CA. Summer grew up with OCD, but wasn’t diagnosed until age 18 and didn’t seek proper treatment until age 22, after her mother – with whom she was very close – passed away from cancer. Since then, she has been a passionate advocate for those with OCD and related disorders so others don’t suffer the way she did. Summer has a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Arizona and hopes to specialize in treating OCD. She volunteers at a research lab at San Diego State University and advocates through her blog and social media. She is currently writing a memoir. Outside of advocacy, Summer likes to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game competitively and enjoys reading, writing, and mathematics.
Pat Dugan (Panelist)
Pat Dugan, age 73, has experienced OCD symptoms on and off for most of his life, but he was not officially diagnosed until his mid-40’s. Once diagnosed, he was able to manage most of his symptoms with medication and therapy. However, after experiencing a series of traumatic life events in retirement, his symptoms spun out of control and left him feeling anxious, depressed, and full of shame. Pat will share how this late in life existential crisis became a blessing in helping him find a new way of living through gentle acceptance and letting go.
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We look forward to seeing everyone at the SD event. Make sure to register before the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: The San Diego Speakers Series is Sold Out.
Registration is open for OCD SoCal’s Los Angeles Speakers Series. The event is happening at Embark Behavioral Health at 21051 Warner Center Lane #140 on Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 10am – 2pm PST. A lunch, beverages, and parking are provided. For more information and to register for the event, click here: The Los Angeles Speakers Series is Sold Out.. Here are the event’s speakers in alphabetical order by first name:
Bio: Andrew Cohen is a dedicated OCD and Anxiety specialist with extensive training and a wealth of experience. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a board member (Treasurer) of OCD SoCal, Andrew is deeply committed to providing effective treatment to individuals suffering from OCD and related disorders.
Andrew has gained expertise in treating OCD and related disorders through specialized training programs, including the International OCD Foundation’s (IOCDF) BTTI training program for adult and pediatric OCD and Anxiety disorders, as well as through his 2 years working at Renewed Freedom Center, a renowned OCD and Anxiety treatment program in Los Angeles, CA.
Andrew utilizes a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities in his practice. With a focus on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), and Habit Reversal Training (HRT), he tailors his approach to meet the unique needs of each client. Andrew’s goal is to empower individuals to confront their fears, embrace uncertainty and discomfort, and achieve sustainable recovery.
Bio: Areana Bell, B.S. (she/her) is a Los Angeles based, African-American Behavior Specialist and Mental Health Coach at New England Center for OCD and Anxiety. Areana specializes in supporting children and adolescents with mental health, behavior and learning challenges. Areana is trained in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) technologies, the DNA-V youth model (Ciarrochi & Hayes, 2015) of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and other evidence-based approaches.
Areana has specific experience supporting children, adolescents and young adults across a wide variety of settings, including residential and outpatient treatment settings. Areana’s curiosity and willingness to learn allows her to provide exceptional, compassionate, affirmative, evidence-based, individualized care for all clients.
Bio: Evelyn Gould (they/she) is a Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Behavior Analyst who has been working with families for two decades. She is passionate about taking an individualized approach to supporting children and young people, and empowering parents. Evelyn trained under Dr Coyne, at the McLean Child and Adolescent OCD Institute (OCDI Jr.), in addition to having extensive experience supporting families of children and young people with chronic mental health and behavioral challenges across a wide variety of settings. She has particular expertise in supporting autistic and LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, and strives to provide a safe, affirmative, compassionate and empowering space for every client. Evelyn’s work reflects personal and professional values of authenticity, compassion, social justice, and cultural humility. Evelyn has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and has co-authored a recent text book for practitioners. Evelyn frequently presents around the globe at professional conferences and other events.
Bio: Johanne (Joh) Zaporteza Zipser, MEd, BCBA, received her Masters in Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Arizona State University. Joh has presented at international conferences and provides training for small groups and local agencies. Topics of interest include flexibility training, compassionate care, parent training, social skills training and promoting socioemotional wellbeing. Currently, she is a Staff Behavior Analyst and has been servicing clients in the Los Angeles area since 2014. Her clinical experience has been in working with caregivers and children diagnosed with autism and other mental health disorders. She enjoys working with clients who present with complex behavioral challenges, and creating a therapeutic space where her clients feel willing and supported to thrive through adversity. She is passionate about working with caregivers and young people, helping them to access their highest potential and vitality in life.
Bio: Jonathan B. Grayson, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist (PSY26643), director of the Grayson Center and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California where he lectures and supervises residents. Dr Grayson has been specializing in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) for more than 40 years and is a nationally recognized expert and author of Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: a Personalized Recovery Program for Living with Uncertainty, a self-help guide for sufferers.
In 2010, the International OCD Foundation awarded Dr. Grayson the Patty Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award for his devotion and contributions to the treatment of those with OCD. In October of 2010, the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies gave his book, Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, the Self Help Book of Merit Award, recognizing his book as providing sufferers with the highest level of information about the best practices treatment for OCD.
Dr. Grayson has presented workshops and written numerous articles and book chapters for both professional and lay audiences, including two manual/ videotape sets made for the International OCD Foundation (The GOAL Handbook: Running a Successful Support Group for OCD and How to Recognize and Respond to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in School Age Children). His work and expertise has been featured in national media including, People Magazine, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Nightline. He serves on both the Scientific Advisory Board and the Speakers Bureau of the International OCD Foundation. In 1981, along with Gayle Frankel (the former president of the Philadelphia Affiliate of the OC Foundation), he started the first support group in the country for OCD. In 2015, helped to form and donate his time to a free GOAL support group in LA. Finally, he has the distinction of being the first and possibly the only professional to run a yearly OCD camping trip.
Bio: Melissa Mose is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Calabasas, CA for 30 years. She primarily treats anxiety, OCD, addiction, relational issues and trauma using Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy including exposure (ERP).
Melissa works with teens and their families and has a particular interest in exploring the role of family accommodation (FA) in perpetuating OCD. She provides treatment for parents of children and teens with OCD and Anxiety using Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) combined with an IFS-informed approach to Self-led parenting.
Melissa is a graduate of the IOCDF Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) and BTTI 2 Advanced Training Forum and is currently the President of the Board of Directors of OCD Southern California, the Southern California affiliate of the IOCDF. Melissa has completed all three levels of IFS training and is a certified IFS Therapist and approved IFS consultant. She continues to work as a Program Assistant in IFS trainings. Melissa is certified to teach mindfulness and meditation and is currently the Clinical Director at the Mindfulness in Recovery Institute.
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We look forward to seeing everyone at the Los Angeles event. Make sure to register before the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: The Los Angeles Speakers Series is Sold Out.
OCD Southern California is happy to announce the return of the Speakers Series this April 2024! There will be more speakers this year and CEs (continuing education credits for licensed mental health professionals) will be offered at the Orange County location!
These low-cost ($15 per person), in-person events will feature presentations by local OCD specialist treatment providers. They will facilitate panels and presentations on OCD and related disorders and host a question-and-answer segment. This will also be an excellent opportunity to meet and connect with others in the local OCD community. Note: The San Diego, Inland Empire, and Los Angeles Speakers Series are now sold out. The Orange County location has limited capacity and is close to filling up as well. If you are interested, please register as soon as possible!
For information on each Speakers Series location’s presenters, including their names, clinical titles, websites, and bios, please click here:
Note: Each location has its own unique Eventbrite sign-up page. For each venue’s specific registration link, see below. Also, scroll down for more information on the Speakers Series events below the flyers and registration links!
Talks for the general public will be presented throughout the day. This event will offer 3 CE credits to clinicians. Beverages and a catered lunch will be provided, and the hotel parking fee has been waived. For more information and to register, click on the link directly below.
The Inland Empire Speakers Series is Sold Out.
The event will be held from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Lunch will be provided. Presenters include OCD clinicians and individuals with OCD. For more information and to register, click on the link directly below.
The San Diego Speakers Series is Sold Out.
This event will be at the Mira Mesa Library in San Diego from 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM. Lunch will be served. For more information and to register, click on the link directly below.
The Los Angeles Speakers Series is Sold Out.
This event is being held at Embark Behavioral Health in Woodland Hills from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Lunch will be served. For more information and to register, click on the link directly below.
For each event, registration is $15 per individual. The low-cost sign-up will aid our non-profit in covering venue, food, and parking costs. Each event will offer food and beverages. (Please note, OCD SoCal does not want registration costs to prevent you or your family from attending. Please email us at info@ocdsocal.org and ask us for a scholarship, which will waive registration costs). This year we are thrilled to announce that we are providing 3 CE credits to clinicians at the Orange County location. We welcome OCD therapists as well as non-OCD clinicians who would like to learn about OCD treatment. The cost to attend for CE credits is $45.00. CE credits are for continuing education activities for clinicians; these are not for the general public.
Inland Empire:The Inland Empire Speakers Series is Sold Out.
San Diego:The San Diego Speakers Series is Sold Out.
Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Speakers Series is Sold Out.
We will present the Speakers Series at four locations in Southern California. Join us on Saturday, April 6 in Orange County, and on Sunday, April 7 in the Inland Empire. San Diego will hold its event on Saturday, April 20 and the Los Angeles event will take place on Sunday, April 21.
These events are open to individuals with OCD, their family members and loved ones, mental health providers, students, and the general public. Please join us at your local event, or feel free to attend all four! If you have additional questions, please contact us at info@ocdsocal.org. We hope to see you at our Speakers Series this April!
