The International OCD Foundation (www.iocdf.org)’s annual conference is just a little over one week away! In San Francisco, on July 7th through the 9th, the OCD community will come together for the largest OCD conference on the planet! Past conferences had nearly 2,000 people in attendance. This event is aimed at individuals with OCD, their family members and loved ones, researchers, therapists, and anyone interested in learning more about OCD. Go to: http://www.iocdf.org/ocdcon to register and for more information.
If you still have questions about the IOCDF’s OCD conference, are on the fence about going, or you are attending and want an exciting conference preview, make sure to tune into “Ask The Experts” on Wednesday, June 28th at 9am PST / 12 noon ET. http://www.iocdf.org/live
Join OCD SoCal’s Vice President, Chris Trondsen, and his co-host, Dr. Liz McIngvale for an “Ask the Experts” featuring IOCDF staff member and program director Stephanie Cogen and President of the IOCDF Board of Directors, Susan Boaz! They will be discussing all things IOCDF conference and you can ask your questions live! It is being live-streamed this Wednesday, June 28, at 9am PST / 12 noon ET at www.iocdf.org/live!
Did you miss the Early Bird Deadline for the Annual IOCDF OCD Conference, sponsored by Neurobehavioral Institute? Then you’re in luck — it’s been extended until May 30, 2023! Click this link to register today to lock in the lowest rates for the largest in-person event dedicated to OCD and related disorders.
Also, remember that families of 4 or more receive 15% off registration fees for everyone attending. OCD affects everyone in the family, and we have sessions, workshops, and support groups that will benefit the entire household!
The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) is excited to host their Faith & OCD Conference that is less than a week away! This unique event began out of the recognition that many people living with OCD initially seek assistance from a faith leader prior to a mental health provider.
The conference was specifically created to address the needs of a diverse community — spanning all faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds. We’ll provide education about effective treatment and ways to support those in the faith community living with OCD.
Join us for this collaborative conversation between faith leaders, mental health providers, and the OCD community! Register here: www.iocdf.org/faithcon
The Inland Empire Speaker Series is being held on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 10am – 1pm PST. Check-in for the event will open at 9:30am. 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 – Inland Empire Tickets via EventBrite
Here is a list with details of the sessions being offered:
Registration: 9:30amPST
When you arrive and enter the Carolyn Owens Community Center, turn right and walk down the hallway. You will reach an OCD Southern California sign at the end of this hallway. When you see the sign, turn right again to enter the Multipurpose Room where the event is located. The check-in desk is located outside of the Multipurpose Room. 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 – 10:10amPST
OCD Southern California board member Chris Trondsen, LMFT, APCC (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 five sessions total, with four talks running consecutively and the final (fifth) session featuring all of the day’s speakers for an “Ask the Expert” Q&A Panel.
Session I: 10:10 – 10:40amPST
How to Find the Right Therapist and Receive an Accurate OCD Diagnosis – Eda Gorbis, Ph.D., LMFT, and Alexander Gorbis, AMFT http://www.hope4ocd.com/index.php
Obtaining treatment from an inexperienced therapist who is not trained in evidence-based therapy for OCD can actually cause more harm than good. Therefore, in this discussion, the presenters will give an overview of what to look for in a therapist when seeking out OCD treatment. They will cover the difference between a general talk therapist and a clinician who specializes in the treatment of OCD and related disorders. Additionally, they will discuss what goes into the assessment process and how to receive a proper OCD diagnosis. A discussion on differential diagnosis (such as generalized anxiety disorder) and comorbidities (depression, PTSD) will conclude this presentation.
Session II: 10:40 – 11:10amPST
There Is Always Hope: Parenting a Child with OCD – A mother and father of a teenage daughter with OCD
It can feel as if there is no hope when your loved one is experiencing OCD. Years of suffering, misdiagnosis, and poor treatment is what many experience early on in their journey. Treatment can be challenging and feel like a never-ending battle. Inspirational, success stories are needed to provide hope and proof that someone with OCD can get better–and that is what you will hear in this talk with a family who has lived this experience. For this lived-experience panel, a mother and father of a tween daughter with OCD will share their story of how the family came together through an OCD diagnosis. The parents will open up about their journey and share what helped them navigate this experience successfully! OCD is a family disorder and this mother and father will discuss pivotal moments in their daughter’s recovery, including early symptoms, finding an OCD specialist, supporting their daughter through treatment, and their changing role as their daughter’s symptoms improved.
Session III: 11:20 – 11:50amPST
Recovery Is Possible! How to Be Successful in OCD Treatment – Chris Trondsen, LMFT, APCC http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ and Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C https://oc-therapy.com Individuals with OCD often feel hopeless, thinking there is no relief to the intrusive thoughts looping in their heads and the hours of exhausting compulsive behaviors. Sometimes someone with OCD has started the treatment but gave up early on because it felt too difficult. This talk will offer solutions on common roadblocks that can come up in treatment. The presenters, two licensed clinicians, will help you understand how the OCD treatment works and why it is so successful for many. The presentation will also address the first steps in getting started with exposure and response prevention (ERP). Additionally, the speakers will share how to address mental compulsions, reduce physical compulsions, find motivation and engagement, be on the offense in treatment, and the overall mindset needed to recovery. Relapse prevention and transitioning out of therapy will also be addressed! This will be a crash course on the evidence-based, front-line treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Session IV: 11:50 – 12:20pmPST
The Heroic Journey To Overcome OCD! A Story of Two Women’s Fight Against The Disorder – Sophia Fitts, Miranda Gomez, and Chris Trondsen, LMFT, APCC (moderator) http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/
When suffering with OCD, it can feel as if recovery is impossible. Often trapped in a stuck cycle of intrusive thoughts and hours of exhaustive, compulsive behaviors, with no end in sight. Individuals with the disorder often feel hopeless and lost on how to get better. Sophia and Miranda will share their experience on how they were able to escape these hopeless times. Both will discuss how they were able to find a proper OCD diagnosis, find specialized care, stay motivated throughout the treatment, and finish strong–allowing them both to live a full and fulfilled life. They will share the ups-and-downs of treatment and what they did to become successful in managing OCD symptoms. This lived-experience panel will be moderated by licensed therapist, Chris Trondsen, Vice President of OCD Southern California.
Lunch: 12:20pmPST
OCD Southern California is providing beverages and a catered lunch from The Corner Bakery. 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 to your seat in the Multipurpose Room as we begin the final session presentation.
Session V: 12:20 – 1:00pmPST
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; 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: 1:00pmPST
On your way out, please make sure to sign up for OCD Southern California’s mailing list and to sign up for our free, virtual Family and Loved One’s OCD Support Group!
