Posts Tagged with Orange County speakers series

Published

PRESENTATION TITLES and DESCRIPTIONS FOR OCD SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S MAY 3RD ORANGE COUNTY SPEAKER SERIES EVENT!

The Orange County Speaker Series is being held on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 10am – 3pm PT. 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 – Orange County Tickets via EventBrite

There are 12 presenters for the event. To read each speaker’s bio, please visit: https://ocdsocal.org/4066/information-on-the-12-presenters-for-the-orange-county-speaker-series-being-held-on-saturday-may-3rd-10am-3pm/

Here are the event’s presentations in alphabetical order by the presenter’s first name:

Current Medications Effective for OCD & Invasive and Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Treatments for OCD – Adam Frank, M.D., Ph.D. http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ and Sepehr “Sheperd” Aziz, D.O. https://keck.usc.edu/faculty-search/sheperd-aziz/

This presentation focuses on medications found effective in managing OCD symptoms. In addition, the differences in medication classes, proper med doses, the effectiveness of meds, and the future of OCD medications will be discussed. This presentation will also provide an overview of FDA-approved neuromodulation approaches that can be used for refractory OCD.  Topics will include TMS, DBS, and surgical approaches.  While the talk will be geared towards clinicians, the information will be presented broadly for anyone interested in learning about these treatment modalities.

Why Some People Thrive in OCD Therapy & Others Struggle: 8 Winning Behaviors in Successful Treatment – Chris Trondsen, LMFT https://www.gatewayocd.com/chris-trondsen/ and Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT https://kimberleyquinlan-lmft.com

The majority of people with OCD who enter treatment will have a successful outcome, resulting in reduced OCD symptoms, improved mental insight, and regained control of their lives. This success is not just a possibility but a realistic outcome for many. So what is it that those successful in treatment do differently than people who struggle to manage the disorder?

This presentation will focus on the top 8 personal characteristics held by individuals who thrive in OCD therapy. Understanding and enhancing these essential behaviors is key to recovery from the disorder, and attendees will be well-prepared to do so after this session.

Supporting Someone with OCD: Navigating Treatment and Home Life – Curtis Hsia, Ph.D. https://ocanxietycenter.com/bio/

Life with OCD is difficult; supporting someone with OCD can be just as challenging. This discussion will cover topics that often arise in working with patients’ families.  Topics of discussion will include: Finding an appropriate provider, clinical issues (differential diagnosis, treatment plan, familial involvement), and family issues (accommodation vs enabling, setting boundaries). This will be followed by examples of good and suboptimal situations, and an open Q&A period.

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

Taboo topics are common fodder for OCD, adding increased secrecy and shame to a disorder already fraught with stigma. And since individuals dealing with these intrusive thoughts often struggle to share them, they often turn toward mental (or covert) compulsions to cope with their anxiety. 

In light of this, our presentation will give voice to the obsessions that many fear are unspeakable. We’ll explore how hidden rituals manifest within taboo themes and examine how evidence-based approaches—including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Self-Compassion—can offer meaningful support.

Escaping The Guilt And Shame Of OCD – Kevin Foss, MFT https://calocd.com

OCD sufferers know all too well the sense that they think and feel differently than others. Feeling that you’re bad, broken, or at fault can seem impossible to resist, or be accepted as a forgone conclusion. Spiraling into the darkness of shame and guilt brings self-contempt, rejection, isolation, and depression which saps motivation, perseverance, and hope of OCD and anxiety recovery. 

In this presentation, we will discuss the many ways shame and guilt create the self-reinforcing cycle of emotional isolation through perceived self-protection. We will discuss the language and behaviors that maintain shame and guilt. Most importantly, we will highlight life changing skills to boost self-compassion, vulnerability, and connection. 

A Powerful Frame of Mind: 8 Ways a Mindset Shift Can Speed Up Your OCD Recovery! – Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT https://kimberleyquinlan-lmft.com and Chris Trondsen, LMFT https://www.gatewayocd.com/chris-trondsen/
 
You’ll hear talks about finding a therapist, effective treatment modalities, and more at this Speaker Series. This information is essential, but a proper mindset is a critical first step in your OCD recovery journey. Navigating treatment is only possible if you’re in the right headspace to take advantage of efficacious treatment. Two seasoned clinicians have specifically tailored 8 mindset shifts for you, to enhance and speed up your recovery. Whether you’re starting treatment or hit a roadblock in therapy, this talk is designed to meet your needs. Attendees will be taken along an interactive journey through these 8 steps: setting the scene for treatment, clarifying goals, developing a supportive inner dialogue, and more–creating the right frame of mind to embrace therapy!

Utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the Treatment of OCD – Matt Codde, LCSW https://www.restoredminds.com

In this discussion, we’ll explore how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a radically different, empowering approach in the treatment of OCD & intrusive thoughts—one rooted in psychological flexibility, instead of control. You’ll learn why resisting your thoughts and feelings often makes them worse, and how ACT helps people find peace through acceptance, presence, and values-based living. Whether you’re a clinician, someone with lived experience, or just curious, this presentation will help you understand how to successfully implement Acceptance & Commitment Therapy in your life.

Tips for Parents to Manage Childhood Anxiety and OCD – Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C https://oc-therapy.com/about-us

Are you a parent finding it difficult to figure out how to best support your loved one’s OCD? This presentation is aimed at helping parents to support their children of all ages, while reducing parental support for their OCD behaviors. Utilizing techniques from SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), this talk aids parents in differing anxiety from behavioral issues, learning tools in how to support anxious children, learning how to increase support while reducing accommodations, and finding out how to make small changes that lead to big and successful outcomes! This talk is for parents of adults, young adults, teens, and young children.

The Limits of Logic: Using Insight and Action to Treat OCD – Stephanie Davis, Ph.D. https://www.drdavistherapy.com/

In this talk, we’ll explore why simply applying logic often falls short, and how we can more effectively use thinking skills in OCD treatment. We’ll discuss approaches like cognitive defusion and values-based awareness. We’ll also discuss how to “pull back the curtain” on the ways OCD convinces us of inflated risk—learning to differentiate between what’s possible and what’s probable. Finally, we’ll touch on the role of behavioral change and how to apply action for lasting progress.

——————————————

CE Talks for Professionals: For clinicians interested in earning 3 CEs, these are the following CE presentations:

Differential Diagnosis and Functional Analysis: Understanding Your Patient – Curtis Hsia, Ph.D. https://ocanxietycenter.com/bio/

Treatment of OCD has been well established and while the nuances are complex, the general application is well documented.  In clinical settings one of the overlooked aspects is proper assessment.  Very often misdiagnoses occur, both in regards to the correct disorder, and even within OCD how the obsessions affect the compulsions.  

In this lecture, participants will learn the basics of differential diagnosis, functional analysis and construction of a treatment protocol.  Examples will be given as well as case examples from the participants will be discussed.

[CE Talk for Licensed Clinicians]

Family Accommodation in OCD: Identification and Clinical Application – Barbara Van Noppen, Ph.D. http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ and Stephanie Davis, Ph.D. http://www.drdavistherapy.com/

Family accommodation predicts poorer therapeutic outcomes and is associated with greater OCD impairment. This presentation will explain accommodation behaviors through the lens of functional behavioral analysis. Specific types of family accommodation in OCD will be identified along with validated measures. We will then discuss methods of accommodation reduction that can be used for child through adult populations including common language, family contracts, and motivational scripts. Video will be used to demonstrate behavioral family contracting. We will end with a discussion of child methodologies including the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Emotions program (SPACE) and token economies. 

[CE Talk for Licensed Clinicians]

Troubleshooting Common Roadblocks in Successful OCD Treatment with Advanced Therapeutic Interventions – Chris Trondsen, LMFT https://www.gatewayocd.com/chris-trondsen/ and Stephanie Davis, Ph.D. https://www.drdavistherapy.com/

As clinicians, we are taught manualized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, clients often do not fit neatly into treatment plans from start to finish, leading clinicians to think on the fly and offer solutions to these treatment roadblocks.

This CE talk looks at common challenges in the therapeutic process, including co-occurring disorders, family accommodations, medication changes, treatment resistance, a lack of motivation, secondary gains, clients reducing sessions prematurely (i.e., clients deciding to end therapy before the agreed-upon time), stagnation, and other common behaviors and mindsets that hinder a client from entering the recovery phase of treatment.

To conclude the presentation, bring questions regarding the common roadblocks you experience when working with complex cases to the question-and-answer segment that will conclude the presentation.

[CE Talk for Licensed Clinicians]

——————————————

We look forward to seeing everyone at the OC event. Make sure to register before the price goes up after the early bird discounted cost (last day is Sunday, April 20th), or before the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: OCD SoCal Speaker Series Orange County Ticket Registration – EventBrite.

A reminder, OCD Southern California is offering 3 CEs for LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, and Psychologists who attend the CE track of this event!

Published

INFORMATION ON THE 12 PRESENTERS FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY SPEAKER SERIES BEING HELD ON SATURDAY, May 3rd, 10AM – 3PM!

Registration is open for OCD SoCal’s Orange County Speaker Series. The event is happening at Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 10am – 3pm PT. A catered lunch, beverages, and parking are provided. For more information and to register for the event, click here: OCD SoCal Speaker Series Orange County Ticket Registration – EventBrite. Here are the event’s speakers in alphabetical order by first name:

Adam Frank, M.D., Ph.D.

Website: http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/

Bio: Dr. Adam C. Frank is a psychiatrist, researcher, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Dr. Frank currently divides his time between caring for individuals with OCD in an outpatient psychiatry clinic, supervising and teaching psychiatry residents at USC, and conducting research on the mechanisms of OCD and improving treatment outcomes through the use of neuroimaging, wearable biosensors, and neuromodulation. 

Barbara Van Noppen, Ph.D., LCSW

Website: http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/

Bio: Barbara Van Noppen, Ph.D. is the Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Director of Well-being, and Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at University of Southern California (USC), Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles. Dr. Van Noppen is co-Director (with Adam Frank, MD) of the OCD Treatment and Research Program at Keck Medicine, USC. As an internationally recognized specialist in cognitive behavioral therapy and family-based treatment, Dr. Van Noppen has treated OCD for 39 years and “coined” the term “Family Accommodation” for OCD in 1990. 

She teaches and supervises in the residency training program at LA General Medical Center, serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation, the Scientific Advisory Committee of The Canadian Institute for Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (CIOCD) and International Accreditation Task Force. Dr. Van Noppen is most well known for her contributions in OCD family treatment, particularly the development of a Multifamily Behavioral Treatment (MFBT), Family Accommodation Scale (FAS), group CBT for OCD and she has numerous publications and clinical research in these areas. In addition, Dr. Van Noppen is a faculty member for the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute of the International OCD Foundation, and is on editorial boards for peer reviewed journal articles on OCD. 

Chris Trondsen, LMFT

Website: https://www.gatewayocd.com/chris-trondsen/

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 International OCD Foudnation (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 PT for the IOCDF.

Curtis Hsia, Ph.D.

Website: https://ocanxietycenter.com/bio/

Bio: Curtis Hsia is a SoCal native, having completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA.  He earned his Ph.D. at Hofstra University, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. Dr. Hsia then held a professorship at Azusa Pacific University for a decade before founding the OC Anxiety Center.  He has been involved with the OCD community since his internship in 1998 at the Bio-Behavioral Institute, and has authored over a dozen peer reviewed articles, and presented over a hundred workshops, symposia, paper and poster presentations domestically and internationally, and is active with the International OCD Foundation.

Kelley Franke, LMFT

Website: https://centerforocd.com

Bio: Kelley Franke is the Director at The Center for OCD, a private practice specializing in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, with a focus on Exposure & Response Prevention, in adults, adolescents, and children suffering from OCD, and other Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders. Kelley completed her master’s in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. She received her initial training at The OCD Center of Los Angeles. Additionally, she received training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy from Behavioral Tech Research through The Linehan Institute. Kelley is also the co-host of Purely OCD and has spoken at numerous conferences specifically related to the treatment of OCD.

Kevin Foss, MFT

Website: https://calocd.com

Bio: Kevin Foss, MFT, is the director of the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center in Fullerton, CA. His clinical specialization spans the full range of the anxiety spectrum. In addition to speaking on various aspects of OC-spectrum disorders and writing for Psychology Today, he is the host of the FearCast Podcast, a question and answer based show about OCD and anxiety. 

Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT

Website: https://kimberleyquinlan-lmft.com

Bio: Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT, is dedicated to providing outstanding therapy and counseling for those with OCD and related disorders, eating disorders, and body focused repetitive disorders (BFRBs). Her approach is both collaborative and compassionate. Kimberley has extensive training in cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure response prevention (ERP) for OCD and OCD-related disorders. Additionally, she teaches other clinicians how to provide quality CBT and ERP for OCD and OCD related disorders. Kimberley also hosts the “Your Anxiety Toolkit” podcast!

Lauren Rosen, LMFT 

Website: https://theobsessivemind.com

Bio: Lauren Rosen is a psychotherapist and the director of the Center for the Obsessive Mind, an outpatient clinic serving individuals in California, Florida, Utah, Nevada and Oregon. Lauren specializes in treating OCD, Anxiety Disorders & Eating Disorders and supports people using Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure & Response Prevention and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Lauren has her BA and MA in Psychology from UCLA and Antioch University, trained at the OCD Center of LA and is a certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. In addition to her work as a therapist, Lauren co-hosts the Purely OCD Podcast and does social media advocacy.

Matt Codde, LCSW

Website: https://www.restoredminds.com

Bio: Matt Codde is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in helping people overcome OCD & Anxiety-Related disorders. Matt is the founder of the online platform Restored Minds, the host of the OCD & Anxiety Show, and the author of From Stuck to Unstuck. Matt offers a unique approach to treatment that draws from both personal and clinical experience. You can connect with Matt through his website www.restoredminds.com.

Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C

Website: https://oc-therapy.com/about-us

Bio: Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C, completed her Bachelor’s Degree at UCLA in Psychology and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Cal State Fullerton. She has worked in mental health for over twenty years. She received training from the UCLA Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Clinic and Western Youth Services. Michelle has completed the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI)’s general and pediatric training programs through the International OCD Foundation and specializes in using cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure and response prevention to treat OCD. She also treats generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and eating disorders. Additionally, she is certified in perinatal mental health and EMDR trained.

Sepehr “Sheperd” Aziz, D.O. 

Website: https://keck.usc.edu/faculty-search/sheperd-aziz/

Bio: Dr. Sepehr “Sheperd” Aziz is a physician and currently Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, where he works in an outpatient psychiatry clinic seeing university students on campus. He completed his general psychiatry residency training at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMass), and a subspecialty fellowship in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) where he worked in the OCD and Tic disorders specialty clinic. His research experience includes clinical trials of stimulant medications for ADHD and esketamine for refractory depression. In addition to English, he speaks fluent Persian. His approach to psychiatry is integrative, individualized, and culturally-informed.

Stephanie Davis, Ph.D.

Website: https://www.drdavistherapy.com/

Bio: Dr. Stephanie Davis is a licensed psychologist who runs a private practice in Orange County specializing in OCD, anxiety disorders, and misophonia. She began her clinical career counseling young adult populations at universities (BYU, Texas A&M, and St. Edward’s). While there she led anxiety and OCD groups, supervised graduate students in their clinical work, and supervised employees at a university crisis hotline. To further solidify her specialization in anxiety disorders and OCD, Dr. Davis completed a second post-doctoral position at the Orange County Anxiety Center and continued working there until opening her private practice. Dr. Davis offers consultation services to clinicians and is a frequent speaker at conferences and community events addressing OCD and anxiety-related concerns.

—

We look forward to seeing everyone at the OC event. Make sure to register before the price goes up after the early bird discounted cost, or the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: OCD SoCal Speaker Series Orange County Ticket Registration – EventBrite.

A reminder, OCD Southern California is offering 3 CEs for LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, and Psychologists who attend the CE track of this event!

Published

OCD Southern California Thanks The Sponsors of Our Orange County Speakers Series Event!

As part of OCD SoCal’s mission, we want to make sure that our events are accessible and affordable to all. In order to put on excellent events while keeping the registration costs low, we rely on sponsors from the OCD community to help support this mission. The Orange County Speaker Series is able to provide a catered meal, refreshments, complimentary parking, a superb location, and a movie screening at a low cost because of this year’s sponsors.

We are appreciative of our generous sponsors for this community event:

Curtis Hsia, PhD, is the Director of OC Anxiety Center, located in Mission Viejo. The OC Anxiety Center clinician use empirically supported treatments tailored to each individual to help overcome anxiety and related disorders. In addition to providing clinical services, the clinicians frequently give pro bono lectures to local schools, parent teacher associations, churches and professional groups, and offer a monthly support group. The center is dedicated to contributing to the body of knowledge through which therapy is improved by engaging in research and actively publishing/presenting findings at national and international conferences. https://ocanxietycenter.com

Jennifer O’Connor, PhD, specializes in anxiety, OCD and OCD spectrum disorders, eating issues, body image and additional areas. She has clinical associates who provide treatment as well under her supervision.Dr. O’Connor provides evidenced-based therapy in a compassionate and supportive environment. If you or your loved one is struggling with fear, anxiety, insecurity, or emotional pain, you deserve to receive therapy that is effective and efficient, tailored to your specific needs, and sensitive to your personal values. https://drjenniferoconnor.com

Newport Healthcare (Orange County, Mallery Stone, Clinical Outreach Specialist), provides specialized OCD treatment for teens and young adults.  To achieve long-term healing from obsessive-compulsive disorder, young people need treatment that provides more than symptom relief. Newport Healthcare’s specialized OCD programming addresses both the manifestations and the underlying causes of this disorder, using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy as part of a comprehensive, integrated treatment model. https://www.newporthealthcare.com

Roger’s Behavioral Health (Los Angeles, Amy Prout, West Coast Communications Liaison lead)- At Rogers, we’ve been helping people find a path to recovery for more than 115 years. We’re here to do the same today in the Los Angeles community by providing highly effective OCD treatment and compassionate care for those struggling with their mental health. As our third location in California, Rogers is honored to further meet the need for quality mental health treatment nationwide. Building from our San Francisco East Bay and San Diego clinics, the LA location offers specialized OCD treatment services for patients in need of the next level of partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) care. Patients receive evidence-based, individualized treatment led by board-certified psychiatrists and a multidisciplinary team of experts. https://rogersbh.org/locations/los-angeles-ca

Westwood Institute for Anxiety Disorders, Inc. was founded in 1994 by Eda Gorbis, PhD.  The clinicians specialize in treating OCD, BDD, Social Phobia, Specific Phobias, Eating Disorders, Compulsive Sexual Behaviors and other disorders.  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. WI offers twice/week, three times/week intensive programs. https://www.hope4ocd.com/index.php

Published

The Agenda and Program for OCD Southern California’s April 6th Orange County Speaker Series Event!

The Orange County Speaker Series is being held on Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 10am – 3pm PST. Check-in for the event will open at 9:15am. 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 12 presenters for the event. To read each speaker’s bio, please visit: http://ocdsocal.org/3648/information-on-the-12-presenters-for-the-orange-county-speaker-series-being-held-on-saturday-april-6th-10am-3pm/

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

Registration: 9:15am 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, Liz Trondsen, 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.

The event is offering 9 total presentations with a final 10th presentation featuring all of the day’s speakers for an “Ask the Expert” Q&A Panel. If you scroll below, you will notice that the day is split into 4 sessions. During the first 3 sessions there are three talks being offered simultaneously and you can pick which one you would like to attend. Then the Q&A panel is for everyone in attendance. Following the “Ask the Expert” Q&A Panel, OCD SoCal is excited to present a special screening of the movie “Exposure,” a psychological thriller by director Peter Cannon, who has OCD himself.

New this year, we are offering 3 continuing education credits (CEs) for licensed clinicians. These talks, specifically for mental health providers, will be held in the venue’s boardroom and will be held at the same time as the talks for the general public.

Session I: 10:15 – 11:15am PST

My Loved One Refuses to Get Help. What Can I Do? – Chris Trondsen, LMFT https://www.gatewayocd.com/chris-trondsen/ and Sheva Rajaee, MFT https://www.caocd.com

This presentation is for family members and loved ones supporting someone with an OCD diagnosis. Often individuals with OCD do not accept their diagnosis, are refusing treatment, and get angry when approached on the topic. If they are in treatment, they may not be putting their all into the therapy. This presentation aims to help family members and loved ones gain an understanding as to what their loved one is going through and what may be causing this resistance. The talk will then provide tangible interventions and tools on how to deal with treatment resistance, approach your loved one, and create engagement in the recovery process. Attendees will leave with an understanding of OCD, its treatment, how to approach a loved one about attending treatment, and how to motivate them once in therapy.

Mental Compulsions: The Invisible Behaviors that Could Be Keeping You Stuck – Lauren Rosen, LMFT http://theobsessivemind.com/ and Kelley Franke, LMFT http://www.centerforocd.com/

OCD is often depicted as excessive handwashing and door-checking or careful steps over sidewalk cracks. Given this, it’s no surprise that so many people remain completely unaware of mental compulsions. While these internal behaviors are invisible, they are every bit as debilitating as their overt counterparts. So how can we spot them? And, once we do, how can we handle them? In this talk, attendees will learn about mental compulsions: what they are, how they differ from obsessions, how to identify them and ways to support disengaging from them. The talk will also cover non-engagement responses, and the difference between dropping mental compulsions and thought stopping.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): What to Expect and How It Works – Curtis Hsia, Ph.D https://ocanxietycenter.com/bio/

Although OCD is a debilitating disorder, the treatment is proven to be effective and the majority of people recover, living fulfilling lives. While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and in particular, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) are becoming more well known beyond academia and select clinicians, its application to the treatment of OCD is not always well explained or understood by those seeking treatment. Therefore, the treatment can be misunderstood, causing resistance in therapy. In this session, ERP will be examined and explained in the broader context of CBT and how it works to change the lives of those with OCD. Attendees will learn how to effectively utilize ERP to reduce OCD symptoms and begin to experience freedom!

[CE Talk for Licensed Clinicians]

Family Accommodation in OCD: Identification and Clinical Application – Barbara Van Noppen, Ph.D. http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ and Stephanie Davis, Ph.D. http://www.drdavistherapy.com/

Family accommodation predicts poorer therapeutic outcomes and is associated with greater OCD impairment. This presentation will explain accommodation behaviors through the lens of functional behavioral analysis. Specific types of family accommodation in OCD will be identified along with validated measures. We will then discuss methods of accommodation reduction that can be used for child through adult populations including common language, family contracts, and motivational scripts. Video will be used to demonstrate behavioral family contracting. We will end with a discussion of child methodologies including the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Emotions program (SPACE) and token economies. 

Session II: 11:30 – 12:30pm PST

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for OCD Treatment – Mary Sponaugle, LMFT https://ocdla.com/ocd-anxiety-treatment-orange-county-inland-empire and Matt Codde, LCSW https://www.restoredminds.com

During this presentation, the speakers will discuss how to apply Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for meaningful treatment of OCD. This modality provides a parallel, yet nuanced approach to other forms of OCD therapy. The presenters will provide an in-depth explanation of the ACT Hexaflex and explain how to practically implement ACT throughout daily life. This presentation will also address how to use values (vs fear) to help guide meaningful treatment, as well as mindfulness, acceptance, and committing to decisions as helpful techniques. 

OCD & Co-occurring Disorders: How Do We Manage it All? – Dr. Jennifer O’Connor https://drjenniferoconnor.com

OCD rarely occurs in perfect isolation. OCD often shows up before, during, or after other co-occurring disorders such as an eating disorder, social anxiety, specific phobias, generalized anxiety, or depression. OCD may also arise in the context of other developmental disorders such as ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorders. This all sounds very messy…much like real life! The good news, is that we can conceptualize these problems within the same general framework and we can reply on the same set of treatment principles to find freedom from all of the above! Exposure therapy, as well as other aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), will be the central methods of intervention discussed as we explore how to understand and treat OCD alongside other co-occurring disorders. 

All in the Family: What to do About Family Accommodation – Barbara Van Noppen, Ph.D. http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ and Stephanie Davis, Ph.D. http://www.drdavistherapy.com/

In an effort to cope with challenging situations, families often engage in behaviors that perpetuate OCD and interfere with treatment. Family responses to OCD, particularly family accommodation, worsens OCD symptoms, leaving family members and individuals with OCD feeling frustrated, angry and at odds with one another. This presentation will cover what might drive accommodating behaviors, introduce behavioral contracting and the addition of motivational strategies. Family-based intervention that brings family members into the therapeutic process of exposure and response prevention is for people with OCD at all ages. Hopeful, additional elements from The Supportive Parenting for Anxious Emotions program (SPACE) will be described as well. This interactive workshop is for people with OCD, their family members, and loved ones.

[CE Talk for Licensed Clinicians]

An Intro to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) – Chris Trondsen, LMFT https://www.gatewayocd.com/chris-trondsen/ and Sheva Rajaee, MFT https://www.caocd.com

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health condition that affects 2.3% of the US population. The disorder is characterized by obsessive and intrusive thoughts, images, and urges that are unwanted and jarring. Sufferers are then compelled to engage in both mental and physical rituals as a way to prevent a feared outcome or to reduce anxious emotions. This presentation will give an overview of how to assess for OCD, and educate a client on the condition, through both discussion and role-plays. The talk will then shift to an overview and role-played presentation on exposure and response prevention (ERP), the gold-standard, front line treatment for the condition. The presentation will conclude with a Q&A.

Session III: 12:45 – 1:45pm PST  

Pharmacotherapy of OCD – Dr. Sanjaya Saxena https://iocdf.org/providers/saxena-sanjaya/

This presentation will review evidence-based medication treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We will discuss which medications are effective for OCD and which ones are not, the doses and duration of treatment required for effective pharmacotherapy of OCD, and myths and misconceptions about psychiatric medications. We will cover serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) – the first-line medications for OCD, as well as secondary and augmentation strategies for patients who do not have adequate response to SRIs.  We will also discuss other related topics, including comorbidity, assessment, treatment planning, predictors of treatment response, practice guidelines, multimodal treatment combining pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), intensive treatment, neuromodulatory approaches, mechanisms of action of pharmacotherapy, and the neurobiology of treatment response in OCD.  

Tackling Taboo Topics and Silencing Shame – Kevin Foss, MFT https://calocd.com

The more we try to suppress taboo obsessions the more we have them, and the more guilty and shameful we can feel. No matter how normal it may be to have thoughts of sex, violence, and blasphemy, OCD can twist the message that you are alone and worse off than everyone else. But, there is hope. This talk will bring light and air to the thoughts, images, and topics we aren’t supposed to talk about in “polite society.” We will discuss how these obsessions manifest, how to change perspectives on their meaning through treatment, and how to find freedom and peace from shame through self compassion. 

OCD and Human Connection: Building Healthy Relationships while Managing Your OCD – Chris Trondsen, LMFT https://www.gatewayocd.com/chris-trondsen/ and Sheva Rajaee, MFT https://www.caocd.com

An OCD diagnosis doesn’t just affect the person with the disorder; instead, it seeps into all facets of life, including romantic relationships, friendships, and familial relationships. The closer the relationship, the higher the likelihood that the sufferer will experience interpersonal anxiety and symptoms that complicate, dictate, and, all too often, destroy the quality of social bonds. This presentation will identify the ways OCD shows up in relational contexts, including dating, friendships, and the parent / child and sibling / child relationship. The talk will clarify the role and responsibilities of the sufferer and their loved ones in healing affected dynamics. It will conclude by offering a roadmap for healthier, non-compulsive interactions. The presentation will conclude with a Q&A session.

[CE Talk for Licensed Clinicians]

ERP: Its Role and Efficacy in the Treatment of OCD – Curtis Hsia, Ph.D https://ocanxietycenter.com/bio/

The benchmark treatment for OCD is generally accepted to be cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and specifically exposure and response prevention (ERP) (Koran & Simpson, 2013, American Psychiatric Association, 2010). Its usage is well documented (Law & Boisseau, 2019), yet its application across clinicians varies significantly based on previous training, experience, and ability. In this workshop, specific skillsets relating to ERP and its application to OCD will be introduced and discussed, focusing on its application in the context of CBT. Additionally, common mistakes and issues in its application will be discussed, followed by a case example, and finally an open Q&A session.

Lunch: 1:45pm 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: 2 – 3:00pm 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.

Session V: 3:30 – 6:00pm PST


Exposure – Peter Cannon https://www.discomfortsthepoint.com/crew

We will begin the screening of the film, “Exposure” (https://www.discomfortsthepoint.com) with an introduction by the film’s director, Peter Cannon. Then we will show the movie and follow the film with a Q&A with Peter, led by OCD Southern California’s Vice President Chris Trondsen, LMFT. The film will be viewed in the venue’s Ballroom and is free for anyone who registered for the Orange County Speakers Series. Here is a description of the film:

Years ago, Tanner (Douglas Smith; Don’t Worry Darling, Big Little Lies, Big Love) was kidnapped, tortured, and poisoned by an unknown assailant. After being inexplicably let go, he was left obsessed with the idea that his kidnapper was still out to get him. Day in and day out, his compulsive checking to confirm that his house is secure and his food is safe to eat slowly erodes his relationship with his patient and caring wife, Nicole (Margo Harshman; NCIS, The Big Bang Theory, Even Stevens).

One day, Nicole hears that the man who did this to Tanner was released from prison earlier than expected, and Tanner’s obsession spirals out of control. To save her marriage, Nicole forces him to face his fears head-on with exposure therapy, and ultimately confront the fact that he’s experiencing obsessive compulsive disorder. Reluctant at first, he takes to it well—and perhaps to a dangerous level.

Event Concludes: 6:00pm 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.

—

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

To learn more about our generous sponsors for the Orange County Speakers Series event, please visit: SPONSORS OF OUR ORANGE COUNTY SPEAKERS SERIES!