NOTE: These events below are just some of the virtual and in-person offerings from OCD Southern California. Each year we host our Speaker Series, an in-person event featuring presentations by OCD specialists from the Southern California area. We also join the IOCDF in hosting “One Million Steps for OCD Walks” in various counties in SoCal. We also host The Online OCD Conference, a Global low-cost, virtual event in November–with this year it being held Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8. More details to come but below is information on the conference and other upcoming events.
Please check this page frequently, as well as our home page, as we announce information on our Speaker Series, participation in the International OCD Foundation’s “One Million Steps for OCD” walks, OCD Awareness Week events, holiday party, online conference, and even more events! Scroll down to learn more about our featured events and how you can register to be in attendance!
The 2026 In-Person Speaker Series Event
https://ocdspeakerseries.eventbrite.com
Register Today for OCD SoCal’s Saturday, May 30th, 10am – 3pm, In-Person Speaker Series! We are currently offering discounted, early-bird registration so sign up today!
OCD Southern California is happy to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 OCD SoCal Speakers Series!
We are also pleased to announce that we will be offering 3 Continuing Education credit for professionals (LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and psychologists)!
To register for this event, click on: https://ocdspeakerseries.eventbrite.com.
What is new this year is that OCD SoCal is holding one Speakers Series event in one central location at Orange Coast College! We invite everyone in Southern California to join us under one roof!
This low-cost, in-person event will feature presentations by local, Southern California OCD treatment providers. They will facilitate panels and presentations on OCD and related disorders. This will also be an excellent opportunity to meet and connect with others in similar situations as you and your family in the local OCD community.
These events are for individuals with OCD, their family members and loved ones, mental health providers, students and the general public. Talks for the general public will be presented throughout the day.
Ticket Prices:
Early Bird Tickets (ends April 20): $10.00
General Admission (ends May 14): $15.00
May 15 – May 30: $18.00
We are pleased that we are able to provide 3 CE credits for clinicians (LMFT, LPCC, LCSW and psychologists). Please register using the Professional Ticket at a cost of $45.00.
Beverages and a catered lunch will be provided. Parking is free. Thank you to OCD Anxiety Centers for sponsoring the catered lunch.
More information will be provided soon on the agenda, the program and the speakers on the Speaker Series page on our website: ocdsocal.org/speakerseries
For further information on the Speakers Series, please contact us through email at info@ocdsocal.org.
Once again, we will be hosting one Speaker Series event this year in a central location and invite all of the Southern California OCD community to join us and connect in one location!
To register for this event, click on: https://ocdspeakerseries.eventbrite.com.
To learn more about the 23 presenters speaking at our Sat., May 30th OCD Southern California Speaker Series, please click here: https://ocdsocal.org/4914/meet-the-23-presenters-speaking-on-saturday-may-30th-at-our-in-person-ocd-socal-speaker-series/
Here is the agenda for the event that includes a rundown of the day’s events, titles of the presentations, and details of the break-out sessions being offered (click on the image to enlarge):
The 2026 Online OCD Conference, A Global Event
OCD Southern California is excited to announce that the Online OCD Conference, A Global Event, is returning this year!
After last year’s successful event, we are excited to announce that the 2026 conference will return on Saturday, November 7th, and Sunday, November 8th!
1,400 people attended last year from around the world, and we had presentations on OCD treatments, medications, improving treatment outcomes, different evidence-based therapies, how to become an OCD advocate, building an OCD community, combating procrastination and perfectionism, and more. There were talks for everyone in the OCD community.
We heard from many of you that this was the first OCD conference you were able to attend, and, just like last year, registration costs will be low, and scholarships will be offered.
We are currently in the planning stages. We heard from you through last year’s conference surveys about what you want for this year’s conference, and we are making sure to include changes that reflect your feedback! This year’s conference will be bigger and more impactful, and we hope you’ll save the date so you can join us live!
OCD Southern California has hosted both in-person and virtual conferences since 2015. For over a decade, we have worked to offer programming and community to individuals and families impacted by OCD–both locally and to attendees online. OCD SoCal is once again hosting a global conference featuring presenters from around the world!
The conference is for people with OCD and their family members, spouses, parents, and loved ones who support them. This conference is also for professionals and educators who want to learn more about the OCD and related disorders community and how to support those impacted. For professionals seeking continuing education credits, we offer CEs through the University of Southern California (USC) and the OCD Training School at a low cost!
We hope you can clear your calendars and attend live from Saturday, November 7th, through Sunday, November 8th! The conference runs from 9am to 6:30pm PST (including after-hours community discussion groups and interactive events) on Saturday, the 7th, and from 9am to 3pm PST on Sunday, the 8th.
If you cannot join the conference live, registering will allow you to watch each presentation recording for up to 60 days after the event, at your convenience!
More information to come, but we hope you mark your calendars for the weekend of November 7th and 8th and join OCD SoCal’s global, Online OCD Conference this year! See you there!
Email us with any questions or to get on our mailing list: info@ocdsocal.org!
Our free, virtual Family and Loved Ones OCD Support Group
Chris Trondsen, LMFT, a clinician with OCD, and his mom, Liz Trondsen, are excited to remind you about our June virtual, free, 2-hour Family and Loved Ones OCD Support Group. To join, simply email info@ocdsocal.org and ask for the Zoom link.
The support group is held every second Saturday of the month. Our next group is this Saturday, June 13th, from 11am to 1pm PT!
Please read the information for June 13th Family & Loved Ones’ OCD Support Group:
Are you finding it difficult to maintain a loving relationship with the person in your life with OCD while at the same time creating boundaries so as not to give in to the disorder? As a supporter of a loved one with OCD, one of the most difficult challenges is balancing having a close relationship with them while at the same time reducing accommodations, reassurance giving, and enabling of OCD. This topic is the main focus of our 2-hour support group for family members and loved ones this upcoming Saturday, June 13th, from 11am to 1pm PDT.
Whether you are a parent of a young child, a teenager, a young adult, or a full-grown adult, this talk is for you.
Are you a spouse or in a relationship with someone who has OCD, or a sibling or loved one? This talk also has you covered! You, too, are trying to maintain a tight-knit relationship with someone you care for deeply but are also finding that you receive pushback when you refuse to drop your boundaries to give in to your loved one’s anxious demands.
We are joined by two special guest speakers, expert clinicians Jennifer O’Connor, Ph.D., and Elena Fasan, MSW, LCSW, who will focus the discussion on the delicate balance of supporting your loved one without enabling or interfering with their treatment.
Here is more information on the presentation, including the title and description:
Supportive Parenting in OCD: How to Stand Up to OCD While Holding onto Your Relationship with Your Loved One
Parents are the most powerful resource for their child with OCD during their recovery process, but it can be very difficult to stand up to OCD’s demands while still holding onto a strong relationship with your loved one. The presenters will explore common reasons why parents and other caregivers struggle to reduce accommodations and support at-home exposures, even when the importance of these steps is well understood.
A clear formula for supportive parenting will be offered, along with an opportunity to practice supportive communication through role playing. Attendees will leave with a greater understanding of how to reduce OCD’s presence in their children’s lives, no matter their age or if they do or don’t live at home and boost their confidence in their ability to cope with distress—all while maintaining a strong emotional connection with them. Additionally, there will be a discussion on how to be a supportive spouse, sibling, or family member to someone with OCD, and the unique challenges that come with these roles.
Learn more about the special guest presenters for our June support group:
Jennifer O’Connor, PhD – Dr. Jennifer O’Connor – PhD psychologist specializing in OCD, anxiety & eating disorders
Dr. Jennifer O’Connor is a licensed clinical psychologist and an expert in the field of anxiety and eating disorder treatment. Dr. O’Connor has been featured as an anxiety specialist on the Anderson Cooper Show, CNN Headline News, and A&E’s “Obsessed,” a TV series documenting CBT treatment of individuals with OCD. Dr. O’Connor trained at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles/ USC’s Keck School of Medicine where she specialized in pediatric and adolescent mental health. Dr. O’Connor then served as a direct patient care psychologist for 7 years in hospital and residential care settings, treating eating and anxiety disorders in children, teens and adults before transitioning to private practice in San Clemente. She has been practicing as a licensed psychologist since 2005 and has served as Adjunct Faculty at University of West Alabama Online Counseling and Psychology Program since 2010. Dr. O’Connor relies on evidenced-based practices including exposure therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy to help her clients discover freedom in their daily lives.
Elena Fasan, MSW, LCSW – Meet Elena Fasan – Children’s OCD & Anxiety Collective
Elena Fasan (she/her) is an LCSW and psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of OCD, anxiety disorders, and related disorders in children, adolescents, and emerging adults. She is the founder and director of the Children’s OCD & Anxiety Collective and sees clients in person in Pasadena, CA, and virtually in CA, WA, FL, and some international countries. Elena trained at UCLA’s Child and Adolescent OCD Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program at the Semel Institute and worked at the OCD Center of Los Angeles as a staff therapist before going into private practice. She is passionate about providing evidence-based treatment grounded in CBT, including ERP, ACT, HRT, ComB, and SPACE and advocating for young people diagnosed with OCD and related disorders. Elena also has a special interest in educating and helping parents, caregivers, and others who support those young people. Her background in childcare and her academic study of child and adolescent development and then social work inform her work and collaboration with clients, parents, and families. She is also an educator, with experience working as an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Child and Adolescent Development at California State University, Northridge, her undergraduate alma mater.
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We look forward to seeing you this Saturday! To join, simply email info@ocdsocal.org and ask for the Zoom link., as well as people with OCD—or anyone else interested.
The support group facilitators:
Chris Trondsen 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
Liz Trondsen is the mother of a son with mental illness. When her son, Chris, was diagnosed at age twenty, she was able to locate a treatment center in Los Angeles where he received excellent cognitive behavioral therapy. From a young man consumed with obsessions and compulsions, Liz watched her son regain his life, graduate college, and now work to help others fight this disorder. Liz helps to facilitate a Family Support Group online that brings families and people with OCD together to provide support, suggestions and hope to one another. Liz graduated from CSULB with a bachelor’s in science in Dietetics and Food Administration and completed her dietetic internship in Detroit, Michigan. Liz spent her career working in hospitals, as a Food Service Director and a Clinical Nutrition Manager. Since retiring in 2024, Liz has focused her interests on nutrition and mental health. With the others on this panel, she has presented twice at the IOCDF conference and presents an update annually to the Family and Loved One’s OCD Support Group.
Website: https://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/
One Million Steps for OCD Walk
Registration is now open for the San Diego OCD Walk! We will meet at the beautiful La Jolla Shores Hotel and walk down the ocean boardwalk to the Scripps Pier. Join us in raising awareness, fighting stigma, and supporting those affected by OCD. We welcome EVERYONE including individuals with OCD, family, friends, clinicians, researchers, and trainees – it takes a village!
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Time: 9:00am to 12:00pm PT
Location: La Jolla Shores Hotel Garden Patio
La Jolla, CA
This is an amazing event and we don’t want to miss you – sign up today! Registration is FREE, but walkers who raise at least $75 will get a t-shirt!
Upcoming 2026 In-Person and Online Events!
Information coming soon on our upcoming events. Including our in-person Speaker Series and opportunity to speak at our November Online OCD Conference, we will hold a virtual Speaker Series, “One Million Steps for OCD” Walks, OCD Awareness Week events, a holiday party, and more. Keep checking our website for up-to-date information on all the events OCD SoCal has to offer!
