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THE AGENDA FOR OCD SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S Saturday, May 30 Speaker SERIES EVENT! Includes Event Rundown & Presentation Information!

https://ocdspeakerseries.eventbrite.com

The OCD Southern California Speaker Series conference is being held on Saturday, May 30, 2026 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: https://ocdspeakerseries.eventbrite.com.

There are 23 presenters for the event. To read each speaker’s bio, please visit: https://ocdsocal.org/4914/meet-the-23-presenters-speaking-on-saturday-may-30th-at-our-in-person-ocd-socal-speaker-series/

Our event program, which will include full talk descriptions, is coming soon. The program will be posted on the main page of our website, as well as our official Speaker Series page on our website (https://ocdsocal.org/programs/speakerseries/).

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:

Registration: 9:30am PT

The event will be at Orange Coast College located at 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626.  Please park in parking lots C, D and E, which are adjacent to the College Center Building. This is the building where the event is being held. Parking is free on Saturdays (please do not park in staff parking). After parking, please proceed to where the event is being held, in the College Center Building, and go up to the third floor where the check-in desk is located. 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 PT

An OCD Southern California board member (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 12 total presentations with a final 13th 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 four 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.

Again this year, we are offering 3 continuing education credits (CEs) for licensed clinicians (LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and psychologists). These talks, specifically for mental health providers, will be held in the venue’s ballroom and will be held at the same time as the talks for the general public. NOTE: Pre-licensed trainees, students, and other mental health providers in the field are welcome to attend the CE talks. However, we are not able to offer CE’s to those attendees. Therefore, you can register as a general attendee. We thank USC for sponsoring the CEs!

Session I: 10:15 – 11:15am PT

Family Matters: How to Team Up Against OCD – Barbara Van Noppen, PhD, LCSW Barbara Van Noppen, PhD – Keck School of Medicine of USC and Stephanie Davis, PhD Dr. Davis Therapy | OCD Therapist | Orange County, CA, USA

Dispelling Myths: What Effective CBT / ERP for OCD SHOULD Look Like & the 8 Most Common Reasons It May Fail! – Chris Trondsen, LMFT Chris Trondsen: LMFT & OCD Specialist – The Gateway Institute and Curtis Hsia, PhD OC Anxiety Center

Stuck at Night: OCD, Anxiety, and Sleep – Sue Chudy, LCSW Chudy Counseling Services and Khashayar Nattagh, MD Khashayar Nattagh MD

Holy Smokes! Tackling Religious and Moral Scrupulosity – Kevin Foss, MFT About Kevin Foss • California OCD And Anxiety Treatment Center and Mary Sponaugle Neustaedter, LMFT Mary (Sponaugle) Neustaedter, MFT – OCD Center of Los Angeles

[CE Talk for Licensed Clinicians]

Consulting with Families of Treatment-Refusers: An Underutilized Therapeutic Option – Alec Pollard, PhD Pollard, Alec | International OCD Foundation

Session II: 11:30 – 12:30pm PT

When an Impaired Loved One Doesn’t Pursue Recovery: The Family Well-Being Approach – Alec Pollard, PhD Pollard, Alec | International OCD Foundation

People with OCD Want to Have Sex, Too! Let’s Talk Dating, Love & Intimacy – Chris Trondsen, LMFT Chris Trondsen: LMFT & OCD Specialist – The Gateway Institute and Sheva Rajaee, MFT The Center for Anxiety and OCD | Find Anxiety Relief

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ERP Through an ACT Lens – Stephanie Davis, Ph.D. https://www.drdavistherapy.com/ and Lauren Rosen, LMFT Home – The Center for the Obsessive Mind

Medication Management in OCD – – Jennifer Siegel, MD Jennifer Siegel Psychiatry | Discover Personalized Mental Health Solutions and Sanjaya Saxena, MD Saxena, Sanjaya | International OCD Foundation

[CE Talk for Licensed Clinicians]

Treating OCD: Assessment to Maintenance – Curtis Hsia, PhD OC Anxiety Center

Lunch: 12:30pm PT

Orange Coast College 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 portable dinnerware. We ask you to bring your food into the room of the presentation you are choosing to watch during session three.

Session III: 12:45 – 1:45pm PT  

Supportive Parenting in OCD: How to Stand Up to OCD While Holding onto Your Relationship with Your Child / Teen – Jennifer O’Connor, PhD Dr. Jennifer O’Connor – PhD psychologist specializing in OCD, anxiety & eating disorders and Elena Fasan, MSW, LCSW Meet Elena Fasan – Children’s OCD & Anxiety Collective

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Treating Intrusive and Taboo Thoughts in OCD: Getting Unstuck by Targeting Mental Compulsions & Rumination – Chris Trondsen, LMFT Chris Trondsen: LMFT & OCD Specialist – The Gateway Institute and Max Maisel, Ph.D. https://beachfrontanxiety.com/max-maisel-phd

Maximizing Your Insurance Benefits to Cover OCD Treatment – Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C OC-Therapy and Megan Alberoni, MA, BCBA

More Than OCD: Real Stories of Recovery and Living Fully – Jennie Kuckertz, PhD – Jennie M. Kuckertz, PhD | McLean Hospital, Cathy Agostino, Dylan Mitchell, Gur Yilmaz, and Jarret Lovell.

[CE Talk for Licensed Clinicians]

Evidence-Based Medication Management in OCD – Sanjaya Saxena, MD Saxena, Sanjaya | International OCD Foundation

Session IV: 2 – 3:00pm PT

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 will be held in the ballroom.

Opportunity Drawing

Additionally, for those still in attendance at the end of our OCD Southern California Speaker Series conference event, we will be hosting an opportunity drawing for an opportunity to win gift card prizes! The ticket to win is already included with your registration at no additional cost!

Event Concludes: 3:00pm PT

On your way out, please make sure to sign up for OCD Southern California’s mailing list, our free and virtual Family and Loved One’s OCD Support Group, and complete a quick evaluation of the event.

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We look forward to seeing everyone at the Speaker Series event. Make sure to register before the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: https://ocdspeakerseries.eventbrite.com.

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

Published

Dr. Alec Pollard is the Special Guest for the Saturday, May 9th, Family & Loved One’s OCD Support Group from 11am to 1pm PDT!

Chris Trondsen, LMFT, a clinician with OCD, and his mom, Liz Trondsen, are excited to remind you about our May, virtual, free Family and Loved Ones OCD Support Group. It will be held Saturday, May 9, for two hours, from 11 AM – 1 PM PDT. This support group is every second Saturday of the month, from 11am to 1pm Pacific Time. It is a free, virtual support group available to anyone from anywhere!

To join the support group, email info@ocdsocal.org and simply request the event’s Zoom link or for more information!

Our guest for the Saturday, May 9th, Family and Loved Ones’ OCD Support Group is author, speaker, trainer, and leader in the field, C. Alec Pollard, Ph.D. As group facilitators, it is our mission to bring top-notch guests to each of our support groups to address different aspects of loving and supporting someone with OCD. The support group is 2 hours, from 11am to 1pm Pacific Time, and will start with our guest, Dr. Alec Pollard, discussing relevant information to attendees with a loved one suffering from OCD. The second half will feature a question-and-answer segment where attendees can ask live questions, or ask them publicly or anonymously in the chat! Here is more information on the details to be discussed on May 9th, as well as information on our guest speaker, Dr. Pollard!

We often hear from attendees that they are struggling to get their loved one into OCD treatment, either for the first time or to treatment after a previous negative experience with therapy. Alec will address this problem, including ways to discuss treatment with your loved one, how to reduce accommodations and enabling, reducing home stress, and ultimately, what you, the loved one, can do to improve the situation even if your loved one is not involved in the treatment plan.

Additionally, many of you have a loved one in OCD treatment, yet they are falling short of hitting their treatment goals, and it feels as if they are not giving their “all” in treatment. Alec Pollard, Ph.D., will address potential treatment-interfering behaviors (TIBs) at play, the role of supporters, ways to help your loved one be more successful in treatment, and, ultimately, how to address a loved one in treatment who is not experiencing much success.

Dr. Pollard will draw on both his clinical expertise and material from his popular book, “When a Loved One Won’t Seek Mental Health Treatment.” You will learn ways to improve your family’s current situation, even if your loved one is not in treatment or is not interested in collaborating if they are. This talk will be for family members, loved ones, spouses, friends, and anyone supporting a person in their life with OCD. People with OCD, educators, therapists, and anyone interested in the material are welcome to join!

Alec Pollard, Ph.D., will then answer your questions during the Q&A before the group’s conclusion!

Here is Dr. Pollard’s bio:

Dr. Pollard is Founding Director of the Center for OCD and Anxiety-Related Disorders at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute and Professor Emeritus of Family and Community Medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He is a licensed psychologist who works with a range of obsessive-compulsive and anxiety-related disorders, with a special interest in obstacles that inhibit the pursuit of recovery or interfere with effective participation in treatment. He is on the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation and chairs the organization’s Training Committee, including a national training initiative called the Behavior Therapy Training Institute.  Dr. Pollard is former chair of the Clinical Advisory Board of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and has authored or coauthored over 100 publications, including his most recent book entitled When a Loved One Won’t Seek Mental Health Treatment: How to Promote Recovery and Reclaim Your Family’s Well-Being, now available in Spanish.

We will see you Saturday, May 9th, from 11 AM – 1 PM PDT!

The event is open to loved ones, family members and spouses of someone with OCD, as well as people with OCD—or anyone else interested.

To join the support group, email info@ocdsocal.org and simply request the event’s Zoom link or for more information!

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/

Published

Apply to Austin Kang Sibling Scholarship to attend July’s IOCDF Conference in Seattle

The Austin Kang Sibling Scholarship, established by Behind the Scenes, is a unique opportunity designed to support siblings of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The scholarship will do so by providing access to the 31st Annual IOCDF Conference in Seattle, Washington from July 9 to 12, 2026. This scholarship reflects a growing recognition that siblings are often overlooked in the mental health space, despite playing a critical role within families affected by OCD.

This scholarship is named in honor of Austin Kang, who has dedicated significant time and effort to advocating for OCD siblings and ensuring they receive the support they deserve. As the founder of Behind the Scenes, the first North American support group specifically created for siblings of individuals with OCD, Austin has worked to build a safe, welcoming space where siblings can share experiences, learn coping strategies, and connect with others who understand their unique challenges. As part of this initiative, all applicants to this scholarship will automatically be added to the Behind the Scenes mailing list, providing access to ongoing resources and monthly meetings.

Scholarship Details & Benefits:
Selected recipients will be awarded $500 to help offset costs associated with attending the 31st Annual IOCDF Conference, including but not limited to airfare, conference registration, lodging, and meals. The goal of this funding is to reduce financial barriers and make this experience more accessible to siblings who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend. Through this conference, recipients will gain exposure to educational sessions, connect with mental health professionals, and build meaningful relationships with others in the OCD community.

Application Deadline: Sunday, May 10 at 5:00 PM PST

Review Process: Applications will be carefully reviewed by members of Behind the Scenes and will receive input from our partners from OCD SoCal.

Notification: Recipients will be notified approximately one week after the application deadline

Recipient Expectations & Requirements: By submitting an application and accepting the scholarship, recipients agree to the following:

1. Conference Participation: Recipients are expected to attend and actively engage in the 31st Annual IOCDF Conference experience.

2. Social Media Acknowledgment: Recipients must post at least one photo from the conference on a personal social media account and include a brief acknowledgment or “shoutout” recognizing the Austin Kang Sibling Scholarship and OCD SoCal.

3. Post-Conference Reflection: Recipients must complete a short post-conference feedback form. This form will assess overall satisfaction and personal impact.

These requirements are essential to help demonstrate the scholarship’s impact, ensure continued funding, and expand opportunities for future siblings.

The application form can be found here.

Published

The Proposal System for the 2026 Online OCD Conference, a Global Event, is now open! Submit to be a Conference Speaker!

If you would like to speak at our conference, please go to:  Online OCD Conference Proposal Submission Page

The Proposal System for the 2026 Online OCD Conference, a Global Event, is now open! If you are interested in presenting at this global event, please log into your Google account, click the link that takes you to the conference proposal page, and follow the instructions to submit a presentation! Online OCD Conference Proposal Submission Page

The Online OCD Conference – hosted by OCD SoCal, will be held on Saturday and Sunday, November 7-8, 2026.

Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or new to presenting, we invite you to participate in the OCD Online Conference. This globally connected event brings together varied voices from around the world. We welcome innovative ideas, fresh perspectives, and research that resonates across borders from mental health providers, researchers, individuals with lived experience and their families, and others interested in speaking on OCD and related disorders.

OCD SoCal values perspectives from individuals with lived experience. To maximize the number of voices represented, we are unable to accept proposals for single presenter talks at this time. If you are interested in speaking, we encourage you to collaborate with your therapist to form a panel. Panels allow for a richer exchange of insights and can offer both valuable information and inspiration to a broader audience.

If you would like to speak at this conference, please go to https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLScRR12Q…/viewform to submit a proposal (this is a Google Doc, so you may need to log into your Google account to access the form). 

The deadline for proposals is Monday, May 20, 2026.

When opened, the Proposal Form will have answers to FAQs. We hope you consider submitting a proposal!

Email us at info@ocdsocal.org with any questions!

According to the conference evaluations from last year, here are the topics our attendees want to see more of:

OCD Subtypes

Comorbidities (especially trauma, OCPD, ASD)

OCRDs

Identity / culture

Kids

Talks that incorporate: Accessing treatment & concrete resources

Case Examples / Hands On / Practical Strategies

For more information on the conference, please visit our dedicated page on our website for the Online OCD Conference, A Global Event, hosted by OCD Southern California: https://ocdsocal.org/conference/

If you would like to speak at our conference, please go to:  Online OCD Conference Proposal Submission Page

We hope you consider submitting a proposal!