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Published February 8, 2021

A Free Resource for the OCD Coummunity: The “OCD Whisperer Podcast!”

http://www.korresults.com/podcast

OCD Southern California has shared with our community different valuable resources for OCD in the past—and we received a lot of feedback that people are interested in OCD-themed podcasts.

We wanted to share with you another one: “The OCD Whisperer Podcast!” This podcast is hosted by Kristina Orlova, LMFT, and was created on Feb 2020 because her clients kept wanting to have support and tid-bits they could access in-between sessions.  

This is a free resource that offers tangible tips and interviews with leading OCD specialists—so that you can have support and know you are not alone. “The OCD Whisperer Podcast” has over 13,000 downloads and is grateful for listeners like you showing your support and feedback that this is a valuable resource!

If you would like to listen, here is the podcast link: www.korresults.com/podcast

About Kristina Orlova, LMFT, the host of the podcast:

Kristina Orlova, LMFT, is a licensed therapist in California (LMFT Lic # 97264). She was born in the Ukraine and has now lived in California for 30 years. In addition to being an OCD specialist, she too has obsessive compulsive disorder.

Her mission with the podcast is to help her fellow OCD global community get access to information about OCD and its very specialized training, no matter where someone is in the world and no matter how remote!

Published January 13, 2021

“Dancing Thru The Storm,” A Brand New Blog and Website From Sammy G., A 13-Year-Old Recovering From OCD!

Sammy Gallagher, a 13-year-old recovering from OCD
https://dancingthruthestorm.com

Sammy Gallagher is a 13-year-old girl from Washington State who recently was hospitalized and in an intensive-outpatient program (IOP) due to severe OCD. She is now in weekly, step-down outpatient sessions and has made massive strides in her recovery! Her days are no longer spent doing hours of compulsive rituals, struggling to function in school and dance, and lashing out in angry outbursts.

Through exposure and response prevention (ERP) behavioral therapy, Sammy is now back in school, spending time with her friends and family, and doing what she loves the most…dancing!

To hear more about Sammy’s recovery journey and to find out what is next in her life, visit her website and read her blog here: https://dancingthruthestorm.com!

Published January 4, 2021

Holiday Messages of Hope From Your International OCD Foundation Advocates!

The holidays and the start of a new year can be difficult for those with OCD and related disorders. Change and added holiday stress, along with the additional distress from COVID-19, can make these times stressful for those with a mental disorder.

The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) has national, lead, and general advocates–and this year they came together to film a special holiday message of hope for those currently dealing with OCD. Please watch and share with anyone who needs to hear this hopeful message!

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RUcNKAnqwA

The IOCDF’s national, lead, and general advocates put together a special holiday message of hope for those with OCD and related disorders–and their loved ones!

Additionally, celebrity Marc Summers (Nickelodeon’s Double Dare) has a special message to all of those companies and individuals who minimize OCD by calling it “Obsessive Christmas Disorder” during the holidays. Watch his message by clicking the link below to view it on the IOCDF’s official Facebook page!

https://www.facebook.com/IOCDF/posts/10160718939177995

Celebrity Marc Summers
Published January 3, 2021

New Year’s Greeting and Announcement From the OCD Southern California Board!

To our OCD SoCal community,

We have missed our wonderful, personal gatherings for our annual walk, OCD Awareness Week events and fabulous conference (in 2019, we had over 350 in attendance). Though this pandemic has not permitted in-person gatherings, we were able to offer two OCD SoCal zoom panel talks which were well received. 

Our annual conference and all other events live are postponed until we can hold them safely. In the meantime, we will try to be creative about offerings on our website (OCD SoCal.org) and any other virtual events.

After over 3 years serving as President, Dr. Barbara Van Noppen is stepping down and Melissa Mose, LMFT will be taking over that role as of 1/1/2021! Congratulations, Melissa!

Here are some messages of gratitude from the OCD SoCal Board:

Barbara Van Noppen, PhD (President)-“I am grateful for the honor of serving on the OCD SoCal board and all of our OCD SoCal community. Though apart by physical distance, we have a unity and feeling of oneness that instills hope. May the new year bring health and peace.”

Melissa Mose, LMFT (President Elect/Secretary)– “As the new year approaches, I want to send all of you my deepest gratitude and appreciation for your interest, your time, and your participation in our events and our community.  It is your presence and involvement with OCD SoCal that has supported and continues to inspire our mission. Thank you and may the upcoming year bring you both peace and joy.”

Chris Trondsen, MS, AMFT, APCC (Vice President)– “Thank you for attending the events OCD SoCal has put forth to support our local OCD community. By attending, you have built a supportive community so that those with the disorder—and their loved ones—are not in this fight alone. It has been an honor to plan these events for everyone and they could not have happened without our amazing volunteers and my incredible fellow board members. Thanks for being an amazing community and have a happy holidays!”

Patricia Bosvay Browne (Treasurer)– “I am eternally grateful for everyone in the OCD SoCal community- for all the sufferers working hard to overcome and educate, for the family members hanging in there to help, to the volunteers for all of our events, and especially the medical community (therapists, doctors, psychologists) for the above and beyond commitment in educating and working with not only the sufferers of OCD, but the family members as well.”

Liz Trondsen, RD (Event Planner)– “I am grateful for the many families who join our Family Support Group each month, share their experiences with us and provide hope and guidance to new families.” 

Sean Sassano, MD- “This holiday season, I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful community of clinicians, patients, and family members.” 

Thank you and we look forward to serving the local southern California OCD community in 2021!

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