OCD Southern California 5th Annual Conference

July 31, 2021

Virtual Conference

OCD SoCal is now accepting proposals for break out sessions for our fifth annual OCD Southern California Conference. This conference is an opportunity to learn more about obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and its treatment, provide support for individuals with OCD and their families, and gain practical knowledge about a variety of issues that may arise with OCD and related disorders. 

The 2021 conference will be a virtual conference, and we expect attendees from other affiliates to attend.  We also welcome submissions from professionals outside of California.

Who attends this conference?

This event is particularly designed for individuals affected by OCD and related disorders as well as their families, however, we encourage clinicians, researchers, and students interested in learning more about OCD to attend. Conference attendees often include individuals with a great deal of experience with OCD as well as individuals and family members who may just be learning about the disorder and its treatment.

Who should submit a proposal?

We are looking for presenters with a breadth of personal and professional experiences with OCD and related disorders. In the past, our speakers have included OCD therapists, psychiatrists, individuals affected by OCD and related disorders, as well as family members.  If you choose to submit as a panel, please limit participants to five members.

What topics are appropriate for break out sessions?

While we do not have specific requirements for the break out sessions, suggestions may include: overview of OCD, OCD and families, taboo topics, OCD related disorders, recovery from OCD, ACT and mindfulness, medications, and ERP experiential workshop. You are also welcome to propose your own topic that you feel will be of interest to attendees. 

What is the format for break out sessions?

Each breakout session will be one hour and fifteen minutes.  We recommend the final thirty minutes of the presentation be left for audience questions. Breakout sessions will be held in the afternoon following the keynote presentation. 

When is the deadline to submit my proposal?

The deadline to submit a proposal is May 1, 2021

When will I hear if my proposal was accepted? 

Presenters will be notified regarding whether their proposal was accepted by May 28, 2021.

What submission materials are required?

1. Abstract:Please submit a title and brief abstract describing your presentation as well as intended audience (maximum 200 words).  Please include three objectives for the audience.
2. Bio:Please submit a brief (short paragraph) biography describing your background and experience with OCD and/or OCD-Related disorders. 
3. CV (professionals only)

How do I submit my proposal?

Proposals should be emailed to info@ocdsocal.org. Subject line: OCD SoCal 2021 Conference Submission. 

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We look forward to receiving your submission! Please contact us at info@ocdsocal.org with any questions regarding your submission. You can also visit our website (ocdsocal.org) or facebook page (facebook.com/ocdsocal) for more information about our organization. 

Case Western Reserve University, under Dr. Amy Przeworski, is conducting an online study to examine psychological symptoms in children 7-17 years old. The goal of the study is to learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on children and their families.

For this study, they need families of children with OCD and families of children who do not have the disorder. This type of research not only helps us to improve therapies but also learn more about the psychological impact of COVID-19.

To participate in the study, click here: https://cwru.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8678F95dgxjCcm1

Parenting and supporting a child living with OCD can be difficult. If you can relate to this, consider sharing your #COVID19 experience in this research study: https://bit.ly/351mZCw.  

Thank you for your consideration!

Our board of directors would like to give a huge thank you to Barbara Van Noppen, Ph.D., LCSW, who served as OCD Southern California’s president for over three years. Barbara is stepping down as president now that her responsibilities at the University of Southern California (USC) have increased. However, we are happy to say that she will remain active with OCD So Cal and remain a member of our board of directors!

The board of directors would also like to thank Jenny Yip, Psy.D. for her immense contribution to our affiliate. Dr. Yip is now a member of the International OCD Foundation’s Board of Directors, and we thank Dr. Yip for her tireless efforts in growing OCD So Cal and serving the local OCD community.

This is a special podcast on OCD with Dr. Barbara Van Noppen which is part of the series “House Calls with Dr. K.”

Barbara L. Van Noppen, PhD, LCSW is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC. She is the Vice Chair of Faculty Development in the department of Psychiatry. 

 Dr. Van Noppen, is an internationally-recognized clinician and expert in the areas of Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). She is the Department of Psychiatry’s Director of OCD Treatment and Research Program while also serving on the Scientific Advisory Boards of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and the Canadian Institute for OCD. For 3 years, Dr. Van Noppen served as president of OCD Southern California, an affiliate of the IOCDF. She is currently a board member for that non-profit organization. Dr. Van Noppen is on the faculty of the IOCDF Behavior Therapy Institute, providing advanced training for clinicians nationally. As an educator, she teaches extensively in her areas of clinical expertise. In addition, Dr. Van Noppen is one of the developers of the Family Accommodation Scale.

Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeRk9QZxDik