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 stepping it up and offering a global conference that features presenters from all around the world!
We are opening registration soon, and we will also post the agenda and program soon! We are just announcing the conference dates officially today so that you can save the date!
The conference is aimed at people with OCD and the 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. We also hope anyone else interested in the OCD community attends! For professionals seeking continuing education credits, we are able to offer CEs through the University of Southern California (USC) at a low cost!
Early, early bird registration at our lowest cost will open soon and we will announce that shortly! Meanwhile, we hope you clear your calendars and are able to attend live on Saturday, November 15th through Sunday, November 16th! Each presentation will have a Q&A segment you can engage in. The conference is from 9am to 6:30pm PST (including after hours community discussion groups and interactive events) on Saturday the 15th and 9am to 3pm PST on Sunday the 16th.
If you cannot join the conference live, registering will allow you to watch each of the presentation recordings for up to 60 days after the event at your convenience!
More information to come, but we hope you open the weekend of November 15th and 16th 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!
We are excited to hold a special edition of our monthly family and loved ones OCD Support Group this Saturday, July 19, from 11 AM to 1 PM PT. We typically have our support group every second Saturday of the month, but last Saturday, your group co-facilitators, Chris Trondsen, LMFT, And Liz Trondsen, were presenting at the IOCDF’s 30th annual OCD conference. It was great to meet many of you there and hear that our support means so much to you! So, to make up for missing last week, we are actually holding the July support group this Saturday, July 19 from 11 AM to 1 PM. If you would like to get the link to this Saturday’s support group, and are already not on our mailing list, please email us at: info@ocdsocal.org and provide all the email addresses you would like the Zoom link emailed to.
We are bringing on a special guest doctor, Stephen Poskar (https://www.ocdnyc.com), a psychiatrist practicing in New York. Dr. Poskar recently led the International OCD Foundation’s launch of updated treatment guidelines https://iocdf.org/ocd-treatment-guide/. These guidelines explain to the public the frontline, gold standard, and evidence-based treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder, both through medication and other psychopharmacology interventions, as well as appropriate behavioral interventions.
For this Saturday’s presentation, Dr. Stephen Poskar and Chris Trondsen, a licensed therapist specializing in the treatment of OCD and related disorders, will team up to go over those treatment guidelines. Our goal is to have a discussion on what families should expect when first seeking out treatment, what treatment should look like as it progresses and then the final stages of treatment. We will speak based on the guidelines, as well as years of clinical practice.
Our goal for you as an attendee is to get a good solid understanding of what to expect if you or a loved one is first seeking out treatment, is currently in treatment or if you are wrapping up treatment or cutting back on sessions. All participants should have a solid understanding of the frontline treatments for OCD, what to expect in each stage of treatment, and what new research is on the horizon.
For this support group, we want to give you plenty of time to share your story and ask questions. We will be leaving plenty of time for questions and answers so you may ask any personal medication or clinical questions. This group is open to family members, spouses, siblings, parents, and loved ones of someone with OCD, or for clinicians wanting to learn more, or people with OCD and related disorders!
We look forward to seeing you this Saturday. Below is Dr. Stephen Poskar’s bio and then the zoom link to join us this Saturday. We’re excited to see you there!
Dr. Poskar is one of the nation’s leading experts on the treatment of OCD and Related Disorders. He is a member of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation. He also serves on the faculty of the IOCDF Behavior Therapy Training Institute. Dr. Poskar co-founded OCD New York, a charity whose mission is to help all those affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Related Disorders to live full and productive lives.
Dr. Poskar is one of the few clinicians in the country with expertise in using both medication and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to treat OCD and Related Disorders. Patients are commonly referred to Dr. Poskar by their individual therapists so that he may treat them with medication. In these cases Dr. Poskar works closely with each patient’s therapist because he views this collaborative approach to be essential for the provision of the best possible care.
Dr. Poskar is medically licensed in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Connecticut and Virginia.
If you would like to get the link to this Saturday’s support group, and are already not on our mailing list, please email us at: info@ocdsocal.org and provide all the email addresses you would like the Zoom link emailed to. We look forward to seeing you this Saturday!
A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out for our San Diego One Million Steps for OCD Walk! Thanks to your overwhelming support, this was our largest walk ever, with over 120 walkers helping us build community and raise awareness for OCD. We also raised nearly $3,000 to support OCD awareness and resources! We had many clinicians attend and make themselves available to answer questions, and wonderful volunteers who ensured that the event went smoothly. Special thank you to the La Jolla Shores Hotel, who generously donated the use of their beautiful Garden Patio to host us. Walkers completed a 2 mile walk along the ocean, engaging with people on the boardwalk who asked questions, and stopping to take photos at the iconic Scripps Pier.
Join us in Orange County, this Saturday, June 28, from 10am to 1pm (with 9:30am being registration). This is for the International OCD Foundation’s “1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk” happening at the Costa Mesa Marriot hotel at 500 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626!
To register and attend the OC “1 Million Steps for OCD Walk,” click here: Orange County Walk
Details about the walk below, after our speaker highlight! Following the walk, 4 of our local OCD clinicians, some with lived experience, will present a Question-and-Answer panel – ask them anything about OCD! They will also highlight some hot topics and discuss how to get better from OCD. Bring your questions! Here are more details about the panel, followed by logistical information on the walk:
Chris Trondsen, LMFT, (https://www.gatewayocd.com/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.
Elena Fasan, MSW, LCSW, (https://childrensocdandanxiety.com) is licensed in the state of California, and can provide online therapy in Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Florida, and internationally, in any country other than Canada. She became a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and founded the Children’s OCD & Anxiety Collective because of her strong desire to offer help to young people who are suffering from the symptoms of OCD, anxiety, and related disorders. She feels incredibly fortunate to have found her calling and is passionate about the work she does with her clients and their families. After graduate school, Elena received extensive training in the provision of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) while working as a therapist at UCLA’s Child and Adolescent OCD Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program and then at the OCD Center of Los Angeles, where she was employed for eight years. Elena brings a developmental perspective to her work, having earned a BA in Child and Adolescent Development before pursuing a Master of Social Work. She is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Development at California State University, Northridge.
Lauren Rosen, LMFT, (https://theobsessivemind.com) 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.
Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C, (https://oc-therapy.com/about-us) 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.
— Walk info:
Our walk will take place at the Marriott Hotel at 500 Anton Boulevard, Costa Mesa, California.
Please join us in the Lakeview Salon and Terrace on the first floor of the hotel, past the bar and lobby. Look out for signage and volunteers.
Following registration and t-shirt distribution at 9:30 AM, the Opening Ceremony will begin at 10:00 AM. The walk will start at 10:30 AM.
The walk route is a one-mile loop around the Sparkling Pond. The walkway is flat and paved. Walk at your own pace, bring your friends and your dogs and meet new members of the community!
The walk will be followed by speakers with lived experience, a Q&A and light refreshments. Final remarks and an opportunity drawing at 1:00 PM.
The fee for parking in the Marriot Costa Mesa parking structure has been waived for the Orange County OCD Walk. Please see the concierge prior to leaving for parking validation.
While we prefer that you pre-register, walk-ins are very welcome!
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@ocdsocal.org! We are looking for volunteers for this event. Please email us if you are interested in helping with registration or distributing T-shirts at the event.
