Posts Tagged with mental health awareness

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Save the Date! OCD Southern California is Hosting a Low-Cost, Global, Online OCD Conference on Saturday, November 15 – Sunday, November 16, 2025!

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!

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Join us this Saturday, July 19th, from 11am to 1pm PT for our July virtual, Family & Loved One’s OCD Support Group!

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!

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You Are Invited To A Free, Virtual Family & Loved One’s OCD Support Group This Saturday, May 10 at 11am PT!

You are invited to join us on Saturday, May 10th, from 11 am to 1 pm PT for our monthly, free, virtual Family and Loved One’s OCD Support Group! This support group is for family members, parents, loved ones, spouses, and anyone supporting someone with OCD! Additionally, if someone with OCD and related disorders would like to join us or a mental health professional wanting to learn more about OCD, you are invited as well. Since this event is virtual, anyone from anywhere can join us! To get the Zoom link for May 10th’s support group, PLEASE EMAIL: info@ocdsocal.org. Let us know in the email you would like the Zoom link, and please include any additional email addresses to which you would like us to send the Zoom link!

For our May 10th support group, we are thrilled to welcome Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C. She will be speaking on S.P.A.C.E. or Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions, a program developed at Yale. As those of you who have attended our previous support groups know, many of you have been curious about SPACE and want to know more about it. Michelle’s talk will explain the program and discuss how to utilize SPACE in your own family.

A description of her talk:

S.P.A.C.E. To the Rescue! Tips for Parents to Manage Their Children’s* Anxiety and OCD (*Children of all ages)

Are you a parent finding it difficult to figure out how to best support your loved one’s OCD? This presentation is aimed at helping parents to support their children of all ages, while reducing parental support for their OCD behaviors. Utilizing techniques from SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), this talk aids parents in differing anxiety from behavioral issues, learning tools in how to support anxious children, learning how to increase support while reducing accommodations, and finding out how to make small changes that lead to big and successful outcomes! This talk is for parents of children who are all ages: adults, young adults, teens, and young children.

More info on our guest speaker:

Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C

Website: https://oc-therapy.com/about-us

Bio: Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C, 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.

More info about the support group:

This support group meets every second Saturday of the month from 11 am to 1 pm PT. It features families and individuals who have overcome their OCD and share their journey. Additionally, we have special guest researchers, psychiatrists, authors, treatment providers, and other special guests each month. We hope to see you Saturday, May 10th, at 11 am PT. Please email us at info@ocdsocal.org to be on our mailing list and receive the May support group’s Zoom link!

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Final Week to Register for Our Speakers Series Conference Events Happening THIS Weekend in Orange County (May 3) and Los Angeles (May 4)!

At both the Orange County location on Saturday, May 3rd, and the Los Angeles location on Sunday, May 4th, there are presentations aimed at people with OCD, their loved ones, supporters, and anyone interested in learning more about OCD and related disorders.

Additionally, at the Speaker Series conference events at both locations, there is a professional track that will offer clinicians (LMFT, LPCC, LCSW, and psychologists) 3 CE credits at low cost.

Email us with any general questions at info@ocdsocal.org. Additionally, OCD Southern California never wants cost to be a deterrent from joining any of our events. If you need complimentary registration for you or your loved ones, please email us.

Scroll below to learn more about both events and to register!

To register, please visit: REGISTER for Orange County Speakers Series!

Meet the Orange County Speaker Series presenters! There are 12 OCD experts, local to the Orange County and Southern California area. Learn more about the 12 speakers here: BIOS FOR THE 12 ORANGE COUNTY SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTERS offering presentations on OCD and related disorders with topics to include: medications, family accommodations and how to best support your loved one with OCD, taboo mental obsessions, combating rumination, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), shame and guilt, getting into the treatment mindset, co-occurring disorders, the treatment for OCD, and more! To learn more about the presentations being offered, as well as the agenda and program, visit here: PRESENTATION INFORMATION, AGENDA, AND BIO FOR MAY 3RD EVENT.

The 12 presenters speaking at the Saturday, May 3rd, Orange County Speaker Series Event

Event Info: Orange County will host a Speakers Series conference event on Saturday, May 3, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM PST.  This event is being held at Orange Coast College at 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.  There is free parking adjacent to the event location. 

This event is open to 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. 

Beverages and a catered lunch will be provided.

Registration is $15 per individual. The low-cost sign-up will aid our non-profit in covering venue and food costs. 

This event is also for mental health providers wanting to learn more about OCD. There will be a clinician track at Orange County, and we are offering 3 CE credits to licensed clinicians who attend the full day. For licensed therapists (LMFT, LPCC, LCSW, and psychologists), please purchase the Professional ticket when you register. 

Schedule 

9:30 AM: Registration opens 
10:00 AM: Welcome & introductions
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM: Speakers
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Speakers
12:30 PM – 12:45 PM: Lunches Provided (Catered)
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM: Speakers
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Ask the Experts: Q&A Panel

(More information on the schedule here: PRESENTATION INFORMATION, AGENDA, AND BIO FOR MAY 3RD EVENT).

To register, and for more information, please visit: REGISTER for Orange County Speakers Series!

The next day, on Sunday, May 4th, we are offering a Speaker Series event in Los Angeles!

Sign Up Link: REGISTER for the Los Angeles Speakers Series

Los Angeles will host a Speakers Series on Sunday, May 4, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM PST.  This event is being held at the USC Health Sciences Campus, 2250 Alcazar Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
There is a parking lot adjacent to the event site.  Here is a map of the venue: https://events.usc.edu/assets/docs/USC-HSC-Map-2022.pdf. There is a parking lot adjacent to the event site. Enter Lot 17 from Alcazar Street and proceed down the one-lane entryway to the rear parking lot (3G and 4H on the map).  Park in any unmarked parking space.  Entry to the CSC Building is from this rear parking lot (red circle with gold cross at 4H on the map).  Once parked, please go to https://www.offstreet.io/location/SBT977EW and enter code 584236 when prompted. 

This event is open to 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. 

Beverages and a catered lunch will be provided.

The suggested donation is $15.00. The low-cost sign-up will aid our non-profit in covering venue and food costs. 

This event is also for mental health providers wanting to learn more about OCD. There will be a clinician track at the Los Angeles event, and we are offering 3 CE credits to licensed clinicians who attend the full day. For licensed therapists (LMFT, LPCC, LCSW, and psychologists), please purchase the Professional ticket when you register. 

Schedule & Speakers:

Morning Schedule
10:00 AM: Registration opens (coffee, bagels, pastries)
10:30 AM: Welcome & introductions
10:45 AM – 11:30 AM: Paul Zawacki, LCSW: How to be Uncomfortable: Getting ACT-y with Your ERP
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM: Dr. Jen Siegel: Medication for OCD

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch break 

Afternoon Schedule
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM: Melissa Mose, LMFT: The Role of the Family System in Treatment
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM: Dr. Adam Frank: Neuromodulation for OCD
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM: General Q&A and networking

Bios for the Los Angeles presenters:

Adam Frank, M.D., Ph.D.

Website: http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/

Bio: Dr. Adam C. Frank is a psychiatrist, researcher, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Dr. Frank currently divides his time between caring for individuals with OCD in an outpatient psychiatry clinic, supervising and teaching psychiatry residents at USC, and conducting research on the mechanisms of OCD and improving treatment outcomes through the use of neuroimaging, wearable biosensors, and neuromodulation. 

Melissa Mose, LMFT

Website: https://www.melissamosemft.com

Bio: Melissa Mose, LMFT, has been in private practice for 30 years and has specialized in working with OCD for roughly half of that. She is currently the president of OCD Southern California, an affiliate of the International OCD Foundation and she is an international speaker and educator on Obsessive Compulsive disorder. As a Level 3 trained and Certified Internal Family Systems therapist and an IFS-I Approved Clinical Consultant, Melissa is committed to developing a more compassionate, IFS-informed approach to treating OCD. She is devoted to raising awareness about OCD, training clinicians to identify and treat, improve early identification and wider range of treatment options for individuals with OCD.

Jennifer Siegel, MD

Website: https://communitywesttreatment.com/jennifer-siegel-md/

Bio: Dr. Jennifer Siegel is a current PGY4 resident and serves as Chief Resident of Outpatient Psychiatry at the University of Southern California. She earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine after graduating summa cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis, where she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology with minors in graphic design and studio art. At the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Siegel was a Bridging the Gaps Clinical Scholar, receiving an additional certificate in Community Health. Dr. Siegel specializes in medication management of mood & anxiety disorders (with particularly emphasis on OCD) as well as has training in ERP. She is actively involved in OCD-related research and has presented at the International OCD Foundation Annual Conference.

J. Paul Zawacki, LCSW

Website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/courageous-act-therapy-irvine-ca/1440830

Bio: J. Paul Zawacki is a licensed clinical social worker and part-time clinical faculty member at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, where he specializes in the assessment and treatment of OCD and other anxiety disorders. Paul also maintains Courageous ACT Therapy, an OCD and anxiety-focused private practice serving adults in California. He received his bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and his master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. He has specialized training in both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). He is a former three-year board member of the Southern California chapter of the Association of Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), which is the primarily international organization for ACT-nerds. He is also a member of the International Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Foundation. He has lived experience with both OCD and ADHD.

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We hope to see you at one — or both — of these Speaker Series conference events. It is an opportunity to meet local OCD experts, get your questions answered, learn more about OCD, and meet others in a similar situation as yours. Email info@ocdsocal.org for any questions and to be added to our mailing list. We look forward to seeing you this weekend!