Each of the presentations given at our Saturday, April 30, 2022 virtual conference were recorded! They are now all up on our conference website, http://www.ocdconference2022.com, on the “Video Gallery” page and are now available to view! They will be up to view for 60 days.
How to view the recorded conference presentations:
–If you already registered for our 6th annual virtual conference and want to watch the recorded presentations:
You are now on the log-in page. To log in, you have to provide the email address you registered on Eventbrite where it asks for the “Username or email.” Then use the password we provided in the emails we sent prior to the start of the conference.
If you cannot locate that email with the log in information, please email us at: info@OCDSoCal.org.
After logging in, you are now on the lobby page. Click on the “Video Gallery” tab and it will take you to the “Video Gallery” page. Now you can watch any of the conference recordings including the Keynote and the “Ask The Experts: Summary Q&A Panel”!
We hope everyone who registered enjoys the full, incredible presentations that were offered at our recent virtual conference! The “Video Gallery” is available for 60 days after the conference ended, which is Tuesday, July 5, 2022. Enjoy!
Real Stories. Real People. Meet our keynote speakers kicking off our April 30, 2022 conference!
Cost: $35.00 for general admission. Cost is per screen. Scholarship tickets available for free admission. Contact us for a complimentary ticket here: info@ocdsocal.org. To register for the conference: Register via our EventBrite link here.
As for the keynote speakers: We are thrilled to present a panel consisting of people with OCD and their loved ones, who have been successful in the recovery of OCD, as our keynote speakers: Ethan S. Smith and Rev. Katie O’Dunne, Shannon Shy, Susan Boaz and Meg Dailey, Alexandra Reynolds, and Kendall and Chase Williams. OCD Southern California’s Vice President, Chris Trondsen, will moderate the keynote.
We are pleased to introduce our keynote panel of speakers:
Alexandra Reynolds is currently a stay-at-home mom to a beautiful son. She graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and turned her passion for mental health and advocacy into a challenging and rewarding career as a Domestic Violence Victim Advocate serving the Latinx and immigrant populations. As a first-generation Puerto Rican, Alexandra has been living with OCD since the age of 6 but was unable to access appropriate diagnosis and treatment until the age of 35. She lives with the additional diagnoses of major depression and complex PTSD. Alexandra is passionate about breaking the stigma around mental illness and using her lived experience to help others. She believes culture and community are important intersections in mental health and is dedicated to advocating from a place of inclusivity, compassion, and learning.
Ethan Smith and Rev. Katie O’Dunne are an adult couple who both have OCD. Katie and Ethan met through OCD advocacy and quickly became best friends. However, their friendship turned to love during the pandemic in their own personal “COVID love story.” They began to connect far beyond their OCD, finding commonality in their passion for life, helping others, and making a difference in the world. Katie and Ethan have supported one another through the highs and lows of OCD (and life), learning healthy ways to authentically support one another without offering accommodation or reassurance. They truly believe that they are the healthiest, happiest versions of themselves when they are together…and that their connection far surpasses their experience with OCD. Ethan and Katie are currently both national and lead advocates for the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF).
Kendall and Chase Williams are mother and son who will share their long journey from treatment resistance to higher education. Chase was diagnosed with OCD and started receiving treatment in his late teens. Chase was able to participate in both intensive treatment and individual therapy, but Chase was very resistant to treatment and spent many years living with severe OCD. At one point, Kendall had no choice but to ask Chase to leave home; it was still many years until he was willing to once again try treatment. After a long struggle with OCD, Chase is moving forward with life. Two years ago Chase joined a choir performing at Carnegie Hall and is currently attending Berkley with a scholarship.
Shannon Shy is a retired United States Marine who is presently a civilian attorney with the Department of the Navy. A certified peer recovery specialist, he has written three books on overcoming OCD and provided peer support to hundreds of sufferers globally since 2016. Shannon served on the Board of Directors for the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) from 2011 to 2018, when he resigned to go serve in Afghanistan as a civilian advisor. Shannon provided the Keynote address at the IOCDF Conference in 2010 in Washington DC. He and his wife, Debbie, have three children and two grandchildren, and live in Dale City, Virginia.
Susan Boaz is mother to Megan Dailey, a young adult with OCD and PANS. Susan is the Current IOCDF Board President, and the Executive Director of the PANDAS Physician Network. She raises funds for Pediatric OCD, and for research and physician education regarding PANDAS. She works to educate physicians and parents, and to bring together doctors and researchers across the world. Megan is an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina studying psychology. She has been a part of the IOCDF community since 2009 after she was diagnosed with OCD and PANDAS when she was six years old. Now, she is passionate about telling her story to help other kids suffering the same way she did. After graduation, she hopes to attend graduate school and get her PhD in clinical psychology so that she may continue helping children diagnosed with OCD.
Chris Trondsen, MS, AMFT, APCC, will moderate the panel. Chris suffered from undiagnosed, severe OCD and BDD from childhood. Following treatment, Chris began advocating for mental health and shared his story on TV, newspapers and podcasts. Chris began speaking at Annual OCD Conferences, including giving the keynote with his mom at the 2011 conference. He also helped start the Young Adult Track at the annual conference.
Each of these speakers is a person impacted by OCD who has had a unique journey of support and recovery. They look forward to sharing their stories with the OCD community.
About this event
Following the keynote speakers, there will be a total of 40 break-out sessions offered during four consecutive time slots. Ten breakout sessions will be offered during each time slot; there will be seven presentations available for CE units during the conference. More information about our presentations, led by some of the top OCD experts in the United States, are posted on our website here: Description of the 40 conference breakout sessions. The conference will end with a Summary Q&A Panel.
Up to 5 continuing education credits (CEs) for mental health professionals are available for LMFT, LPCC, LCSW and psychologists.
To obtain CEs, the cost for the conference entrance is $35 and the cost for the CEs is $50 for a total of $85.
OCD Southern California Conference 2021: A Virtual Event
Join us for the 5th annual OCD Southern California conference–a virtual event this year! We are thrilled to present the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)’s National and Lead Advocates as our keynote speakers. We are pleased to introduce our speakers:
Ethan S. Smith was born with OCD and struggled the majority of his life until receiving life-changing treatment in 2010. Ethan was the keynote speaker at the 2014 Annual OCD Conference in Los Angeles. He serves as an IOCDF National Advocate. He has devoted his life to reducing stigma around OCD and mental health, to education, and to supporting the OCD community.
Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD is the director of the McLean Houston OCD Program. Elizabeth is a National Advocate for the IOCDF and serves as a board member. She was diagnosed with OCD at age 12 and underwent both inpatient and outpatient therapy. Elizabeth engages in clinical work, research, and advocacy with the goal of improving access to care and OCD treatment.
Valerie Andrews received an OCD diagnosis in 2011 and, following treatment, began advocating in hopes of bringing awareness and inclusion within her own community and communities of faith. Her goal is to continue working as an IOCDF Lead Advocate and promoting change for women of age, color, and faith.
Tom Smalley, MS, CSCS was diagnosed with OCD at the age of 16 and shortly after became passionate about spreading awareness about OCD. Tom was the recipient of the 2019 IOCDF Hero Award. He speaks at the Annual OCD Conferences and has appeared on a variety of blogs and podcasts. Tom is particularly passionate about athletes and OCD and the stigma of mental health in sports.
Chris Trondsen, MS, AMFT, APCC, suffered from undiagnosed, severe OCD and BDD from childhood. Following treatment, Chris began advocating for mental health and shared his story on TV, newspapers and podcasts. Chris began speaking at Annual OCD Conferences, including giving the keynote with his mom at the 2011 conference. He also helped start the Young Adult Track at the annual conference.
Each of these advocates is a person with OCD who devotes time to support others with the disorder and to advocate for better mental health services.
Following the keynote speakers, there will be a total of 30 break-out sessions offered during three consecutive time slots. Ten breakout sessions will be offered during each time slot. More information about our presentations, led by some of the top OCD experts in the United States, is now posted on our website: ocdsocal.org. We are also offering community discussion groups, two documentaries, and a mindfulness/yoga workshop during the lunch break. The conference will end with a Summary Q&A Panel and an opportunity drawing for various prizes.
Up to 5.25 CEs available for LMFT, LPCC, LCSW and psychologists.
OCD SoCal presents our official program, which includes descriptions of the orientation, keynote, 30 breakout sessions, 5 lunchtime events, and conference wrap-up. We look forward to seeing you there– all are welcome, from anywhere across the globe! Email us with any questions: info@OCDSoCal.org. Please scroll through the rest of our website for more information on the conference.
(Click on the image to enlarge it)
You can also view the larger version of the conference program here:
