Registration is open for OCD SoCal’s Inland Empire Speaker Series. The event is happening at the Chino Hills Community Center at 14250 Peyton Dr., Chino Hills, CA, 91709 on Sunday April 7, 2024 from 10am – 2pm PST. A lunch, beverages, and parking are provided. For more information and to register for the event, click here: The Inland Empire Speakers Series is Sold Out.. Here are the event’s speakers in alphabetical order by first name:
Bio: 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 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 PST, with co-host Dr. Liz McIngvale.
Melinda Ramos
Bio: Melinda Ramos is a death care worker, small business owner, and proud mom to a small black pug named, Juelz. She enjoys watching wrestling with her pug, thrift store shopping and creating art. Her biggest pet peeve is when folks use OCD as an adjective. OCD isn’t a cute quirk, it’s a debilitating disorder.
Roy Robbins
Bio: Roy Robbins is an ordained Lutheran pastor and has served at Christ Lutheran Chino for over 8 years. Roy and his wife of 46 years, Jeanine, live in the parsonage and serve the church as a team. They have two children and 7 grandchildren. Roy is a late life pastor, worked for many years at Hughes Aircraft Co., and has owned 2 brick and mortar used bookstores. Roy enjoys reading, watching his beloved (while suffering) Anaheim Ducks and spending time with family. His dream is to write a book explaining to the world that OCD is not a joke or a funny little quirk.
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We look forward to seeing everyone at the IE event. Make sure to register before the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: The Inland Empire Speakers Series is Sold Out.
Registration is open for OCD SoCal’s San Diego Speaker Series. The event is happening at the Mira Mesa Library at 8405 New Salem Street, San Diego, CA, 92126 on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 10am – 1:30pm PST. A lunch, beverages, and parking are provided. For more information and to register for the event, click here: The San Diego Speakers Series is Sold Out.. Here are the event’s speakers:
OCD Spectrum / Related Disorders: What are They and How are They Treated
Bio: Dr. Saxena is the Director of Clinical and Research Affairs for the International OCD Foundation. He is a Psychiatrist who specializes in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Hoarding Disorder, other OC-Related Disorders, Anxiety Disorders. He is also Clinical Professor (non-salaried), UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Saxena is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.
After completing his residency and fellowship, he joined the faculty of the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and served as Director of the UCLA OCD Research Program and Associate Director of the UCLA Anxiety Disorders Program. He then moved to UC San Diego and served as Director of the UCSD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Program and Director of UCSD Outpatient Psychiatric Services. More recently, he was the Adult Psychiatrist for Rogers Behavioral Health San Diego.
Dr. Saxena was elected into Best Doctors in America every year 2005-2020, and elected into Castle Connelly’s and US News & World Report’s America’s Top Doctors every year 2008-2021. He continues to be heavily involved in teaching psychiatric residents and therapist trainees, and has won multiple teaching awards. He is also active in community education at the local, national, and international level.
Dr. Saxena also served as the psychiatric consultant for the motion picture, “As Good As It Gets” (Sony Pictures, 1997), in which the lead character, played by Jack Nicholson, suffered from OCD. Dr. Saxena’s research has focused on the neurobiology and treatment of OCD, Hoarding Disorder, and related disorders. He has authored or co-authored over 80 scientific articles and book chapters. He has received awards and grants from the American Psychiatric Association, American Neuropsychiatric Association, International OCD Foundation, and the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Saxena serves on the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board for the International OCD Foundation and was an advisor to the DSM-5 Workgroup on Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. He and his colleagues developed the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Hoarding Disorder.
His research has garnered attention from local and national media, and he has been featured on ABC, CNN, Larry King Live, MSNBC, the Discovery Channel, National Public Radio, BBC News, the New York Times, Time Magazine, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and Facebook Live.
Bio: Katherine Pica, LCSW, is a therapist and owner of Resilience Counseling. Katherine has worked in this field for over 18 years and enjoys working with people to help them learn coping skills to overcome life’s struggles. She specializes in treating OCD, BFRBs, Trauma, and Anxiety. She utilizes evidenced-based methods to help, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Comprehensive Behavioral Model (COMB), and a Mindful Self Compassion based approach. By combining her clinical expertise with a natural ability to form warmth and connection, Katherine has been able to help so many clients throughout the years conquer the struggles that have kept them stuck. There is so much hope to healing. You are not alone.
Bio: Summer Contreras is a Certified Peer Support Specialist living in San Diego, CA. Summer grew up with OCD, but wasn’t diagnosed until age 18 and didn’t seek proper treatment until age 22, after her mother – with whom she was very close – passed away from cancer. Since then, she has been a passionate advocate for those with OCD and related disorders so others don’t suffer the way she did. Summer has a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Arizona and hopes to specialize in treating OCD. She volunteers at a research lab at San Diego State University and advocates through her blog and social media. She is currently writing a memoir. Outside of advocacy, Summer likes to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game competitively and enjoys reading, writing, and mathematics.
Pat Dugan (Panelist)
Pat Dugan, age 73, has experienced OCD symptoms on and off for most of his life, but he was not officially diagnosed until his mid-40’s. Once diagnosed, he was able to manage most of his symptoms with medication and therapy. However, after experiencing a series of traumatic life events in retirement, his symptoms spun out of control and left him feeling anxious, depressed, and full of shame. Pat will share how this late in life existential crisis became a blessing in helping him find a new way of living through gentle acceptance and letting go.
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We look forward to seeing everyone at the SD event. Make sure to register before the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: The San Diego Speakers Series is Sold Out.
Registration is open for OCD SoCal’s Los Angeles Speakers Series. The event is happening at Embark Behavioral Health at 21051 Warner Center Lane #140 on Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 10am – 2pm PST. A lunch, beverages, and parking are provided. For more information and to register for the event, click here: The Los Angeles Speakers Series is Sold Out.. Here are the event’s speakers in alphabetical order by first name:
Bio: Andrew Cohen is a dedicated OCD and Anxiety specialist with extensive training and a wealth of experience. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a board member (Treasurer) of OCD SoCal, Andrew is deeply committed to providing effective treatment to individuals suffering from OCD and related disorders.
Andrew has gained expertise in treating OCD and related disorders through specialized training programs, including the International OCD Foundation’s (IOCDF) BTTI training program for adult and pediatric OCD and Anxiety disorders, as well as through his 2 years working at Renewed Freedom Center, a renowned OCD and Anxiety treatment program in Los Angeles, CA.
Andrew utilizes a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities in his practice. With a focus on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), and Habit Reversal Training (HRT), he tailors his approach to meet the unique needs of each client. Andrew’s goal is to empower individuals to confront their fears, embrace uncertainty and discomfort, and achieve sustainable recovery.
Bio: Areana Bell, B.S. (she/her) is a Los Angeles based, African-American Behavior Specialist and Mental Health Coach at New England Center for OCD and Anxiety. Areana specializes in supporting children and adolescents with mental health, behavior and learning challenges. Areana is trained in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) technologies, the DNA-V youth model (Ciarrochi & Hayes, 2015) of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and other evidence-based approaches.
Areana has specific experience supporting children, adolescents and young adults across a wide variety of settings, including residential and outpatient treatment settings. Areana’s curiosity and willingness to learn allows her to provide exceptional, compassionate, affirmative, evidence-based, individualized care for all clients.
Bio: Evelyn Gould (they/she) is a Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Behavior Analyst who has been working with families for two decades. She is passionate about taking an individualized approach to supporting children and young people, and empowering parents. Evelyn trained under Dr Coyne, at the McLean Child and Adolescent OCD Institute (OCDI Jr.), in addition to having extensive experience supporting families of children and young people with chronic mental health and behavioral challenges across a wide variety of settings. She has particular expertise in supporting autistic and LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, and strives to provide a safe, affirmative, compassionate and empowering space for every client. Evelyn’s work reflects personal and professional values of authenticity, compassion, social justice, and cultural humility. Evelyn has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and has co-authored a recent text book for practitioners. Evelyn frequently presents around the globe at professional conferences and other events.
Bio: Johanne (Joh) Zaporteza Zipser, MEd, BCBA, received her Masters in Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Arizona State University. Joh has presented at international conferences and provides training for small groups and local agencies. Topics of interest include flexibility training, compassionate care, parent training, social skills training and promoting socioemotional wellbeing. Currently, she is a Staff Behavior Analyst and has been servicing clients in the Los Angeles area since 2014. Her clinical experience has been in working with caregivers and children diagnosed with autism and other mental health disorders. She enjoys working with clients who present with complex behavioral challenges, and creating a therapeutic space where her clients feel willing and supported to thrive through adversity. She is passionate about working with caregivers and young people, helping them to access their highest potential and vitality in life.
Bio: Jonathan B. Grayson, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist (PSY26643), director of the Grayson Center and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California where he lectures and supervises residents. Dr Grayson has been specializing in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) for more than 40 years and is a nationally recognized expert and author of Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: a Personalized Recovery Program for Living with Uncertainty, a self-help guide for sufferers.
In 2010, the International OCD Foundation awarded Dr. Grayson the Patty Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award for his devotion and contributions to the treatment of those with OCD. In October of 2010, the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies gave his book, Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, the Self Help Book of Merit Award, recognizing his book as providing sufferers with the highest level of information about the best practices treatment for OCD.
Dr. Grayson has presented workshops and written numerous articles and book chapters for both professional and lay audiences, including two manual/ videotape sets made for the International OCD Foundation (The GOAL Handbook: Running a Successful Support Group for OCD and How to Recognize and Respond to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in School Age Children). His work and expertise has been featured in national media including, People Magazine, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Nightline. He serves on both the Scientific Advisory Board and the Speakers Bureau of the International OCD Foundation. In 1981, along with Gayle Frankel (the former president of the Philadelphia Affiliate of the OC Foundation), he started the first support group in the country for OCD. In 2015, helped to form and donate his time to a free GOAL support group in LA. Finally, he has the distinction of being the first and possibly the only professional to run a yearly OCD camping trip.
Bio: Melissa Mose is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Calabasas, CA for 30 years. She primarily treats anxiety, OCD, addiction, relational issues and trauma using Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy including exposure (ERP).
Melissa works with teens and their families and has a particular interest in exploring the role of family accommodation (FA) in perpetuating OCD. She provides treatment for parents of children and teens with OCD and Anxiety using Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) combined with an IFS-informed approach to Self-led parenting.
Melissa is a graduate of the IOCDF Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) and BTTI 2 Advanced Training Forum and is currently the President of the Board of Directors of OCD Southern California, the Southern California affiliate of the IOCDF. Melissa has completed all three levels of IFS training and is a certified IFS Therapist and approved IFS consultant. She continues to work as a Program Assistant in IFS trainings. Melissa is certified to teach mindfulness and meditation and is currently the Clinical Director at the Mindfulness in Recovery Institute.
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We look forward to seeing everyone at the Los Angeles event. Make sure to register before the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: The Los Angeles Speakers Series is Sold Out.
The Inland Empire Speaker Series is being held on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 10am – 1pm PST. Check-in for the event will open at 9:30am. We suggest you arrive early for check-in and then the event will begin promptly at 10am. If you have not registered for the event, there are still low-cost tickets available. Your registration includes a catered meal, beverages, and free parking. For more information and to register, visit: OCD SoCal Speaker Series – Inland Empire Tickets via EventBrite
Here is a list with details of the sessions being offered:
Registration: 9:30amPST
When you arrive and enter the Carolyn Owens Community Center, turn right and walk down the hallway. You will reach an OCD Southern California sign at the end of this hallway. When you see the sign, turn right again to enter the Multipurpose Room where the event is located. The check-in desk is located outside of the Multipurpose Room. You do not need to bring your EventBrite ticket; we have the names of everyone who registered and will check you in at the check-in table.
Introduction and Welcome: 10 – 10:10amPST
OCD Southern California board member Chris Trondsen, LMFT, APCC (http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/) will welcome attendees, go over the day’s events, and announce additional important information. Then the event’s presentations will begin.
There will be five sessions total, with four talks running consecutively and the final (fifth) session featuring all of the day’s speakers for an “Ask the Expert” Q&A Panel.
Session I: 10:10 – 10:40amPST
How to Find the Right Therapist and Receive an Accurate OCD Diagnosis – Eda Gorbis, Ph.D., LMFT, and Alexander Gorbis, AMFT http://www.hope4ocd.com/index.php
Obtaining treatment from an inexperienced therapist who is not trained in evidence-based therapy for OCD can actually cause more harm than good. Therefore, in this discussion, the presenters will give an overview of what to look for in a therapist when seeking out OCD treatment. They will cover the difference between a general talk therapist and a clinician who specializes in the treatment of OCD and related disorders. Additionally, they will discuss what goes into the assessment process and how to receive a proper OCD diagnosis. A discussion on differential diagnosis (such as generalized anxiety disorder) and comorbidities (depression, PTSD) will conclude this presentation.
Session II: 10:40 – 11:10amPST
There Is Always Hope: Parenting a Child with OCD – A mother and father of a teenage daughter with OCD
It can feel as if there is no hope when your loved one is experiencing OCD. Years of suffering, misdiagnosis, and poor treatment is what many experience early on in their journey. Treatment can be challenging and feel like a never-ending battle. Inspirational, success stories are needed to provide hope and proof that someone with OCD can get better–and that is what you will hear in this talk with a family who has lived this experience. For this lived-experience panel, a mother and father of a tween daughter with OCD will share their story of how the family came together through an OCD diagnosis. The parents will open up about their journey and share what helped them navigate this experience successfully! OCD is a family disorder and this mother and father will discuss pivotal moments in their daughter’s recovery, including early symptoms, finding an OCD specialist, supporting their daughter through treatment, and their changing role as their daughter’s symptoms improved.
Session III: 11:20 – 11:50amPST
Recovery Is Possible! How to Be Successful in OCD Treatment – Chris Trondsen, LMFT, APCC http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/ and Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C https://oc-therapy.com Individuals with OCD often feel hopeless, thinking there is no relief to the intrusive thoughts looping in their heads and the hours of exhausting compulsive behaviors. Sometimes someone with OCD has started the treatment but gave up early on because it felt too difficult. This talk will offer solutions on common roadblocks that can come up in treatment. The presenters, two licensed clinicians, will help you understand how the OCD treatment works and why it is so successful for many. The presentation will also address the first steps in getting started with exposure and response prevention (ERP). Additionally, the speakers will share how to address mental compulsions, reduce physical compulsions, find motivation and engagement, be on the offense in treatment, and the overall mindset needed to recovery. Relapse prevention and transitioning out of therapy will also be addressed! This will be a crash course on the evidence-based, front-line treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Session IV: 11:50 – 12:20pmPST
The Heroic Journey To Overcome OCD! A Story of Two Women’s Fight Against The Disorder – Sophia Fitts, Miranda Gomez, and Chris Trondsen, LMFT, APCC (moderator) http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/
When suffering with OCD, it can feel as if recovery is impossible. Often trapped in a stuck cycle of intrusive thoughts and hours of exhaustive, compulsive behaviors, with no end in sight. Individuals with the disorder often feel hopeless and lost on how to get better. Sophia and Miranda will share their experience on how they were able to escape these hopeless times. Both will discuss how they were able to find a proper OCD diagnosis, find specialized care, stay motivated throughout the treatment, and finish strong–allowing them both to live a full and fulfilled life. They will share the ups-and-downs of treatment and what they did to become successful in managing OCD symptoms. This lived-experience panel will be moderated by licensed therapist, Chris Trondsen, Vice President of OCD Southern California.
Lunch: 12:20pmPST
OCD Southern California is providing beverages and a catered lunch from The Corner Bakery. There will be different food options to choose from; you will select your preferred option at check-in. The lunches are provided in a portable dinnerware. We ask you to bring your food to your seat in the Multipurpose Room as we begin the final session presentation.
Session V: 12:20 – 1:00pmPST
Ask The Experts: Summary Q&A Panel – All of the event’s presenters
Please join us for an opportunity to ask questions of a panel consisting of all of the event’s presenters. This is an opportunity to ask any of the questions you were unable to ask during the day; that talk’s presenters will be able to answer your questions at this panel. The panel will consist of leading OCD experts and individuals with OCD.
Event Concludes: 1:00pmPST
On your way out, please make sure to sign up for OCD Southern California’s mailing list and to sign up for our free, virtual Family and Loved One’s OCD Support Group!
