Presenter: Menije Boduryan-Turner, Ph.D.

Course meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.  Registrants must attend the full 2 hours to receive CEs..

Descriptive Narrative:

On the surface, OCD is often associated with the fear of contamination, causing individuals to hand-wash or check endlessly. It may be known as a disorder characterized by a desire for things to be orderly or perfect. In actuality, it has many subtypes, and symptoms of OCD can show up in relationships, in one's religious practices, and any of their daily routines or activities. Due to its complexity, OCD ultimately hijacks one's sense of happiness and joy. Research has shown that traditional "talk therapy" is ineffective. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered the gold standard for treating OCD. The first step is to thoroughly understand what OCD is, assess it accurately, and identify all the ways it may be manifesting in one's life. Through exposure, one can learn to make value-based decisions, face their fears, sit with discomfort, and ultimately feel unstuck and empowered. Learning how to address treatment-resistant behaviors as well as assessing differences between Harm OCD and danger to self are also necessary parts of an effective treatment model. By the end of the presentation, participants should have a well-rounded understanding of OCD, the value of ERP, and practical tools to support individuals suffering from this order toward a path of empowerment and healing.

Objectives:

Upon successfully attending and completing this presentation participants will be able to: 

1.  Participants will be able to provide psychoeducation to assist in the diagnosis of OCD and its subtypes.

2. Participants will be able to discuss differential diagnosis between subtypes and ethical issues, such as Harm OCD vs Suicidal Ideation; Pedophilia OCD vs Child Abuse.

3. Participants will be able to address treatment-resistant behavior that can get in the way of applying ERP.

4. Presenter will demonstrate ERP activities to model how to set up and practice exposure therapy to face fears and uncertainty.

5. Presenter will role-play additional therapeutic techniques to support ERP, including but not limited to mindfulness and ACT skills.

About the presenter:

Dr. Menije is a licensed psychologist and the founder of Embracing You Therapy, a group practice based in Woodland Hills, CA. She and her team specialize in treating a range of mental health concerns, including Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related disorders, anxiety, perfectionism, addiction, and codependency. A recognized expert in overcoming perfectionism and living authentically. Dr Menije has been treating OCD and OCD Spectrum Disorders since 2012. She completed specialized behavioral training through the International OCD Foundation’s Training Institute.

In therapy, Dr. Menije’s goal is to break the cycle of OCD and empower her clients to take charge of their lives. She works collaboratively with clients to help them tolerate discomfort, uncertainty, and the unknown. Dr. Menije believes her clients are fully capable of stepping outside their comfort zones, taking ownership of their dreams, and building a new, empowered sense of self.

Inland Empire Chapter of CAMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCS, AND/or LEPs. IE-CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. CE Provider # 62278