From Jinxes to “Just right” to Germs: Applying Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy to Pediatric OCD and Related Disorders

Recorded Webinar

The average child/adolescent experiencing OCD suffers undiagnosed for many years before receiving an accurate diagnosis and up to 10-15 years before the appropriate treatment is employed. Families struggle to find providers who are adequately trained to recognize, assess, and treat OCD, especially in pediatric populations. Often, providers report suspecting “there could be some OCD” in a current patient without having the tools to confidently diagnose and redirect treatment.

OCD responds well to Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (EX/RP or ERP), the gold-standard intervention with the largest evidence base. Using interactive case studies and engaging video clips of pediatric cases, this workshop teaches participants to assess the many subtypes of OCD (more than 15 varieties exist!) and introduce the active ingredients of EX/RP for pediatric OCD – in-vivo and imaginal exposures and response prevention techniques. Further, clinicians will learn strategies for helping families reduce accommodations and maximize motivation with effective rewards. 

Of note, expertise in exposure work can be applied transdiagnostically to effectively treat children/teens with specific phobias, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, etc. Studies show that many clinicians understand the unique rationale behind exposure work, but may be nervous to implement it. The workshop will provide tangible actions for clinicians to use in upcoming sessions and increase confidence in utilizing exposure with a number of diagnoses beyond OCD. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Discriminate between symptoms of OCD and differential diagnoses
2. Evaluate symptoms from case studies using the gold-standard YBOCS measure
3. Compare patient symptoms to diagnostic criteria (DSM-5) to make accurate diagnoses
4. Explain the core components of EX/RP, in-vivo exposures and imaginal exposures
5. Examine the role of accommodation in families with children/teens with OCD and devise strategies for reducing reassurance
6. Evaluate tracking and reward strategies for children/teens with OCD to motivate completion of daily exposure homework

Research: More information can be found on the following websites.

• www.iocdf.org
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6343408/
• https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10578-005-4079-7.pdf
• https://kids.iocdf.org/from-the-experts/why-therapists-dont-use-erp-for-youth-with-ocd-and-what-we-an-do-about-it-insights-from-a-national-survey-of-private-practice-therapists/

Target Audience: social workers, mental health practitioners, creative arts therapists, marriage and facility therapists, psychologists, addiction professionals, case managers, and other interested individuals.

We are happy to respond to any concerns or questions you may have. Please contact us at by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or by phone at 716-829-5841.

ADA Accommodations: If you require any support for your ADA needs in the United States, please contact us by email at least 3 weeks prior to the event by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or by phone at 716-829-5841.