This two-part workshop will explore the etiology, prevalence, cultural context, widespread misunderstanding, and treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Information will be presented from a multidimensional approach, reviewing the sociocultural, psychological, behavioral, and medical aspects of treatment.
Topics discussed will include: media literacy and dispelling myths about OCD, assessment and diagnosis, treatment options, and community resources for OCD clients and their loved ones.
Following this workshop, participants will have the ability to:
- Define OCD and related terms/concepts (obsessions, compulsions, intrusive thoughts, exposure exercises, etc.)
- Describe how OCD clients may be specifically impacted by ableism, public misunderstanding, and how healthcare provider misunderstanding of OCD leads to further stigma, shame, misdiagnosis, and barriers to treatment
- Describe how cultural context impacts OCD
- Describe how to properly assess, diagnose and refer OCD clients to appropriate treatment
- Name and debunk at least three myths that misrepresent OCD
- Name at least two ways to support OCD clients in a therapy setting
Renee Fitzpatrick, LMHC, LPC, CST (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor and AASECT-certified Sex Therapist currently working with individuals, families and relationship-systems with her private practice with OR and WA-based clients. Renee is also an adjunct professor for the CMHC, CTSP and MCFT programs within Lewis & Clark’s Graduate School for Counseling Education. Renee specializes in working with sexually-marginalized communities, including disabled and neurodivergent clients. Renee is a clinician with lived experience having OCD who provides Exposure & Response Prevention Treatment (ERP) for clients suffering with OCD.
