Treatment of OCD: An Integrative Approach using ERP & ACT

Miriam Adams, ScD, LICSW, BCD &  Kate Wilson, LICSW

Instructors

Cases of OCD appear to be on the rise. Although not a new diagnosis, several factors have been proposed as contributing to the apparent rise in new cases of OCD, including: greater public awareness, greater definitional clarity and diagnostic precision, and lessening of social stigma, among others. Behavioral health clinicians often feel the need to enhance their clinical competence to meet the rising demand in treating OCD.  This workshop will provide participants with an overview of the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).  We will discuss diagnostic criteria and review assessment instruments, including the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS).  Participants will learn evidence-based treatment approaches for OCD, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).  We will also provide a review of psychopharmacologic interventions and adjunctive behavioral medicine treatment approaches with demonstrated effectiveness for treating OCD.  Case examples will be used throughout the workshop to illustrate the implementation of these strategies, and participants will also be encouraged to bring questions regarding their own cases.

Description

Date & Time

Feb 21, 2026

8:30 AM to 12:45 PM

Format

Live Workshop with In-Person (at Boston Behavioral Medicine) and On-Line Attendance (via Zoom)

Credits

4 CEs

Fee

$140

  • Participants will enhance their competence diagnosing OCD by learning the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria and becoming more skilled at recognizing the core symptoms associated with OCD.

  • Participants will learn a variety of assessment measures and be able to implement at least one valid assessment instrument after the workshop.

  • Participants will learn the basic principles of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and learn how to build exposure hierarchies.

  • Participants will understand how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles can be effective in the treatment of OCD and develop competence on specific ACT skills and strategies.

  • Case presentation material presented by skilled practitioners will help participants promote their competence in effectively treating patients with OCD.

Learning Objectives:

Miriam Adams, ScD, LICSW, BCD is a board-certified clinical social worker in private practice for over 25 years.  She specializes in the assessment and treatment of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders and anxiety disorders, and the use of behavioral medicine approaches.  Her training in Exposure and Response Prevention came from the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) through the International OCD Foundation.  She received further clinical training in the assessment and treatment of OCD through her work with the telehealth group NOCD (“No Obsessive Compulsive Disorder”).  Miriam practices an integrative approach to OCD treatment, utilizing ERP, ACT, and adjunctive approaches such as EMDR and behavioral medicine approaches for managing anxiety and stress responses. 

 

Kate Wilson, LICSW is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with expertise in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and mood disorders and eating disorders, particularly during adolescence and young adulthood.  She worked for many years at Mclean Hospital’s Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Institute (OCDI) providing residential and partial hospital level of care to patients and their families facing the challenges of OCD. She has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) treatment and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). As a core staff member and clinical supervisor at Boston Behavioral Medicine, both Kate and her colleague, Miriam Adams, LICSW, have been teaching on OCD and other behavioral medicine approaches to graduate-level students in both clinical psychology and social work.  

Presenters Bios:

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