It May Not Be About Food: Recognizing and Treating Co- Occurring ED and OCD

Eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder often share rigid rules, intrusive thoughts, and ritualized behaviors, but their underlying functions can be very different. When they co-occur, clinicians may misinterpret symptoms or apply the wrong intervention—leading to stalled progress or ineffective treatment.

This workshop gives clinicians clear, practical tools to distinguish the similarities and differences between eating disorders and OCD, use functional assessment to determine what drives a client’s rituals or avoidance patterns, and tailor treatment when both conditions are present. Case examples and applied strategies will help participants build confidence in identifying whether symptoms are fueled by body-image fears, contamination fears, harm avoidance, or a mix of both.

Josh Kaplan, MA, LCPC is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor specializing in eating disorders, depression, anxiety, self-injury, OCD, and PTSD. He has worked in mental health since 2010 across residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient settings, including The Pavilion Behavioral Health System, Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, and currently serves as clinical director of Chicago Counseling Center. Josh has extensive experience providing individual, group, and family therapy using CBT, DBT, ACT, and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). He is committed to helping clients develop meaningful behavioral change, emotional regulation skills, and greater self-acceptance.

Menu: Pollo Pagliacci, Polenta con Ragù e funghi, Insalata Classica

1.5 CE's are available for therapy and nutrition providers.

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Host or Publisher Eating Disorders Network