Treating OCD: Foundations of Exposure & Ritual Prevention

Discounts- $25 off for Groups of 5+, CSSW Alumni, and CSSW Field Supervisors, and Columbia University Affiliates with a Columbia Email Domain

• Groups of 5+: select the appropriate group ticket when registering and enter the number of tickets you would like to purchase.
• CSSW Alumni: Please email [email protected] for promotional code. Your email should contain your full name at the time you graduated and the year you graduated.
• Field instructors supervising a CSSW student during the current or upcoming academic year: Please email [email protected] for promotional code. Include the name and year of the CSSW student you are supervising for the academic year.
• Non-CSSW Columbia University faculty, staff, alumni: Please email [email protected] for the promotional code. Your email should contain your full name, position, and/or year and school of graduation. Email must be from your Columbia University email domain.
• Current CSSW employees: please contact [email protected] for your OPE benefit.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the top 20 leading causes of illness-related disability according to the World Health Organization, and often causes significant academic, occupational and family impairment. Exposure and Ritual Prevention (EX/RP) has proven to be an effective therapy for OCD. In EX/RP, a patient is guided in gradually facing feared situations while resisting rituals or compulsions. This workshop will focus on the treatment of OCD using EX/RP. The presenter will briefly review the diagnostic profile of OCD and will cover assessment strategies that help prepare a clinician and patient for EX/RP. Strategies for providing psychoeducation to patients and building willingness to engage in EX/RP will be discussed. The presenter will outline how to develop an exposure-based course of treatment, will review exposure ideas for common OCD symptoms, and will model the use of exposure in various formats. The presentation will also focus on identifying rituals, including mental rituals, and how to guide patients in reducing these behaviors. Attention will be paid to including family members in the treatment process. Finally, the presenter will discuss common barriers to treatment and how to overcome them. Live modeling and role plays will be used throughout the workshop to illustrate EX/RP.

As a result of this workshop, participants will:

• Understand the function of OCD symptoms and the relationships between specific obsessions and compulsions
• Develop a treatment plan involving EX/RP for a patient with OCD
• Complete exposures targeting OCD symptoms
• Identify rituals and guide patients in resisting ritualistic behaviors in treatment
• Guide a patient’s family members in effectively supporting EX/RP

Dr. Anthony Puliafico (bio) is an associate professor of medical psychology in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University. He serves as Director of the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) -Westchester, an anxiety specialty clinic in Tarrytown, NY. He previously served as assistant director of psychology at the New York State Psychiatric Institute Pediatric Anxiety and Mood Research Clinic. Dr. Puliafico specializes in the assessment and cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety, OCD and related disorders in children, anxiety and adults. His clinical work and research have focused on the treatment of pediatric OCD, school refusal, and adapting treatments for young children with anxiety.

You will be sent an email containing the Zoom link at 6 p.m. the evening before and again 1 hour prior to the webinar. If you do not receive an email containing the webinar link by the times indicated here then check your SPAM folder and email us at [email protected] if you need further assistance. Please also note the following:

• You will be required to sign -in with your name and answer a few registration questions.

• See Continuing Education information and requirements below if receiving CE hours.

6.5 live, online or in-person CE contact hours will be awarded to NY, NJ, and CT licensed social workers*, NY mental health counselors and NY psychologists who have met the attendance requirements below.

Social Workers: CSSW is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. Provider #SW‐0021

*Social workers from other states, please confirm with your state licensing board. Please note that we do not specify type of credits (general, cultural competence, clinical, etc.) Many states have recognized Columbia University School of Social Work continuing education hours as we are a CSWE accredited institution and approved by the NYS Education Department to provide continuing education.

Mental Health Counselors: CSSW is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. Provider #MHC-0137

*Mental health counselors from other states, please confirm with your state licensing board.

Psychologists: CSSW- OPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists. Provider #PSY-0194.

Please note that in order to receive your continuing education certificate, you must attend the entire workshop and complete the evaluation in accordance to NYSED regulations. There is a 10 minute grace period.  Any participant who arrives/logs in past 10:10 AM OR leaves/logs out earlier than 5:05 PM will not receive CE credits.  Refunds are not provided for late arrivals or early departures.  Please plan accordingly.  

CE Distribution: Evaluation and Certificate forms will be distributed via email within 2 weeks following the event to those meeting the attendance requirements above.

Special Accommodations: If you require disability accommodations to attend/participate in an event at Columbia University School of Social Work, please contact the Office of Professional Excellence at [email protected] at least 10 days in advance of the event.*

For events posted less than 10 days in advance, contact [email protected] as soon as possible.

Grievance Policy: For information on our grievance policy, click here.

Fees will be refunded less a $5 processing fee, if email notification is received by the Office of Professional Excellence up to two weeks prior to the workshop date. Refunds will not be provided to those not meeting the attendance requirements.

Host or Publisher Columbia University, School of Social Work