Inference-based Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment that is a new approach to treating OCD. It is based on the central idea that obsessions are abnormal doubts about what “could be”, or “might be” (e.g. “I might have left the stove on”; “I might be contaminated”; “I might be a deviant”).

According to this approach, obsessional doubts do not come out of the blue, but they arise as the result of a dysfunctional reasoning narrative that is characterized by a tendency to distrust the senses and an over-reliance on the imagination. As a result, obsessional doubts are able to persist without ever being resolved by carrying out compulsions.

I-CBT is a cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT), but it is different from standard cognitive-behavioral approaches to the treatment of OCD.

To learn more about I-CBT, go to icbt.online.

IOCDF is so happy to announce the launch of its new livestream series, Supporting Our Families, with a premiere air date of Thursday, November 9th at 7pm ET (4pm PT) on YouTube!

This livestream event will be an interactive discussion dedicated to parents and loved ones of individuals of all ages living with OCD. Join JACK Mental Health Advocacy (MHA) founder, IOCDF Advocate, and mom Kim Vincenty, along with parent and IOCDF Advocate Chris Baier, and IOCDF experts, Natasha Daniels, LCSW, and Jon Hershfield, MFT as they explore the topics that are important to you.

If you have questions about accommodating and reassurance, finding the right therapist, dealing with treatment resistance, or the many other unique issues facing parents of those with OCD, this event is for you.

Mark your calendars and we hope to see you there!

The International OCD Foundation’s Online OCD Camp sponsored by McLean OCDI Jr. is a virtual event for youth with OCD, and their families!

Created especially for youth between the ages of 6 and 17, OCD Camp will feature two days of interactive sessions and activities for three age groups.

In addition, the program will include sessions for parents/guardians and opportunities for fun and socialization with other families.

You can choose from four audience tracks:

• Elementary Schoolers (Suggested Ages 6–11)
• Middle Schoolers (Suggested Ages 12–14)
• High Schoolers (Suggested Ages: 15–17)
• Parents and Guardians

Registration Fees: $65 • One rate no matter how many family members attend.

One price covers registration, whether it’s just one person or your entire family attending! During the registration process, you will submit family member information and which tracks they will be attending.

The Tomczak Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Department of Neurology is currently conducting a study where they are trying to characterize the gut microbiome in patients with Chronic Tic Disorders (CTD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Tic Associated OCD (TOCD) as compared to healthy controls and correlate variations in the gut microbiome with OCD and tic symptom severity. Currently, they are in the recruitment stage and are hoping that they may be able to connect for patient referrals for its study. There are eligibility requirements for the patients that they are recruiting such as:

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who are age 6 to 17 with obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic tic disorder, or are healthy controls without any neurological conditions.
• Parents or legal guardians willing to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who do not speak English
• Patients with bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, functional neurologic disorders, Autism spectrum disorder, moderate to severe depression not in remission within the past year, eating disorders, or are pregnant.
• Patients with a prior diagnosis of Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS) or Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS).
• Patients with co-morbid GI conditions including obesity, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal migraines, gastrointestinal cancers, gastric emptying disorders, and peptic ulcer disease.
• Patients who have had medication changes in the 4 weeks prior to either stool collection time point.

If you are interested in participating in this study, call 617-919-9302 or email BCHTicsOCD@childrens.harvard.edu. Download a summary of the study’s information.

Dr. Emily Ricketts, an investigator at the UCLA Child OCD Program, is conducting a survey on emotion regulation and health behaviors in children with OCD aged 10-17. The research study involves a 25-minute parent survey and a 20-minute child survey.

Download their IRB-approved study information sheet, as well as the flyer with a QR code. Upon scanning the QR code, interested participants will be prompted to input their name and email. After completing this form, you will receive a separate email with a personalized and secure link to the survey.

Upon successful completion of the survey and quality assurance checks, each participant will receive a $10 Amazon e-gift card.

We are happy to announce that Katie Marrotte, MSW, LCSW, will be our guest lecturer at a virtual Zoom event we are holding on Thursday, November 16th at 7:30pm. She will be discussing the topic of Inference-Based Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for OCD. Inference-based CBT (I-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment of choice for OCD. I-CBT is an upstream modality that targets the obsessional doubt of the OCD cycle. When the obsessional doubt is resolved, then the anxiety and compulsive aspects of OCD do not take place.

Katie is a local therapist and OCD trainer with lived experience. She believes that those suffering from OCD deserve more evidence-based treatment options than just Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

Katie is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in the treatment of OCD. Katie has a Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Health and Mental Health from the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. Social work focuses not just on pathology, but also looks at human development through a lens of policy, social justice, and social welfare to give a more complete look at factors affecting people on a grander scale. This background in social justice contributes to her passion for pursuing a more robust set of skills for treating OCD, as well as advocating for multifaceted treatment approaches and competency for OCD specialists.

Katie also runs a private practice offering Inference-Based CBT, Exposure Response Prevention, Mindfulness-Based Treatment, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for OCD. Katie believes that the most effective approach for treating OCD should be evidence-based, multifaceted, and most importantly, informed by the needs of the client.

Her website is ocdtrainingschool.com.

OCD Connecticut is taking part in the One Million Steps for OCD Walk sponsored by @iocdf with a grassroots community walk during OCD Awareness Week in October 2023. This walk provides a supportive community, increases awareness, and raises funds for the IOCDF and its Local Affiliates, enabling them to continue their mission. Funds raised will benefit the OCD and related disorders community. Together we’re embracing uncertainty, one step at a time!

Date: Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 9:00 AM (Rain date is Sunday, October 15, 2023)
Location: Jennings Beach, 880 South Benson Road, Fairfield, CT

You can support OCD CT by either registering to join our Community Walk Team or by making a donation to our team. Visit our Team Page for the One Million Steps Walk for more information.

In celebration of International OCD Awareness Week, OCD Connecticut is presenting a colloquium – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Getting Help and Support for Recovery – on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at Sacred Heart University (SHU) in Fairfield, CT. Christina Taylor, Ph.D., OCD Connecticut Clinical Board Advisor, and members of the Fairfield County OCD Support Group will discuss the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of OCD. The presentation is sponsored by The Human Journey Colloquia 2023 Series and is free and open to the public.

The panel will be held at 7:00 PM in the Loris Forum in the Martire Building at SHU, 5401 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT.

Likewise, this year, the IOCDF has multiple ways for you to get involved during OCD Awareness Week. Go to the IOCDF website for more information.

October 21–22, 2023 (Saturday–Sunday)

The Online OCD Conference sponsored by McLean OCD Institute for Children and Adolescents is a two-day virtual event jam-packed with educational programming for those in the OCD and related disorders community (18+), including:

• Individuals with lived experience
• Family members & supporters
• Pre-licensed trainees & students
• Mental health professionals

Sessions and Q&A, Community Discussion Groups, and our Virtual Keynote will all be broadcast live via Zoom, meaning anyone can attend from anywhere in the world! Session presentations and the Keynote will be available on-demand for 60 days following the event, giving you plenty of time to access all of the #OCDCon programming.

Community discussion groups and session Q&A will not be recorded.

The Online OCD Conference is organized by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), a donor-supported nonprofit supporting all those impacted by OCD and related disorders in partnership with OCD Southern California, an official Affiliate of the IOCDF.

The mission of the IOCDF is to ensure that no one affected by OCD and related disorders suffers alone. Our community provides help, healing, and hope. Our vision is that everyone impacted by OCD and related disorders has immediate access to effective treatment and support.

The IOCDF provides up-to-date education and resources, strengthens community engagement, delivers quality professional training, and advances groundbreaking research. For more information, visit IOCDF.org.

LIVE FREE PUBLIC WEBINAR | Tuesday, October 3 | 2:00 – 2:30 PM ET

Join ADAA for an informative free live public Q&A webinar, presented in partnership with InStride Health.

The Q&A panel designed for parents and caregivers features experts Drs. Mona Potter & Kathryn Boger. Get answers to your questions and learn practical strategies to empower both you and your child to understand their worries and manage their anxiety and or OCD.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with experts and fellow caregivers, as we empower you with knowledge and resources to help your child thrive.

Presented in partnership with ADAA Institutional Member & Partner InStride Health.