OCD NJ, an affiliate of the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation, will host its 15th annual Conference on Sunday, March 15, at The Westwood in Garwood.
The conference will begin with guest speaker, Dr. Anne Marie Albano, who will present, “Treatment of OCD in Adolescents and Young Adults: What to do with Parents?” For professionals interested in attending the conference, it has been approved for four continuing education units. This program is designed for both professionals and non-professionals. Registration fees include a continental breakfast and lunch. One can register online at www.ocdnj.org.
Anne Marie Albano, Ph.D., ABPP, is Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry at Columbia University and Director of the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Albano is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, a Beck Institute Scholar, and is Board Certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.
In 2008, Dr. Albano received the Rosenberry Award for service to children, adolescents and families from the University of Colorado at Denver. Dr. Albano is Past President of the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology of the American Psychological Association and also past-president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. She has published more than 90 articles and chapters and is the co-author of several cognitive behavioral treatment manuals and of the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children, all published by Oxford University Press.
During the interactive, multimedia presentation, Dr. Albano will discuss the background and model for the new “Launching Emerging Adult Program” (LEAP). LEAP is implemented as an age- and developmentally-appropriate treatment for OCD and anxiety disorders, involving individual, group and family sessions. Specific examples of the LEAP modules to engage parents and adolescents/young adults to address anxiety, reduce parent overprotection, and meet developmental goals will be presented. Case examples with emphasis on developmental issues, including confidentiality, parent-adolescent engagement, and methods for breaking the cycle of overprotection will be presented and audience participation encouraged.
The second part of the program, titled, “Living with OCD” will consist of a panel of those affected by OCD, who will each briefly speak about their experience. This will be followed by a question and answer session. The panel will be moderated by Allen H. Weg, EdD, President of OCD NJ. Dr. Weg is a New Jersey licensed psychologist and an author of “OCD Treatment Through Storytelling; A Strategy for Successful Therapy,” published by Oxford University. His independent practice, Stress and Anxiety Services of New Jersey, LLC, is located in East Brunswick. He and his associates specialize in the cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders for children, adolescents and adults
OCD NJ is a nonprofit organization and an Affiliate of the International OCD Foundation.
OCD NJ is committed to educating the community about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), offering support to sufferers and their families, and supporting research. OCD NJ has quarterly meetings in central NJ which feature OCD experts as the guest speakers.
All quarterly meetings are free and open to the public.