We are excited to announce multiple free local events this year for OCD Awareness Week! Check them out below:
Virtual Fireside Chat with Author and Filmmaker Jim Callner
Saturday October 7 ,1-2pm PDT followed by breakout rooms 2-2:30pm PDT
Hosted by Translational Therapeutics Lab and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, and regional IOCDF affiliate, OCD SF Bay Area
Join us as we converse with Jim Callner about his lived experiences with OCD and the free videos he has created to share ideas about what has helped him personally. A retired college instructor in filmmaking and theatre arts, Callner has received over 35 national and international film festival awards as well as critical acclaim for writing and directing films about physically and emotionally challenged individuals. He is an OCD educator who has authored several books filled with compassionate encouragement. Callner founded an educational website which contains OCD resources alongside his books, films, and videos (https://www.ocdcoachingvideos.com/). The discussion will be followed by breakout rooms
Participating in the discussion will be others who volunteer and work in the OCD realm. Stanford University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences: Lorrin Koran, MD, Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Stanford OCD Clinic; Carolyn Rodriguez, MD, PhD, Professor and Director of Translational Therapeutics Lab; and Keara Valentine, PsyD, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Psychological Research in the Translational Therapeutics Lab; Cassandra Markze, president, OCD SF Bay Area; and Scott Granet, LCSW, Director of The OCD-BDD Clinic of Northern California. Visit iocdf.org/live to watch the livestream and ask questions of the panel. Or catch the recording that will be posted later on at https://www.youtube.com/@IOCDF/streams as well as https://med.stanford.edu/rodriguezlab.
Breakout rooms immediately following the fireside chat:
- San Francisco Bay Area resources, referrals, and volunteer opportunities (moderated by Scott Granet)
- Bay Area research participation opportunities (moderated by Carolyn Rodriguez)
- Peer support connections for teens and young adults (moderated by Cassandra Marzke)
- Mitos acerca de las pruebas geneticas (moderated en español/in Spanish by Paola Giusti-Rodriguez, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Florida College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry)
UCSF OCD Program Meet and Greet
Tuesday October 10, 5-7pm atUCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Building (675 18th Street, 4th Floor, Room 4312, San Francisco, CA 94107)
Come learn about the newest OCD treatments and research opportunities at UCSF. You will get a chance to visit our new building, meet our team, and hear about the patient experience here at UCSF. After a short presentation, there will be time for Q&A and refreshments. For more information about our program, please visit https://ocdprogram.ucsf.edu/
Presenters: Moses Lee, M.D. Ph.D., Candy Katoa, Psy.D., Jennifer Shao, LMFT, Cassandra Marzke
Choicetherapy Free Drop In Support Groups
Learn more/register at: https://www.choicetherapy.net/ocdawarenessweek
Free Online Drop In OCD Support Group (Ages 18+)
October 11, 8-8:50am PST (Zoom)
This one time drop in group will begin with some mindfulness and general education about what OCD is and some of the common treatments. From there we will explore the topics brought up by attendees. Topics may include ACT, exposure therapy, managing obsessions, dealing with perfectionism, handling rumination, enhancing motivation, and overcoming self-judgment. In this supportive environment, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and practice mindfulness, acceptance, and self-compassion. The best part? You won’t be on this journey alone!
Free In-Person Drop In Teenn OCD Support Group (Ages 13-17)
October 17, 6-7:30pm PST, Berkeley (exact location given after completion of registration process)
Life as a teen can be hard – friendships, social media, and school all present their own unique challenges. And if all this weren’t enough on its own, living with OCD can make navigating teen-hood exhausting! This group is a candid space for teens to discuss various topics related to OCD and recovery.
We hope to see you there!