OCD SF Bay Area is a community of those who suffer from, care about, and treat people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and other related disorders. We are a 501(c) non-profit affiliate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). We are dedicated to:
Providing information and resources about OCD, its symptoms and its treatment to people with OCD, their families, and the larger Bay Area community
Helping make peer-to-peer support groups available to the San Francisco Bay Area OCD community
Advocating for appropriate and affordable treatment
Acknowledging individuals with OCD as valuable members of their communities
The Annual OCD Conference, sponsored by OCD Institute Texas, is a unique, immersive event filled with educational programming for the OCD and related disorders community — including clinicians, individuals with OCD and related disorders, family members and supporters, youth, students, and researchers. Attendees come together to connect, learn, and share experiences with others impacted by OCD and related disorders, as well as with expert clinicians and researchers.
This interactive course offers an overview of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is led by CBT experts Aude Henin, PhD, and Dina Hirshfeld-Becker, PhD.
The course reviews diagnostic criteria for OCD, the impact of common comorbidities, the differentiation of OCD from other psychiatric disorders of childhood, strategies to combat treatment non-adherence, and much more. The course also focuses on evidence-based CBT interventions such as psychoeducation, cognitive strategies, and exposure and response prevention (E/RP).
Dr. Judith L. Rapoport has left an indelible mark on the field of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) — not only through her extraordinary scientific contributions, but through the compassion, curiosity, and humanity she brought to her work. For countless individuals and families, her legacy is not just measured in research breakthroughs, but in hope restored and lives changed.
At a time when OCD was widely misunderstood, often hidden, and rarely discussed, Dr. Rapoport helped bring it into the light. Through her pioneering work at the National Institute of Mental Health, she gave shape and voice to a condition that many struggled to name. She was among the first to recognize that OCD could affect children, and that these young people deserved understanding, accurate diagnosis, and effective care. This insight alone transformed the trajectory of the field and opened doors for earlier intervention and support for families who had long felt alone.
What set Dr. Rapoport apart was not only her intellect, but her deep commitment to the people behind the science. She approached each question with both rigor and empathy, helping to establish treatments that have since become the gold standard, including exposure and response prevention (ERP) and medication. Her work helped shift the narrative—away from blame or misunderstanding, and toward recognition of OCD as a real, treatable medical condition.
Beyond the lab and clinic, Dr. Rapoport had a rare gift for storytelling. Her book, The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing, brought readers into the lived experience of OCD with clarity and care. For many, it was the first time they saw their own struggles reflected with such honesty and dignity. It helped families feel seen, understood, and less alone — an impact that continues to ripple outward today. The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing impacted professionals as well, providing an eye-opening introduction and gateway to the world of working with OCD.
For these accomplishments and more, Dr. Rappaport received the IOCDF’s 2018 Career Achievement Award. Her influence extends through the many clinicians and researchers she has mentored, each carrying forward her dedication to both excellence and empathy. Through them, her work continues to grow, shaping the future of OCD research and care in ways that are both profound and deeply human.
To honor Dr. Judith Rapoport is to honor a career defined not only by discovery, but by kindness and purpose. She helped the world better understand OCD — but more importantly, she helped people living with OCD feel understood. And in doing so, she changed lives in ways that will endure for generations.
