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From Protocol to Practice: Mastering ERP for Complex OCD Presentations

Sunday, July 19th, 2026   6:00 PM EDT -9:00 PM EDT
Michael Friedman, PsyD and Liza Pincus, PsyD
$59.99 USD Cost For Member: $39.99

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) remains the gold standard for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), yet many clinicians encounter barriers when applying ERP protocols to the complex and diverse nature of real-world cases. This workshop is designed to bridge the gap between research and everyday clinical practice by empowering therapists with practical, flexible strategies to enhance treatment effectiveness across a wide spectrum of OCD presentations. 

 

Participants will receive a concise overview of OCD and ERP fundamentals, followed by in-depth guidance on case conceptualization and individualized treatment and intervention design. Special emphasis will be placed on the art of “flexibility within fidelity”—tailoring evidence-based interventions to each patient’s needs while preserving their core principles. The workshop will address common and complex clinical challenges, such as managing mental compulsions, addressing comorbid conditions, overcoming motivational obstacles, and engaging families in the treatment process.

 

Case examples, role-plays, and experiential exercises will highlight concrete skills and strategies to overcome common pitfalls and barriers, equipping clinicians with tools they can use immediately in their clinical practice. Attendees will leave with renewed confidence and practical skills to optimize outcomes for clients with OCD, even in the face of diagnostic complexity and treatment resistance.

About the Presenter

Michael Friedman and Liza Pincus are the co-founders of the Behavioral Science Institute, a group practice in NY and NJ. Michael specializes in OCD, anxiety, and early childhood disorders. He is also a certified PCIT therapist and trainer. Liza is an experienced clinical director, trainer, supervisor, and clinician with expertise in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She was the former director of the DBT-A program at Montefiore and current co-director of the DBT clinic and lab at Rutgers University.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe the theoretical foundation and principles that guide implementation of ERP for OCD
  2. Distinguish the inhibitory learning approach to exposure from the traditional emotional processing approach
  3. Explain the role of functional assessment in tailor ERP to address unique and complex presentations

Agenda:

Introductions and workshop goals and objectives

(10 minutes)


OCD & ERP Essentials

Overview of OCD symptom presentation. 

ERP fundamentals and evidence base

(20 minutes)


Case conceptualization for OCD 

Conceptual understanding of ERP

Functional assessment 

Exposure design 

(30 minutes)


Common pitfalls and how to address them

(20 minutes)


Flexibility within fidelity

Applied case conceptualization

Addressing complex presentations 

Mental rituals, abstract obsessions/compulsions, etc.

(35 minutes)

Skills in action

Guided practice of functional assessment and exposure tailoring/design for complex presentations

Group role plays and case examples 

(35 minutes)


Review and summary -

(15 minutes)


Q&A 

(15 minutes)


This workshop offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • NEFESH International, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0116.
  • NEFESH International 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 marriage and family therapists #MFT-0046
  • NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Mental Health Counselor #MHC-0082
  • NEFESH International 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 #SW-0048.
  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
  • Therapist Express 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 creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.