Minnesota OCD Conference

Join us for a day of learning, sharing, and support at the Minnesota OCD Conference - a safe space to connect and grow together.

About this Event

The Minnesota OCD Conference is a one-day event dedicated to education, connection, and hope for individuals with OCD, their family members, friends, and mental health professionals. This is the first conference of its kind in Minnesota, bringing together experts, advocates, and community members for a day of learning, resource-sharing, and inspiration.

• Whether you’re seeking support, looking to better understand OCD, or wanting advanced clinical training, this event offers something for everyone.

What to Expect

When you arrive at the Minnesota OCD Conference, you’ll be welcomed at our check-in table. There, you’ll receive:

• A tote bag filled with resources and goodies from our sponsors and exhibitors
• A name badge so you can connect easily with others throughout the day
• A conference program with session descriptions, presenter bios, and room locations

Check-in & Welcome (8:30–9:30 AM)

• Grab coffee or tea, browse resource tables, and mingle with other attendees.
• Stop by exhibitor booths to learn about OCD-related services, tools, and community organizations.

Sessions & Keynote

• Enjoy a variety of breakout sessions tailored for different audiences—individuals with OCD, families & friends, and clinicians.
• Hear from our keynote speaker, Alison Dotson, as she shares her story and insights on OCD.

Lunch & Networking

• Use the lunch break to visit resource tables, join an affinity group, or connect with others in the community. More details on these will be available soon.
• Pre-ordered boxed lunches will be ready for those who reserved them.

Ask the Experts Panel

• End the day with a live Q&A featuring top experts in psychiatry, neuroscience, and OCD treatment.

Throughout the Day

• Take breaks in the Quiet Room if you need a calm space.
• Visit exhibitors, pick up materials, and connect with professionals and peers.
• You can do more than just go to the breakouts! Stop by interactive areas to make art, join activities, and connect with others in a more hands-on way.

You’ll leave with practical tools, new connections, and a stronger sense of hope and community, plus plenty of resources to keep the momentum going after the event.

Resource Fair Exhibitors

OCD & Anxiety Center of Minnesota

Minnesota Tic and Compulsivity (MnTiC Lab)

NAMI Minnesota

The Emily Program

Brightmont Academy

Grove Center for Therapy

Still Wild Healing

Heart Space Studio

Introspect Mental Health

Rogers Behavioral Health

VonOstir Innovation Services

The Divergent Grove Therapy

Interna Mental Health and Wellness

North Star Therapy Animals of Pet Partners

Compass Health Center

Yoku Table Tennis Academy

More organizations to be announced soon!

Interested in being an exhibitor? Apply here: https://forms.gle/bKgNb36zcUnesDpe6

Agenda


🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:30 AM
Check-In, Welcome Mingle & Resource Fair

🕑: 09:30 AM - 09:45 AM
Opening Remarks

Info: Kickoff & Conference Overview

🕑: 09:45 AM - 10:15 AM
Keynote Address: Alison Dotson
Host: Alison Dotson

Info: Living with OCD & Building a Community of Hope

🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Breakout Block 1

🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Intro to OCD: What It Is & How We Treat It (For Everyone)
Host: Erin Venker, MA, LPCC

Info: Learn the basics of OCD, how it presents, and the gold-standard treatments that help people reclaim their lives. Perfect for anyone new to understanding OCD—whether you’re personally affected or supporting someone who is.

🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Innovations in OCD Treatment: The Power of I-CBT (For Clinicians)
Host: Lucy Grantz, LMFT

Info: Explore Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), an emerging evidence-based approach for OCD.

🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Supporting a Loved One with OCD (For Families & Friends)
Host: Bryan Piatt, MA

Info: Practical strategies for understanding OCD’s impact on relationships, reducing unhelpful accommodation, and fostering a supportive environment that empowers recovery.

🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Lunch & Networking

🕑: 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
Breakout Block 2

🕑: 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
Getting Started with ERP: The Gold Standard Treatment (For Everyone)
Host: Erin Venker, MA, LPCC

Info: A clear, beginner-friendly guide to Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, including what to expect, how it works, and why it’s considered the most effective OCD treatment.

🕑: 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
Parenting a Child with OCD: The SPACE Approach (For Families & Friends)
Host: Halen Bower, MA

Info: Learn how the SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) model helps parents reduce accommodation and support their child’s progress with compassion and confidence.

🕑: 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
Working with OCD in Complex Presentations Panel (For Clinicians)
Host: Haley Petersen, MA

Info: Strategies for treating OCD when it’s accompanied by comorbidities like trauma, mood disorders, or personality disorders. Includes real-world case examples and treatment adaptations.

🕑: 01:45 PM - 02:00 PM
Break

🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Breakout Block 3

🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Talking Taboo: The Hidden Themes of OCD Panel (For Everyone)
Host: Erin Venker, MA, LPCC

Info: A candid panel discussion exploring lesser-known OCD themes—such as harm, sexual, and moral obsessions—that are often misunderstood or stigmatized. Panelists will share professional insights and personal experiences, highlighting how these themes present and how they can be effectively treated.

🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Perfectionism, Rigidity & OCD – Incorporating RO-DBT (For Clinicians)
Host: Marie Monson, MA, LPCC

Info: Explore Radically Open DBT and how it addresses overcontrol, perfectionism, and rigidity in clients with OCD.

🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Neurodivergence & OCD: Overlap with Autism & ADHD (For Everyone)
Host: Alex McLaughlin, MSW, LICSW

Info: Understand how OCD can overlap with autism and ADHD, including shared traits, diagnostic challenges, and tips for tailoring treatment to neurodivergent clients.

🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:15 PM
Break

🕑: 03:15 PM - 04:15 PM
Ask the Experts: Medic*tion, Brain Research, & OCD (For Everyone)
Host: Alik Widge, MD, PhD

Info: A live Q&A with leading experts in psychiatry, neuroscience, and OCD treatment. Panelists will answer audience questions on Medic*tion, brain research, innovative treatment approaches, and supporting individuals with OCD and related conditions.

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