Etiology, Assessment and Diagnosis of OCD
Join us for a Live Webinar on January 19, 2024 from 10am-5pm EST
6 CE hours available for behavioral health clinicians
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by obsessions (repetitive, intrusive, and distressing thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed in response to the obsessions) that has a profound impact on functioning and quality of life. While much of the internal process of OCD is unseen or hidden, it is important for clinicians to understand the etiological factors that influence the development and maintenance of OCD. As OCD often co-occurs with other mental health conditions, it can be useful to learn how to differentiate the myriad of symptoms of OCD from other disorders with overlapping symptom presentations.
This presentation will provide a review of the literature surrounding the etiological and environmental risk factors for the development of OCD, as well as the maintenance of its symptoms. Direct guidance on early intervention and how to best educate clients and their loved ones on the condition, as well as key management strategies, will also be provided. Assessment tools, strategies for clinical interviews, and diagnostic criteria will be explored, including an opportunity for participants to practice differential diagnosis using complex case examples.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the heritability of OCD.
- List at least two environmental factors that impact the development of OCD.
- Identify the diagnostic criteria for OCD, including rule-outs for the condition.
- Assess clients for overlapping symptom presentations and differentiate OCD from other diagnoses.
6 CE hours available with Live Webinar (A no CE Training Event is also available)
Details for those enrolled and earning CEs:
Counselors: Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC 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 mental health counselors. #MHC-0048. Approval renewal date: 1/31/2026
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Social Workers: Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC, #1609, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC maintains responsibility for the program. ASWB Approval Period: 05/02/2021 – 05/02/2024. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval for continuing education credits. Socials workers will receive 6 clinical continuing education clock hours.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC 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-0435. Approval renewal date: 2/28/2026
Psychologists: Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC 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-0128. Effective 8/31/2021 – 8/31/2024
Art Therapists: Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC 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-0093. 7/21/2021 – 7/31/2024
Other Professionals: This course qualifies for 360 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.
Register for the webinar by midnight before the event. So that we can provide you these CEs, you are required to:
- login and access the direct link to the webinar through your account
- participate fully during the event
- complete a post-test and course evaluation at the conclusion of the event
- collect your certificate of completion on your account after steps 1-3 are completed
Enroll in a course by adding it to the cart and proceeding through the check out process. Create an account (or login to yours) during the checkout process.
Prepare: Download Zoom software. Participants must use a device that is connected to adequate internet speed with a camera, microphone and speakers (or headset).
Attend: At least 15 minutes before teh start time the day of the event, login to your account on the website. Go to "My Courses", click on the title/date of the webinar. The link to join the meeting/webinar will be listed in the course content.
Attendance is automatically recorded when you use the link to join.
Any recording made of a live event is NOT included with live webinar registration.
When possible, webinars are recorded and converted into online self-study courses, available for separate purchase/enrollment for those who did not attend the live event.


Melanie Smith
Ph.D., LMHC, CEDS-S
Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-S, is the Director of Training for The Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders. In this role, she provides ongoing training, supervision and consultation to clinicians across disciplines for the purpose of continually assessing and improving competence in the treatment of eating disorders.
Dr. Smith is co-author of The Renfrew Unified Treatment for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity Therapist Guide and Workbook (Oxford University Press), is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Approved Supervisor, and is a Certified Therapist and Trainer for the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP).
In addition to her work with the Renfrew Center, Dr. Smith maintains a telehealth private practice specializing in the supervision and consultation of registered mental health counselor interns (Florida) and individuals seeking eating disorder specialist certification through the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp).
The course was so informative and I was glued to my screen for the entire duration. I received so much knowledge concerning ethics in telehealth and I am greatly encouraged to read about all the standards and policies that pertain to my practice. Thank you!.