OCD New Jersey

An affiliate of the International OCD Foundation

26th Annual Conference
Sunday, March 22, 2026

10am – 3pm
The Westwood in Garwood, NJ

DOWNLOAD: 2026 OCDNJ Conference Brochure

with Keynote Speaker: Josh Spitalnick, PhD, ABPP

“Overcoming Health Anxiety”

Health anxiety, persistent worry about having or developing a serious medical condition, affects approximately 4–10% of people. This presentation explores how health anxiety operates much like OCD, driving cycles of fear, checking, and reassurance seeking. Participants will learn why evidencebased treatments for OCD, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are considered the most effective approaches. The session will also address the practical challenges of distinguishing health anxiety from genuine medical issues and the complex relationship between physical symptoms and psychological processes. Through a balanced blend of research, case examples, and clinical guidance, this presentation will highlight common barriers to effective care and introduce flexible, compassionate strategies to support accurate assessment and treatment, even when the presence of OCD or medical conditions are co-occurring. Whether you are a therapist, healthcare professional, or community member seeking a deeper understanding, you will leave with clear, useful tools to inform effective support.

The Learning Objectives of the presentations will:

- Identify and differentiate disorders associated with health anxiety, including Illness Anxiety Disorder, Somatic Symptom Disorder, and other anxiety/OCD or related health themes.
- Describe the common symptoms associated with these psychiatric conditions, including triggers, obsessions, and compulsions, along with more nuanced symptoms associated with health anxiety.
- Identify evidenced-based interventions used to eliminate rituals, embrace anxiety, and prioritize values-based life activities

Participation in this program will enable you to:

- Consider a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach when assessing and treating health anxiety conditions

“Living with OCD” Panel: A diverse panel of individuals who are living with OCD will briefly share their person struggles with the disorder and its treatment. Instructional commentary will be provided by Dr. Levy who will illustrate and expand on the diagnosis, expression, and treatment of this disorder. Commons questions will be discussed utilizing these “real world” examples of life with OCD in the service of deepening the understanding of the disorder.

More About Our Presenters:

Josh S. Spitalnick, Ph.D., ABPP

Dr. Josh Spitalnick is a Licensed Psychologist, Board Certified in Behavioral & Cognitive Psychology (ABPP). He is CEO/Founder of Anxiety Specialists of Atlanta, a Center of Excellence for over a decade, specializing in the treatment of OCD, anxiety and mood disorders for all ages, serving over 40 states. Dr. Spitalnick trains clinicians in evidence-based interventions, serves on faculty for the Behavior Therapy Training Institute for the IOCDF and as faculty in Department of Psychiatry at Emory University. Dr. Spitalnick is the co-author “The Complete Guide to Overcoming Health Anxiety, ” the parenting guide “Raising Resilience: 25 Tips for Parenting Your Child with Anxiety or OCD,” and has co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and treatment manuals, having served of Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI for over 15 federally-funded projects.

Jordan Levy, Ph.D.

is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice. Dr. Levy is the Co- Director and Founder of North Jersey Psychology Associates which is a private practice in Livingston, New Jersey that specializes in the treatment of OCD and Anxiety Disorders. He works primarily with adults, adolescents and children living with anxiety and OCD, including the Purely-Obsessional subtype. Dr. Levy is also licensed in New York and is able to provide telehealth services across many states under the authority of The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). He is President of OCD New Jersey, the New Jersey affiliate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF).

Registration Fees:

Regular Registration for Students/Non-CEU (by 3/15/26) – $65.00 USD

Regular Registration for CEU attendees (by 3/15/26) – $80.00 USD

On-site Registration on 3/22/26:

Registration for Students/Non-CEU Attendees – $75.00 USD

CEU On-site Registration – $90 USD

For special acommodations for the buffet lunch, including a kosher or vegetarian plate, please contact: nicole.torella@gmail.com