OCD New Jersey
An affiliate of the International OCD Foundation
25th Annual Conference
Sunday, March 16, 2025
DOWNLOAD: 2025 OCDNJ Conference Brochure
An Interactive Multimedia Presentation by Jonathan Hershfield, MA, LCMFT
“Integrating ERP and DBT in the Treatment of Unwanted Thoughts and Intense Emotions”
The gold standard treatment for OCD and related disorders is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that emphasizes exposure and response prevention (ERP). Inherent in exposure approaches to unwanted thoughts is an engagement with distress (anxiety, disgust, or other difficult emotions). In ideal circumstances, the patient is a witness to the distress rising and then subsequently abating throughout the exposure process without having to engage in compulsions. However, for OCD sufferers who are especially sensitive to intense emotions, including those with trauma, borderline personality disorder, and other comorbid conditions, these experiences can lead to dissociation, self-harm, and even suicidality. As a learning process, in order for ERP to be effective, the patient needs to be able to remain present throughout the learning experience. As such, strategic modification might be made for some patients to keep them in the “zone” of intensity that can be maintained and observed. Many of these distress tolerance and emotional regulation skills can be found in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). Contrary to some misconceptions, that exposure can never involve distress reduction or coping techniques, this workshop aims to highlight how ERP and DBT can be simultaneously incorporated to help patients navigate unwanted thoughts and intense emotions together. Target audience: professionals, individuals with OCD and their support persons.
The Learning Objectives of the presentations will:
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- Identify core concepts in the application of ERP to unwanted thoughts.
- Describe specific DBT skills that can be used to address intense emotions.
- Distinguish between effective coping skills and compulsive avoidance.
“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. Deibler 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.
“Integrating ERP and DBT in the treatment of unwanted thoughts and intense emotions”
by Rachel Strohl, Psy.D.
On Sunday March 16, 2025, Jonathan Hershfield, MA, LCMFT presented at the 25th annual conference of OCD New Jersey (OCD NJ). Mr. Hershfield is the director of the Center for OCD and Anxiety at Sheppard Pratt in Towson, Maryland, where he specializes in the treatment of OCD and related disorders in both outpatient and residential settings. He is the author of When a Family Member Has OCD, Overcoming Harm OCD, and The OCD Workbook for Teens, and co-author of Everyday Mindfulness for OCD, The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD, and The Unwanted Thoughts and Intense Emotions Workbook. Mr. Hershfield is a member of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation and a faculty member of the BTTI.
According to Mr. Hershfield, the gold standard treatment for OCD and related disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that emphasizes exposure and response prevention (ERP). Inherent in exposure approaches to unwanted thoughts is an engagement with distress. In ideal circumstances, the patient is a witness to the distress rising and then subsequently abating throughout the exposure process without having to engage in compulsions. As a learning process, for ERP to be effective, the patient needs to be able to remain present throughout the learning experience. As such, strategic modification might be made for some patients to keep them in the “zone” of intensity that can be maintained and observed. Many of these distress tolerance and emotional regulation skills can be found in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). Contrary to some misconceptions, that exposure can never involve distress reduction or coping techniques, Mr. Hershfield highlighted how ERP and DBT can be simultaneously incorporated to help patients navigate unwanted thoughts and intense emotions together.
Who benefits from combined ERP and DBT? An individual with the presence of 1) self-harm/ suicidal ideation, 2) panic, 3) dissociation, 4) self-loathing, 5) conflict in relationships, 6) decreased insight, or 7) borderline personality disorder (BPD). Mr. Hershfield discussed types of triggering thoughts including taboo/ unacceptable (e.g., sex, violence), catastrophic, self-critical, and judgmental. Emotions persist due to rumination, suppression, avoidance, self-destruction, or trauma. He went on to detail the CBT model for OCD: psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, and ERP, as well as mindfulness and self-compassion, defusion, and non-engagement responses.
DBT was explained as treating intense emotions with the following pillars: all things are interconnected, change is constant and inevitable, all causes have causes, and opposites can be integrated to form a closer approximation of the truth. DBT skills rely on mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation.
Mindfulness = Three states of mind: “think” reasonable mind, “feel” emotional mind, and “know” wise mind. With intention, observe, describe and participate. Without judgment and focusing on one thing in the moment.
Distress tolerance = getting through difficult and painful moments including self-soothing and accepting reality (i.e., radical acceptance = willingness vs willfulness). For example, TIPP = Temperature with cold water, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, and Paired/ progressive muscle relaxation.
Interpersonal effectiveness = awareness of relationship goals, increase assertiveness, maintain self-respect, build healthy relationships, and handle relationship adversity.
Emotion regulation = increase awareness of emotions and experiences and express emotions accurately. Emphasis on “you are not your emotion, no enhancing, no suppressing, and it will not last forever.”
Mr. Hershfield concluded the informative and engaging presentation by differentiating between coping (see above) and compulsing (to avoid or escape experiences, specific to content, and compelled by urges). Distracting vs. avoiding, reflecting mindfully vs. self-criticism, and self-compassion vs. making excuses. ERP and DBT agree that acceptance of uncertainty is essential, as well as psychological flexibility, self-compassion, cognitive reframing, and opposite action.
The Living with OCD panel was an emotional highlight of the conference, moderated by Dr. Marla Deibler. The panel consisted of individuals ranging in age from adolescence to adulthood who have OCD and related disorders. Everyone on the panel shared their personal struggles and triumphs with the disorder and its treatment. An instructional commentary was provided by Dr. Deibler who illustrated and expanded on the diagnosis, expression, and treatment of this disorder. Common questions were discussed utilizing these “real world” examples of life with OCD in the service of deepening the understanding of the disorder. Audience members commended the panelist for their vulnerability and bravery sharing their journey and, in turn, meaningfully impacting those in attendance.
Dr. Rachel Strohl is a licensed psychologist at Stress and Anxiety Services of NJ in East Brunswick. She is the Secretary on the Board of Directors at OCD New Jersey. She may be reached at 732-390-6694.
More About Our Presenters:
Jonathan Hershfield, MA, LCMFT
Is the director of the Center for OCD and Anxiety at Sheppard Pratt in Towson, Maryland, where he specializes in the treatment of OCD and related disorders in both outpatient and residential settings. He is the author of When a Family Member Has OCD, Overcoming Harm OCD, and The OCD Workbook for Teens, and co-author of Everyday Mindfulness for OCD, The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD, and The Unwanted Thoughts and Intense Emotions Workbook. Jon is member of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation and a faculty member of the BTTI.
Marla W. Deibler, Psy.D.
is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (NJ #4380), Board Certified in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology. She is the Founder and Executive Director of The Center for Emotional Health of Greater Philadelphia (CEH), a multi-site, behavioral healthcare center specializing in the evaluation and evidence-based treatment of anxiety disorders, OCD and related disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders, with office locations in Cherry Hill and Princeton, NJ and providing telehealth services across the US under the authority of The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). Dr. Deibler is President of OCD New Jersey, the NJ affiliate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), and Faculty of IOCDF’s Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI).
Registration Fees:
Regular Registration for Students/Non-CEU (by 3/9/25) – $65.00 USD
Regular Registration for CEU attendees (by 3/9/25) – $80.00 USD
On-site Registration on 3/16/24:
Registration for Students/Non-CEU Attendees – $75.00 USD
CEU On-site Registration – $90
For special acommodations for the buffet lunch, including a kosher or vegetarian plate, please contact: nicole.torella@gmail.com