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:

- Different relationships to thoughts and feelings as seen through the lens of different cultures will be explored.
- The implementation of ERP and DBT in the treatment of OCRD’s and personality disorders will be reviewed in a manner sensitive to diverse populations.
- It will teach clinicians how to effectively treat those who suffer from OCRD’s and comorbid 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. 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.

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