Perinatal obsessive compulsive disorder (pOCD): Diagnosis and treatment

Gain evidence-based tools to accurately assess, diagnose, and treat perinatal obsessive compulsive disorder (pOCD) with confidence and care.

This professional workshop is split over two half-days. It offers a comprehensive, evidence-based framework for understanding and treating the often complex and hidden experience of Perinatal obsessive compulsive disorder (pOCD)with scary/intrusive thoughts.

Led by Kristine Aanderson, a leading expert in perinatal mental health with over 15 years of clinical experience and specialized expertise in perinatal OCD, birth trauma, fertility challenges, grief, and parenting with ADHD—this training provides advanced knowledge and practical tools. It is designed to enhance clinical care.

The facilitator will cover the prevalence of pOCD, symptom profile, and diagnostic criteria. She will explain how to differentiate pOCD from postpartum psychosis, perinatal anxiety, and normative thoughts/adjustment reactions. Learners will explore common obsessive themes present in pOCD. Along with how these can manifest in new parents who are often suffering in silence. The session will also address the new and worsening effects the pandemic had on perinatal mental health overall, and on pOCD specifically.

This program includes clear information on current best practice for the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of pOCD. Treatment options will address the advantages and disadvantages of various approaches. As well as how to engage in client-based treatment planning. Approaches covered will include psychoeducation, CBT, DBT, ACT, Inference-based CBT, and other specialized treatments.

Attendees will learn to:

• Assess for pOCD with language that reduces stigma and encourages disclosure.
• Differentiate high-risk from low-risk symptoms.
• Engage in differential diagnosis when pOCD symptoms are present.
• Help clients understand their symptoms.
• Work together with clients to co-create treatment plans.

Learning objectives:

• Differential perinatal OCD from other perinatal mental health concerns. Such as postpartum psychosis, perinatal anxiety, and normative postpartum adjustment, through the accurate assessment of symptoms, onset patterns, and client presentation.
• Design and implement individualized, evidence-based treatment plans for clients with perinatal OCD.
• Demonstrate effective use of clinical strategies that reduce stigma, enhance the working relationship with perinatal clients.
• Learn how to help clients address and work through intrusive thoughts and compulsive urges.

Advance your clinical practice with specialized training in pOCD. Reserve your place now.

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