Contamination OCD is a common but challenging-to-treat form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that represents roughly half of its cases. This program teaches clinicians how to treat contamination OCD using the functional-based Mastery treatment approach, a synthesis of exposure and response prevention (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and emerging literature on the use of judicious safety behaviors to improve functioning in cases where triggers do not directly habituate. This is a humane and well-tolerated approach that is well suited to contamination OCD cases such as disgust, neurodiversity and more, and has now been taught and implemented at major clinics nationwide. This presentation will teach clinicians how to use the Mastery approach, a functional approach to ERP designed for cases that do not respond to traditional ERP, such as disgust or other non-habituating triggers, neurodiversity, co-morbidities and more.

This workshop explores best practices for integrating lived experience into all facets of mental health service planning, design, implementation, and evaluation, with a particular emphasis on serious mental illness (SMI). Participants will gain practical strategies to ensure meaningful inclusion, moving beyond tokenism to foster true collaboration. The presenter will provide actionable insights for clinicians and administrators, equipping them with concrete methods to incorporate lived experience perspectives in ways that enhance service effectiveness and equity.

The real “autism epidemic” is not that one in 36 children are identified with autism (CDC, 2023), but rather that autistic individuals are often unable to access mental healthcare, including Cognitive Behavior Treatment (CBT). Autistic individuals across the lifespan experience higher rates of anxiety, OCD, depression, and other mental health conditions compared to the general population (Braconnier et al., 2022; Maddox et al., 2017). While many clinicians want to use CBT to address mental health needs, such as anxiety and OCD in autistic clients, they incorrectly believe that CBT's use with autistic individuals is inherently different (vs. a modified/tailored approach), and that treating this population is out of their competency. Research suggests that CBT is efficacious in reducing psychiatric symptoms in those with autism (Benevides et al., 2020, Braconnier et al., in press; Wang et al., 2021, Wood et al., 2020), and the reality is that most CBT practitioners will encounter autistic clients—diagnosed or not— within a therapy setting at some point in their career. This talk will bridge gaps for CBT practitioners who want to increase their knowledge and confidence in working with autistic clients. Attendees will learn about relevant autism information-processing differences that may impact symptom presentation and treatment, along with some practical strategies and modifications for both behavioral and cognitive interventions of CBT for this population.

Most lectures on suicide assume an academic perspective by focusing exclusively on research related to suicide or clinical disorders associated with suicide. This presentation will take a different perspective by presenting information about evidence-based strategies for suicide prevention and then hearing from three survivors of suicide attempts about their experiences with some of these strategies. The participants will learn about the non-linear and unexpected path each survivor took to recover from their intense suicidality. What worked, what didn’t, and how unexpected interventions and social connection contributed to traditional treatments. The testimonies of the survivors will be honest in their appraisal of the behavioral health system, and the effort and commitment required to achieve recovery. The important takeaway of the presentation is that no single treatment for suicidality is effective for all patients, and each patient will experience periods of trial and error as they search for the treatment that is most effective for them. Ultimately, each person finds treatments that support their functionality realizing that treatments for suicidality are often not fully curative. Three persons will share their stories of resilience and recovery.