4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Improving OCD Treatment: Basics and Beyond is presented by Kyle P. Jones, PhD, and Magdalene Holtam, PhD.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is the 4th most common mental illness. Patients who struggle with OCD can experience high functional impairment and poor quality of life. A specific form of CBT, called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, has been found to be an effective treatment for OCD. ERP methods coupled with powerful motivational tools can help OCD sufferers live a happier and more fulfilling life. You learn: how to assess OCD, how to explain OCD to your patients, tools to enhance motivation in your patients, and effective exposure methods for OCD. During this course, you have opportunities for practice via live role-plays. 

This program is intended for Mental Health professionals at any stage of their career working in a clinical setting where they provide psychotherapy. Clinicians could be in solo or group private practice, working with an agency, or delivering psychotherapy as a part of a larger health system.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the main features of OCD
  • 2 Describe two common obsessional themes in OCD
  • 3 Describe assessment and testing procedures for OCD
  • 4 Describe the use of a cost-benefit analysis to enhance motivation to work on OCD
  • 5 Describe an exposure hierarchy for a patient with OCD
  • 6 Describe the use of imaginal and in vivo exposure for the treatment of OCD

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health professionals who provide psychotherapy and specialize in anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It is relevant for clinicians who are dedicated to evidence-based treatment approaches for these conditions.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Clinical Social Worker
    • Licensed Professional Counselor
    • Marriage and Family Therapist
    • Psychiatrist
    • Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at any stage of their career who provide psychotherapy in clinical settings.

    Beginner:
    New to treating OCD, seeking foundational knowledge of OCD features, assessment, and introductory ERP methods.

    Intermediate:
    Some experience treating OCD, looking to deepen skills in motivational enhancement, exposure hierarchy development, and family involvement.

    Advanced:
    Experienced with ERP for OCD, aiming to refine advanced exposure techniques, address complex cases, and enhance relapse prevention strategies.

  • Practice Setting

    Mental health professionals specializing in anxiety disorders, OCD, or cognitive-behavioral therapy typically practice in clinical environments where they provide psychotherapy to individuals, couples, or families. These settings are designed to support confidential, evidence-based treatment and may range from private offices to larger healthcare organizations. Clinicians may work independently, as part of a group practice, within community mental health agencies, or in hospital-based outpatient clinics. The environment is structured to facilitate assessment, treatment planning, and ongoing therapeutic interventions, often with access to supervision, peer consultation, and continuing education.

    • Private practice offices (solo or group)
    • Community mental health centers
    • Outpatient hospital clinics
    • University counseling centers
    • Integrated behavioral health settings within primary care
    • Telehealth platforms for remote psychotherapy
    • Nonprofit mental health agencies

Presented By

Kyle P. Jones, PhD, Adjunct Faculty at Palo Alto University

Kyle P. Jones, PhD is a California native and first-generation college student who transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara after attending Orange Coast Community College. He earned his BA in Psychology with a minor in French Language from UCSB in 2011. He went on to attend Palo Alto University where he completed a PhD in clinical psychology in 2021. His research focused on the LGBTQ cultural competence of psychologists in private practice. Kyle completed his pre-doctoral clinical psychology internship at the Sierra Nevada VA Healthcare System where he received advanced training in behavioral medicine, primary care mental health integration, neuropsychology, and PTSD treatment. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship in affiliation with Feeling Good Institute in Mountain View, CA. He joined the adjunct faculty at Palo Alto University in 2022 where he teaches in the clinical psychology PhD and Masters programs. In addition to his research and clinical experience working with LGBTQ people, Kyle has expertise in treating OCD and other anxiety disorders. In 2023 he was invited to join the alumni council in department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he assists undergraduate and graduate students with career education and opportunities in the field of psychology.

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Kyle P. Jones, PhD

Presented By

Magdalene Holtam, PhD, Licensed Psychologist/Private Practice

Magdalene Holtam, PhD is a Licensed Psychologist in California that specializes in providing evidence based treatments, such as ERP and CBT, to individuals with OCD, anxiety, trauma, and other mood disorders. She has a special interest in working with women, ethnic minorities and LGBTQ clients. Additionally, she trains and supervises other clinicians in implementing ERP and other evidence based treatments for OCD. She co-leads a monthly consultation group for clinicians who want to learn more about how to effectively treat OCD. Dr. Holtam has taught courses to mental health clinicians on how to effectively treat OCD. She is passionate about providing OCD sufferers who effective treatments, and teaching other clinicians about these treatments.  

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Magdalene Holtam, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • What is OCD?

  • OCD Assessment

  • Providing Psychoeducation to Your Patients

  • Explanation of ERP for OCD

  • Involving Family in Treatment

  • Methods (Exposure and Response Prevention)

  • Building an exposure hierarchy

  • Relapse Prevention

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.