OCD Training in Shanghai
In October, Dr. Neuhaus began the second year of the multi-year training initiative at the Shanghai Mental Health Center with an intensive workshop on OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Dr. Neuhaus brought a team of his colleagues who are world class experts in OCD, and also faculty members of Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital:
Throstur Bjorgvinsson, PhD, ABPP, the leader of the workshop team, who developed the OCD program at the Menninger Clinic and is founder of the innovative Houston OCD Program http://www.houstonocdprogram.org/
Szu-Hui Lee, PhD, former director of training at the OCD Institute at McLean Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital and an expert in cross cultural clinical issues.
Jeff Szymanski, PhD, Executive Director of the International OCD Foundation, with national and international reach to promote training in best practices for professionals and education and advocacy for consumers. http://www.ocfoundation.org/index.aspx
100 therapists from all over China attended the first 5-day workshop (part 2 in Spring 2011) to learn the most current evidence-based approaches focusing on Exposure Response Prevention (ERP). OCD is frequently seen in outpatient settings in China and therapists are not equipped at all to treat it effectively. The participants learned through lectures, case consultation, and role playing. Drs. Bjorgvinsson and Szymanski, both master clinicians and master teachers, captivated the audience with their expertise in explaining core concepts and giving instruction on how the Chinese therapists can adapt the treatment methods to their everyday clinical practices. Dr. Lee, who is fluent in Mandarin, interviewed patients and demonstrated interviewing techniques to the workshop participants. Dr. Lee has also begun supervision of therapists in Shanghai via Skype in treating OCD patients. Everyone is looking ahead to the next workshop where they will continue OCD training and add training for Social Anxiety and Panic.
Filed as • Posted by Ed on Thursday, December 02, 2010