Etiology, Assessment and Diagnosis of OCD

Description

Etiology, Assessment and Diagnosis of OCD is Module One of the 3-course Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Counseling Certificate Program (OCDCC). For more information on the OCDCC and discounted enrollment in the full program, please visit this page.

What if the client sitting across from you doesn’t “look like” they have OCD—but is suffering from it anyway? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is one of the most debilitating and misunderstood conditions in behavioral health. It often hides in plain sight, misdiagnosed as depression, anxiety, or personality disorder, while its sufferers spiral through shame, self-doubt, and isolation. Clinicians who miss it—or mistake it—risk delaying effective treatment by years, sometimes decades.

If you’ve ever struggled to correctly identify OCD in your clients—or to distinguish it from overlapping conditions—this course offers the clinical clarity and tools you need. Join us for a deep dive into what OCD really looks like and how to assess it with accuracy and nuance.

Dr. Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C, is a seasoned clinician, researcher, and trainer who brings extensive expertise to this course. With her specialization in OCD, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and transdiagnostic emotional conditions, she provides insight that blends cutting-edge research with practical clinical application. As a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Consultant, and a Unified Protocol Trainer, she is deeply familiar with complex, comorbid presentations.

Dr. Smith’s teaching approach is rooted in compassion and clinical precision. She brings forward the science while addressing real-world challenges clinicians face when diagnosing OCD and related conditions. This course helps learners develop diagnostic discernment with structured assessments, case-based insights, and a trauma-informed, culturally responsive framework.

Participants will examine the heritability and neurobiology of OCD, epigenetic and environmental influences, and sociocultural factors that shape symptom expression. The course explores the complexities of differential diagnosis—such as distinguishing OCD from PTSD, eating disorders, tic disorders, and personality disorders—and outlines best practices in assessment using standardized tools like the Y-BOCS. Special attention is given to misunderstood subtypes, identity-related obsessions, and the role of trauma, perfectionism, and experiential avoidance in maintaining symptoms.

Key Takeaways:

• Master diagnostic distinctions: Learn how to differentiate OCD from conditions with overlapping symptomatology.

• Identify overlooked presentations: Recognize non-obvious subtypes and culturally nuanced manifestations of OCD.

• Use effective assessment tools: Integrate structured interviews and validated instruments into your clinical practice.

Why this course?

• Expert-led education: Dr. Smith offers rare depth, weaving together research, lived clinical experience, and passion for evidence-based practice.

• Clinically practical: This course prepares you to implement what you learn immediately in your intake, assessment, and treatment planning.

• A mission-driven institute: Telehealth Certification Institute is dedicated to empowering clinicians with high-quality, ethically grounded, and accessible training.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the heritability of OCD.

• List at least two environmental factors that impact the development of OCD.

• Identify the diagnostic criteria for OCD, including rule-outs for the condition.

• Assess clients for overlapping symptom presentations and differentiate OCD from other diagnoses.

Whether you’re a seasoned clinician or expanding your scope of practice, this course will sharpen your diagnostic lens and elevate your confidence in working with clients affected by OCD.

Add this powerful tool to your professional toolkit—your clients will thank you.

Format and Access

This is a non-interactive, self-study course that offers over 6 hours of video instruction, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

Course Details

Availability: 

From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.

Who Should Attend: 

This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.

Teaching Methods: 

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

How to Attend: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

About Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C

Melanie Smith (she/her) is a therapist in private practice at CBT of Central & South Florida (https://cbtcentralflorida.com) and a Consulting Clinical Training Specialist for the Renfrew Center. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor in the State of Florida. Additionally, she is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Approved Consultant (CEDS-C) and is a Certified Therapist & Trainer of the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP). Special treatment interests include Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction such as Rumination Syndrome, OCD, phobias including emetophobia, health-related anxiety, and coping with chronic pain & chronic illness.

Dr. Smith is passionate about the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based treatments, clinical supervision, and clinical training and has presented numerous lectures, workshops, and Keynote presentations at academic and professional conferences nationally and internationally. She has co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals and is co-author of the peer-reviewed treatment manual and patient workbook, The Renfrew Unified Treatment Model for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity, published by Oxford University Press.

Disclosure Statement: 

The instructor(s) for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This course consists of 6 continuing education hours of credit.

Counselors:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by 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-0048.

Marriage and Family Therapists: 

Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations.  You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.

Social Workers:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 6 clinical continuing education credits.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC 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-0435.

Addiction Professionals:

This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

Psychologists:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.

Art Therapists: 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.

Other Professionals:

This course qualifies for 360 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations.  Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement