How many clients have you seen whose suffering was mislabeled as anxiety, perfectionism, or trauma—when in fact, they were battling undiagnosed OCD? Without proper identification, they’re left cycling through distress and ineffective treatment.
This course offers clinicians a powerful lens for seeing what others often miss—and equips you with a framework to finally interrupt that cycle.
Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C, brings decades of specialized clinical expertise in treating OCD, anxiety, eating disorders, and other emotional disorders. A nationally recognized expert, trainer, and co-author of evidence-based treatment manuals, Dr. Smith is known for making complex clinical content both accessible and immediately applicable for behavioral health providers.
In this 1.5-hour online self-study course, Dr. Smith introduces participants to a foundational understanding of OCD from a diagnostic and treatment lens. With a blend of clarity, clinical wisdom, and compassion, she empowers clinicians to approach OCD more accurately and effectively.
Topics covered include the core features of OCD, diagnostic pitfalls, differentiating OCD from related disorders, the rationale for Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and the principles of ERP treatment. Dr. Smith also addresses the emotional and behavioral mechanisms that sustain OCD, including experiential avoidance, anxiety sensitivity, and intolerance of uncertainty.
Key Takeaways:
Recognize key symptoms: Learn how to identify OCD even when it doesn’t look like the stereotypes.
Understand treatment rationale: Gain clarity on why ERP works and how to explain it to clients.
Apply ERP principles: Begin using evidence-based strategies to improve clinical outcomes.
Why this course?
Clinician-designed, evidence-driven: This course is grounded in research and created by an expert who trains clinicians nationwide in effective OCD treatment.
Practical strategies that stick: You’ll leave with approaches you can use immediately in clinical practice—no fluff, just function.
Mission-aligned with excellence: Offered by the Telehealth Certification Institute, this course reflects our commitment to equipping professionals with high-quality, ethically sound training.
Learning Objectives:
Identify symptoms that distinguish OCD from other related mental health conditions.
Explain the rationale for the use of Exposure and Response Prevention to manage the symptoms of OCD.
List at least three key principles of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
There’s a gap between what many clinicians are taught and what clients with OCD actually need. This course helps close that gap—so you can recognize the signs, respond with confidence, and offer care that truly transforms lives.
Enroll today to develop your skills and enhance your impact as a behavioral health professional.
This is a non-interactive self-study course. Instruction consists of 90+ minutes of video instruction and a post-test.
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: Instructions for attending and completing a course can be found here.
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Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C
Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-C (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.
Credit Hours: This course consists of 1.5 continuing education hours of credit.
Counselors:
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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:
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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 1.5 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:
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This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits, effective 7/31/2024. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.
Psychologists:
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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 90 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.
