Utilizing Exposure Therapy in the Treatment of OCD
Enroll in the Online Self-Study course and complete it at your own pace.
1.5 CE hours available for behavioral health clinicians upon completion.
OCD can devastate a client’s life—and leave even seasoned clinicians feeling powerless. Intrusive thoughts, overwhelming compulsions, and the desperate need for certainty can trap individuals in cycles of suffering, while therapists struggle to intervene without reinforcing the very behaviors they aim to treat. This course confronts that challenge head-on, empowering clinicians to break through avoidance, disrupt maladaptive cycles, and guide clients toward lasting change through exposure therapy.
If you’ve ever hesitated to implement exposure therapy due to uncertainty or fear of doing it wrong, you’re not alone—and you’re not without support. This training empowers you with the tools and insights needed to implement exposure therapy with integrity and precision.
Enroll in the 1.5 CE Online Self-Study for $30
Payment Options are listed at checkout
Register for the 0 CE Training Video for $15
Payment Options are listed at checkout
Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-S, is a nationally respected trainer and clinician who specializes in evidence-based treatments for emotional disorders. As Director of Training at The Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders and a co-author of the Renfrew Unified Treatment for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity, Dr. Smith brings both deep clinical expertise and a dynamic teaching style to this training. She is also a Certified Therapist and Trainer in the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP), giving her a unique lens on how exposure therapy can be adapted to meet the nuanced needs of diverse clients.
Dr. Smith’s approach combines warmth, clinical rigor, and a sharp focus on evidence-based practice. This course integrates foundational theory with practical application, equipping clinicians to confidently design and deliver tailored exposure hierarchies for clients struggling with OCD.
Topics include an overview of DSM-5 criteria and differential diagnoses for OCD, the psychological mechanisms that sustain compulsions, and the vital role of emotion-driven behaviors and avoidance. You'll learn why traditional approaches often fail, how to implement exposure-based techniques that actually work, and how to structure individualized hierarchies that promote long-term symptom reduction and emotional tolerance.
Instructor
Melanie Smith, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-S,
Melanie Smith is the Director of Training for The Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders. In this role, she provides ongoing training, supervision and consultation to clinicians across disciplines for the purpose of continually assessing and improving competence in the treatment of eating disorders. Dr. Smith is co-author of The Renfrew Unified Treatment for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity Therapist Guide and Workbook (Oxford University Press), is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Approved Supervisor, and is a Certified Therapist and Trainer for the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP). In addition to her work with the Renfrew Center, Dr. Smith maintains a telehealth private practice specializing in the supervision and consultation of registered mental health counselor interns (Florida) and individuals seeking eating disorder specialist certification through the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp).
Key Takeaways:
- Understand evidence-based principles: Gain clarity on the most effective, research-backed strategies for implementing exposure therapy.
- Design custom exposure hierarchies: Learn how to create personalized, stepwise interventions that build client resilience and reduce compulsions.
- Support emotional tolerance: Help clients move through fear instead of around it, reinforcing psychological flexibility and long-term change.
Why this course?
- Clinically relevant and immediately applicable: Unlike overly theoretical trainings, this course gives you clear tools you can use with your next OCD client.
- Expert instruction from a trusted source: Dr. Smith’s depth of experience and instructional clarity set this training apart from more generic CE offerings.
- Backed by a mission-driven provider: Telehealth Certification Institute is committed to equipping behavioral health clinicians with high-quality, ethically grounded continuing education.
Learning Objectives:
- List at least two key evidence-based principles of emotion exposure.
- Describe how to create an individualized Exposure Hierarchy for clients with OCD.
Whether you’re new to exposure therapy or seeking to refine your approach, this course offers the support and structure you need to make meaningful progress with your clients. Join a growing community of professionals who are learning how to face fear—and help others do the same.
Add this course to your cart to begin learning instantly.
This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 1.5 hours of video instruction and a post-test.
Select each tab for 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:
Directions for completing a course can be found by clicking here.
This program was recorded on May 27, 2022.
Testimonials
Iveyana Kiara Smith
Jessy Hainbach
Bryant Wilson
Ben Keyser
Mei Chan
Meghan Co, LCSW-C, LICSW