Registration open for the 2nd Edition
Click here to register
Advanced Strategies in Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy for OCD
This course is accredited by the Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses (Portuguese Psychologists Association) with 16 credits.
Organised in collaboration with the Champalimaud Foundation.
Quality
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We are pleased to present a unique opportunity for psychologists and psychiatrists. This intensive course was created to address the urgent need to widen access to treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
This 3-day training, led by Dr. Jenny Yip, an internationally recognised authority in the field (see below), gives professionals the tools they need to help their OCD patients more effectively.
The Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses awarded 16 credits to this course, recognising its relevance and quality for psychologists' continuing professional development.
The course carries the scientific sponsorship of the Portuguese Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health (SPPSM), recognising its relevance in equipping professionals to treat OCD.
Who are we?
POCDF (POC Doentes e Família) is a non-profit organisation founded in April 2024, dedicated to improving the lives of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and their families in Portugal. Our mission includes raising awareness of OCD, advocating for better mental health care, offering support groups for patients and families, and fostering research into OCD treatment.
We are committed to closing the gap between OCD treatment and patients' needs by building a network of qualified professionals across the country. This mission is all the more urgent given the high prevalence of OCD in Portugal and the small number of clinicians trained in evidence-based practices such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Why we are running this course
Portugal faces a significant challenge. Although OCD affects a considerable share of the population, the number of professionals trained in ERP, the psychological approach with the strongest documented efficacy for OCD, is not enough to meet demand. This gap leaves many people without access to effective care, prolonging suffering and reducing quality of life.
With this intensive course, we want to equip psychologists and psychiatrists with the skills to apply ERP effectively, narrowing the distance between evidence-based treatment and the community's growing needs.
Who can take part?
This programme is intended for psychologists and psychiatrists who:
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Are currently treating at least one OCD case
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Are committed to integrating ERP into their clinical practice
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Have a good understanding of English, as the course will be taught in that language
Course outline
Day 1: Foundations of OCD and Principles of Evidence-Based Treatment
Objective: Understand the core features of OCD and evidence-based treatment approaches.
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Introduction to OCD
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Overview of evidence-based treatments
Day 2: Diagnosing OCD and ERP Treatment for Adults, Children and Families
Objective: Assess, diagnose and deliver evidence-based OCD treatment across different populations.
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Diagnosing OCD
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Treating children and families
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Pharmacological and brain-stimulation approaches to OCD (by Prof. Dr. Albino Maia)
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Managing treatment ambivalence and resistant cases
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ERP practice groups: diagnosis and psychoeducation to support treatment adherence
Day 3: OCD Case Formulation and Treatment Planning
Objective: Integrate ERP knowledge into clinical practice with individual case conceptualisations.
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ERP practice groups: case formulation
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ERP practice groups: treatment planning
Monthly supervision
By videoconference for 12 months, one hour per month, with Dr. Yip.
About Dr. Jenny Yip
Dr. Yip is Executive Director of the Renewed Freedom Center for Rapid Anxiety Relief and the Little Thinkers Center in Los Angeles. She is also Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the USC Keck School of Medicine and a Board Member of the International OCD Foundation.
With over two decades of clinical and educational experience, Dr. Yip is widely recognised for her expertise in ERP and her dynamic, engaging teaching style. She has contributed significantly to the OCD community through publications, lectures and the treatment of diverse cases worldwide.
About Prof. Dr. Albino Maia
Psychiatrist and director of the Neuropsychiatry Unit at the Champalimaud Foundation, PhD in Medicine and Master's in Public Health, trained at the Universities of Porto, Duke and Harvard. Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at NMS.
Date, location and fee
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When: 12, 13 and 14 October 2026
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Where: Botton-Champalimaud Pancreatic Cancer Centre, Lisbon
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Course fee: €500 (does not include meals or coffee breaks)
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Monthly one-hour supervision with Dr. Yip by videoconference across 12 months, at €50 per session, billed quarterly in advance (€150 every three months).
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Total supervision: €600.
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Course €500 + supervision €600 = €1,100 total to certification.
Registration
Registration for the second edition closes 18 September 2026.
Click here to register
