DIFFERENTIATING OCD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS

OCD CEU & ANXIETY CEU FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

WHAT IS OCD CEU AND WHY DIAGNOSTIC CLARITY MATTERS 

 

ARE A CLIENT SEEKING INFORMATION?

COUNSELING BASICS
 

JUNE 12, 2026

9-1:30 CST    $100

LIVE WEBINAR - INTERACTIVE DISTANCE LEARNING

4 CE HOURS IN DIAGNOSING NBCC APPROVED

4 CLINICAL CE HOURS ASWB ACE APPROVED

WHAT IS AN OCD CEU?

An OCD CEU is continuing education focused on improving clinicians’ competency in diagnosing and treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Because OCD is frequently misdiagnosed as anxiety, depression, or other conditions, specialized training is critical for accurate assessment and effective intervention.

This course functions as both an OCD CEU and an Anxiety CEU, equipping clinicians to differentiate OCD from related anxiety and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Individuals with OCD often wait 14–16 years before receiving effective treatment. Misdiagnosis contributes significantly to this delay.

This training equips clinicians with structured diagnostic skills to differentiate OCD from:

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

  • Specific Phobias

  • Social Anxiety Disorder

  • Illness Anxiety Disorder

  • Somatic Symptom Disorder

  • Major Depressive Disorder

And briefly differentiate OCD from:

  • Schizophrenia spectrum disorders

  • Eating disorders

  • Tourette’s Disorder

  • Impulse control disorders

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Participants will strengthen their diagnostic clarity and improve treatment outcomes through accurate conceptualization.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

PARTICIPANTS WILL:

  • Understand the DSM-5 criteria for OCD, GAD, Specific Phobias, Social Phobias, Illness Anxiety Disorder, and Somatic Symptom Disorder.

  • Compare and contrast OCD and Anxiety disorders for effective diagnosis.

  • Briefly understand other differential diagnoses of OCD.

WHY THIS OCD CEU MATTERS

Misdiagnosis of OCD can lead to ineffective treatment, prolonged client suffering, and therapist frustration.

Understanding the distinct characteristics of OCD subtypes is essential, including:

  • Harm OCD

  • Pedophilia OCD

  • Sexual Orientation OCD

  • Scrupulosity OCD

  • Checking OCD

  • Just-Right OCD

  • Contamination OCD

  • Relationship OCD

This course clarifies how compulsions differ from safety behaviors in other anxiety disorders and how to avoid common diagnostic pitfalls.

KEY DIAGNOSTIC COMPARISONS

OCD VS. GAD

  • OCD involves intrusive, unwanted obsessions paired with compulsions.
  • GAD involves pervasive, real-world worry across multiple domains.

OCD VS. SPECIFIC PHOBIA & SOCIAL PHOBIAS

  • Phobias focus on discrete external fears.
  • Social Anxiety centers on social evaluation.
  • OCD obsessions are ego-dystonic and often irrational or taboo.

OCD VS. ILLNESS ANXIETY & SOMATIC SYMPTOM DISORDER

  • Health-focused preoccupation may involve reassurance seeking.
  • OCD compulsions are driven by intrusive obsessional doubt rather than symptom amplification.

OCD VS. NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DIAGNOSIS

  • Distinguishing repetitive behaviors in Autism from compulsions.
  • Differentiating executive dysfunction in ADHD from obsession-compulsion cycles.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

This course is appropriate for:

  • Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs)

  • Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)

  • LMFTs

  • Psychologists

  • Graduate-level clinicians

  • Mental health professionals seeking diagnostic specialization

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KDH COLLECTIVE ACEP NO. 7323

KDH COLLECTIVE HAS BEEN APPROVED BY NBCC AS AN APPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDER, ACEP NO. 7323. PROGRAMS THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR NBCC CREDIT ARE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED.  KDH COLLECTIVE IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAMS.  

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KDH COLLECTIVE PROVIDER #2506

KDH COLLECTIVE PROVIDER #2506, IS APPROVED 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:. 09/30/2025 - 09/30/2026. SOCIAL WORKERS COMPLETING THIS COURSE RECEIVE 4 CLINICAL CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS.

 

THE ART OF ERP

Ready to tackle Obsessive Compulsive Disorder head-on? Discover the gold standard in treatment with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Learn to master ERP and uncover its powerful effectiveness. See how it can be applied to various diagnoses. LEARN MORE

MASTERING OCD CASES: COMPLEX ERP

This course will address challenging ERP cases. We will tackle obstacles like motivation, TIBs, and other ERP challenges, and also consider dual diagnoses such as PTSD, Autism, and ADHD. LEARN MORE

MEET OUR AMAZING EDUCATOR

KD headshot

KD Holmes, MS, LPC, EMDR CERTIFIED

KD (she/her) is a practicing therapist over the past 20 years at KDH Counseling. She has worked extensively with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Specific Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Certified, and BTTI trained for treatment of OCD.   She enjoys using biology as a foundation to guide behavioral approaches to treating mental health issues.  She loves DBT, RODBT, and ERP because they address mental health treatment through tangible behavioral steps. Followed by trauma work that can be done through EMDR, and Deep Brain Reorienting to help treat trauma responses that may be contributing to the presenting problems.  We never stop learning and this insatiable quest for learning continues to drive her personally and professionally.

ENROLL EXCLUSIVELY IN PART 1

DIFFERENTIATING OCD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS

$100 for 4 CE Hours

Leaning into Therapy: OCD Subtypes

Join Monet in an enlightening conversation with KD, as she unravels the world of OCD subtypes. This episode dives into the often misunderstood manifestations of OCD.  KD discusses tools to help therapist recognize and differentiate OCD from anxiety disorders. 

Want to deepen your clinical expertise? Explore KD’s continuing education course, Differentiating OCD and Anxiety Disorders, and bring intentionality to your practice.

 

With decades of experience, our presenters will share their wisdom and offer practical solutions that will truly make a difference. Don't miss out!
4 min read

Navigating OCD and PTSD: Best Practices in Treatment

KD HOLMES, LPC, EMDR CERTIFIED, BTTI TRAINED: Jul 20, 2025

When Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) intersect, clinicians often find...
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Understanding Complex OCD Cases: Dual Diagnoses and Barriers

KD HOLMES, LPC, EMDR CERTIFIED, BTTI TRAINED: Jul 19, 2025

OCD is rarely straightforward. It doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and in many cases, it shows up tangled in a web of other...
7 min read

Riding the Waves of ERP: When Therapy is the Storm

KD HOLMES, LPC, EMDR CERTIFIED, BTTI TRAINED: May 30, 2025

There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles over the room when a client understands Exposure and Response...
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Understanding OCD Subtypes: A Guide for Therapists

KD HOLMES, LPC, EMDR CERTIFIED, BTTI TRAINED: Jan 26, 2025

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) presents in nuanced, multifaceted ways. Understanding OCD subtypes for therapists...
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OCD vs. Anxiety Disorders: Key Differences for Therapists

KD HOLMES, LPC, EMDR CERTIFIED, BTTI TRAINED: Oct 8, 2024

For therapists, understanding what is OCD for therapists-including the nuanced distinctions between OCD and other...
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ERP Therapy: Addressing OCD Misdiagnosis and Treatment

KD HOLMES, LPC, EMDR CERTIFIED, BTTI TRAINED: Feb 21, 2023

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by persistent, unwanted obsessions and repetitive compulsions. For...

For LPCs, LMHCs, LCPCs, PLPCs, LMSWs, LCSWs, LMFTs, and other state-credentialed counselors

ADA NEEDS
We would be happy to accommodate your needs.

Your satisfaction is our goal and our guarantee. Concerns should be addressed to:

KDH Collective
4906 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy, Bldg I
Lafayette, La 70508
337-895-0300

KDH COLLECTIVE has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP NO. 7323. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. KDH COLLECTIVE is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

We work hard to ensure the quality of our courses and educational materials. If you would like a refund, please email your request with an explanation to kdh@kdholmeslpc.comwithin 48 of the live course, and we will review the refund request.

KDH Collective, 2506, 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: 09/30/2025-09/30/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 4 clinical continuing education credits.

To successfully complete this course and receive a certificate of completion / continuing education credit, participants must:

  1. Attend the full live webinar course from start to finish.

  2. Submit evaluations forms. (Completion of the evaluation is a required step before certificates are issued.)

  3. CEU certifications will be emailed within a week of attending course and completing evaluations. 

Are you in need of any answers, interested in Blogs, Ebooks, the latest Class updates, or anything else?

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