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In Person

Dreadful Nourishment, Nutritional Dread: Assessment and Treatment of OCD in Patients with Eating Disorders

Karen Chinca, LICSW, CEDS-S
Michael Hanau, MD, DFAPA
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Information

Date & Time

Location

Description

This presentation examines the intersection of eating disorders (ED) and obsessive‑compulsive disorder (OCD), emphasizing how therapists and prescribers can collaborate to strengthen care and improve outcomes. Participants will learn how to build the foundation for values‑guided exposure work using evidence‑based approaches, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The role of pharmacotherapy addressing ED behaviors and OCD symptoms as an adjunct to psychotherapy will be reviewed and therapeutic and countertherapeutic effects of different medications classes will be noted. Presenters will highlight rumination‑focused OCD, the significance of occult mental rituals—such as mental review and “figuring out”—and how to identify and treat them within exposure work. Through case examples, attendees will translate theory into practice, develop skills to design, support, and process exposures that increase flexibility, reduce avoidance, and support lasting recovery while integrating pharmacotherapy into treatment planning.

There is free street parking after 6pm. these metered parking spots are available on Third Street, Fifth Street, and Rogers Street. You can find a comprehensive map of parking options here

350 Kendall Street Garage and First Street Garage are 5-minute and 10-minute walks from The Foundry; both are open 24/7.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Assess for eating disorders and OCD and determine which condition is primary to guide treatment planning.

  • Identify two motivational strategies that enhance engagement and readiness for ED–OCD treatment.

  • Identify three key components of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) used in ED–OCD care.

  • Identify three types of medications commonly used to target symptoms of eating disorders and OCD.

Educational Goal

The educational goal of this presentation is to explore how therapists and prescribers can collaborate using ERP, ACT, and pharmacotherapy to effectively treat intersecting eating disorders and OCD. Through clinical case examples, participants will learn to design and support flexible exposure work that reduces avoidance and promotes lasting recovery.

Target Audience

  • Addiction Professional
  • Counselor
  • Dietitian
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Nurse
  • Nutritionist
  • Physician
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker

Presenters

Karen Chinca, LICSW, CEDS-S
Karen Chinca, LICSW, is a psychotherapist and the founder of Nourished Minds Counseling + Wellness, LLC, a group therapy practice in the Boston area. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience, Karen has worked across diverse settings including schools, outpatient mental health, and private practice.
Karen specializes in working with adults navigating anxiety disorders, eating disorders, OCD, and trauma. Her approach is grounded in evidence-based practices, integrating modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). She is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist–Supervisor (CEDSS) through the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, a graduate of the International OCD Foundation’s Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI), and a Certified Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy.
Karen is a committed LGBTQIA+ ally who provides affirming, culturally responsive care. She is dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive space where individuals from all backgrounds can feel supported, understood, and empowered in their healing.
Michael Hanau, MD, DFAPA
Dr. Hanau is Medical Director of Adult Psychiatric Services at Monte Nido Walden.
A graduate of Tufts Medical School and the Harvard-Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Dr. Hanau is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Hanau has treated patients with complex, refractory psychiatric illness for 25 years. As an early-career psychiatrist, he was Director of the Division of Medical Psychiatry at Two Brattle Center, focusing on the treatment of patients with Borderline Personality Disorder and comorbid affective and trauma-related psychiatric illness.
During a 15-year tenure as a staff psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Hanau was Assistant Medical Director of the Center for OCD and Related Disorders from 2016 to 2023 and served on the MGH Institutional Review Board for 2 years. He is a lecturer of Psychiatry, part-time, at Harvard Medical School and lectures to medical students, psychiatry residents and the community.
Dr. Hanau's work with individuals suffering from OCD led to an interest in exploring the relationship between OCD and disordered eating in patients suffering from Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia.

Financially Sponsored By

  • Monte Nido