We are so excited to see you at this summer’s 26th Annual OCD Conference! Each year we receive many questions about the registration process, Conference weekend program, the host city, and more. Whether you’re attending the Conference for the first time, or you are an #OCDcon veteran, we hope this FAQ will answer any questions you may have.
Wednesday, Jan 2nd, 2019: Proposal System Opens Monday, Feb 4th, 2019 at 5pm ET: Proposal System Closes (Presentations, Evening Activities, & Support Groups) Mid March: General Registration Opens Mid March: Hotel Room Reservation Opens Late March: Scholarship Application Opens April: Volunteer Application Opens Wednesday, April 17th, 2019 at 5pm ET: Proposal System Closes (for Research Posters) Friday, May 17th, 2019 at 5pm ET: Deadline to purchase marketing opportunities Monday, June 10th, 2019 at 5pm ET: Early Bird Deadline Friday, June 21st, 2019 at 5pm ET: Last day to request a refund for Conference registration Friday, June 28th, 2019: Hotel Room Reservation Cutoff Date Thursday, July 11th, 2019 at 5pm ET: Pre-registration closes (onsite registration in Austin will begin at 2:00pm on Thursday, July 18th, 2019)
General Conference Questions Questions About Registration Questions About Hotel & Travel Questions About the Conference Logistics Questions About the Conference Program
Q. What is the Annual OCD Conference? A. The Annual OCD Conference is an extraordinary, three-day (Friday-Sunday, with pre-Conference activities on Thursday) event that brings together mental health professionals, individuals with OCD and their loved ones, with the goal of updating all attendees about the latest treatments, research, and practice in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders. Hosted by the International OCD Foundation and now in its 26th year, it is the only national event focused solely on OCD and related disorders and aims to foster a community of support and resources for everyone affected.
This year, the 26th Annual OCD Conference will be held on July 19-21, 2019 (with Pre-Conference sessions on Thursday, July 18) in Austin, TX.
Q. Who is invited to attend the Annual OCD Conference A. Anyone who is affected by OCD and/or a related disorder, professionals who work with OCD and/or related disorders, are all welcome to participate in the Annual OCD Conference! The Conference program consists of presentations for all populations: individuals with OCD, parents/families, therapists researchers, kids & teens, young adults, and more. Learn more about why you should attend here, as well as who should attend here!
Q. How do I register for the Conference? A. Registration for the 26th Annual OCD Conference will open March 2019. You can register online, or if you prefer to register over the phone, you can call the IOCDF office at (617) 973-5801 during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm EST), and a staff member will help you.
Families of four or more (living in the same household) are eligible for a family discount, but must register over the phone to receive the discount. Please call the IOCDF office for more information.
Q. How much does it cost to attend the Conference? A. Registration fees depend on whether you (or a household member) are members with the IOCDF, whether you plan to attend the entire event or only one day, if you are attending as a professional earning continuing education (CE) credit, if you are over the age of 18, and if you plan to attend any pre-Conference events. Click here to view registration rates for the 25th Annual OCD Conference.
Conference discounts are available to Foundation, Student/Trainee, and Professional Members, and all members of their households. Community Members are not eligible to receive the Member discount. Click here for more information on member discounts and additional benefits.
Click here for more information on accreditation and attending as a professional.
Q. What is included with my Conference registration? A. Your Conference badge grants you access to all Conference events for those days your badge is valid. This includes free breakfast each morning (Friday–Sunday), daily Conference presentations, evening activities and support groups. If you pay to attend the Full Conference, you will have access to the Researcher and Exhibitor Meet & Greet on Saturday early evening, where appetizers will be served, and the Saturday Night Social, where a light dinner and desserts will be served.
Q. I just registered myself for the Conference. Now what? A. Great! When you registered for the Conference online or by phone you provided us with your email address and you should have received an email confirmation from us with information about your Conference registration(s). We will also be sending emails to all Conference registrants as we approach the Conference with updates and more information. Be sure to check back on our Conference website frequently as we will be continuing to post updates and more information leading up to the Conference weekend.
Q. I registered for the Conference but just found out that I will no longer be able to attend. How do I cancel my registration, and will I receive a refund? A. You are able to cancel your registration as long as you cancel before the deadline below. However, per the registration terms and conditions outlined on our registration page, as well as in the emailed registration receipt all attendees receive, all cancellations and requests for refunds must be made in writing and postmarked by Friday, June 21, 2019. A $50 cancellation fee will be charged per cancelled registration. No refunds will be granted to requests postmarked after June 21, 2019. Cancellations made by telephone or email will not be accepted. All cancellation requests must be sent to us at the following address: International OCD Foundation, Attn: Conference Desk, PO Box 961029, Boston, MA 02196.
Q. Do I have to pre-register for any of the presentations throughout the Conference weekend? A. Once you are registered for the Conference, you are free to attend all sessions for the days which your Conference badge is valid, and you do NOT need to pre-register for individual presentations or tracks. The only exception to this is if you wish to attend any of the Pre-Conference Training Sessions (PCTS), taking place on Thursday, July 18, 2019. Those sessions have separate fees and are not included in the Full Conference registration.
Please be advised that all sessions are on a first-come, first-served basis, so please plan to arrive early for any scheduled Presentations, Evening Activities or Support Groups to guarantee yourself a seat.
Q. If I have a 1-Day registration, can I still attend Evening Activities? A. One-day Friday registrants are welcome to attend all pre-Conference programing on Thursday evening, as well as all presentations and events taking place on Friday. One-day Saturday registrants are welcome to attend all presentations and events taking place on Saturday and Saturday evening, as well as all presentations taking place on Sunday.
Q. I have registered for the Annual OCD Conference, but would also like to attend parts of the Hoarding Track and/or the Bilingual Program/Programa Bilingüe. Can I attend parts of these tracks with my Conference registration? A. Absolutely! Both the Hoarding Track and the Bilingual Program/Programa Bilingüe are open to all attendees with a badge for the days these programs take place (e.g., if you have a Saturday 1-Day badge, you may attend any of the Bilingual Program/Programa Bilingüe presentations since those takes place on Saturday). Hoarding Track presentations take place on Friday and Saturday, so you would be able to attend presentations within that track on either or both days based on what type of conference registration you have (full conference versus one-day).
Q. I am currently only registered for a 1-Day registration — can I change my registration to a Full Conference registration if I change my mind? A. Yes, you will be able to upgrade your One-Day registration to a Full Conference registration if you change your mind. Please call us at (617) 973-5801 and we can make this upgrade for you over the phone or email conference@ocd2019.org . You will also be able to upgrade to a full registration onsite during the Conference weekend.
Q. I am a professional who accidentally registered for the Annual OCD Conference at the Adult rate and need to change to the Professional rate in order to be eligible to receive CE/CME credits — how can I do this? A. In order to receive CE/CME credit at the Annual OCD Conference, you must meet the following requirements:
To change your registration to the Professional rate, please call us at (617) 973-5801 or email us at conference@ocd2019.org .
Q. Where is the OCD Conference being held, and how do I book my guestroom(s) for the Conference? A. The 26th Annual OCD Conference is being held at the JW Marriott Austin located at 110 East 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701. We have secured a discounted group rate of $205 (plus taxes and fees) at the JW Marriott Austin for Annual OCD Conference attendees. Once registration is open, we will open the room block. Click here for more detailed information about the hotel, to book a guest room, and other travel information.
Q. What is the weather like in Austin in July, and is there anything I should pack specifically? A. The weather in Austin, TX in July can get up to the low to mid 90s during the day and typically drops down to mid 70s at night. Make sure to check the weather prior to your departure, but plan on bringing appropriate clothing for the warmer weather. Keep in mind that large Conference hotels such as the JW Marriott Austin typically run on the cooler side, especially in the larger ballrooms where many of the Conference presentations take place. Keep this in mind if you are sensitive to cooler temperatures and bring a sweater or some warmer clothing for when attending sessions.
Q. What is the easiest (and cheapest) way of getting from the airport to the Conference hotel? A. The JW Marriott is 10.6 miles NW of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). There are a few public transportation options for attendees coming from the airport, including a SuperShuttle ($15 USD, reservation required), taxi or RideShare app (estimated fare is $32 USD one way) or bus service ($2 USD one way), the closest bus station being Cap Metro Stop #578. Click here for more information about all transportation and parking options.
Q. Am I able to communicate with other people who will be attending the Annual OCD Conference to arrange room sharing? A. Due to liability concerns, the IOCDF cannot help you to arrange sharing a room at the conference. However, if you are interested in connecting with a fellow conference attendee to potentially share a room at the conference hotel to help keep costs down, take a look at the Conference Chatter discussion board on Yahoo. Please use your best judgment when determining where to stay, and whether to share a room. The Conference Chatter discussion board is great for:
The message board is not affiliated with the IOCDF, but is run by experienced Conference attendees who can answer your questions and post suggestions. You can find that message board here: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/CC-OCF/info
Q. What meals are included with my Conference registration? Are there any restaurants within close walking distance for lunch and dinner during the Conference weekend? A. Continental breakfast is included with the price of your registration on all three days of the Conference (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). For lunch, there are dozens of restaurant options in and around the hotel. Click here for a full list on the Conference hotel’s website. If you purchased a Full Conference registration, a light dinner on Saturday evening during the Saturday Night Social is also included as part of your registration fee, but it is the only evening meal offered. The Conference hotel is located right downtown Austin just steps away from a variety of meal options.
Q. I am a person with a disability and/or accessibility concerns. What access and accommodations are available at the Annual OCD Conference? A. We strive to make the Annual OCD Conference accessible by all members of our OCD community. The Conference hotel (JW Marriott Austin) is an ADA compliant hotel with 32 ADA rooms. We are happy to work with you and the hotel to ensure you have full access to all the Conference has to offer. If your need for access/accommodation is not covered in this text, please contact conference@ocd2019.org and the IOCDF will work with you to try to meet your needs.
Q. I am very excited about attending this year’s Annual OCD Conference! However, I am on a pretty fixed budget. Do you have any ideas for making this experience a bit more cost-efficient for me? A. Definitely — we know that the Conference is a big expense for many of our attendees. Click here to read more on cost-effective ways to attend the Conference. There are some great tips and ideas included to help you save money while also making the most of your Conference weekend.
Q. This is my first time attending the Annual OCD Conference — what can I expect from the environment in the meeting space throughout the Conference weekend? A. If you are a first-time attendee, and have never attended a large Conference in a convention hotel, here are some items you may want to keep in mind and/or prepare for:
Q. I have never met someone else with OCD! How can I meet others like me, as well as get the most out of the Conference weekend? A. Each year, a little over half of the attendees at the Annual OCD Conference are attending for the first time, so you will not be alone! Our Conference is a caring and respectful environment full of individuals who are eager to learn and meet others who are sharing the same experiences. It is a unique event where therapists, researchers, those with OCD, and their loved ones all learn beside one another.
If you feel comfortable doing so, you can pick up a free “First Time Attendee” ribbon at the registration area to place on your Conference badge. Placing these ribbons on your name badge will help you identify and meet others who are also attending for the first time. This will also let some of our more experienced Conference attendees know that they can offer you advice and tips. We will also have “Conference Ambassadors” who will be available to answer your questions throughout the Conference weekend — just look for their Ambassador buttons.
We are always trying to find new ways to create “ ice breakers ” early on at the Conference. For those of you who are arriving in town on Thursday, we have a number of fun activities that evening, which are a great way to meet other attendees before the workshops begin on Friday. Click here for more information about evening activities at the Conference.
Q. Where can I find descriptions of the presentations? A. We will be posting descriptions/abstracts for all presentations, events, and support groups in the online schedule by mid June. Descriptions for all events will also be included in the Program Guide, which all attendees will receive when they check-in for the Conference.
Q. I will be attending the Conference with my child(ren). There are some presentations and events that I want to attend as a parent that might not be suitable for my child(ren). Is there anything for kids and teens to do while parents are attending more adult-focused events? A. Yes. We know that OCD is a family affair, so we have designed the Conference to provide the best experience possible to all families who attend, large or small. We are pleased to offer youth programming for three distinct age groups — elementary-aged kids, middle schoolers, and high school-aged teens. For the convenience of families, we have situated these tracks near one another, in a location easily accessible from the main Conference Registration and Information Desk.
If you want to attend a session for parents or adults, we encourage you to have your child attend the youth programming track that best corresponds with their age. These tracks are staffed with experiential therapists and volunteer room monitors, in addition to rotating presenters each day. In these tracks, your child will be treated to a number of fun workshops, experiential/art therapy exercises, field trips, and more. The youth programming rooms are open to all youth at the Conference, whether they be young people with OCD and related disorders or their siblings/friends/supporters.
We do encourage parents to stay with their younger children during sessions. While each track does have dedicated staff in the room at all times, they are not responsible for monitoring children. Parents who feel comfortable allowing their older kids/teens to attend the youth programming by themselves can do so. Additionally, kids/teens are welcome to attend talks with their parents. Click here for more information about youth programming.
Q. My spouse/family member/friend/child wants to attend the Annual OCD Conference with me, but they do not have OCD themselves. Is having OCD a requirement to attend this Conference?
A. No, you do NOT need to have OCD and/or a related disorder to attend the Conference. In fact, we encourage those who do not have OCD themselves to attend, as it will help all those involved in the treatment process (family members, spouses, friends, caretakers, teachers, professionals, researchers, etc.) to understand what their loved one/person they are treating is going through. We have specialized presentation tracks for adults, young adults, kids & teens with OCD, as well as tracks for parents & family members, therapists, and researchers; so there really is something for everyone! Take a look at our online schedule when it is available in early March to read more about the various programs we offer. If you are still unsure whether or not the Annual OCD Conference is for you, feel free to email us at conference@ocd2019.org or call us at (617) 973-5801, and we would be happy to talk with you more about this.
Q. Can I go to the professional talks if I am not a therapist or researcher? A. While anyone can attend the therapist or researcher presentations, we have asked the presenters in these tracks to target their presentation to mental health professionals. As a result, if you are not a mental health professional, be prepared for the talk to be more advanced than presentations in the other tracks. In many cases, a topic covered in the researcher and therapist tracks will have a complementary talk aimed at non-mental health professionals in another track. As such, consider this when asking any questions of presenters you may have. For example, if you don’t understand some terminology used in a research talk, consider going to a talk in the “everyone” track on the same topic for more introductory information.
Q. Are there opportunities for treatment at the Conference? A. Dr. Reid Wilson offers a 2-day treatment program at the Annual OCD Conference, more information for which will be available in March 2019. There are also other less formal treatment opportunities at the Conference that do not require advance registration, such as the many different support groups held each evening at the Conference. Check out our online Conference schedule when it is posted in early March to see what else is available.
Q. I cannot attend this year’s Annual OCD Conference in Austin, TX — can you tell me where and when the 2020 Annual OCD Conference will be held? A. We are sad you won’t be able to make it to Austin, Texas this year! The 27th Annual OCD Conference will be held in Seattle, WA. To stay up to date about all future Annual OCD Conferences and to make sure you don’t miss any important information, sign up for our Conference email list here .
If you have any other questions about attending the Annual OCD Conference, please don’t hesitate to email conference@ocd2019.org or call the IOCDF office at (617) 973-5801.