Teach & Tour with Community Partners

Join us as we welcome expert Community Partners for our Teach & Tour Series Differential Diagnosis in OCD and Eating Disorder and the Overlap in Evidence Based Treatment Presented by: Andrea Alvarez, M.Ed., LPC-S, NCC with AMA Behavioral Therapies Overview | When OCD and eating disorders present with similar behaviors—such as restriction, checking, avoidance, reassurance seeking, or ritualized behaviors—it can be challenging to determine what is driving the behavior and which diagnosis best captures the underlying psychopathology. The overlap between these disorders is clinically important because similar symptoms may serve very different functions, while OCD and eating disorders can also occur together. A careful differential diagnosis therefore requires looking beyond what a patient is doing and examining the thoughts, fears, motivations, and consequences that maintain the behavior. Understanding these distinctions can directly inform treatment planning, particularly when determining which evidence-based interventions should be prioritized and how interventions can be integrated when comorbidity is present. Learning Objectives | By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to: • Differentiate OCD from eating-disorder psychopathology • Identify areas of phenomenological overlap • Recognize OCD and eating-disorder comorbidity • Apply differential diagnosis to treatment planning • Identify shared and disorder-specific evidence-based interventions Complimentary 1-hr CE Lunch will be provided Andrea M. Alvarez, M.Ed., LPC-S, NCC, is a licensed professional counselor, therapist, and specialist in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related anxiety disorders. With more than 20 years of clinical experience, she specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), emotional regulation, and evidence-based approaches to the treatment of OCD and anxiety-related conditions. Andrea is a sought-after presenter at professional conferences, symposiums, and academic institutions, where she shares practical, evidence-based approaches to assessment and treatment while supporting the development of the next generation of mental health professionals. Her clinical and educational interests include complex OCD presentations, differential diagnosis, comorbidity, and the integration of evidence-based treatment approaches. She has participated in advanced professional training through the International OCD Foundation, including the 2024 Advanced Forum in Toronto, Canada, with a focus on complex OCD cases, treatment resistance, and advanced evidence-based interventions. Andrea is a professional member of the International OCD Foundation and the TLC Foundation and has served as President of the OCD Texas Board since 2020. Andrea is committed to advancing clinical understanding of OCD while bringing acompassionate, individualized, and evidence-based perspective to mental health treatment.