Reflections from the 2026 IOCDF Conference: A Heartfelt Thank You
Each year, the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) Conference serves as a reminder that none of us are doing this work alone.
As a clinician specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders, attending the 2026 IOCDF Conference was both professionally enriching and personally meaningful. There is something incredibly powerful about gathering with thousands of clinicians, researchers, advocates, individuals living with OCD, and families from around the world who all share the same mission: making effective, evidence-based care more accessible and helping people reclaim their lives from OCD.
The conference is so much more than a series of presentations. It is a place where the newest research meets real-world clinical practice. It is where difficult cases are discussed openly, innovative treatment approaches are explored, and lifelong professional relationships are formed. Perhaps most importantly, it is a place where the voices of individuals with lived experience remain at the center of every conversation.
I returned home with pages of notes, fresh ideas for treatment, renewed motivation, and an even deeper appreciation for the resilience of the families and individuals we have the privilege of serving each day at The LiveWell Collective.
To the team at the International OCD Foundation: thank you.
Thank you for the countless hours that go into organizing an event of this magnitude. Thank you for creating a space where science, compassion, collaboration, and hope come together so seamlessly. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to advancing research, improving education, reducing stigma, and connecting clinicians with the resources needed to provide the highest quality care.
Your work extends far beyond one weekend each year. Through your advocacy, educational resources, training opportunities, support groups, and community-building efforts, you continue to transform the landscape of OCD treatment across the world. The impact you have on clinicians ultimately reaches thousands of individuals and families seeking recovery.
As someone who has dedicated my career to treating OCD through Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapies, I am deeply grateful for the role the IOCDF has played in raising the standard of care and fostering such a welcoming, collaborative professional community.
Thank you for reminding us that learning never stops, that curiosity makes us better clinicians, and that hope is always worth sharing.
We're already looking forward to next year.
With gratitude,
McKenna Davis, MA, LMHC, NCC
Child/Adolescent Therapist & Founder, The LiveWell Collective
