OCD Family Podcast Host: Nicole Morris, LMFT
Episode: S3E143: Water Cooler Chats: The 30th IOCDF Conference Recap with Madison Di Silvio & Angela Henry
Date: July 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This extended "Water Cooler Chat" episode offers a comprehensive, heartfelt recap of the 30th Annual International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) Conference in Chicago. Host Nicole Morris—a seasoned LMFT and mental health advocate—invites two vibrant fellow clinicians and friends, Madison Di Silvio and Angela (Angie) Henry, to dive into their firsthand experiences. The conversation weaves together professional insights, personal anecdotes, and key takeaways for families, clinicians, and people with lived OCD experience, highlighting conference sessions, personal growth, community moments, suggestions for improvement, and the power of authenticity in the OCD community.

Meet the Guests

• Madison Di Silvio: Clinical Mental Health Counselor at Chicago Counseling Center, runs the advocacy account Obsessively Strong on Instagram/TikTok.
• Angela (Angie) Henry: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, owner of The Center for Collaborative Healing in Indiana—treats OCD, anxiety, tics, PANS/PANDAS.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. First Impressions & Conference Vibe

(05:38–09:11)

• Chicago Pride & Atmosphere:
  Madison expressed excitement about having the conference in her hometown but wished for more varied representations of Chicago cuisine beyond deep dish pizza.
  “There’s so many better foods in Chicago than deep dish.” —Madison (05:59)

• Community Reunion:
  Angie highlighted the joy of seeing relationships rekindled among clinicians and attendees after several years of conferences and the palpable excitement on the dance floor, especially among younger attendees.
  “It's just really neat to see that relationship happen... It's a precious time for me.” —Angie (08:00)

• Dance Floor Mishap:
  Angie humorously recounted breaking her foot—a “dancer’s fracture”—on the dance floor but still showing up for her presentations the next day, heels and all.
  “It’s called a dancer’s fracture. So what I’m hearing is you’re a good dancer.” —Madison & Angie (10:34)

• The Power of Being Authentic:
  The clinicians discussed how liberating it felt to dance and have fun together, stepping away from the outdated notion that therapists shouldn’t show their personal sides:
  “It was really nice... to be in a space where we're all just like, hey, you know what? We're human. We're clinicians.” —Madison (15:24)

2. Highlights of Conference Content & Sessions

(15:48–28:46)

• Authenticity & Connection:
  Angie had a meaningful conversation with Uma Chatterjee about the hunger for authenticity in the field. “The authenticity we need to bring... is just so important.” —Angie (16:55)

• Virtual Access Improvements:
  Nicole praised the hybrid sessions and live Q&As now available on-demand—making key content more accessible.
  “I really like that they incorporated more...the virtual...Those people could ask in the Q&A.” —Nicole (18:55)

3. Deep Dives: Notable Presentations

a. Madison’s Shame & Self-Compassion Group

(19:44–27:30)

• Group Overview:
  Madison co-led an in-demand workshop on shame, healthy vs. toxic shame, and self-compassion in OCD, with Sarah Weber.

• Key Takeaways:

  • Shame is a core emotion in OCD (not just anxiety), making treatment more complex.
  • Differentiation between healthy and toxic shame is crucial; the remedy is self-compassion—sometimes starting with neutrality, not forced positivity.
  • Overwhelming attendance validated the need for this group:
    “A lot of people [said], ‘this is my favorite thing that I've done today.’ There’s such a need for this. Please do it again next year.” —Madison (24:33)
  • Resources recommended: Dr. Kristin Neff’s self-compassion work, “Say It With Sarah”, and podcasts with Kyrie Russ and Mike Heady.

• Practical Note:
  “We’re not using [tools] with the emphasis...‘okay, this is gonna fix it.’... It's really a practice…Shame is hardwired, especially with OCD... Self-compassion makes emotion easier to carry.” —Madison (25:53)

b. Angie’s (and Team's) ICBT Presentations

(28:46–36:27)

• First Talk:
  Focused on mechanisms of change in Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT), providing clinicians and sufferers a nuts-and-bolts understanding.

• Second Talk:
  Used vignettes to demonstrate ERP (Exposure & Response Prevention) vs. ICBT, highlighting differences without pitting one against the other: “We need to have as many varied modalities...as the different people that we serve.” —Angie (30:46) “It’s great to have these tools in our back pocket...” —Angie (31:37)

• Resource Recommendations:

  • Resolving OCD by Frederick Ardema (more accessible than the clinician’s handbook)
  • ICBT Online (videos and targeted subtopic coverage)
  • Angie’s August 15 training and future educational offerings

c. Highlights from Other Conference Topics

• Growth in BFRB (Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors) & Tics Content
• More Robust PANS/PANDAS Coverage: Angie praised the lineup of top researchers but advocated for more clinician voices for real-world practice insights. “We also need clinicians at the table…” —Angie (37:57–39:25)

4. Conference Gaps & Suggestions for the Future

(37:57–49:05)

• For Clinicians:

  • More specialized training—advanced and beginners—every year for ERP, ICBT, and other evidence-based practices.
  • More practitioner voices on panels, especially interdisciplinary topics like PANS/PANDAS.

• For Attendees:

  • Additional support groups and lived-experience spaces.
  • Pre-conference virtual socials to help newcomers connect.

  “Giving the opportunity to provide a space for people to...hang out pre-conference...might entice people to come even more.” —Madison (43:24)

• For the Organization:

  • Greater diversity—race, background, treatment modalities.
  • Truly international reach and engagement.

5. Honest Discussion: Navigating ERP & ICBT Controversies

(49:05–69:59)

• Justice-Based Exposure:
  Clinicians stressed that good ERP is “client-centered and values-based”—not sensational, traumatic, or out of touch with real-life risk, using examples like the (in)famous “granola bar in the toilet” metaphor.

  “ERP again is a wonderful modality and it is important that we’re valuing our clients as we develop those exposures and should be doing it in a pro-client, justice-based way.” —Angie (55:21) “No clinician...is going into these things thinking like, okay, I'm gonna traumatize the client...It’s nuanced.” —Madison (64:56)

• ICBT Misconceptions:
  Similar concern exists for ICBT being misunderstood unless clinicians are well trained. Both modalities deserve thoughtful, ongoing dialogue and education.

• Application > Theory:
  The recurring theme: Real growth comes from skill practice and advanced application—not just theoretical understanding.

6. Building Community: Walks & Advocacy

(71:02–75:45)

• Upcoming Walks:

  • Chicago OCD Walk: August 23, 12–4pm, Central Park in Skokie, IL (rain or shine, with indoor space this year).
  • Indiana First OCD Walk: October 4, 10am–2pm, Zionsville/Indianapolis—complete with booths, activities, sensory stations, face painting, raffles, and more.
  • Ann Arbor, MI OCD Walk: Also highlighted as a first in the region.

  “The OCD walk is for every walk of life. If you wanna learn more about ocd, great space. If you wanna make friends in the OCD community, great space...” —Madison (72:22)

• International Participation Encouraged:
  Nicole encouraged listeners worldwide to start and join walks or connect with other global OCD organizations, such as OCD-UK and OCD Australia.

7. Final Thoughts & Hopeful Messages

(76:33–79:09)

• The Soul-Replenishing Power of Community: “It just is so reflective and, I'm gonna say, rejuvenating for the soul but not for the body...” —Madison (76:33) “Find your tribe, find your people, find the places where you need to learn and advance and get better. If you're a clinician, show up. Be all the colorful person that you are to the world.” —Angie (77:21)

  • For those not ready: “You're not alone. And when you're ready or when you're able, there's not pressure, it's not a failure, but there's an amazing community available.” —Nicole (77:40)

• Superheroes in the Kid Track:
  Nicole described the moving annual tradition of children with OCD designing superhero capes—reminding listeners why this work matters.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “It was really, really wonderful to be in a space where like I did not have to fear what I thought or my thoughts or what I said. It was just kind of a space where people got it.” —Madison (06:26)
• “No one should eat a granola bar out of a toilet...that's not what ERP is.” —Nicole (62:32)
• “We need to have as many varied modalities...as the different people that we serve.” —Angie (30:46)
• “Self-compassion makes emotion easier to carry versus like getting rid of it.” —Madison (25:53)
• “Let’s fix things, you know, in non compulsive ways.” —Nicole (69:59)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 05:38 — First reflections, Chicago setting, opening energy
• 09:11 — Dance floor mishap; clinicians as real people
• 15:48 — Value of authenticity; connecting with Uma Chatterjee
• 19:44 — Madison’s experience running the shame/self-compassion group
• 28:46 — Angie’s ICBT presentations, importance of varied modalities
• 37:57 — What’s missing? More BFRB, tics, PANS/PANDAS, lived experience groups
• 49:05 — Navigating ERP controversy, justice-based care, inclusive improvement
• 69:59 — More effective training, application, and community events
• 71:02 — Walks in Chicago, Indiana, Ann Arbor—building broader community
• 76:33 — Closing reflections: hope, tribe, and the essential power of coming together

Resources Mentioned

• Obsessively Strong (Madison’s advocacy)
• Say It With Sarah (Sarah Weber’s account)
• Dr. Kristin Neff (self-compassion resources)
• “Practical Psych with Kyrie Russ” podcast (shame episode with Mike Heady)
• Resolving OCD by Frederick Ardema
• ICBT Online
• IOCDF Walk info (iocdf.org)
• UK and Australia OCD organizations (linked at ocdfamilypodcast.com)
• Training: August 15 ICBT workshop (contact Angie/see blog)

Takeaway

In this warm, energetic, and deeply informed episode, Nicole, Madison, and Angie illustrate the power of lived experience, authenticity, client-centered care, and building an inclusive OCD community. Whether you’re a family member, clinician, or person with OCD, the conference offered hope, practical learning, and a reminder: You’re never alone. There’s room at the table for every journey.