OCD Treatment

our work together

What is Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)?

Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) is a type of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and is seen as the gold standard of treatment for OCD. ERP was designed specifically for the treatment of OCD and it works by interrupting the cycle of obsessions and compulsions. 

The exposure portion of ERP refers to confronting the thoughts, situations, or images that make you feel anxious or trigger the obsession and the response prevention portion refers to making the choice to not participate in compulsive behavior once the anxiety is triggered. Through exposures and compulsion resistance, you are breaking the OCD cycle and learning that you can tolerate distress, anxiety, and uncertainty.

What is ERP treatment like?

We will conduct an assessment for OCD symptoms to gain a clear understanding of the specific obsessions and compulsions, along with the level of severity of OCD. Once we have completed the assessment portion of our work, we will move on to learning more about your symptoms in order to identify the different situations and thoughts that generate your anxiety. Together, we will arrange these situations in a hierarchy. The hierarchy will be created according to the degree of anxiety and discomfort the situations cause. As we continue to meet, we will ascend the hierarchy, beginning at the lowest degree. We will do an exposure in session and then you will continue to do the exposure outside of session.

How will ERP reduce OCD symptoms?

• Through continuous engagement in exposures, you will experience a decrease in your anxiety and the urge to perform compulsions.

• You will gain a deeper understanding and move toward alignment with your values.

• Engaging in ERP increases tolerance to uncertainty.

• You will gain confidence and learn that you can handle intense feelings and anxiety without engaging in compulsions.