Exposure Response Prevention

Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) & Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Finally get to the root of what’s holding you back and keeping you stuck in the same old patterns.

Have you tried traditional talk therapy but not seen the change you were hoping for?

You’ve read all the self-help books, maybe even been to therapy before, and often are acting as the therapist to your friends and co-workers because you know all the things are supposed to help. And yet, you’re still struggling with internalizing the skills, knowledge, and advice yourself.

You wish there was a way to go deeper in your therapeutic process and remove all the blocks and barriers to you making the changes you’ve been wanting for so long. 

That’s where Therapy Intensive ERP comes in.

 Exposure Response Prevention FAQs

  • Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) used to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety, phobias, and eating disorders. It is considered the gold-standard treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

  • Exposure and response prevention can help people manage anxiety-provoking or obsessive thoughts and behavior. It involves two steps:

    Individuals are directly exposed to stimuli that generally evoke fear, distress, obsessive thoughts, or compulsive, ritualistic behavior (exposure component).

    They learn therapeutic techniques to help prevent their usual maladaptive response; as a result, they get accustomed to experiencing a trigger but not giving in to the compulsion—this is the response-prevention component.

  • Exposure and response prevention is designed to gradually reduce the anxiety that feeds obsessions and compulsions. People become less physiologically aroused by triggering stimuli or obsessions after being repeatedly and safely exposed to them.

    Individuals with OCD learn over time that the stimuli, thoughts, and feelings that prompt compulsions are more bearable than they anticipated. They also realize that being exposed to their fears does not actually lead to the outcomes they dread. They come to recognize that they are capable of coping with the triggers without resorting to compulsive rituals.

Many people who try ERP in OCD treatment say they notice:

feeling like a weight has lifted off of them after sessions

being able to “let go” of and no longer ruminating on certain topics

improved performance in academics, work, or athletics

increased confidence and self-esteem

a new sense of calm and better sleep

ERP in OCD treatment can help you finally break free from the chains that have been holding you back in your life.

Frequently asked questions about ERP

FAQs

  • ERP is a good fit for anyone seeking OCD treatment. You might be an especially good fit if:

    you’re obsessive compulsive disorder presents with rumination, guilt, tics, checking, counting, intrusive thoughts

  • I only offer ERP for OCD treatment through therapy intensives.

    Your treatment package would include an intake session, intensive session(s), and a follow-up sesson.

  • We’ll start with a free 20 minute consultation for therapy intensive session(s) so that we can meet and determine if intensives are a good fit.

    If we do decide we’re a good fit, we’ll schedule an initial 90 minute intake session and go from there.