Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy is one of the most extensively researched and empirically supported treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related anxiety disorders. It is the gold standard for these presentations. 

It is human instinct to avoid suffering. However, when it comes to anxiety and OCD, the way to reduce suffering is to move through it, not around it. 

Backed by Research 

ERP is recommended as a first-line treatment for OCD in various clinical practice guidelines, including those issued by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). 

There is substantial research supporting the effectiveness of ERP in reducing OCD symptoms and improving overall quality of life.

What to Expect:

• Exposure Exercises: Depending on your treatment plan and current goals, these exposures may involve in vivo (real-life) exposures or imaginal (imagining feared scenarios) exposures. The therapist will guide you through the exposure exercises step by step, ensuring they are conducted in a gradual and systematic manner. 

• Response Prevention: Throughout the exposure exercises your therapist will help you to resist the urge to engage in compulsive behaviors. You are not your thoughts! Response prevention helps you set boundaries with your intrusions

• Feedback: After each exposure exercise, the therapist may encourage you to reflect on your experience and provide feedback. You'll discuss any thoughts, feelings, or sensations that arose during the exposure.

Overall, ERP therapy sessions are collaborative and goal-oriented, with a focus on gradually confronting fears, reducing avoidance, and building skills to manage anxiety more effectively. Your therapist will provide guidance, support, and encouragement throughout the process, empowering you to take control of your recovery from OCD. 

Start ERP with a Skilled Therapist Today 

If you're struggling with OCD or anxiety, you might find it hard to focus or feel overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts. Let's explore how you can regain control and find relief from the cycle of anxiety and avoidance. Together, we can work on confronting your fears, building resilience, and reclaiming your life from OCD's grip.