Exposure and Response Prevention
Understanding ERP
Break the Cycle of Anxiety and OCD
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy is a highly effective, evidence-based treatment for individuals struggling with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and other anxiety-related conditions. ERP helps people gradually face their fears in a safe, structured environment—without engaging in the compulsions or avoidance behaviors that reinforce anxiety over time.
What Is ERP?
ERP is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that focuses on two key components:
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• Exposure: Systematically and intentionally confronting the thoughts, images, situations, or objects that trigger anxiety or distress.
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• Response Prevention: Refraining from the compulsive behaviors or mental rituals that are typically used to reduce anxiety.
Through repeated exposure and the prevention of avoidance behaviors, the brain learns that these triggers are not truly dangerous—and that anxiety naturally subsides without the need for compulsions.
How Does ERP Work?
ERP is conducted in a collaborative and supportive therapeutic relationship. Together, therapist and client create a personalized hierarchy of feared situations and gradually work through them at a manageable pace.
Over time, ERP helps to:
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• Reduce the intensity and frequency of obsessive thoughts
• Increase tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort
• Build confidence in one’s ability to cope with fear and anxiety
• Break the OCD cycle
What Conditions Can ERP Treat?
While ERP is most commonly associated with OCD, it is also highly effective for:
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• Panic Disorder
• Social Anxiety
• Health Anxiety
• Specific Phobias
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Why Choose ERP?
Decades of research support ERP as the gold standard treatment for OCD. Unlike talk therapy alone, ERP offers a practical, hands-on approach that leads to lasting change.
If you or a loved one are ready to challenge fear and reclaim your life, ERP could be the path forward.