Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
The leading treatment for OCD, done gradually and at a pace you agree to.
What it is
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the leading treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD runs on a cycle: an intrusive thought brings anxiety, a compulsion brings brief relief, and that relief teaches your brain the compulsion is needed. Over time the cycle takes more and more of your day.
ERP breaks that cycle. With your therapist, you face the thoughts and situations that trigger your OCD in small, planned steps, and practice not doing the compulsion. Each time, your brain learns that the anxiety rises and then falls on its own, and that you can handle the uncertainty.
ERP is also used for some anxiety problems, such as phobias and health anxiety.
What sessions look like
You'll start by mapping your obsessions, compulsions and triggers, then build a ladder of exposures from easier to harder. Nothing is done without your agreement, and you set the pace. Practice between sessions is a big part of the work.
ERP is challenging, but most people find the anxiety drops faster than they expected. Some people also use medication alongside ERP; our psychiatric nurse practitioner can help with that where appropriate.
You don't need to pick an approach
If you have a preference, mention it when you request an appointment and we'll match you with a clinician who uses it. Every person responds to different things, so your clinician may combine approaches, with or without medication.
