Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and How It Works.
Julie Hingsbergen
LMFT, CBT & ERP Specialist
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) that a person feels driven to perform to reduce anxiety or prevent something bad from happening.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard, evidence-based behavioral therapy for OCD. It's a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) specifically designed to break the cycle of obsessions and compulsions.
How ERP Works:
Exposure: The person is gradually exposed to thoughts, images, or situations that trigger their obsessions. This is done in a controlled, step-by-step way.
Response Prevention: The person resists the urge to perform their usual compulsive behavior in response to the obsession. Over time, this helps reduce the anxiety associated with the obsession and breaks the reinforcement loop of compulsions.
Example:
Obsession: "What if I left the stove on and the house burns down?"
Compulsion: Repeatedly checking the stove.
ERP Approach: The person might be asked to walk away from the stove without checking or to imagine not checking—and then resist the urge to go back and check.
Effectiveness:
ERP is highly effective for many people with OCD, especially when practiced consistently. It can be done with a therapist (ideally one trained in OCD and ERP) or through structured self-help programs.
Julie Hingsbergen, LMFT, CBT & ERP Specialist
Reframe CBT is a specialized group practice offering evidence-based CBT and ERP therapy for anxiety, OCD, phobias, and BFRBs. We work with children, teens, college students, and adults in San Rafael, Marin County, and via telehealth throughout California.
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