What is Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy?

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Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy is for people diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. OCD is when a person uses compulsive behaviors to try and control repetitive, distressing, and intrusive thoughts. For example, a person may wash their hands excessively because they have extreme fear and anxiety of germs.

ERP’s goal is to promote distress tolerance skills that replace rituals or compulsions.

Your therapist will introduce the concept of “habituation,” which involves slowly exposing you to the feared experience. Through distress tolerance techniques such as mindfulness and breathing exercises, your nervous system learns to calm down when exposed to the stimuli. Eventually, after repeated exposure, your body learns to respond differently.

Another idea behind Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy is that you learn that your previous associations are likely wrong by being exposed to the feared stimuli multiple times. For example, someone who fears germs learns, through repeated exposure, that they will not become deathly ill after exposing themself to germs.

ERP also can help you manage distressing emotions surrounding the fear itself. You can ease some of these obsessions and compulsions by learning to tolerate uncertainty.

Your ERP therapist will work with you to develop skills of distress tolerance, mindfulness, and staying present in the moment, which can help you manage your symptoms.

Therapists Who Specialize in Using Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy

Alyssa Hoffman

Indianapolis

Indiana

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Joy. It's what we're all searching for. Sometimes we need some help along the way to find it. Whether you are searching for joy for yourself, your child, or your family, I am here for you. Through a relational and compassionate approach I will help you uncover the strength and capacity that already exist within you and help you develop new skills allowing you to persevere, blossom, and thrive. ...
*Currently accepting new clients* Managing your Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can seem like a daunting task. As a Certified Anxiety Specialist, I provide coping skills in order to improve confidence to challenge your fears. By learning ways to overcome your stress, anxiety, depression, and other challenges, you will feel more empowered to live life to its fullest. I received two degrees from...

Tampa Bay DBT

Tampa

Florida

Tampa Bay DBT is a group of mental health clinicians dedicated to the mission of providing evidence based psychological treatments to adolescents, adults, and families in a compassionate environment. Our clinicians are dedicated to receiving the most up to date trainings to provide the most effective care to the individuals we serve. We provide specific treatments including: Dialectical Behavio...
Emily Wish, LLC provides evidence-based and compassionate care for people struggling with eating disorders and body dissatisfaction. We treat children, adolescents, and adults, as well as provide support to those who love them. The courage and bravery that we witness on a daily basis inspires and fuels our passion. We live with the knowledge that our work is bigger than us and we absolutely lov...
I am here to help you grow into a happier, healthier person, and I want you to look forward to coming to therapy. Many of my specialty areas relate to anxiety including social anxiety, panic disorder, specific phobias, OCD, trich, and tics. I am one of only a few clinicians in the area certified to treat OCD. I also work with the LGBTQ+ population and provide support before, during, and after...
I am a LCSW who specializes in treatment for adults. I have a special interest and expertise in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and have significant experience with Exposure and Response Prevention and Dialectal Behavior Therapy Skills Training. I have worked with individuals who struggle with a variety of behavioral health issues to include but not limited to OCD, Anxiety...
I believe that you are the expert of your life and know what is best for you, but the hurts, losses, and disappointments in life keep you from trusting your good instincts. I can help you overcome the despair, lack of motivation, negativity, fear of failure, excessive worry, lethargy, low self-esteem, inability to trust, and codependency that often results from failed relationships, abuse,...
I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and I am passionate about providing high quality, evidence-based treatment for Anxiety Disorders and Eating Disorders. I completed my Masters degree at Antioch University and I specialize in the treatment of Anxiety Disorders including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disord...

Mara Fleischer

Nashville

Tennessee

Sometimes the problems we face feel insurmountable. At times, we even feel embarrassed or ashamed to talk about them. I provide a space for you to be accepted, listened to and understood. Using an evidence-based approach grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, you will learn the tools to help you make changes to your life - in line with your values. A little about me... I am a clinical...
Is being stuck in your house leaving you stuck in your head? Have you been told you worry too much, even given current circumstances? Are you constantly going to the worst case scenario? Does it seem like you've tried everything, and nothing is helping you feel less anxious, obsessive, or paranoid? I am trained in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) through the Beck Institute to address depression...
I specialize in treating a broad spectrum of Anxiety Disorders including OCD, PTSD, social anxiety, panic attacks, specific phobias/fears and generalized anxiety/worry. I also have extensive experience in treating depression along with other mood disorders and substance use disorders. I utilize Cognitive Behavioral, Solution Focused, Person Centered Therapy along with Exposure and Response...
Do you feel stuck or like your quality of life could be improved, but you just don't know how to go about it? Are you frustrated by repeatedly approaching a problem with little success overcoming it? The Chicago Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders offers compassionate, quality care specializing in obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, anxiety disorders, and body-image disorders. Whethe...