Exposure and Response Prevention for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is a specialized form of exposure therapy designed to target both intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and the repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) that temporarily relieve anxiety.

In ERP, clients gradually face situations, thoughts, or images that trigger anxiety while learning to resist the urge to perform compulsions. Over time, this process helps the brain learn that anxiety decreases on its own — and that feared outcomes are far less likely or overwhelming than they feel in the moment.

Therapists work collaboratively with clients to develop an individualized exposure plan, often called an “exposure hierarchy.” Together, we select challenges that feel manageable but meaningful. Exposures typically build step-by-step, and progress does not depend on intensity alone—steady, consistent practice is what creates lasting change.