What is ERP?
When first hearing about exposure therapy, it’s common for people to feel scared, worried, or intimidated. Many have images of them being thrown into the deep end and forced to confront their worst fears via whatever the equivalent is of someone with a fear of heights being pushed out of a plane in a forced skydiving exercise. I’m happy to inform you that ERP (also known as Exposure and Response Prevention, ExRP, CBT with exposure, etc) does not function that way, for a wide variety of reasons.
ERP is a type of behavioral therapy that is an evidence-based practice in treating many anxiety-related mental health conditions, including OCD, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and more. While other evidence-based treatments exist for anxiety, ERP is considered the “gold-standard” treatment for OCD, and is currently considered the most effective option (i-CBT, or inference-based CBT, is gaining some traction, but is not yet close to being as established as ERP).
ERP is, first and foremost, consensual. Your provider is only going to engage in ERP with you that you are willing to participate in. Our job as therapists certainly involve some pushing, but ultimately you are the leader of your own treatment.
Exposure is rarely all or nothing. Maybe you have social anxiety, and the thought of attending a huge party is an absolute no. But what about a smaller party? Or going out in public and ordering a coffee? Changing the order while you are making it? Or maybe just going into the coffee shop and leaving? Everyone needs to start somewhere, and we are here to support you no matter where that is.
In many cases, the response prevention aspect of ERP is the most important part. It might be a fantastic exposure for someone with contamination OCD to touch a series of doorknobs around their home. But if they go and wash their hands for 30 minutes after each exposure, there isn't much of a point because they haven’t learned the mechanisms necessary for ERP to work. It’s important to teach your brain that it is okay to sit with discomfort in order to benefit from the treatment. Click here to learn more about the mechanisms that drive ERP and how they can support your treatment.
If you are located in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Maine and experiencing symptoms related to OCD, anxiety, social anxiety, or phobias, mental health therapists at Reveal Counseling would be happy to be of support to you. Please feel free to contact us.
