Exposure and Response Prevention

in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Are You Considering ERP For Managing OCD and Anxiety?

Do you feel overwhelmed by unwanted thoughts, images, or sensations and trapped in mental or physical rituals? Despite knowing that your fears are unlikely or unrealistic, does it still feel like you must succumb to your compulsions just to feel safe.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy can help get you out of cycles of intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and compulsive behaviors that only provide short-term relief.

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What Is ERP Therapy?

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Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, known simply as ERP, is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that is designed to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. This revolutionary form of treatment was developed in the 1960’s, by psychiatrist and behavior therapist, Victor Meyer. With decades of research, ERP is considered a preeminent form of treatment for addressing OCD.

At its core, ERP therapy helps you gradually face your feared thoughts, images, situations, or sensations (Exposures) while teaching you how to resist your urge to engage in compulsive behaviors or mental rituals (Response Prevention). Over time, you learn that feelings of anxiety and uncertainty can be tolerated and your urge to seek certainty diminishes. Additionally, ERP has evolved to include cognitive strategies, as well as mindfulness and acceptance strategies, that specifically target intrusive thoughts and help you manage feelings of uncertainty.

Having OCD symptoms can feel like an alarm going off in your brain constantly, alerting you to danger. The goal in ERP therapy is not to eliminate anxiety immediately, but to help the brain learn, ‘I can feel uncomfortable and still be okay.’

You may feel desperate to get relief from the feelings of anxiety and uncertainty this alarm creates, so you engage in rituals meant to instill a sense of control and safety. By gradually facing these challenging feelings, without engaging in rituals, you give yourself the opportunity to develop resilience and confidence to overcome your fears.

Through ERP therapy, you learn techniques to quiet the alarm of intrusive thoughts and develop a new relationship with them, not one of fear but of acceptance, knowing those thoughts are not meaningful or important. When you implement the strategies learned in therapy, your anxiety decreases and there is less reliance on getting relief from compulsions.

How Does ERP Therapy Work?

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In general, ERP therapy unfolds in several phases, while always remaining collaborative, flexible, and individualized to meet your needs. Although the pacing and emphasis may vary person to person, most ERP treatment includes the following phases:

Personalized Assessment and Treatment Planning
Treatment begins with a thorough assessment of your specific OCD symptoms, triggers, and compulsions, including any mental rituals, reassurance seeking, family accommodations, and avoidant behaviors. Together, we develop a personalized treatment plan with a focus on specific goals.
Psychoeducation and Skill Building
In general, you will learn how to identify and label your OCD symptoms, notice your need to get anxiety relief, and resist your urge to engage in compulsions. In this phase, you may build a personalized exposure hierarchy, ranging from lower-intensity triggers to more challenging ones. This plan is collaborative and values-based, ensuring that your exposure goals are purposeful with real life applicability.
Facing Fears and Decreasing Compulsions
Therapy focuses on gradually facing your feared scenarios (in real life or through imagery) while resisting the urge to engage in compulsions. This can build your confidence knowing you can handle uncomfortable feelings without needing to quickly get relief or avoid them. With repetition and practice, you can significantly improve your symptoms and reconnect with your values, relationships, and meaningful activities. In our sessions, over time, you’ll develop tools and strategies to reduce your obsessive and compulsive symptoms outside of therapy.

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My Background as an ERP Specialist

Since OCD can be complex and is often misunderstood, working with a therapist who focuses on using ERP therapy is essential. I have been a clinical psychologist for over 25 years and specialize in using ERP to treat OCD in a supportive and compassionate manner.

I have received ERP certification through the BTTI (Behavioral Training Therapy Institute) which is funded by the International OCD Foundation. Throughout my career, I have taught and supervised doctoral students in the use of ERP with their clients, as the Director of the Anxiety Treatment Center at Nova Southeastern University.

I also had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Bruce Hyman (author of The OCD Workbook) in private practice. Since then, I have treated many clients using ERP therapy to help them get real results and freedom from their OCD symptoms.

Find Out How ERP Treatment Can Help You…

If you are struggling with OCD and are ready to transform your life from unwanted, intrusive thoughts, anxiety and fear, and time-consuming compulsions, ERP therapy can help you let go of what’s holding you back and move forward. For more information on how to get started, contact me by email, call (954) 233-0379, or visit the contact page, for a free 15-minute consultation to learn more.

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