EXPOSURE AND RESPONSE PREVENTION (ERP)
For Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
What is ERP
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helps people reduce the cycle of anxiety, intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). ERP works by helping people gradually face situations, thoughts, images or sensations that trigger distress, while resisting the compulsions or avoidance behaviours they usually use to feel better. Over time, this can help people learn that uncertainty and distress can be tolerated without performing compulsions and reduce the repeating cycle of OCD.
HOW DOES IT WORK
ERP involves identifying triggers, the fears associated with them, and the behaviours used to manage the resulting distress. The psychologist and client co-develop a structured plan to approach these triggers gradually, often starting with situations that feel manageable.
Exposure tasks are tailored to the individual and may take place during sessions or between appointments. Progress is reviewed collaboratively, with attention to what the person learns rather than simply how anxious they feel.
ERP is primarily used to treat all OCD themes, including presentations involving contamination fears, harm-related intrusions, checking, ’just rightness’, reassurance seeking, relationally-focused obsessions, and other OCD themes and behaviours.
ERP is not about forcing someone into frightening situations or dismissing genuine risks. It involves planned, collaborative practice, with appropriate attention to the person's circumstances, readiness and safety. A psychologist can help determine whether ERP is suitable and how to adapt it to the individual's needs.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM
ERP developed from behavioural psychology and learning theory, particularly the use of exposure to reduce fear and avoidance. By the 1960s and 1970s, researchers and clinicians developed approaches that combined exposure with preventing compulsive responses. The method became an established psychological treatment for OCD and remains a first-line psychological intervention. Contemporary ERP also recognises that learning to tolerate uncertainty, rather than waiting for anxiety to disappear, is central to making lasting changes.
Ready to Begin?
At Ensemble Psychology, we are committed to providing evidence-based, collaborative care that respects your identity, values, and goals.
If you are seeking thoughtful, personalised support from an experienced clinical psychologist, we invite you to get in touch to arrange an initial consultation.
Initial phone consultations are free of charge. Standard appointments (50 minutes) are charged at $260 per session