ERP Therapy in NYC

ERP therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that focuses on exposing individuals to the situations or thoughts that trigger their obsessive fears while preventing the compulsive behaviors they typically use to alleviate anxiety. The goal of ERP is to help individuals gradually confront their fears and learn to tolerate the distress without resorting to compulsive behaviors, thus reducing anxiety over time.

​The therapy is based on the principle that avoidance and compulsive behaviors reinforce obsessive fears, leading to a cycle that perpetuates anxiety. By intentionally exposing individuals to their triggers and preventing the usual response, ERP helps to “retrain” the brain to respond to these triggers in a healthier, less distressing way. ERP is recognized as the gold standard treatment for OCD and has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and improving overall quality of life. ERP therapy typically involves several structured phases that are designed to gradually help the individual confront their fears and reduce compulsive behaviors. Here’s how ERP therapy works:

​Assessment and Goal Setting: The therapist conducts an initial assessment to understand the specific OCD symptoms, triggers, and compulsive behaviors. Together with the client, the therapist sets realistic goals for the treatment process and identifies the situations that cause the most distress.

Exposure: In the exposure phase, the therapist helps the client face the feared situation, thought, or object that triggers anxiety. These exposures start with less distressing triggers and gradually increase in intensity as the client becomes more comfortable. The goal is to create a controlled environment where the individual can safely confront their fears.

Response Prevention: During the response prevention phase, the therapist encourages the client to resist engaging in the compulsive behavior that they typically use to cope with anxiety. By not performing the compulsion, the individual learns that their anxiety will naturally decrease over time, which helps break the cycle of OCD.

Gradual Progression: As the individual becomes more comfortable with lower-level exposures, they gradually progress to more challenging situations. The exposures increase in difficulty, and the individual continues to resist compulsive behaviors. Over time, the anxiety associated with these situations decreases

Maintenance and Relapse Prevention: Once the client has made significant progress, the therapist focuses on maintaining the gains and preventing relapse. This phase involves reinforcing coping strategies, helping the individual develop resilience against future stressors, and planning for setbacks.