During treatment, you will never be forced into anything, including an exposure. Your therapist will also never surprise you with an exposure without your knowledge. In fact, early work in ERP found that it works best when you choose to do the exposure with a therapist’s support and guidance. Our expert therapists will help create a gradual plan of exposure that’s specifically tailored to you that helps go at the pace that’s right for you.

If you have tried ERP in the past, our hope is that you found some improvement. But because OCD can return, often during stressful times, it’s not uncommon for people to need further treatment. ERP can be helpful when you try it at a different time in your life, using a different mindset, and with a different provider. The therapists at CABT have worked with severe and complicated cases of OCD, often finding ways to tailor ERP to the needs of the client in order to find some freedom and relief.

Many people with OCD feel that their symptoms and experience are unique. Some feel that their thoughts are so awful that no one else could dare to think them, while others feel that they have no compulsions, and yet still others believe that their fears are legitimately possible. These beliefs often lead to pessimism and hopelessness about treatment. While it is true that the specific thoughts and compulsions that each person experiences as part of their OCD may truly be unique, the overall framework of the disorder is the same. The principles that guide ERP are rooted in this framework, meaning that ERP can be individualized to every kind of OCD, so long as you have a knowledgeable therapist to partner with when tackling OCD.

No. We typically start OCD treatment with ERP, as it is the most well-supported treatment with a long history of high-quality research. But if ERP is not working as well as we expect, your therapist will discuss other options. As extensively-trained therapists in CBT, therapists may suggest including aspects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to enhance your ERP. Many CABT therapists are also trained in Inference-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (I-CBT) for OCD, having spent over a year in consultation with the treatment developer. Lastly, if the addition of medication is recommended, your therapist can provide you with recommendations for trusted prescribers tailored to your unique needs.