Exposure and Response Prevention: What it is.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): What It Is and How It Helps OCD
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is one of the most effective treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It’s a structured but compassionate form of therapy that helps retrain the brain to handle intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and compulsions without getting stuck in the fear/relief cycle.
What ERP Actually Looks Like
In therapy, you work together to gradually face the thoughts, images, or situations that trigger your anxiety (the exposure). The hard part — and the healing part — is choosing not to do the compulsion or mental ritual that usually follows (the response prevention).
Over time, your brain learns: “I can handle this feeling. I don’t need my compulsion to be safe.” That’s when freedom and confidence start to grow.
Common Examples of ERP in Session:
Touching a doorknob and not washing your hands (contamination fears)
Imagining harming someone you love without trying to “prove you never would” (harm OCD)
Writing something imperfect and resisting the urge to erase/rewrite (perfectionism OCD)
Is ERP Harsh or Overwhelming?
It shouldn’t be. ERP is done slowly, with support, humor when appropriate, and pacing that respects your limits. The goal isn’t to be fearless — it’s to learn that fear doesn’t control your life.
Therapy with Daniel Edwards
At Daniel Edwards Therapy in Westmont, IL, I use ERP alongside compassion, creativity, and a little bit of humor when it helps. Whether in-person or online across Illinois, ERP gives you tools for real change — not just temporary relief.
