If you’ve ever looked into getting therapy, then it’s likely that you’ve heard a lot of different terms thrown around to describe it. There are many different therapy techniques and modalities out there. This blog post is part of a series that is meant to explain some of the more common forms of therapy you’re likely to encounter as you look into potential therapists.
What is Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy?
Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) is a form of therapy aimed primarily to help those with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It is a form of CBT (which we have discussed in detail before!). The purpose of ERP is to reduce acting upon compulsions and/or reduce the distress associated with intrusive thoughts and obsessions. This is done through controlled exposure to a stimulus that would provoke the distress. It is one of the most effective forms of therapy for treating OCD.
How Does ERP Work?
ERP works by utilizing a very controlled exposure of whatever the trigger for the compulsion or anxiety is. One of the most common examples is germ contamination. For example, if someone has severe OCD due to germ contamination, they can end up washing their hands obsessively to the point of skin cracking. This also takes up a lot of time. Even if they do not engage in compulsions, they may have intense and recurrent intrusive thoughts. This can be incredibly distressing and leave someone very anxious. This anxiety can lead to diminished social and occupational functioning.
With ERP, the therapist and the client would work together to design a ladder of situations. For the germ contamination example, it could be that the client imagines something that would trigger their anxiety. Like touching a doorknob in public. They would then rate their anxiety on a scale. The ladder would involve identifying situations from least to highest amounts of anxiety. The client and therapist would then work together to systematically work through the ladder one situation at a time. It would go from imagining it to then doing it. For those who engage in compulsive behavior to deal with distress, they would then have to hold off on engaging in the compulsion.
Can’t That Be Traumatizing?
If done improperly, it can absolutely be traumatizing to an individual. If you’re afraid of heights, it’s probably not a good idea to try skydiving as your first exposure. But it could be reasonable to do things like riding a glass elevator a couple of stories with the guidance of a trained therapist. Done correctly by someone trained in this method, ERP is safe and incredibly effective for the treatment of OCD and severe phobias.
Is ERP Just for OCD?
While primarily used for OCD, it has been used successfully for specific phobias, as well. There is also some emerging research that suggests it can help with certain eating disorders, like anorexia. The most important part is finding someone who is specifically trained in this form of therapy.
How Can I Find an ERP Therapist?
Psychology Today is a great database for finding therapists. While we currently do not have someone at Compassionate Counseling Company that is a trained ERP therapist, you can use your insurance company and Psychology Today to find someone. If in the future we do get a therapist here who does this, we will be updating this post! So keep coming back to check.
Resources:
https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/erp
https://www.ocduk.org/overcoming-ocd/accessing-ocd-treatment/exposure-response-prevention/
https://therapyhelpers.com/therapy-types/what-is-exposure-and-response-prevention-therapy
https://www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-exposure-and-response-prevention-therapy.html