Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a highly effective form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and is considered the gold 
standard treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). ERP targets the cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors by helping individuals gradually face feared situations (exposure) while resisting the urge to engage in compulsive responses (response prevention).
At the OCD Center of Los Angeles, we specialize in ERP therapy for adults, adolescents, and children struggling with OCD and related anxiety disorders. Our treatment approach is grounded in evidence-based practices, tailored to meet each client’s unique needs.
If you would like more information regarding Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or would like to discuss individual therapy, group therapy, telephone or online therapy, or intensive treatment for OCD or a related anxiety based condition, you can call the OCD Center of Los Angeles at (310) 824-5200 (ext. 4), or click here to email us.
How ERP Works
ERP therapy involves working collaboratively with a trained therapist to create a hierarchy of feared situations. Over time, clients are guided through these exposures in a safe and supportive setting, learning to tolerate distress without resorting to compulsions or avoidance. This process helps the brain learn that feared outcomes are unlikely to occur—or that they are tolerable when they do.
By repeatedly facing fear without performing rituals, the intensity of anxiety diminishes, and obsessive thoughts lose their power. ERP also promotes greater confidence and self-efficacy in managing anxiety.
Conditions Treated with ERP
While ERP is most commonly associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, it is also an effective treatment for other conditions, including: