What is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)?

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a behavioral therapy proven effective in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder and other anxiety-based conditions. The approach involves gradually and systematically exposing clients to feared thoughts, situations, or sensations that trigger anxiety or distress. The “response prevention” piece focuses on helping clients resist engaging in compulsions, avoidance, or safety behaviors that temporarily reduce anxiety but reinforce the fear cycle. Through repeated exposures, the brain learns that the feared outcome does not occur or is tolerable, decreasing anxiety over time.