How OCD treatment works

• I use a combined method of gold-standard OCD treatment, ERP (exposure response prevention), CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and ACT (acceptance commitment therapy) with suggested homework for you in between sessions to help you gain control over your symptoms and start to see changes within our time working together. 

• Other optional methods to include: EMDR, Parts Work 

• Sessions will include learning/practicing skills for symptom management as well as in-vivo and imaginal exposure work to break OCD cycle. 

• You will learn about OCD, your brain, and receive warm and compassionate support.

• We will troubleshoot/process any challenges that come up and celebrate successes. 

• Options for shared google drive to log exposures, create collaborative exposure scripting, making fear ladders, etc. 

Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a highly effective form of therapy used to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and related anxiety conditions. It works by gradually helping a person face the thoughts, situations, or triggers that cause anxiety (this is the “exposure” part), while learning to resist the urge to perform compulsive behaviors or rituals (the “response prevention” part).

How does ERP work in a session?

In an Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) session,  we will work together to slowly face situations that cause anxiety related to OCD.

First, we will identify triggers, or things that bring up anxiety or the urge to do compulsions. We will create what is called a "fear ladder" - a list of triggers from least anxiety-producing to most.  Then we will create a plan for exposure, starting with easier situations and working up to harder ones over time.

During the ERP session, you will practice an “exposure,” meaning you will face one of these triggers on purpose. At the same time, I will help you use skills that we've worked on together in other sessions for the “response prevention” (sometimes also called "ritual prevention"),  which means not doing the usual habit or compulsion you would normally use to feel better. I will be there with with you (virtually) to support you, especially when anxiety increases. Over time, you you will learn that although anxiety will increase in reaction to an exposure, it will eventually come down on its own, even without doing the compulsion. This creates changes in the mind that over time allows one to override the OCD cycle and create a new and healthier relationship to obsessive thoughts and anxiety.  Afterward, we will talk process how it went and what you learned. 

How do I work with you for OCD?

I would be happy to help you! I offer standard 50-minute psychotherapy sessions for OCD support, as well as 6-session OCD packages that include extra support outside of sessions for more of an intensive and time-contained approach to symptom management.