Overcoming OCD: An Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Group

Are you struggling with unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions)? Do these symptoms interfere with your daily life, relationships, or work? If so, you may be experiencing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and our specialized treatment group can help.

This group utilizes Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, the gold-standard treatment for OCD. ERP has been rigorously researched and proven to be highly effective in reducing OCD symptoms and improving quality of life. It works by gradually exposing you to your fears (obsessions) while preventing you from engaging in your usual compulsive behaviors (responses). This process helps your brain learn that the feared consequences don’t actually happen, reducing the power of the obsessions and the urge to perform compulsions.

Our group provides a supportive and structured environment to learn and practice ERP techniques. The program includes the following key components:

• Psychoeducation: We will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of OCD, including its causes, symptoms, and the principles behind ERP therapy. This knowledge will empower you to take an active role in your treatment.
• Exposure: We will work collaboratively to create a personalized hierarchy of your fears and develop exposure exercises that gradually increase in difficulty. These exposures can involve real-life situations (in vivo) or imagined scenarios (imaginal). We will guide you through each exposure, providing support and encouragement.
• Response Prevention: Crucially, we will help you resist the urge to perform your compulsions during and after exposures. This is a challenging but essential part of the process, as it allows the anxiety to decrease naturally and breaks the cycle of obsession and compulsion.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): We integrate ACT principles to help you develop psychological flexibility. ACT focuses on accepting uncomfortable thoughts and feelings without struggling against them, clarifying your values, and committing to actions that align with those values. This helps you live a richer, more meaningful life, even in the presence of OCD symptoms.
• Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices will be incorporated to help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings in the present moment, without judgment. This can be particularly helpful during exposures, allowing you to observe your anxiety without getting carried away by it.
• Relapse Prevention: We will equip you with strategies to maintain your progress and prevent relapse after the group ends. This includes identifying potential triggers, developing coping skills, and creating a long-term plan for managing your OCD.