Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a type of behavioral exposure therapy, gradually exposing people to situations that provoke and desensitize fears and obsessions in a safe environment. It doesn’t aim to erase all distressing situations and thoughts, because doing so would not be realistic for everyday coping. Instead, ERP teaches coping skills for when a triggering situation presents itself, allowing someone to use the skills to prevent anxiety from taking over. It’s highly effective for anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).