Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Exposure Therapy (ERP) for Anxiety, OCD, and Phobias
Take Back Control with a Science-Based Approach
Anxiety doesn’t have to run your life. If you’re stuck in patterns of fear, avoidance, or overthinking, Exposure Therapy can help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is one of the most effective, research-backed treatments for anxiety-related conditions. At Vivid Psychology Group, we use ERP to help clients safely face what’s driving their fear. Instead of avoiding life, they begin to live it again.
Ready to break the cycle?
What Is Exposure Therapy?
Exposure Therapy is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that focuses on gradually helping people face the things they fear in a structured and supported way.
It’s not just for phobias.
ERP is widely used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic attacks, health anxiety, generalized anxiety, and chronic overthinking.
It is considered the gold-standard treatment method for anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, OCD, and overthinking.
Is ERP Right for You?
If you’ve been stuck in anxiety loops or exhausted by intrusive thoughts, ERP might be a strong fit.
You may benefit from Exposure Therapy if:
- You have tried other anxiety treatment methods (such as medications or talk therapy) without lasting anxiety relief
- You want actionable, specific tools to control and manage your anxiety
- You are motivated and ready to make changes in your life
- You want to learn how your anxiety works and what to do to make it better
ERP is also well-suited for people who want to build real-world coping skills rather than only talking through problems.
Why Avoidance Makes Anxiety Worse
Avoiding anxiety triggers may feel like the easiest option, but it keeps you stuck.
Every time you avoid a feared situation, your brain learns that the situation is dangerous. Over time, your world gets smaller and your fear grows bigger.
What Can ERP Help With?
ERP is effective across a wide range of anxiety-related conditions. You don’t need to have a classic phobia to benefit.
We regularly use ERP to treat:
If your anxiety makes you avoid life, limit your activities, or constantly second-guess your thoughts; ERP can help.
For Children and Teens
Exposure and Response Prevention is also used in the treatment of children and teens, especially when paired with parent-based support like SPACE. If you’re exploring treatment options for a younger child or adolescent, learn more about our Individual Child Therapy here.
What to Expect in ERP Treatment
ERP sessions are active and structured. You won’t just talk about your fears; you’ll learn how to change your response to them. Here’s what the treatment process usually looks like:
These evidence-based therapies are highly effective in helping people with Harm OCD manage their symptoms and regain control over their lives.
What if I Don’t Have a Specific Fear?
ERP is not just for people with phobias.
Exposure Therapy also helps with generalized anxiety, overthinking, and excessive worry. Generalized anxiety is often tied to fears of uncertainty, lack of control, or scary outcomes. These kinds of fears can be confronted and conquered using the same Exposure Therapy principles used in phobia treatment.
Whether your fear is external (like flying) or internal (like uncertainty), ERP can help you stop avoiding and start living.
Example: How ERP Helps
Let’s say someone feels intense fear around birds. They avoid parks, videos, conversations, even thoughts related to birds. The fear takes over their life.
Although avoidance gives short-term relief, it increases fear in the long-term. Every time that person avoids birds, their brain says: “Yup, those are dangerous.”
In ERP, they would:
- Learn about the anxiety cycle
- Practice tolerating discomfort
- Gradually face bird-related triggers
- Build new neural pathways that reduce fear
Over time, anxiety loses its grip. This same process works whether the trigger is birds, germs, uncertainty, or intrusive thoughts.
What Makes ERP So Effective?
ERP is evidence-based and well-studied. It teaches your brain to stop treating discomfort like danger.
- It builds confidence in your ability to face fear
- It trains your nervous system to tolerate discomfort
- It reduces the need to control, avoid, or overthink
With continued exposure exercises, your brain starts to align with the actual danger level, not just your fear level.
Ready to Take the First Step?
ERP is not easy work, but it is deeply effective. Many clients who try ERP after other treatments say, “This finally makes sense.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between ERP and regular talk therapy?
ERP is an active form of treatment. While traditional talk therapy focuses on discussing emotions and history, ERP helps you directly confront fears in a structured, planned way. It’s focused on real-time behavioral change, giving you practical tools to reduce anxiety’s power over your life.
How long does ERP treatment take?
Treatment length varies based on the individual and the severity of symptoms. Some clients begin seeing progress in 8 to 12 sessions, while others may benefit from longer-term support. Your provider will regularly review progress and adjust the plan to meet your goals.
Will ERP make my anxiety worse?
ERP can feel uncomfortable at first, as you’ll be facing fears instead of avoiding them. But that discomfort is temporary. The process is gradual, collaborative, and always tailored to your pace. Over time, the discomfort decreases as your brain learns that fear is not danger.
Is ERP only for OCD?
No. While ERP is often used to treat OCD, it is also highly effective for panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety, health anxiety, and generalized anxiety. If you avoid situations or thoughts because of fear, ERP may be a good fit.
Do I need a diagnosis to start ERP?
No formal diagnosis is required. If you’re struggling with fear, avoidance, or anxiety-driven behaviors, we can assess whether ERP is a good match for your needs.
Can I do ERP online?
Yes. We offer ERP via secure virtual sessions, which are just as effective as in-person treatments for most clients. Your provider will help tailor exercises to your home environment.
What if I’m afraid to start?
That’s completely normal. Many people feel hesitant before beginning ERP and that hesitation is actually part of the anxiety cycle, we’re here to help with. You won’t have to face anything alone or unprepared. We’ll meet you where you are and build from there.