OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
Exposure and Response (Ritual) Prevention for OCD
ERP is the gold standard psychotherapy modality for OCD, and is the only form of psychotherapy currently considered a first-line treatment for OCD. ERP is a specific type of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), but that doesn’t mean any CBT therapist can effectively treat OCD! In fact, ERP requires significant, specialized training that most therapists simply never get. As a result, there’s a significant shortage of therapists trained to effectively treat OCD, especially considering how common this disorder is (it affects an estimated 1-2.3% of the population).
This shortage leaves many OCD sufferers without access to affordable care, as ERP-trained providers often do not accept insurance at all. This leads many therapists to “just do their best” for their clients with OCD who can’t access an ERP provider. While these therapists are typically well-meaning, techniques that work well for other types of anxiety often do not work for OCD, and can actually make OCD worse by unintentionally reinforcing hidden mental compulsions. For this reason, the IOCDF (International OCD Foundation) strongly recommends folks with OCD seek ERP from a trained provider (and/or potentially medication management) before trying any other psychotherapy modalities. The research evidence strongly supports their recommendation.
After years on the wait-list for the International OCD Foundation’s Behavioral Therapy Training Institute, I was finally able to attend this intensive training program in April 2026. As part of the program, I’ll be receiving follow-up consultation calls over several months with an ERP expert, just to make sure I’m applying the treatment model with maximum fidelity. I’m also planning to pursue additional training in this area, and would like to increase my caseload of clients seeking OCD treatment.
Although I have a great deal of experience with similar exposure-based therapies (e.g. for phobias and trauma) and other forms of CBT, I’m relatively new to this specific protocol, and so I’d like to build up my experience in this area. As such, I’m offering several temporary reduced fee slots for folks with OCD who are interested in trying ERP. These temporary reduced fee slots are aimed at covering the anticipated length of an individual’s ERP treatment, and usually last 3-12 months.
If you’re interested in receiving discounted ERP treatment here at NPC, please reach out or schedule your free consultation today! You can also apply for a reduced rate first, so you’ll know if I’m affordable for you before we meet.