What Is ERP (And Why We Love It)
In the world of therapy and mental health, countless acronyms are floating around. So you might be wondering… what exactly is “ERP” and how might it benefit my child or me?
ERP stands for Exposure & Response Prevention. This action-oriented, evidence-based therapy can be meaningful for children, teens, and adults, depending on their diagnosis and needs. ERP can be highly effective for individuals experiencing symptoms of OCD, panic, anxiety, phobias, and other related disorders. Let’s break it down further…
The exposure in ERP focuses on intentionally coming into contact with the situations that prompt an individual’s anxiety, distress, or obsessive thinking. The response prevention in ERP involves preventing or intentionally disengaging (or getting unstuck) from unhelpful or compulsive behaviors that typically come with feeling anxious or distressed. (Exposure + Response Prevention = ERP).
You might be wondering why anyone would want to intentionally expose themselves to the things that make them anxious. This is a perfectly reasonable question. Many people with OCD, panic, anxiety, or related challenges find themselves experiencing significant anxiety that results in behavioral patterns such as avoidance, reassurance-seeking, and safety-seeking behaviors. It is normal to want to avoid anxiety, pain, or discomfort. In other words, these behavioral patterns are natural and expected. Yet, as you might imagine, it becomes increasingly difficult to live the life you want when you are constantly trying to keep anxiety at bay through avoidance, reassurance-seeking, or engaging in other compulsive behaviors. For many kids and teens, these behaviors get in the way of friendships, family, sports, and more. Although these behaviors might feel like they're helping reduce anxiety, they’re actually reinforcing it and making it worse - oh no!
The truth is when an individual can confront their anxiety while actively disengaging from unhelpful or compulsive behaviors, they learn they can handle strong emotions, and sometimes they even feel a little “better!” When we say “feel better,” this can mean a few different things. Many individuals find that ERP significantly reduces their overall anxiety and allows them to live life with much less anxiety than ever before. While others may feel more free and functional even when their anxiety does not decrease. Potential benefits of ERP include (but are not limited to):
Decreased anxiety and worrying (although that’s not always the goal)
Decreased reassurance seeking (ah, more self-assurance!)
Decreased engagement in compulsive behaviors / unhelpful behaviors (more freedom!)
Increased feelings of resiliency and ability to tolerate anxiety in the moment
Increased engagement in valued activities and less avoidance due to anxiety
When you put it all together, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is all about intentionally facing your fears in a supported manner to live a more meaningful life and do the things that are important to you!
To learn more about ERP and find out if this type of evidence-based therapy may be a meaningful intervention for you or your child, reach out to Mind Chicago today at hello@mindchicago.com.
Authored by Mind Chicago therapist (and, yes, ERP therapist!), Hannah Romain, LCSW.
