Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) makes use of two behavior-altering techniques—Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) and Cognitive Therapy.
In Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, a mental health professional who is trained to treat patients with OCD conducts a series of controlled ERP sessions. This special therapy puts the OCD sufferer in situations in which he or she is exposed to the obsessions that they have, and they are gradually prevented from performing the compulsions they use to temporarily ease the accompanying anxiety.
For example, if you have an obsessive fear of germs, a therapist conducting ERP therapy may work with you to encourage you to touch a doorknob that you believe is contaminated, then wait longer and longer to wash your hands. This gradual exposure and delayed response would help you learn to control the response. Over time, you would learn to respond differently to the fear or thoughts about germs, which would actually lead to a decrease in the frequency and intensity of the obsession.
When therapeutic exposures are repeated over time, the associated anxiety shrinks until it is barely noticeable or even fades entirely. The therapist guides the person to then take on more challenging exposures until those, too, become manageable. Effective ERP leads to “habituation”, the process of losing the automatic fear response to obsessions, which leads to the very important realization that nothing bad happens when they stop performing compulsive rituals.
The therapist is then able to help you gain confidence and special skills to control the compulsion through the second form of therapy, Cognitive Therapy.
Cognitive Therapy, as applied to treating OCD, helps patients understand that the brain is sending “error” messages. The therapist would help you learn to recognize these errors and respond to them in new ways to control the obsessions and their resulting compulsive actions.
This treatment may seem unusual. You may even think it wouldn’t work, or that you’ve already tried to resist compulsions, without much success. But with the right therapist, and given time and support, Cognitive Behavior Therapy has helped thousands of people control their OCD.
Most ERP treatment is conducted on an outpatient basis once a week with exercises to practice at home between sessions. In severe cases, some people may require more frequent sessions or residential treatment. Not all mental health professionals are trained in ERP therapy, so it’s important to find one who is. OCD Chicago can help you find a treatment provider.
Read personal stories of CBT success