ERP Therapy & Other Modalities
ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is an evidence-based form of CBT that helps you face anxiety triggers safely while resisting compulsions and safety behaviors. It’s especially effective for OCD, phobias, panic, and health anxiety—teaching your brain, over time, that discomfort is tolerable and danger is not imminent.
Alongside ERP, we integrate complementary approaches—CBT, ACT, mindfulness, psychoeducation, and self-compassion techniques—so treatment fits your symptoms and goals. The result: fewer rituals, more confidence, and a life that’s no longer organized around fear.
About Dr Estefania
ERP Therapy & Other Modalities — Online care across PSYPACT states
La Dra. Estefania Luna, psicóloga clínica con PSYPACT, ofrece terapia online especializada en ERP, tratamiento de referencia para OCD, fobias, pánico, ansiedad por la salud e ideas intrusivas. Su enfoque combina calidez y estructura con herramientas de CBT, ACT, mindfulness y psicoeducación para adaptar el plan a tus síntomas y metas. Objetivo: reducir rituales, tolerar la incertidumbre y recuperar tiempo, energía y confianza.
- Certifications:
ERP Therapy & Other Modalities: what it is, how it works, and why it helps you break free from anxiety
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a leading, evidence-based approach for OCD, phobias, panic, health anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Aunque suene técnico, su impacto es profundamente humano: te ayuda a enfrentar tus miedos con seguridad, reducir rituales y recuperar una vida más libre y equilibrada.
ERP funciona exponiéndote de forma gradual y guiada a los disparadores de ansiedad mientras evitas las respuestas compulsivas. Con apoyo clínico y, cuando conviene, herramientas de CBT, ACT, mindfulness y psicoeducación, tu cerebro aprende que la incomodidad es tolerable y que no necesitas rituales para estar a salvo—construyendo resiliencia y calma reales.
What is ERP Therapy?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is an evidence-based form of CBT that helps people face anxiety triggers (exposures) while resisting compulsions or safety behaviors (response prevention). Over time, this retrains the brain to tolerate uncertainty and reduces the power of intrusive thoughts, fears, and rituals—especially in OCD, phobias, panic, and health anxiety.
Developed within the CBT tradition and backed by decades of research, ERP is often considered the gold standard for OCD. In practice, it’s structured, collaborative, and paced to your readiness: you identify triggers, build a graded “fear ladder,” practice guided exposures, and learn to let anxiety rise and fall without doing the ritual.
We also integrate other modalities when helpful:
- CBT to challenge distorted thoughts
- ACT to act on values while making room for discomfort
- Mindfulness & psychoeducation to stay grounded and informed
- Self-compassion techniques to reduce shame and support recovery
What does ERP treat?
Although ERP was developed as the gold-standard for OCD, its effectiveness extends to many anxiety-driven difficulties. It’s widely used to help with:
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Phobias (germs/contamination, heights, driving, vomiting, etc.)
- Panic disorder and health anxiety
- Intrusive thoughts (harm, sexual, religious/scrupulosity)
- Checking, cleaning, repeating and other compulsive rituals
- Avoidance behaviors that restrict daily life
- Generalized anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty
1
Assessment, psychoeducation, and plan
We clarify your symptoms and goals, explain how anxiety/OCD keeps itself going, and map your triggers. Together we build a graded fear ladder and define the specific rituals/safety behaviors to prevent during exposures.
2
Preparation and skill-building
Before exposures, you learn tools to tolerate discomfort: mindful noticing, urge-surfing, paced breathing, values focus, and response-prevention strategies. We set clear rules for rituals and create support plans for practice between sessions.
3
Guided exposures with response prevention
This is the core of ERP. Step by step, you face feared thoughts, images, sensations, and situations (in vivo, imaginal, and interoceptive exposures) while not performing compulsions or safety behaviors. Anxiety rises—and then falls—teaching your brain that discomfort is tolerable and danger isn’t imminent.
4
Generalization, relapse prevention, and growth
We expand practice to real-life contexts, troubleshoot setbacks, and reduce accommodations that keep anxiety in place. You’ll leave with a maintenance plan, personalized coping tools, and clear next steps so progress lasts.
The 4 stages of ERP Therapy
ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) follows a structured path to help you face feared triggers safely, resist compulsions, and reclaim your life. Treatment typically combines psychoeducation, a graded exposure plan, and consistent practice between sessions.
What does the research say about ERP?
ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is one of the most studied and effective treatments for OCD and anxiety-related problems.
Key findings
- Gold-standard for OCD: Meta-analyses show large, durable symptom reductions with ERP, outperforming generic CBT without exposure.
- Works across subtypes: Effective for contamination, checking, harm/scrupulosity, symmetry/“just-right,” health anxiety, and panic-related avoidance.
- Durable results: Gains typically maintain at follow-up when clients continue response-prevention habits and reduce safety behaviors.
- As effective or better than meds—especially long-term: ERP alone or combined with SSRIs often yields stronger maintenance than medication alone once meds are tapered.
- Not just “habituation”: Modern models (inhibitory learning) show ERP builds new, safer associations with triggers—reducing the need for rituals even when anxiety pops up.
- Flexible delivery: Strong evidence for in-person and telehealth ERP, with intensive formats helping when symptoms are severe or urgent.
Benefits of ERP Therapy (and complementary modalities)
✔️ Gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for OCD and anxiety disorders
✔️ Reduces compulsions, rituals, and avoidance in daily life
✔️ Retrains the brain to tolerate uncertainty without “safety behaviors”
✔️ Delivers practical, step-by-step tools you can use outside sessions
✔️ Improves functioning, confidence, and quality of life
✔️ Works across subtypes (contamination, checking, harm/scrupulosity, health anxiety, panic)
✔️ Effective in person and via secure Telehealth (PSYPACT)
✔️ Can be enhanced with CBT, ACT, mindfulness, and self-compassion techniques
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About DBT Therapy
ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps people break free from OCD, phobias, panic, health anxiety, and intrusive thoughts. By facing feared triggers in a safe, structured way—while resisting compulsions and safety behaviors—ERP retrains the brain to tolerate uncertainty and reduces anxiety’s grip, so life can open up again.
Below, you’ll find answers to common questions about ERP. From how the process works to what it treats and why it’s so effective, these FAQs are designed to help you decide whether ERP is the right next step for your recovery.
1. What is ERP?
ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is an evidence-based form of CBT that helps you face anxiety/OCD triggers while resisting compulsions or “safety behaviors.” This retrains your brain to tolerate uncertainty and reduces anxiety over time.
2. What conditions does ERP treat?
Primarily OCD, but also phobias, panic disorder, health anxiety, intrusive thoughts (harm/sexual/religious), contamination fears, checking/cleaning/repeating rituals, and avoidance that limits daily life.
3. How does ERP actually work?
We build a graded “fear ladder,” then practice exposures (in vivo, imaginal, interoceptive) while preventing rituals. Anxiety rises—then falls—teaching your brain you’re safe without the ritual.
4. Will I have to do the hardest exposures right away?
No. ERP is collaborative and paced to your readiness. We start with manageable steps and move up as your confidence grows.
5. What are the “other modalities” you integrate?
CBT (thought work and behavior change), ACT (values + acceptance of discomfort), mindfulness, psychoeducation, and self-compassion techniques. These make ERP more personalized and sustainable.
6. What does a typical session look like?
Brief check-in, plan the exposure, practice with coaching, review learning, and set between-session exercises. Clear rules for response prevention keep momentum.
7. How long does treatment take?
Many clients notice changes within weeks. Duration depends on symptom severity, practice between sessions, and goals. Intensive options can accelerate progress when appropriate.
9. Is ERP done via Telehealth?
Yes. ERP is effective in person and via secure Telehealth (PSYPACT). Many exposures translate well to home/community settings.
10. What if I’m scared I’ll be overwhelmed?
We prepare first—teaching skills like urge-surfing, paced breathing, mindful noticing, and values focus. You won’t be pushed into exposures you haven’t agreed to.