From the very first session, we will take the time to get to know you by learning about how your current symptoms are holding you back. From there, our counselors will collaborate with you to develop a treatment plan that helps you overcome the fears, dark thoughts, and validation-seeking behaviors that are brought on by OCD.
Here at New Perspective Counseling, our OCD therapy sessions are grounded in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). What makes ERP so effective in treating those with OCD is that it helps them gradually face the thoughts, images, or situations that trigger their anxiety—without requiring people to engage in their negative compulsions.
With the guidance of a therapist, exposures are introduced in a structured, manageable way that is constantly tailored to fit your specific symptoms, pace, and comfortability. ERP is never about overwhelming or forcing you into a situation you don’t want to be in. It’s about teaching your brain that anxiety naturally rises and falls on its own, and that compulsions are not always necessary for staying safe—because in most situations, you’re safe whether you engage in the compulsions or not.
Through ERP, you’ll learn about what drives and reinforces your OCD, reduce compulsive behaviors and mental rituals, reclaim the daily activities that bring you joy, and restore the relationships that you hold dear. As therapy progresses, you should begin to notice a significant reduction in the intensity and frequency of your intrusive thoughts, along with a growing sense of control and confidence.