Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that has been proven to be effective in treating a variety of anxiety disorders. This therapy involves systematically exposing a person to their feared stimuli or situations (Confronting thoughts, images, objects) and preventing them from performing their compulsive or avoidance behaviors. By doing so, the person engaged in therapy can regain control by confronting their fears head-on (yay for self empowerment!).
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy is a personalized treatment that is customized with the help of a mental health professional and can have wonderful benefits to overall stress management. Just like every person, therapy treatment plans are unique and need to be developed to a persons specific needs and goals. You shouldn’t have to do something that you aren’t even interested in doing! The goal of ERP is for you to overcome your fears so you can get back to living a life that you actually want and is in line with your core values at a pace you help decide.
The goal of ERP is to reduce anxiety and help you cope with any stressors. In order for there to be a decrease in anxiety, a person will work together with a therapist to gradually expose themselves to their fears. Although certain situations can feel scary at times, the therapist will provide the patient with all the tools necessary before engaging in any exposures, as well as helping them to develop helpful coping strategies.
ERP helps by addressing the root cause of your fears. This type of therapy focuses on addressing the underlying beliefs and thought patterns that contribute to anxiety related disorders. Throughout therapy, your therapist should be helping you first identify your thinking patterns related to the stressor especially those common ones saying that you or someone you know is in danger. By addressing these underlying causes, patients can learn to manage their symptoms more effectively. These steps can help to reduce anxiety over time and make it easier for the patient to face their fears head-on by “retraining” your brain so you don’t see those stresses as a threat.