Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a form of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) designed to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related conditions. ERP involves gradually exposing you to situations or thoughts that trigger anxiety or obsessions while preventing the compulsive behaviors or avoidance strategies typically used to reduce distress to occur.

ERP is not considered traditional talk therapy, but a more active and engaged therapy where individuals work with their therapist to develop an individual treatment plan that identifies their current obsessions, compulsions, and behaviors. Together, you and your therapist will develop a plan for exposing you to identified triggers, while resisting the compulsive and avoidant behavior (exposure). Over time, the response to the distressing stimuli lessens, this process is often referred to as habituation (response prevention). During this process, the brain will collect information each time it engages in the exposure that the perceived fear does not occur- this process is referred to as inhibitory learning.