ERP is the most well-researched form of treatment for OCD. But what is it? When is it used? And how does it work? This is the first of a three-post series on ERP.

ERP helps us overcome OCD by helping us develop new skills and learn from new experiences. We have to establish the foundation on which all our later ERP-related work will rest. That foundation is understanding what values we care about that would motivate us to be willing to taking calculated risks and accept living with uncertainty without completing our safety behaviors.

Exposure and response prevention therapy helps us overcome OCD by giving us the opportunity to develop new skills and learn from new experiences. In this post, we’ll review one of the skills developed in ERP: Distress tolerance.

Cognitive flexibility can include practicing deliberately participating in meaningful activities while intentionally holding intrusive thoughts in mind (and allowing the related anxious, painful feelings to be present).