FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND ADULTS IN PHILADELPHIA AND BEYOND
In-person & online
exposure and response prevention therapy for OCD
OCD involves a vicious cycle of intrusive thoughts and behaviors that feel out of your control.
Evidence-based therapy for OCD can help you break this cycle and gain control over your life.
OCD can be overwhelming.
It can feel like
Needing constant certainty or perfection
Experiencing an out-of-control sense of responsibility for problems that are not yours to solve
Sensing that things are not just right, no matter how hard you try to fix them
Being hit with intense thoughts about harm, contamination, or doing something awful
Trying so hard to push away these thoughts, only to have them come back stronger
Feeling stuck doing rituals that you know don’t solve the deeper problem
Being afraid of who you are deep down or what you might do
OCD can take over relationships, make it impossible to focus on school or work, and interfere with every other important part of a person’s life.
How exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) works
OCD is treatable in both children and adults, and ERP is the most effective, research-supported way to help.
ERP has two main parts:
Exposure- supporting you in gradually and safely approaching situations that trigger obsessions or anxiety
Response prevention - learning live with distress and choose new ways to respond instead of turning to quick fixes like compulsions or rituals for relief
With time and practice, ERP can help you feel more at peace and make choices based on what matters to you most, not based on what your obsessions or fears demand
ERP can help you or your child
Feel more in control of your thoughts and behavior
Build confidence to face fears and discomfort instead of avoiding them
Tolerance incompleteness, uncertainty, and imperfection
See your thoughts as just thoughts instead of something to fear
Strengthen your confidence and self-trust
Manage disgust and “not-just-right” experiences
Make choices guided by your goals and values, not by intense emotions or compulsions
Take your first step to overcoming OCD today
Frequently asked questions about OCD and ERP
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OCD often falls into four main areas, though it can take many other forms:
Contamination: obsessions about dirt, germs, contamination, and disgust, often paired with washing and cleaning compulsions.
Symmetry and incompleteness: distress when things don’t feel "just-right" or complete, often leading to ordering, arranging, or repeating
Harm: fears about causing harm, with checking, reassurance-seeking, or mental compulsions
Taboo or forbidden thoughts: Intrusive thoughts tied to morality, religion, sexuality, or violence, often followed by reassurance-seeking, praying, or checking.
Beyond these four categories, people can also experience OCD about nearly any topic, like harming the environment, being “cancelled,” or being in the wrong romantic relationship.
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Absolutely! ERP is effective for all types of OCD, including obsessions and compulsions related to religion, morality, sexuality, or other topics. Treatment focuses on how OCD works in your unique situation, not just the content of your thoughts.
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We know a lot about the psychological factors that contribute to OCD. ERP is all about changing the psychological patterns that keep OCD going. ERP is considered the gold standard therapy for OCD and has been shown to be more effective than medication.
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Everyone is different. Many people experience meaningful improvements within 2-6 months of weekly therapy. Others may benefit from longer-term support.
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Yes! Parent involvement is essential in ERP for OCD.
We’ll explore ways parents’ responses might sometimes get pulled into an OCD cycle. Together, we’ll learn ways to interrupt those with compassion and teamwork so you can support your child as they face their fears and build new skills.