ERP Therapy in Costa Mesa
Facing the loop until it loses its grip.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. At Stillwater Behavioral Health, we use ERP to help clients break the cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that define OCD — gradually, at a pace that's built around you, not forced.
What Is ERP Therapy?
A structured form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that involves gradually exposing clients to obsessive triggers while helping them resist the urge to perform the compulsive behaviors that typically follow. Over time, this retrains the brain's anxiety response, reducing both the intrusive thoughts and the compulsions.
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Who ERP Is For
Specifically designed to treat OCD and considered the most effective evidence-based approach for the condition.
What to Expect in ERP
Every trigger, faced early and often enough, loses some of its pull — that's the entire premise ERP is built on. Sessions are structured and gradual:
- Building a hierarchy of triggers, from least to most distressing
- Gradual, guided exposure to each trigger
- Practicing resisting compulsions during and after exposure
- Building tolerance for the discomfort of not performing the compulsion
What a First Session Looks Like
Your first session is about mapping the loop, not breaking it yet — identifying your specific triggers and compulsions and ranking them from least to most distressing, so exposure starts small and builds from there.
Where ERP Is Offered
ERP is available at our Costa Mesa facility, serving clients throughout Orange County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ERP the same as regular exposure therapy?
ERP is a specific form of exposure therapy tailored to OCD, combining exposure to obsessive triggers with structured prevention of compulsive responses.
Is ERP uncomfortable?
It can feel challenging, especially early on, since it involves gradually facing triggers rather than avoiding them. Sessions are paced to build tolerance safely over time.