ERP for OCD and Anxiety Treamtnet Online - California & New York
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common mental health disorder that can significantly impact daily life. OCD involves unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to alleviate the distress caused by OCD. Understanding is the first step toward reclaiming control and fostering resilience.
What is a Specific Phobia?
A phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that can lead to significant distress. This overwhelming fear often results in avoidance behaviors, making it difficult to engage in daily activities.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is characterized by persistent worry and fear about future events, often leading to physical symptoms like increased heart rate and tension. It can manifest in various forms, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic disorder.
Types of Therapy
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Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy is the Gold Standard treatment for OCD and is effective for anxiety disorders, such as phobias. It is a specialized treatment that involves gradually exposing you to feared situations or thoughts in a safe and controlled environment, allowing you to confront your fears without resorting to compulsions or avoidance behaviors. By learning to manage your anxiety during these exposures, you can reduce fear over time and decrease compulsions, ultimately enhancing your confidence and ability to engage in daily.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used and effective treatment that focuses on the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In CBT, you work with a therapist to identify and challenge negative thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress and unhelpful behaviors. By learning practical skills and techniques to change these patterns, you can develop healthier ways of thinking and coping, ultimately improving your overall mental well-being and resilience in facing life’s challenges.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful therapeutic approach that encourages you to accept your thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or avoiding them. ACT helps you identify your core values and commit to actions that align with those values, even in the presence of difficult emotions. By fostering psychological flexibility, this therapy empowers you to live a meaningful life, promoting both acceptance of your experiences and commitment to positive change.
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Mindfulness-based therapy helps you notice thoughts, feelings, and body sensations with curiosity rather than judgment—so you can respond, not react. In sessions, we practice brief grounding, breath awareness, and guided exercises that build present-moment focus, compassion, and flexibility. These research-backed approaches—such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)—pair well with CBT/ERP for anxiety and OCD. You’ll leave with simple tools you can use anywhere to steady your nervous system, reduce rumination, and reconnect with what matters most.