Understanding ERP for OCD Calgary: How Exposure and Response Prevention Can Help
by Michelle Fox, MACP, Registered Psychologist | November 22, 2025
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects millions of people worldwide, creating distressing thoughts, urges, and repetitive behaviours that can interfere with daily life. While living with OCD can feel overwhelming, evidence-based treatments like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) offer hope and lasting relief. In this article, we’ll explore what ERP is, how it works, and what you can expect when using this approach to manage OCD.
What Is OCD?
OCD is a mental health condition characterised by obsessions – intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges – and compulsions. Compulsions are repetitive behaviours or mental acts performed to reduce the distress caused by these obsessions.
Common obsessions include:
- Fear of contamination or germs
- Concerns about safety or harm
- Intrusive thoughts of a sexual or violent nature
- Need for symmetry or order
Compulsions might involve:
- Excessive handwashing or cleaning
- Checking locks, appliances, or safety measures
- Repeating words, prayers, or actions
- Arranging items in a particular way
While compulsions may temporarily relieve anxiety, they reinforce OCD symptoms, creating a cycle that is hard to break without professional help. That’s why professional intervention, such as ERP for OCD in Calgary at Clear Minds Psychology, can be transformative.
See our OCD therapy page for more information including how ERP fits into a broader treatment plan.
What Is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a well-established, evidence-based treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and is widely regarded as the gold standard approach.¹ A large body of research supports its effectiveness, including a randomized controlled trial showing that ERP can be at least as effective as medication.²
ERP is a form of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) specifically designed to treat OCD. It focuses on gradually confronting feared situations or thoughts (exposure) without performing compulsive behaviours (response prevention).
The goal of ERP is to help individuals learn that their fears are manageable and that anxiety naturally decreases over time, even without performing compulsions. Over repeated practice, ERP can reduce the intensity of obsessions and weaken the urge to perform compulsions.
ERP provides a structured, research-backed pathway to lasting symptom relief.
When seeking ERP therapy for OCD, it’s important to understand the difference between a psychologist and a counsellor in Calgary.
How ERP Works
ERP typically involves the following steps:
1. Assessment and Personalized Plan
Your therapist will begin by understanding your unique OCD patterns and triggers. Together, you’ll create a hierarchy of feared situations, ranking them from least to most anxiety-provoking.
2. Gradual Exposure
Starting with less distressing triggers, you are guided to face your fears in a safe and controlled way. For example, if you fear germs, this might begin with touching a doorknob and waiting before washing your hands.
3. Response Prevention
While confronting these triggers, you practice resisting compulsive behaviours. This teaches your brain that anxiety can decrease naturally and that feared outcomes are unlikely to occur.
4. Repetition and Progression
ERP relies on repeated practice. Over time, exposures become more challenging, and the distress they cause diminishes. With consistent effort, individuals experience lasting reduction in OCD symptoms.
Benefits of ERP for OCD
ERP is widely regarded as the most effective treatment for OCD, with benefits including:
- Reduction in compulsive behaviours: Learning to tolerate discomfort without performing rituals breaks the OCD cycle.
- Decreased anxiety: Facing fears gradually reduces the overall intensity of anxious thoughts.
- Empowerment and control: ERP helps individuals regain control over their thoughts and behaviours.
- Long-term relief: Studies show that ERP can provide enduring symptom reduction, even after therapy ends.
Common Misconceptions About ERP
Despite its effectiveness, ERP is sometimes misunderstood. Here are a few common misconceptions:
- “ERP is too stressful.” While ERP involves confronting fears, it is always done gradually and with professional support. Over time, anxiety naturally decreases.
- “I have to face my biggest fear right away.” ERP follows a structured hierarchy, starting with manageable challenges.
- “ERP doesn’t work for severe OCD.” ERP can be tailored to all levels of OCD severity, often combined with other therapies or medication if needed.
What to Expect in ERP Sessions
ERP is typically delivered by a trained psychologist or therapist. Sessions often include:
Education about OCD: Understanding how obsessions and compulsions work helps reduce shame and confusion.
Collaborative planning: You and your therapist decide which exposures to work on and how to approach them.
In-session practice: Therapists guide exposures in a safe environment, coaching you to resist compulsions.
Homework assignments: Practicing ERP exercises between sessions is crucial for progress.
It’s normal for anxiety to spike during early exposures. Therapists provide strategies to cope with discomfort and track progress over time.
Combining ERP With Other Supports
ERP can be complemented by additional treatment approaches, such as:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Developing psychological flexibility helps reduce the grip of obsessions and compulsions.
- Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART): Reprocessing distressing images and sensations reduces emotional distress and effectively complements ERP.
- Mindfulness and stress management: Reducing overall anxiety helps make ERP more effective.
- Medication: In some cases, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used alongside ERP to enhance symptom relief.
- Support networks: Family or peer support can encourage adherence and provide understanding.
Some people with OCD also experience attention-related concerns. If this applies to you, you may find it helpful to learn more in What Is ADHD? A Clear Guide for Adults in Calgary.
Taking the First Step
If OCD is interfering with your life, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) offers an effective, evidence-based way to reduce symptoms and regain control. A registered psychologist at Clear Minds Psychology in Calgary can guide you through ERP safely, tailoring treatment to your needs.
Taking the first step may be as simple as booking a consultation. With professional support and consistent practice, meaningful relief from OCD is possible, and a calmer, more confident life is within reach.
Conclusion
ERP is not a quick fix, but it is a proven and effective treatment for OCD. By gradually facing fears and resisting compulsions, individuals can break the cycle of obsessions and compulsions, reduce anxiety, and regain control over their lives. If you or a loved one struggles with OCD, consider reaching out to a qualified psychologist to learn more about ERP and begin the journey toward lasting relief.
References
- Koran LM, Simpson HB. Guideline watch (March 2013): practice guideline for the treatment of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. APA Pract Guidel. 2013.
- Foa EB, Kozak MJ. Psychological treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder In: Mavissakalian MR, Prien RF, editors. Long-Term Treatments of Anxiety Disorders. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association; 1996:285–309.