Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP)

Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) is an evidence-based treatment for anxiety. It involves intentionally exposing yourself to distressing thoughts, images, items, or situations that make you anxious in a planned and intentional way. The goal is to expose you to the anxiety-inducing experience, while preventing your typical response, including avoidance behaviors and compulsions. This process allows you to learn something different, rather than reinforce your existing fears and obsessions. ERP can be helpful for individuals with diagnoses of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and other anxiety-related disorders.

When you decide to engage in ERP treatment, you will work with your therapist to assess your anxiety and/or obsessions and compulsions, set goals, and create an exposure list. Your therapist will also make sure you understand the cycle of anxiety, and how ERP works. You will always be in the driver’s seat, choosing which topics to focus on, and at a pace that feels manageable for you. A core component of ERP is practice in between sessions, and we will help support you in doing so in a way that feels challenging, but not overwhelming.

The ultimate goal of ERP is that you will be able to engage in valued activities in your life, without compulsions or anxiety getting in the way.

Virtual Reality (VR) Assisted Therapy

DASC is excited to now offer virtual reality (VR) as part of our treatment offerings, and to support in the utilization of ERP!

Virtual reality has been proven to be an effective way to enhance the treatment of many anxiety disorders, as well as provide guided mindfulness practice. Using virtual reality in therapy sessions provides the opportunity to reproduce real-life scenarios and even adapt and control these environments to meet individual treatment goals and needs.

VR is a great way to practice exposures for:

• Social anxiety
• OCD
• Many common phobias like heights, spiders, needles, and flying
• Clients who are in treatment for eating disorders and would benefit from exposures to fear foods, restaurant or grocery store environments

At DASC, we are able to use VR with clients both in the office and via telehealth. Clients are able to immerse themselves in a virtual world and practice skills in a private and safe space. Meanwhile, their therapist can track the client experience and progress.