What Is ERP and How Does It Help With OCD?
A Peek Inside the Thrive 12-Week OCD Master Class I Completed
If you’ve ever wondered whether your intrusive thoughts, checking behaviors, or internal loops of “what if” could be OCD — you’re not alone. OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) is often misunderstood, minimized, or misdiagnosed, especially among BIPOC and neurodivergent communities. And that’s exactly why I pursued advanced training through the Thrive 12-Week OCD Master Class — to better recognize and treat OCD in ways that are affirming, current, and culturally aware.
🌀 What Is ERP?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold standard treatment for OCD. It helps people face feared thoughts, images, or situations (exposures), while learning to resist the urge to engage in compulsions or avoidance (response prevention). Over time, this builds tolerance, reduces the brain’s “danger” alarm, and supports long-term relief.
But ERP isn’t just about facing fears — it’s about reclaiming your life from the loops that OCD tries to trap you in.
🧩 What OCD Can Actually Look Like
OCD isn’t just about handwashing or counting. It can look like:
Intrusive harm or sexual thoughts
Doubting your relationship (“Do I really love them?”)
Health or contamination fears
Needing to confess or mentally review
Fear of being a bad person or having done something wrong
ERP helps clients move through these fears without getting stuck trying to “solve” or neutralize them.
📚 What I Learned Through Thrive
The Thrive program offers in-depth, lived-experience-informed OCD training for clinicians. Through 12 weeks of modules, live case consults, and applied practice, I deepened my ability to:
Spot OCD even when it looks like anxiety, trauma, or ADHD
Guide clients through exposure work with compassion, not force
Use scripting, imaginal exposure, and values-based motivation
Hold space for shame and uncertainty — with curiosity, not correction
This work has already reshaped the way I support clients who feel “stuck,” “overwhelmed,” or “broken” by their thoughts. And it’s made my care more targeted, effective, and rooted in client autonomy.
✨ If You Think You Might Have OCD…
You deserve support that understands the nuances of your experience. Whether you’ve been formally diagnosed or you’re just starting to wonder if OCD might be part of your story, I offer a space that’s trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and aligned with current best practices.
Reach out here to connect.
