Gold Standard Care

Exposure and Response
Prevention.

Break free from the cycle of OCD

ERP is the most effective treatment for OCD, with research showing 60-80% of people experience significant improvement. It works by gradually teaching your brain that you can handle uncertainty without relying on rituals.

Retraining the Brain

OCD thrives on avoidance. Every time you perform a compulsion (washing, checking, reassuring), you briefly feel better, but you reinforce the message that the obsession was dangerous. This makes the anxiety stronger next time.

ERP breaks this cycle. By gradually facing your fears (Exposure) while resisting the urge to perform rituals (Response Prevention), you teach your brain two things: first, that the feared outcome is unlikely to happen, and second, that you can tolerate anxiety until it naturally subsides.

Safety First

The idea of facing your fears can be terrifying. That's why ERP is done gradually. We never force you to do something you aren't ready for.

We start with challenges that cause mild anixety and work our way up as your confidence grows. You remain in control of the pace at all times.

The ERP Process

How ERP breaks the cycle.

Assessment

Map out your specific triggers, intrusive thoughts, and compulsive rituals in detail.

Hierarchy

Create an exposure hierarchy—ranking feared situations from easiest to hardest.

Exposure

Gradually and systematically face feared thoughts, objects, or situations together.

Response Prevention

Learn to tolerate the urge to perform compulsions until anxiety naturally drops.

Freedom

Reclaim time, energy, and peace of mind as OCD loses its grip on your daily life.

What We Treat

Common OCD themes.

OCD is a shapeshifter. We treat all subtypes, including:

Contamination Harm OCD Just Right Checking Scrupulosity Relationship Sexual Orientation Pure O

Dispelling Myths

Common myths about ERP.

Myth: ERP forces you to face your worst fear immediately.

REALITY: ERP is gradual. We create a hierarchy together. We might start with looking at a picture of a spider before we ever think about being in a room with one. You set the pace.

Myth: ERP is dangerous or traumatizing.

REALITY: Safe, effective ERP is about tolerating uncertainty, not putting you in actual danger. We never ask you to do anything unsafe. The distress is temporary, but the freedom is lasting.

Myth: My intrusive thoughts mean something terrible about who I am.

REALITY: Intrusive thoughts are just thoughts. Everyone has bizarre, scary, or inappropriate thoughts; OCD just attaches meaning and fear to them. Having the thought does not make you a bad person.

Our Specialists

Meet your ERP specialists.

Our therapists specialize in ERP for OCD and intrusive thoughts, offering expert care in Naperville.

Sara Banks, LCSW

Specialties

Specializes in OCD, intrusive thoughts, and anxiety using ERP and CBT.

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Dr. Jonathan Woodin, PsyD