Mental Health Treatment
Exposure and Response Therapy in Greeley, Colorado
Evidence Based Programs | Most Insurances Covered
Facing Fear with Support and Strength
If you’re struggling with anxiety, PTSD, OCD, or another condition rooted in fear or avoidance, you’re not alone—and you’re not beyond help. At Aspen View Mental Health in Greeley, Colorado, we offer compassionate, evidence-based exposure therapy to help adults confront their fears in a safe, supportive environment—delivered through our Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient (IOP), and Outpatient treatment programs for lasting support and structure.
What Is Exposure and Response Therapy?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), more commonly known as exposure therapy, is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) designed to help individuals gradually face the thoughts, situations, or memories that cause them distress. The official name highlights both components of the treatment: “exposure” refers to intentionally confronting feared triggers, while “response prevention” involves resisting the urge to engage in compulsions, avoidance, or safety behaviors.
While the full term may sound clinical, most people simply call it exposure therapy because that’s the heart of what it helps you do—face what you’re afraid of, little by little, in a controlled and supported way. Over time, this process helps retrain your brain’s fear response, reduce distress, and build confidence in your ability to handle difficult emotions or situations.
How Does ERP Help People with OCD and PTSD?
We use ERP to treat a range of conditions rooted in fear and avoidance, including OCD, PTSD, and other anxiety-related disorders. ERP works by helping the brain rewire its relationship with fear. For individuals with OCD, exposure therapy breaks the cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors by encouraging clients to face triggering thoughts without performing the rituals that typically follow. In doing so, the brain learns that the anxiety doesn’t need to be “neutralized”—it fades naturally over time. For PTSD, ERP often involves safely revisiting memories, situations, or environments that have become associated with trauma, helping the brain unlearn the idea that these cues are still dangerous.
In daily life, ERP gives people the tools to stop avoiding the things that have been holding them hostage. Rather than planning your day around your triggers, therapy helps you take small, manageable steps toward facing them. With repetition and support, the brain gradually adapts—fear signals weaken, confidence grows, and life begins to open up again. It’s not about forcing yourself to be fearless—it’s about learning that you can feel fear and still move forward.
Benefits of Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is one of the most effective, evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, and phobias. By helping you gradually confront what you fear in a controlled, therapeutic setting, it builds long-term emotional resilience and reduces the grip of avoidance. At Aspen View Mental Health, we’ve seen how this approach empowers people to reclaim their lives with greater clarity and confidence.
Some key benefits of exposure therapy include:
- Reduced anxiety in response to triggers over time
- Rewiring of the brain’s fear response through repeated, safe exposure
- Increased tolerance for discomfort and distress
- Improved ability to resist compulsive behaviors or avoidance
- Greater freedom to engage in everyday life without fear
- Enhanced emotional awareness and regulation
- Long-term gains in confidence, independence, and personal growth
What Happens in a Typical ERP Session?
In a typical Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) session, you’ll work with your therapist to gently face a fear or obsession while choosing not to engage in the usual response—like a compulsion or avoidance behavior. Early sessions often focus on building trust, identifying triggers, and creating a personalized “exposure hierarchy,” which is a list of feared situations ordered from least to most distressing.
Once you’re ready, your therapist will guide you through an exposure—starting with something lower on the hierarchy. You might be asked to imagine a feared scenario, touch a “contaminated” object without washing your hands, or resist asking for reassurance. It’s challenging, but your therapist is there to coach you through the discomfort. Over time and with repetition, the fear response diminishes, and you gain confidence in your ability to tolerate uncertainty and distress without relying on compulsions.
What Are Examples of ERP Exercises for OCD?
ERP exercises are tailored to each person’s specific obsessions and compulsions, but they all follow the same principle: intentionally facing a feared thought or situation while resisting the urge to neutralize it. These exposures are done gradually, starting with less distressing triggers and building up over time as confidence grows.
Here are some common ERP exercises for different types of OCD:
- Contamination OCD: Touching a doorknob or public surface and waiting before washing hands—or not washing at all
- Checking OCD: Leaving the house without checking locks or appliances multiple times
- Harm OCD: Writing or saying an intrusive thought out loud without trying to cancel it out
- Religious or Moral OCD (Scrupulosity): Refraining from excessive prayer or reassurance-seeking after having a “bad” thought
- Symmetry OCD: Intentionally leaving items slightly misaligned and resisting the urge to fix them
- Relationship OCD: Looking at a photo of a partner without seeking reassurance about the relationship
Each exercise is done in a supportive, step-by-step way so your brain can learn: the fear doesn’t have to control you. Please visit our OCD page for more information on how we treat it here at Aspen View Mental Health.
Will I have to face my worst fear right away?
No. ERP is designed to be gradual and supportive. You’ll start with less distressing exposures and build up at a pace that feels safe and manageable. Facing your worst fear is never the first step—it’s something you might work toward over time, with full support from your therapist.
Is ERP the best treatment for OCD?
Yes—ERP is considered the gold standard for OCD treatment. Backed by decades of research, it’s one of the most effective approaches for reducing obsessions and compulsions. While results vary, many people experience lasting improvements in how they think, feel, and function.
How long does exposure therapy take to work?
Some people begin noticing changes within a few weeks, while others need a few months of consistent practice. The pace depends on your unique symptoms, consistency with exposures, and whether you’re doing ERP in individual therapy, group settings, or both.
Can exposure therapy be done without a therapist?
It’s possible, but it’s much more effective (and safer) when guided by a trained professional. A therapist can help you create a personalized plan, pace exposures appropriately, and navigate setbacks without reinforcing fear. Self-help can supplement, but shouldn’t replace clinical support for moderate to severe OCD.
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Initial assessment and medication evaluation
Individualized treatment plan
Medication management
Follow up psychiatry visits