You don’t have to live trapped by intrusive thoughts and exhausting rituals. 80% of people with OCD who use ERP experience a reduction in symptoms within eight to 16 weeks. That’s not wishful thinking—that’s what happens when you get the right treatment.
ERP therapy isn’t just another approach. It’s the gold-standard treatment affirmed by leading mental health organizations including the American Psychological Association and International OCD Foundation. You’ll work directly with nationally recognized clinicians who understand exactly what you’re experiencing, many with lived experience themselves.
Picture mornings without checking rituals. Relationships without constant reassurance-seeking. A mind that doesn’t hijack your day with “what if” scenarios. That’s what effective ERP therapy can restore for you in Plano, TX.
The Anxiety and OCD Institute brings together nationally known researchers, published clinicians, and advocates—many with lived experience of the conditions we treat. This isn’t theoretical knowledge. It’s deep, authentic understanding of what you’re facing.
Located in Plano’s thriving North Texas corridor, we recognize the unique pressures here. Academic pressure, sports performance anxiety, and the high-achieving culture of Collin County can intensify OCD symptoms. Our approach accounts for these local stressors while delivering evidence-based care.
You’ll find transparency at every step—clear explanations of our process, upfront fee discussions, and honest conversations about what treatment involves. No hidden agendas, just specialized care designed to help you reclaim your life from OCD.
ERP therapy works by gradually exposing you to feared situations while preventing the compulsive responses that keep OCD alive. Think of it as retraining your brain’s alarm system. Instead of avoiding triggers, you learn to face them without rituals, proving to yourself that the feared consequences don’t actually happen.
Your treatment starts with a comprehensive assessment to understand your specific OCD themes and triggers. Then your clinician creates a personalized hierarchy—starting with manageable exposures and building toward more challenging ones. Each session involves both exposure work and response prevention, supported by psychoeducation about how OCD functions.
Our innovative intensive four-day treatment option can achieve breakthrough moments that might take months in traditional weekly sessions. Whether you choose intensive or traditional pacing, you’ll have both virtual and in-person options to fit your schedule and comfort level.
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Your ERP therapy includes comprehensive assessment, personalized treatment planning, individual therapy sessions, and family support when appropriate. We offer both traditional weekly sessions and intensive treatment formats, with secure telehealth and in-person appointments available.
Plano residents benefit from flexible scheduling that works around demanding North Texas lifestyles. Whether you’re managing corporate responsibilities in Legacy West, student pressures at UT Dallas, or family obligations in established Plano neighborhoods, treatment adapts to your reality.
Our approach extends beyond symptom reduction to address the whole person. You’ll work on building distress tolerance, developing healthy coping strategies, and creating sustainable changes that last long after treatment ends. Family members receive education and support to help create an environment that supports your recovery rather than enabling OCD patterns.
ERP is extremely effective at treating OCD, with a success rate of 65% to 80% in children, adolescents, and adults, with about 70% of people benefitting from ERP and medication combined. Study after study confirms that ERP consistently outperforms other treatments for OCD, with benefits that last long after therapy ends.
The key is working with specialists who understand ERP’s nuances. ERP is most effective when the therapist conducting treatment has experience with OCD and training in ERP, which is why all our therapists receive ERP-specific training. This isn’t general therapy—it’s targeted intervention that directly addresses OCD’s cycle of obsessions and compulsions.
Most people see symptom reduction within the first few months of consistent treatment. While everyone responds differently, most see a decrease in OCD symptoms within anywhere from eight to 16 weeks, with some experiencing even faster improvement in intensive formats.
Traditional talk therapy isn’t effective on its own for treating OCD because OCD follows a specific cycle that needs targeted intervention to break. Talk therapy that provides reassurance or directly argues with obsessions may unintentionally reinforce compulsions.
ERP is action-oriented rather than discussion-based. Instead of talking about your fears, you systematically face them in controlled, gradual ways while learning to resist compulsive responses. ERP gives you concrete tools and exercises to face fears head-on in a safe, controlled environment, teaching your brain that you can handle uncertainty without relying on rituals.
ERP targets the root cause, not just symptoms—addressing the core mechanism that keeps OCD alive: the avoidance and compulsion cycle. This creates lasting change because you’re actually rewiring how you respond to obsessive thoughts rather than just managing them temporarily.
ERP therapy can be highly effective through secure telehealth platforms, and we offer both virtual and in-person options. Virtual ERP has proven particularly valuable for people in areas with limited specialized providers or those with scheduling constraints.
Online ERP therapy sessions offer flexibility, privacy, and convenience, allowing you to access expert treatment from the comfort of your home. Many exposures can be conducted virtually, and your therapist can guide you through exercises in your actual environment where OCD symptoms occur.
Some people benefit from a combination approach—virtual sessions for convenience and in-person meetings for specific exposures that require therapist presence. We work with each client to determine the best format based on their specific needs, symptoms, and circumstances. What matters most is consistent engagement with an ERP-trained specialist, regardless of the delivery method.
80% of people with OCD who use ERP experience a reduction in symptoms within eight to 16 weeks, though some notice improvements earlier. Many people see significant improvements within 12–20 sessions, with some noticing changes even sooner.
The timeline depends on several factors: severity of symptoms, how long OCD has been present, your commitment to between-session practice, and whether you choose traditional weekly sessions or intensive treatment. Intensive formats can achieve breakthrough moments in 4-5 consecutive days that might take months to achieve in traditional weekly sessions.
Many people find their OCD symptoms actually increase after starting ERP, which makes sense given that you’re not able to do the things that usually ease anxiety. However, seeing symptoms worsen initially can make some people think it isn’t working, which can lead them to stop treatment before they see the true benefit. Consistent engagement through this initial phase is crucial for success.
One of the strengths of Exposure and Response Prevention is that it can be customized to fit any OCD subtype or obsession theme. Whether you’re dealing with contamination fears, checking behaviors, intrusive thoughts, religious scrupulosity, or any other OCD presentation, the core principles remain the same: face your fears gradually while resisting compulsions.
ERP effectively treats contamination OCD, harm OCD, sexual orientation obsessions, relationship OCD, religious scrupulosity, symmetry and ordering compulsions, and “Pure O” presentations with primarily mental rituals. ERP has been proven effective for many subtypes of OCD, including contamination fears, harm OCD, checking or counting rituals, religious or moral obsessions, relationship OCD, and Pure O.
We specialize in both common and uncommon OCD themes. Our clinicians understand that OCD can manifest in countless ways, and we tailor treatment to your specific presentation. Working with an ERP specialist ensures your treatment gets tailored to your specific fears and goals, ensuring you’re not wasting time on generic strategies that don’t address your unique struggles.
Most major insurance plans cover ERP therapy when provided by licensed mental health professionals, as it’s considered medically necessary treatment for OCD. We work with various insurance providers and maintain transparency about fees and coverage from the initial consultation.
OCD treatment in Texas is typically covered by insurance, although exact coverage varies depending on your specific plan, with average costs ranging from $5,000 to over $10,000 per year. Many intensive outpatient programs report that 95% of their clients are able to use their insurance coverage for treatment.
It’s important to verify your specific benefits, including copays, deductibles, and any prior authorization requirements. We provide clear information about costs upfront and can help you understand your coverage options. We also offer guidance on maximizing insurance benefits and may have options for those with limited coverage or high deductibles.
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