Kayla Salomone, LISW-S
What Is OCD & Anxiety?
OCD and anxiety disorders are not just “overthinking.” They involve a cycle:
- An intrusive thought, image, urge, or physical sensation shows up.
- Anxiety or distress rises quickly.
- You do something to feel safer — avoidance, reassurance, checking, researching, mentally reviewing, etc.
- Relief is temporary.
- The cycle starts again.
Over time, your world can become smaller as more situations, thoughts, or sensations feel unsafe.
Common examples I treat include:
- Intrusive harm thoughts
- Sexual or religious obsessions
- Postpartum intrusive thoughts
- Relationship OCD
- Contamination fears
- Health anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Social anxiety
- Fear of making mistakes
- Fear of uncertainty
If you feel stuck in a loop of “what if?” — ERP was designed for that.
What Is ERP?
Over time, your brain learns that it does not need compulsions or avoidance to feel safe. ERP is not about forcing yourself into terrifying situations.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard treatment for OCD and many anxiety disorders. It works by helping you:
It is structured, gradual, and collaborative. We build a hierarchy together and move at a pace that challenges you without overwhelming you.
- Gradually face feared thoughts, sensations, or situations
- Resist the urge to neutralize, avoid, or seek reassurance
- Teach your brain that anxiety is uncomfortable — but not dangerous
What ERP Is NOT
- Me talking you out of your fears
- Reassurance-based therapy
- Purely insight-oriented talk therapy
- About eliminating intrusive thoughts
- About making anxiety disappear completely
The goal is freedom from organizing your life around it.
What Sessions Look Like
Early sessions focus on:
- Understanding your specific OCD/anxiety pattern
- Identifying compulsions (including subtle mental rituals)
- Education about how anxiety works
As treatment progresses, we will:
- Build an exposure hierarchy
- Practice exposures in session
- Assign specific between-session practice
- Track progress and adjust as needed
Change happens in the moments between sessions.
Who ERP Is For
- Are willing to feel discomfort in service of long-term change
- Are open to practicing between sessions
- Want structured, skill-based treatment
- Are ready to reduce reassurance-seeking
Who ERP May Not Be Ideal For
- Looking primarily for supportive listening without behavioral change
- Not ready to reduce reassurance-seeking
- Hoping anxiety will go away without confronting it
What You Can Expect From Me
- Warmth without colluding with anxiety
- Direct feedback
- Collaboration
- Humor when appropriate
- A focus on helping you become your own therapist
My goal is not long-term dependency. My goal is confidence and independence.