ERP and ACT for OCD — Making Sense of the Acronyms!
As I, and many others, have mentioned numerous times before, exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy is the evidence-based psychological treatment of choice for obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, over the years there is another acronym that has made its way into some “OCD tool boxes.” I am talking about ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), which involves mindfulness and the acceptance of our actions. It also delves into our commitment to making changes. Think Serenity Prayer.
In a wonderful seminar at the International OCD Conference back in 2012, I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Jonathan Grayson discuss ERP and ACT, which many people see as competing therapies. Dr. Grayson argued that the two therapies are really not at odds with one another at all, and ACT is actually woven into ERP therapy. Participating in an exposure involves acceptance. According to Dr. Grayson, the problem occurs when therapists choose to use ACT without ERP.
ACT involves the use of a top-down approach, meaning it starts with the big picture and then breaks it down. The person with obsessive-compulsive disorder concentrates on changing his or her relationship with the whole world. While this therapy can certainly complement ERP therapy, Dr. Grayson prefers starting with ERP, which uses a bottom-up approach. This means there is a progression from addressing individual elements (OCD for example), to tending to the whole person. At the conference, Dr. Grayson used the analogy...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Janet Singer Tags: Caregivers Cognitive-Behavioral Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Personal Stories Psychotherapy Treatment Commitment Therapy Erp ERP Therapy evidence-based treatment exposure response prevention Ocd Source Type: news
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