Dr. Thea Gallagher joins me in this episode to talk in more depth about exposure and response prevention (EX/RP) therapy for OCD. Specifically, we discuss the importance of ritual prevention, why we need to overshoot normal when treating OCD, the rationale for imaginal exposure, and so much more.

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About Dr. Gallagher:

Thea Gallagher, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health in New York City. She is an expert in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders, including OCD, a frequent media contributor, and co-host of the Mind in View Podcast.

Exposure and response prevention (EX/RP) therapy is a highly effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this episode, I talk with Dr. Lily Brown about the rationale for EX/RP, as well as what this therapy entails and strategies for maximizing the gains that people make in this treatment. If you struggle with OCD or care about someone who does, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

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About Dr. Brown:

Licensed psychologist Lily Brown, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s internationally renowned Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. Dr. Brown specializes in exposure-based treatments for anxiety disorders and has published extensively on anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and suicide risk and prevention.

Although the term OCD is often thrown around as an adjective, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is actually a frequently misunderstood and potentially debilitating mental health condition. Contrary to what many of us think, OCD involves much more than just washing, cleaning, and arranging things. Join me for this 10th episode in honor of OCD Awareness Week to learn about what OCD is and some of the many ways in which it can present. And because increasing awareness is key to helping those with OCD find the help and support they need, please also consider sharing this episode widely.