Different difficulties need different treatment plans. For OCD, CBT that includes exposure and response prevention is a recommended approach. For anxiety disorders, CBT is one established option. This guide explains these approaches and helps you decide what to ask when choosing support.
My clinical background includes working as a psychologist in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), before returning to Ireland and opening a private practice in Dublin in 2009. Over more than 20 years, my work has focused on OCD, anxiety disorders and their psychological treatment. I now focus on psychoeducational resources and self-paced courses, making that knowledge available through practical explanations and learning materials.
Choose the most appropriate next step:
- Learn how CBT and ERP work: Use the information below to understand these approaches and what to look for when choosing professional support.
- Start immediately with self-help: If you want to begin now, my structured online programmes teach practical CBT and ERP-based skills you can work through in your own time.
View My Online Courses | CBT Therapy | ERP Therapy | OCD Treatment | Health Anxiety Treatment | Anger Management | Anxiety Treatment | Panic Disorder Treatment | Social Anxiety | Agoraphobia
What I specialise in
Evidence-based therapy for OCD & anxiety (CBT + ERP)
CBT for anxiety disorders
CBT is a practical, structured therapy that targets the patterns that keep anxiety going — worry loops, avoidance, safety behaviours, panic cycles, and stuck habits — so you can feel better and function better in daily life.
ERP for OCD (and OCD-style anxiety patterns)
ERP is a form of CBT designed for OCD. Instead of trying to “get rid of” intrusive thoughts, ERP helps you retrain your brain by facing triggers without doing compulsions or safety behaviours — so the cycle loses fuel.
CBT works because it targets the processes that maintain anxiety. ERP is a type of CBT designed specifically for OCD and related patterns, where change happens through graded exposure and response prevention (learning to face triggers without doing the behaviours that keep the loop alive).
Who this is for
These approaches are commonly used to help adults with:
- OCD (including mental compulsions, reassurance seeking, rumination, intrusive thoughts)
- Health anxiety (checking, Googling, reassurance cycles)
- Panic attacks / panic disorder
- General anxiety and avoidance patterns
- Anger that’s driven by threat, stress, overwhelm, and reactive habits (skills-based CBT work)
Structured CBT and ERP typically involve:
- clarify what’s maintaining the problem (your specific cycle)
- agree a plan (skills + practice)
- practise the right interventions (CBT tools and/or ERP)
- track progress in real-world outcomes (time spent ritualising, avoidance reduced, life regained)
If OCD is part of the picture, ERP focuses heavily on identifying all safety behaviours (including subtle mental rituals) so your brain stops getting the “relief reward” that keeps OCD alive.
How treatment works
A stepped approach (start where you are)
The appropriate starting point depends on your symptoms, their impact, your preferences and any other needs. Structured self-help may be useful on its own or alongside professional care. An assessment can help when the picture is unclear or you need more support.
A stepped approach may include:
Structured self-help
Structured self-help can provide practical CBT and ERP-based teaching and exercises. Choose a level of support that fits your needs; you do not have to complete a course before seeking individual care.
Individual professional support
If symptoms are severe, long-standing, or you have tried self-help without sufficient improvement, speak with your GP or a suitably qualified mental-health professional who can assess your needs and provide individual care.
Evidence-based approaches for OCD and anxiety
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) (CBT for OCD)
- ACT-style skills (when useful alongside CBT/ERP)
Therapy approaches explained on this site (informational guides)
My clinical focus in practice is OCD and anxiety-related conditions using CBT and ERP.
This website also includes informational explanations of many therapy models (e.g., EMDR, CAT, psychodynamic approaches, etc.) to help you understand what they are and when they’re typically used.
Explore related guides
Browse the full collection of therapy articles.