What Is the Difference Between I-CBT and ERP When Treating OCD? | OCD Therapy in Englewood & Bergen County NJ
When searching for OCD treatment in Englewood, New Jersey or Bergen County, NJ, you might come across different therapy options, including ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) and I-CBT (Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). But what exactly is the difference between these two evidence-based approaches? And how do you know which one might be right for you?
At Dana Colthart Therapy, we specialize in OCD treatment for adults and adolescents in Englewood, NJ and across Bergen County. Let’s break down these two therapies so you can better understand your options.
What is ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention)?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered the gold standard for treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
🔹 How ERP works:
ERP helps individuals face their feared thoughts, images, or situations (exposures) in a gradual, supportive way without performing compulsions (response prevention). Over time, this reduces the anxiety and distress linked to OCD and helps retrain the brain not to see these thoughts as dangerous or important.
🔹 Example of ERP:
If someone has contamination OCD, they might work with a therapist to touch a doorknob without washing their hands afterward.
🔹 Who benefits?
ERP is highly effective for people with various OCD themes — including contamination, harm OCD, sexual orientation OCD, relationship OCD, and more.
What is I-CBT (Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)?
I-CBT, or Inference-Based CBT, is a newer form of cognitive therapy developed for OCD that focuses on the thinking process that leads to obsessions, rather than on exposure to feared situations.
🔹 How I-CBT works:
I-CBT helps clients identify and challenge the faulty reasoning (inferences) that spark obsessions. Instead of exposing a person to feared triggers, the focus is on helping them see that their OCD-related doubts come from imaginative, hypothetical fears — not real danger.
🔹 Example of I-CBT:
For someone with harm OCD, I-CBT would focus on how they inferred danger (e.g., “If I had the thought of harming someone, that means I might do it”) and help them challenge this faulty logic.
🔹 Who benefits?
I-CBT may appeal to individuals who struggle with exposure work or those who feel stuck in obsessive doubt despite traditional ERP.
Which OCD Treatment Is Right for You?
Both ERP and I-CBT are effective and evidence-based treatments for OCD. The right approach depends on your personal preferences, OCD themes, and response to therapy. At Dana Colthart Therapy in Englewood, NJ, we offer personalized treatment plans that may include ERP, I-CBT, or an integration of both, depending on what fits your needs best.
Get OCD Therapy in Englewood, NJ and Bergen County
If you or a loved one is struggling with OCD, know that help is available. We provide virtual and in-person therapy for OCD, anxiety, and related disorders throughout Englewood, Bergen County, and New Jersey.
📞 Book a free consultation today to learn how we can help: www.danacolthart.co
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