ERP therapy is a type of behavioral therapy that gradually exposes people to situations designed to provoke the individual's obsessions in a safe environment.
The major principle behind ERP is that is doesn’t completely remove distressing situations and thoughts. Not only can distress not be eliminated from someone’s life altogether, but doing so would make it impossible for the person to cope with everyday situations.
ERP provides a person with coping skills for when a triggering situation presents itself, allowing them to then use the skills to prevent their compulsion from taking over.
When getting started with ERP, obsessions will remain a challenge in the short term, but they will no longer seem overwhelming. By further developing coping strategies, ERP can free people from the cycle of obsession and compulsion.