'Exposing' occupational therapists to exposure and response prevention for obsessive compulsive disorder (April 18, 2023)

Presented by: Nathania Lukman and Aliza Ladak 

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is first-line, evidence-based treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD; e.g., Law & Boisseau, 2019). Numerous clinical trials support the efficacy of ERP for OCD. With growing numbers of occupational therapists performing psychotherapy, there are exciting opportunities in this area of practice. Occupational therapists are well positioned to deliver this intervention because its core features involve promoting participation in meaningful occupations, utilizing task analysis principles, and considering factors in the person, the environment, and the occupation to promote generalization across contexts.

This webinar will provide a brief overview of OCD including common symptoms and functional impairments seen in OCD. It will highlight what ERP is, who it is suitable for, guidelines and principles to deliver this intervention, mechanisms of action (habituation, inhibitory learning), and how to begin developing an ERP plan with clients. Integration of occupational therapy concepts into ERP will be discussed. Finally, the webinar will discuss how occupational therapists can gain more 'exposure' to ERP in hospital, community, and private practice settings. 

After taking part in this webinar, participants will: 

1. Understand what Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is and how it works.
2. Be aware of guidelines and principles to deliver this intervention effectively.
3. Be able to identify the fit between occupational therapy and exposure and response prevention.

Level 
Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific area of practice)