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Adapting ERP Therapy for Autistic Adults
Living with both autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be challenging, especially when it comes to getting the right diagnosis and support. Because symptoms can overlap, it’s easy for one condition to be misdiagnosed or misunderstood. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy is the most effective treatment for breaking the OCD cycle, but when it’s not adapted for neurodivergent people, it can leave autistic adults feeling misunderstood or dismissed.
The good news is that ERP can work for autistic adults when it’s delivered in an affirming and collaborative way. You can still achieve symptom relief without having to choose between effective treatment and staying true to who you are.
To explore how ERP therapy can be more inclusive and effective for autistic adults, we spoke with Glen Veed, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist at Prosper Health, and April Kilduff, LCPC, LMHC, LPCC, LPC, an autistic therapist at NOCD.
