Which is the best treatment for OCD?
Written by the clinical team at The Lyceum Clinic. Clinically reviewed by Sanah Younis, Founder and Clinical Director, BABCP-accredited (no. 1000792). Published 28 October 2026. Last reviewed 28 October 2026.
Clinical perspective: The Lyceum's specialist therapist in OCD.
How do you explain ERP to someone who is frightened of it?
'Right now, your OCD is a monster that lives in your house, and every time it roars, you feed it a compulsion to make it quiet down. But feeding it just makes it bigger. ERP is the process of starving the monster. Yes, when we stop feeding it, it is going to roar louder than ever for a little while. But if you stand with me and refuse to give it the food (the ritual), the monster will eventually shrink and go to sleep.'
Where does EMDR fit, and where is it over-sold?
It is brilliant for specific phobias (like a fear of dogs stemming from a bite) and performance blocks (like freezing during public speaking due to a past humiliation). However, it is vastly over-sold for Generalised Anxiety Disorder (free-floating worry) or primary OCD. If the difficulty is driven by an intolerance of future uncertainty or mental rituals, CBT with ERP is usually the more relevant focus. EMDR is directed at past trauma, while CBT can address the present maintenance cycle.
For more detail, read about OCD therapy.