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3 Highly Recommended Los Angeles Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapists
If you're struggling with intrusive thoughts that won't let go, rituals that control your daily life, or anxiety that keeps you from living freely, you're not alone. At Therapy Collective of California, our specialized ERP therapists understand the exhausting cycle of OCD and are here to help you break free with evidence-based treatment that actually works.
What is exposure response prevention (ERP) treatment?
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a specialized, evidence-based therapy designed to treat OCD and anxiety-driven patterns. It’s considered the gold-standard treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
ERP works by helping you gradually face the thoughts, images, sensations, or situations that trigger anxiety while learning to resist the compulsive behaviors or mental rituals that usually follow. Over time, your brain learns a new relationship with uncertainty: that anxiety can rise and fall on its own, and that you don’t need rituals to feel safe.
Rather than trying to eliminate intrusive thoughts, ERP helps you change how you respond to them. This leads to a lasting reduction in compulsions, greater emotional flexibility, and a growing sense of freedom in daily life.
Meet our Los Angeles ERP therapists
Claire Summers, LCSW
Claire stands out amongst LA’s ERP practitioners for her truly integrative approach. In addition to experience providing ERP, she’s also uniquely trained in pain reprocessing therapy—a cutting-edge approach that addresses the mind-body roots of anxiety and chronic symptoms that often accompany OCD.
Her rare combination of somatic expertise with traditional ERP means she can help clients who experience physical manifestations of their anxiety, not just mental distress. Having supported individuals through some of their most vulnerable moments during her hospital work, Claire brings an exceptional capacity for holding space during the discomfort of exposure work.
Focus areas: Anxiety, OCD, PTSD, attachment issues, codependency, chronic pain, self-esteem/self-confidence
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Samantha Potthoff, LMFT
What sets Samantha apart is her rare neuroscience background and medical career before becoming a therapist. This means she doesn't just understand OCD clinically; she understands the actual brain mechanisms driving your compulsions. This scientific foundation allows her to explain why ERP works in ways that help skeptical, intellectually-oriented clients fully commit to the process.
Her additional specialization in working with kink/BDSM communities and sex therapy means she can provide judgment-free ERP treatment for intrusive sexual thoughts and relationship-focused OCD that many therapists aren't equipped to handle, making her an exceptional choice for people who fear their obsessions and compulsions are taboo.
Focus areas: OCD, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, childhood abuse, grief/loss, personality disorders, kink/BDSM
Klara Knypinski, LCSW
Klara’s approach to ERP is distinguished by her integration of internal family systems therapy, helping clients understand the "protector parts" that created their compulsions in the first place.
Her background in linguistics and education also gives her an exceptional ability to help clients articulate and understand their internal experiences, making the often-confusing world of intrusive thoughts feel more manageable.
For clients from immigrant families, multicultural backgrounds, or those whose OCD is intertwined with perfectionism and people-pleasing learned from family systems, Klara offers culturally-informed ERP that addresses not just the symptoms but the deeper conditioning that fuels them—plus she's fluent in French for francophone clients seeking treatment in their native language.
Focus areas: OCD, anxiety, ADHD, attachment issues, relationships, authenticity, perfection, people-pleasing
What sets our practice apart from other ERP treatment providers in Los Angeles
At Therapy Collective of California, we believe effective OCD treatment requires more than a one-size-fits-all protocol. Here's what makes our approach different:
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Personalized ERP treatment tailored to your specific obsessions, compulsions, and life circumstances—not rigid protocols
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Integration of multiple modalities, including IFS, somatic therapy, and attachment-focused work, alongside traditional ERP
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Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) available for treatment-resistant OCD and co-occurring conditions
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Flexible scheduling with both in-person and virtual options available
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Trauma-informed approach that recognizes the connection between past experiences and present anxiety patterns
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Holistic mind-body focus addressing the physical sensations and nervous system dysregulation that accompany OCD
We don't just help you resist compulsions; we go beyond symptom management to help you understand yourself more deeply and build a life that feels genuinely fulfilling.
Conditions we treat with ERP
Our Los Angeles ERP therapists work with adults experiencing a wide range of OCD and anxiety-related concerns, including:
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
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Intrusive thoughts (sexual, harm-related, religious, or taboo themes)
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Compulsive checking, reassurance-seeking, and mental rituals
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Contamination fears and cleanliness-related compulsions
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“Just right” OCD, perfectionism, and repeating behaviors
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Relationship OCD (ROCD) and attachment-related obsessions
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Health anxiety and fear of illness
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Phobias and situational fears
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Body-focused repetitive behaviors (skin picking, hair pulling)
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Avoidance patterns that have gradually narrowed your life
If you’re stuck in cycles of fear, doubt, and ritual—even if your symptoms don’t fit neatly into one label—ERP may still be able to help.
What to expect from the therapy process
Step 1: Free consultation
Step 2: Comprehensive assessment
Step 3: Gradual exposure work
Step 4: Integration & relapse prevention
We begin with a complimentary phone consultation where you'll share what brings you to therapy and what you hope to achieve. This is your opportunity to ask questions, learn about our approach, and determine if we're the right fit for your healing journey.
During your initial sessions, your therapist will conduct a thorough assessment of your obsessions, compulsions, triggers, and how OCD impacts your daily life. Together, you'll create a personalized treatment plan and begin building the therapeutic relationship that makes challenging exposure work possible.
You'll work collaboratively with your therapist to create a hierarchy of feared situations, starting with manageable challenges and gradually progressing to more difficult exposures. Your therapist guides you through facing these fears while resisting compulsions, helping you build confidence and tolerance for uncertainty.
As your symptoms improve, you'll focus on maintaining your progress, identifying early warning signs, and developing strategies for long-term wellness. Your therapist helps you integrate what you've learned into daily life, ensuring sustainable recovery beyond the therapy room.