Sometimes people just want to be able to stop better – they want their brakes to work like everyone else’s do! In this service, we provide evidence-based treatment for OCD (called, “Exposure & Response Prevention” or “ERP”).

Who is this service for?

  • Children and adolescents diagnosed with OCD feeling distressed or impaired by intrusive thoughts and/or rituals
  • Those looking for an alternative or enhancement to pharmaceutical treatment of OCD
  • Familiarize caregivers with the treatment of OCD to better effectively support the child or adolescent

How this service can help to, “empty your beaker”:

  • “Full Beakers” are how we describe feelings of being overloaded with too many pressures, demands or stresses unique to having leaky brakes. When a beaker overflows this can take the form of unmanageable anxiety, tearful “meltdowns”, or rage.
  • Obsessions, compulsions and rituals that are embarrassing, inconvenient, disruptive, worrisome and time-consuming are beaker-fillers. Fighting to ‘hide’ these atypical thoughts and actions, dealing with the reactions of others to these ritualized behaviours, or the inability to ‘shift’ when expected also contributes to a full beaker.
  • Learning to manage, decrease, and eliminate bothersome compulsions can decrease beaker levels by decreasing anxiety levels and ‘stuck thoughts’

What happens in this service?

  • ERP (a form of cognitive-behavioural therapy) empowers our clients by giving them very effective tools to take charge of their obsessive thoughts and eliminate the anxiety surrounding them. It thereby helps them to ‘turn the tables’ on OCD, boss OCD back, and to begin living life more flexibly and freely’. Clients who use this treatment are no longer compelled to give in to the compulsive behaviours they have targeted.
  • Symptoms targeted for treatment: obsessions & compulsions (what we call, “leaky brakes over thoughts”)

Where is the service held?

  • CPRI campus (Crombie Building; check in at switchboard and go to waiting room) or via video-conferencing using a local Ontario Telemedicine Network(OTN) site
  • For families travelling long distances, ‘virtual’ options (e.g. participating via teleconference or webcam) can be explored

Who will participate in this service?

  • Brake Shop club members & caregivers
  • With the caregiver consent and client agreement, significant others invested in supporting the client (e.g. a sibling, a grandparent, school staff, a residential worker) are welcome to attend

What if I decline this service?

  • “How-to’ guides & ERP workbooks are available in the Family Resource Centre.
  • Medications are also available to manage OCD symptoms, but may not be as effective as ERP in youth who also have tic symptoms.
  • Left untreated and unchallenged, OCD generally worsens over time

What are the requirements to be in this service?

  • Significant problems with obsessions, compulsions and rituals.
  • Problem behaviours to be targeted are compulsive in nature (caused or driven by anxiety)
  • At least some of these problem behaviours are distressing to the client, and at least some insight into these symptoms exists
  • A motivation to engage in treatment
  • Client can commit to practicing assignments each week
  • A reasonably stable life situation
  • Overall cognitive functioning within the broad range of Average (IQ score > 80)
  • A mental age of at least 8 years (wait times will be extended until this criterion is met)
  • Caregivers can commit to attend all sessions, to support the client in treatment, and to read/watch various educational materials provided
  • Client & caregivers are prepared for a possible brief, initial increase in symptoms, and to discuss symptoms in a confidential format
  • Any ADHD symptomatology already treated

* Medications are to remain stable for the duration of  treatment. If  this creates a problem, please notify the ERP Clinician to discuss.

Important Telephone Numbers: