The OCD & Anxiety Colorado (OAC) Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides a structured, evidence-based treatment approach to help individuals with OCD and Anxiety disorders reduce symptoms, build resilience, and achieve long-term functional improvements in a supportive and clinically focused environment.

Why ERP Therapy Matters for OCD and Anxiety

At OCD & Anxiety Colorado, we treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and anxiety-related disorders using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy—the gold-standard approach recommended by leading mental health authorities, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF).

The Harm of Non-Specialized or General Therapy

Unfortunately, many individuals with OCD are treated with non-specialized therapy—such as insight-based talk therapy, general CBT, or supportive counseling—which do not interrupt the OCD cycle and can actually reinforce compulsions and avoidance. These well-intentioned approaches can:

  • Delay effective treatment

  • Increase symptom severity

  • Lead to chronic impairment and reduced quality of life

The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) reports that individuals with OCD often wait 14 to 17 years from symptom onset before receiving a correct diagnosis and proper treatment (IOCDF, 2023). This treatment lag is linked to higher rates of depression, school and social difficulties, and even suicidality.

When to Consider IOP

For many young people, weekly therapy isn’t enough to interrupt the OCD/Anxiety cycle. IOP provides the frequency, structure, and intensity needed to make meaningful progress without stepping away from home or school.Our IOP is ideal for adolescents and young adults who:

  • Are stuck or regressing in weekly therapy

  • Have OCD or anxiety that significantly disrupts daily life

  • Need more support, repetition, and structure to engage in exposures

  • Are transitioning from higher levels of care (e.g., PHP or residential)

Why It Works

In IOP, clients practice exposures multiple times a week with expert guidance and community support—creating real, lasting change. They don’t just learn how to manage OCD and anxiety; they build the confidence to face it head-on and take their lives back.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at OCD & Anxiety Colorado

Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is designed for adolescents and young adults (ages 12–22) who need more support than weekly therapy but don’t require inpatient or residential care. This program combines evidence-based treatment, peer connection, and real-time exposure support—all in a flexible, community-based setting.

Program Schedule:

  • 3 days/week – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

  • 3 hours/day – 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

  • Additional services (e.g., family therapy, psychiatry, academic coaching) are scheduled individually to meet each family’s needs.

Clinician-Supported Active Exposures

At the core of our program is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)—the gold-standard treatment for OCD and Anxiety-related disorders.

Each IOP session includes live, clinician-supported ERP, where clients:

  • Face feared thoughts, situations, or sensations (exposure)

  • Practice resisting compulsions or avoidance (response prevention)

  • Receive real-time coaching and support from ERP-trained therapists

  • Progress through a personalized hierarchy of challenges that build confidence and reduce avoidance

ERP retrains the brain’s fear response, promotes habituation (natural reduction of anxiety), and supports inhibitory learning, where the brain forms new, safer associations—reducing the grip of obsessive fears over time.

Peer Connection & Group Support

Our IOP provides more than exposure practice—it fosters community and connection. In group-based settings, clients:

  • Share progress and challenges with peers who understand OCD and anxiety firsthand

  • Practice ERP and social exposures in a safe, supported environment

  • Build skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, and values-based action using ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

  • Receive education about OCD, anxiety, avoidance, and recovery tools

Group sessions are clinician-led and intentionally structured to balance emotional support, accountability, and empowerment.

In addition to the structured Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) sessions, OCD & Anxiety Colorado (OAC) involves Individual and Family Therapy, as well as additional supportive services to provide personalized and comprehensive care.

These services are scheduled flexibly to accommodate both the patient and therapist’s availability, ensuring accessibility and continuity of care.

Individual therapy allows clients to engage in tailored Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and values-based interventions, addressing their unique symptom profiles and treatment goals.

Family therapy focuses on psychoeducation, enhancing communication, and fostering collaborative strategies to support the client’s progress outside of treatment.