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Book now: https://contextualconsulting.co.uk/live-training/act-for-teens-with-ocd
Helping teens with OCD stick with exposure and response prevention (ERP) can be tough—rigid approaches often lead to frustration, avoidance, and dropout. This interactive 3-hour workshop will show you how to use acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to make ERP more flexible, engaging, and sustainable.
You’ll learn practical strategies to:
- Keep teens motivated using values and curiosity
- Help them approach ERP with self-compassion, rather than self-criticism
- Overcome resistance and disengagement
- Support parents in reducing accommodation while staying involved
Through case examples, roleplays, and hands-on exercises, you’ll gain actionable tools to make ERP work better for young people.
Background to the workshop
ERP is the most effective treatment for OCD, yet many young people struggle to engage with it. Exposure tasks can feel overwhelming, and the structured nature of ERP can sometimes backfire—leading to avoidance, frustration, or dropout.
Common challenges include:
- Teens feeling that ERP is too rigid or anxiety-provoking
- Loss of motivation and disengagement from therapy
- Parents unintentionally accommodating OCD, making progress harder
By integrating ACT with ERP, therapists can help young people develop a more flexible, values-driven approach. ACT encourages curiosity over avoidance, self-compassion over self-criticism, and engagement even when therapy feels tough. This workshop will provide practical tools to help teens stick with ERP in a way that feels meaningful and empowering.
What you will gain from this workshop
This workshop is practical and interactive, ensuring you leave with real-world tools you can use immediately. By attending this workshop, you will:
- Gain confidence in making ERP more flexible and engaging for young people
- Learn ways to build rapport and keep teens motivated, even when they resist therapy
- Understand how curiosity and self-compassion help shift avoidance into willingness
- Explore values-based interventions to help young people stay engaged, even when therapy is difficult
- Develop practical strategies to support parents and caregivers in reducing accommodation
- Learn how to adapt ERP when OCD “fights back”, including handling stuck points and preventing relapse
About this workshop
This workshop is highly interactive and skills-based, combining:
- Teaching sessions on integrating ACT and ERP for young people
- Case examples and experiential exercises to illustrate real-world applications
- Live roleplays and guided practice to help you refine your skills
- Q&A discussions to address real-world challenges
You’ll have the chance to engage with ACT techniques firsthand and develop confidence in using these strategies with young people struggling with OCD.
Who will benefit from this workshop?
This workshop is designed for mental health professionals working with children and adolescents struggling with OCD.
This training is ideal for:
- Psychologists, psychiatrists, paediatricians
- Social workers, nurse practitioners, GPs
- Therapists, counsellors, and coaches
- Occupational therapists and other professionals supporting individuals with OCD
A basic working knowledge of ACT is recommended. If you’re new to ACT, we offer a free on-demand introduction to ACT workshop to help you prepare.