Online OCD Therapy in Ontario | Expert ERP & i-CBT Therapists
When intrusive thoughts take over, every day can feel like a battle you are losing. You are not broken — and you are not alone.
Our expert ERP and i-CBT therapists will help you face your fears, resist compulsions, and take back control of your thoughts. All delivered online across Ontario — from home, at a time that works for you.
Our Online OCD Therapists Are Ready When You Are
There's no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed by the thoughts that cross your mind — truly, we've heard it all. Everyone experiences strange or unsettling thoughts from time to time. But for people with OCD, these intrusive thoughts and obsessions feel relentless, exhausting, and impossible to ignore.
OCD can affect every part of daily life, making even ordinary moments feel overwhelming. Because we rarely talk openly about intrusive thoughts, people with OCD often end up feeling isolated, ashamed, and alone.
At Virtual CBT Psychotherapy, our online OCD therapists in Ontario provide compassionate, evidence-based treatment that meets you where you are — no travel required, no waitlist surprises, and no judgment.
You don't have to battle your thoughts alone. Online OCD therapy can make a difference in your life so that you can find some calmness in your thoughts.
The Best Way to Treat OCD. Source: Psych Hub
What Kinds of Treatments Help with OCD?
The most effective treatments for OCD are a type of therapy called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). A specific approach within CBT is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
ERP is the most researched treatment for OCD. These treatments help you face your fears step by step and learn new ways to respond to them.
Over time, OCD symptoms can become less intense and easier to manage. Therapy gives you the tools to take back control and feel more like yourself again. All of our OCD therapy sessions are delivered online, making it easier than ever to access specialist care no matter where you live in Ontario.
At Virtual CBT Psychotherapy, our online therapists offer:
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP),
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
We offer video counselling sessions to anyone (10 years of age and older) in Ontario (Quebec, and B.C.). This means you can receive the treatment you need to overcome OCD, all from the comfort of your home.
Book a Free 15-Minute Call to Get Started with Online OCD Therapy in Ontario
Book a free 15-minute call below and we will match you with the right online OCD therapist in Ontario for your needs — whether that is ERP, i-CBT, or a combination of both. At Virtual CBT Psychotherapy, our team includes social workers, registered psychotherapists, and clinical psychologists, all with specialist training in OCD treatment.
Our Clinical Directors will answer every question you have about the process. No commitment required — just a conversation. Learn about our therapy fees.
Meet our OCD Therapists in Ontario
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Celissa Vipond
RSW Psychotherapist
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Alpar Szotyori
Psychotherapist
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Vanessa Moser
RSW Psychotherapist
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Anneliese Surmann
RSW Psychotherapist
*Not Accepting New Clients
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Jennifer O'Connor
Psychotherapist
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Dr. Lauren Steinhart
Clinical Psychologist
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Catherine Sullivan
RSW Psychotherapist
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Alana Weinberg
RSW Psychotherapist
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Angela Hammond
RSW Psychotherapist
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Kimberley Ross
RSW Psychotherapist
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Danielle Pearson
RSW Psychotherapist
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Denisa Caceres
Psychotherapist
What is ERP Therapy? Exposure & Response Prevention for OCD Explained
If you or a loved one is struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you may be wondering where to turn for help.
Luckily, effective treatments such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy are available.
ERP is a type of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Research supports ERP as an effective therapy for OCD (American Psychological Association, 2007).
In ERP, people work to face situations and thoughts that trigger their obsessions (exposure). At the same time, they learn to stop doing their compulsions (response prevention).
ERP helps reduce the anxiety your triggers cause over time. The idea is that the brain learns that the feared thought doesn’t happen, or is less likely than it feels.
With practice, ERP helps reduce OCD symptoms and break the cycle of obsessions and compulsions. With OCD therapy, you will be able to have a greater sense of control and relief. At Virtual CBT Psychotherapy, we deliver all ERP therapy online across Ontario. You can access specialist OCD treatment from home, at a time that works for you.
Treatment Components of ERP for OCD
Goal Setting. Identify specific goals you want to achieve through treatment. For example, reducing certain compulsions or intrusive thoughts.
Psychoeducation. Understand the nature of OCD, and how it affects your thoughts and behaviours. You will also learn why ERP is effective.
Trigger Identification. Recognize the situations, objects, or thoughts that trigger your obsessions and compulsions.
Hierarchy Development. Create a list of triggers ranked by intensity, starting with those that cause mild anxiety and working up to more challenging ones.
Response Prevention. Practice resisting or delaying compulsions after facing a trigger. Over time, you will notice that your anxiety will start to improve as you drop compulsions.
Exposure Exercises. Gradually face anxiety-provoking situations or thoughts (triggers) without engaging in compulsive behaviours. Your therapist will help you create a list of exposure ideas and help you safely do them.
Mindfulness and Cognitive Restructuring. Learn to observe intrusive thoughts without judgment. For some people, it can be helpful to learn how to challenge unhelpful beliefs.
Self-Monitoring and Homework. Track your progress between sessions and complete exposure exercises independently to build resilience.
Relapse Prevention Planning. Develop strategies to manage future triggers and prevent relapse after therapy ends.
Inference-Based CBT for OCD (i-CBT)
If you or a loved one is dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), finding the right treatment is essential.
Alongside traditional approaches like ERP, Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT) has emerged as an effective treatment for OCD. I-CBT is especially helpful for individuals whose OCD stems from doubts about what is real or true, rather than overwhelming fears. I-CBT focuses on challenging the faulty reasoning processes that fuel obsessions.
In I-CBT, clients learn to identify and reframe the intrusive thoughts or “inferences” that lead to obsessions. By recognizing how OCD changes their thinking, clients can start to disconnect from their obsessions. Instead of focusing on anxiety reduction through exposure, I-CBT helps people strengthen their confidence in real-life reasoning. It also helps to reduce their reliance on compulsive behaviours.
Research shows that I-CBT can be highly effective in reducing OCD symptoms. Learn more about i-CBT for OCD.
What is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that can affect people of all ages. People with OCD have persistent and uncontrollable thoughts and images (also known as obsessions).
This causes a great deal of anxiety and distress. People cope with obsessions by engaging in certain actions to relieve anxiety. These actions are called "rituals" or "compulsions."
Almost everyone will have an intrusive thought at some point in their life. In fact, research suggests that up to 97% of the general population experiences intrusive thoughts — the difference with OCD is the distress these thoughts cause and the compulsions that develop in response. And yet, most of us feel embarrassed to talk about it because there is a “don’t ask, don’t tell culture”. Because of this, we feel embarrassed and shameful about our intrusive thoughts.
If you think that you may have OCD, you can read this blog post: Could my thoughts be OCD?
What is OCD? (Source: Psych Hub)
Examples of OCD Obsessions
Contamination (also known as “cleaning OCD”)
Fear of harming yourself or someone else (also known as “harm OCD”)
“Just not right” feelings
Sexual thoughts (e.g. incest, sexual orientation, rape, pedophilia)
Religious or morality (moral) OCD
Relationship OCD (e.g. is my partner right for me?)
Obsessions that you might be gay or bisexual
Please know that there are thousands of OCD thoughts that could be considered OCD and these are just some of the most common. If your thoughts cause you distress, it may be worth it to talk to an OCD therapist near you.
We have written blog posts on specific themes including Contamination OCD, Incest OCD, Sexual Obsessions, Sexual Orientation, Morality OCD, Hit-and-Run, POCD, and Relationship OCD. Read more about OCD and Emetophobia.
We also have a blog post on perinatal and postpartum OCD.
Examples of OCD Rituals
Cleaning
Checking
Asking family members for reassurance
Mental rituals (e.g. saying special phrases or numbers in your mind)
Excessively searching for answers online (e.g. Google, Reddit)
The rituals (compulsions) help you to feel better in the short term. But over time, it forms a strong habit where you want to do it repeatedly.
Unfortunately, these rituals strengthen the obsessions and worsen anxiety over the long term. This is why OCD tends to get worse as you get older and the habits or rituals become harder and harder to break.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online OCD Therapy
What is online OCD therapy?
Online OCD therapy is treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder delivered by video — from your home. At Virtual CBT Psychotherapy, our expert OCD therapists serve clients across Ontario. You meet your therapist on a secure video platform. No travel required. No waitlist surprises.
Is online OCD therapy as effective as in-person treatment?
Yes. Research shows that online OCD therapy works just as well as in-person care. A 2023 study found that video-delivered ERP produced outcomes equivalent to face-to-face treatment for OCD (Smith & Johnson, 2023). Many Ontario clients prefer working from home. Doing ERP in your own environment can actually make treatment more effective.
What is ERP therapy and how does it help OCD?
ERP stands for Exposure and Response Prevention. It is the gold-standard treatment for OCD recommended by the American Psychological Association. Our ERP therapists in Ontario work with you to gradually face your fears and resist compulsions. Over time this breaks the OCD cycle and reduces anxiety significantly.
How long does online OCD therapy take?
Most clients complete ERP in 12–17 sessions. Some people with milder OCD respond in fewer sessions. Others may need a little more time. How long you need depends on your OCD symptoms, how often you attend, and how much you practise between sessions.
Do I need a referral to start online OCD therapy in Ontario?
No. You do not need a referral from a doctor or psychiatrist. Book your free 15-minute call and connect with an online OCD therapist in Ontario today. Our Clinical Directors will match you with the right ERP or i-CBT therapist for your needs.
What if I am not ready to start ERP?
That is okay. ERP is our first recommendation for OCD — but it is not the only option. We also offer i-CBT, which takes a different approach and works well for many people. Book a free 15-minute call and we will build a plan that feels right for you.
What types of OCD do your therapists treat?
Our OCD therapists in Ontario treat all OCD subtypes — including contamination OCD, harm OCD, relationship OCD, moral OCD, sexual obsessions, postpartum OCD, and intrusive thoughts of all kinds. If your thoughts cause you distress, we can help. There is no OCD subtype we have not seen before.
How do I get started with online OCD therapy in Ontario?
Taking the first step with OCD therapy can feel daunting — but it does not have to be. Book your free 15-minute call today and our Clinical Directors will match you with the right online OCD therapist in Ontario. No referral needed. No commitment. Just a conversation.
Self-Help Resources for OCD
OCD Books for Adults
Getting Over OCD, Second Edition: A 10-Step Workbook for Taking Your Life Back (Abramowitz, 2018)
Treating your OCD with Exposure and Response (Ritual) Prevention, 2nd Ed (Foa & Lichner, 2012)
Getting Control: Overcoming Your Obsessions and Compulsions (Baer, 2012)
The Imp of the Mind (Baer, 2002)
You can also check our blog post “Best Books for OCD”
Get Started with an Online OCD Therapist in Ontario
Click the tab below to book a free consultation with an OCD expert. We will meet with you for 15 minutes to determine whether you would be a good fit for ERP or i-CBT. We have over 25 specialists to choose from.
We can also help match you with an OCD specialist in Ontario. Learn more about our online ERP therapy fees.
Source: American Psychiatric Association, Koran, L. M., Hanna, G L., Hollander, E., Nestadt, G., & Simpson, H. B. (2007). Practice guidelines for the treatment of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association, 2007.