OCD Therapists Near Me. Online ERP Therapy in Ontario.
We're here to help you tackle anxiety and obsessions that happen when those unwanted thoughts pop up. We have a variety of expert OCD therapists to choose from.
Discover Online OCD Therapists in Ontario
There's no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed by the thoughts that cross your mind—truly, we’ve heard it all! Everyone has strange or even unsettling thoughts from time to time. But for people with OCD, these intrusive thoughts and obsessions feel relentless. OCD can affect every part of life making each day feel overwhelming. Because we rarely talk about intrusive thoughts, those with OCD often end up feeling isolated, ashamed, or embarrassed.
We offer gold-standard therapy for OCD because we understand how tough it can be.
You don't have to battle your thoughts alone. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) 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
Connect with an OCD therapist in Ontario
If you are looking for OCD treatment near you, our team of experienced therapists is here to help. We have therapists across Ontario including Ottawa, Midland, and Barrie.
We offer three treatments for OCD:
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP),
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
We offer video counselling sessions to anyone (12 years of age and older) in Ontario. This means you can receive the treatment you need to overcome OCD- all from the comfort of your home.
Book a Free Consultation to Get Started with an OCD Specialist
Book a free consultation by clicking the tab below and we will match you with an ERP therapist.
Our Clinical Directors will answer any questions about ERP and ensure it is a good fit for you.
Meet our OCD Therapists
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Celissa Vipond
RSW Psychotherapist
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Alpar Szotyori
Psychotherapist
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Dr. Emily MacQuarrie
Supervised Practice
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Anneliese Surmann
RSW Psychotherapist
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Dr. Lauren Steinhart
Clinical Psychologist
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Alana Weinberg
RSW Psychotherapist
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Angela Hammond
RSW Psychotherapist
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Jennifer O'Connor
Psychotherapist
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Chris Conboy
Psychotherapist
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Crystal Pacheco
RSW Psychotherapist
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Catherine Sullivan
RSW Psychotherapist
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Danielle Pearson
RSW Psychotherapist
What is Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)?
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 gradually to face situations, thoughts, or objects that trigger their obsessions (exposure). At the same time, they learn to refrain from 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. Ultimately, you will be able to have a greater sense of control and relief.
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, 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 do them in a safe way.
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."
What is OCD? (Source: Psych Hub)
Almost everyone will have an intrusive thought at some point in their life. 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?
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 Incest OCD, Sexual Obsessions, Sexual Orientation, Morality OCD, Hit-and-Run, POCD, and Relationship OCD. 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)
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 ERP for OCD
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If you find your thoughts bothersome and time-consuming, it might be time to reach out for help. You can read our blog post Could my Thoughts be OCD?
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Research shows that video ERP therapy for OCD is as effective as face-to-face treatment (Smith & Johnson, 2023, p. 78).
Reference:
Smith, A., & Johnson, B. (2023). Video exposure and response prevention therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A comparative effectiveness study. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 15(2), 75-89.
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Jane (our scheduling system) will send you a secure link, where you will meet with your therapist via a video program. If you prefer to have your sessions over the telephone, we can call you. You can connect with a therapist from anywhere in Ontario.
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The length of treatment for ERP can vary depending on your individual needs and goals. Generally, it can take up to 17 weekly therapy sessions to complete ERP. But, some people may need fewer sessions. For example, someone who has mild OCD may need fewer sessions.
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If you are not ready to begin ERP, we will meet with you to develop an individualized treatment plan. Learn more about CBT skills and treatment components.
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You can use a search engine like Psychology Today and filter your search for your area. The International OCD Foundation also has an OCD therapist directory.
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If you are attending your first therapy session, you may be wondering what to expect. Here are some things to expect:
Your therapist will likely begin by asking you questions about your symptoms. For example, they may ask you how long you have been experiencing them. They may also ask how they affect your daily life and how they make you feel.
They may also ask you about your medical history and any previous treatments you have tried.
Your therapist may also provide you with information about OCD and how ERP works.
You can discuss any concerns or questions you have about the therapy process.
Remember, the first therapy session is the beginning of a journey toward recovery. With time and commitment, you can overcome your OCD symptoms. If you have any questions, you can book a free consultation with us.
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ERP works by gradually exposing you to things that you are afraid of. While avoiding things that make you anxious helps you feel better in the short term, it makes your obsessions worse over time.
Another aspect of ERP is not doing your compulsions (also known as rituals or behaviours). By doing these two things, it will help break the cycle of OCD and reduce anxiety. We find that the stricter people are at not doing their rituals, the better they feel. By the end of ERP, you should feel much better.
In ERP treatment, we conduct all OCD exposures safely and in a controlled manner. We never pressure you to do anything you're not comfortable with. Your therapist will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan.
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 a Virtual OCD Therapist
Click the tab below to book a free consultation with our team. We will meet with you for 15 minutes to determine whether you would be a good fit for ERP or i-cbt.
We can also help match you with an OCD specialist in Ontario. If you have questions but don’t want to book a free consultation, email virtualcbt@gmail.com. Learn more about our 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. Available online at https://psychiatryonline.org/pb/assets/raw/sitewide/practice_guidelines/guidelines/ocd-1410197738287.pdf