Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Therapists in Canada
OCD involves unwanted intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that feel difficult to stop. Evidence-based therapy can help you reduce the grip of obsessions and compulsions and regain flexibility in daily life.
What to look for in an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) therapist on Purple Lotus
- Specific training and experience in ERP for OCD
- Familiarity with the full range of OCD subtypes, including intrusive thought presentations
- Approach that avoids providing reassurance as part of treatment
- Collaborative exposure planning with input from you on pace and content
4 therapists for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Canada
Browse 4 therapists specializing in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Find the right counsellor or psychotherapist for your needs.
Mila Loskutova
Hi! My name is Mila Loskutova and I'm a registered clinical counsellor. I am a queer, immigrant settler woman. I am passionate about supporting folks healing from trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, relationship issues and OCD. I use a mix of gentle talk therapy that helps individuals dive deeper into self-exploration and more structured approaches for specific concerns, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). I am mindful and curious about how our identities and the systems we live in shape the way we move through the world. My approach is humanistic, anti-oppressive and sometimes irreverent. I enjoy helping people create and deepen meaning in their lives. I am available online and in person at my office at 315, 2083 Alma Street, Vancouver.
Nicole Grant
I work with children, teens and adults seeking support for anxiety, depression, trauma and life changes. I am trained in CBT, DBT and EMDR.
Jessica Scott
Are you someone who feels things deeply, maybe more than the people around you do? You may notice yourself feeling disconnected from others, finding it challenging to form the kind of relationships you want in your life. For many, this comes from living through experiences that can create a “before” and “after,” shifting their sense of safety, identity, or connection. These are often the quiet marks of trauma, even when we do not call them that. As a therapist, I explore how pain can shape us, offering a space where you can slow down, understand your story more deeply, and move toward change with care and intention. As a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and MA Counselling Psychology student under clinical supervision, I work from a trauma-informed perspective, drawing on psychodynamic and somatic approaches to support clients in processing difficult experiences, strengthening distress tolerance, and reconnecting with their inner resources to help move forward. Together, we’ll work toward steadier moods, healthier relationships, and a renewed connection to the parts of yourself that may have been silenced. If interested, I invite you to contact me for a complimentary 20-minute consultation to explore whether my supportive services are the right fit for you.
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions, which are persistent, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress, and compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to relieve that distress. Common obsession themes include contamination, harm, symmetry, religion or morality, and relationship doubt. Compulsions might look like handwashing, checking, counting, or seeking reassurance, but they can also be entirely internal, such as mentally reviewing an event or silently repeating phrases. The relief from compulsions is temporary, and over time they tend to make obsessions stronger rather than weaker.
The most established treatment for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a structured form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). ERP involves gradually approaching situations that trigger obsessions, without performing compulsions, which allows anxiety to naturally subside and weakens the cycle over time. Rather than fighting intrusive thoughts or trying to neutralize them, ERP trains the brain to tolerate uncertainty. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT) are also used for OCD, sometimes in combination with ERP or for specific subtypes where standard ERP is a harder fit.
Research on ERP for OCD is extensive. Meta-analyses consistently show large effect sizes for ERP in reducing OCD symptoms in adults and children alike. Many people see meaningful improvement within 12 to 20 sessions, though the timeline depends on severity, OCD subtype, and how consistently between-session practice is maintained. Medication, particularly SSRIs, is sometimes recommended alongside therapy for moderate to severe OCD.
Who this approach may help
Contamination OCD
People with fears related to dirt, germs, illness, or bodily fluids who engage in washing, avoiding, or decontamination rituals that take up significant time or interfere with daily life.
Harm and intrusive thought OCD
People who experience distressing unwanted thoughts about harming themselves or others, which they do not want to act on but find deeply disturbing. This is sometimes called "Pure O," though mental compulsions are usually present.
Checking and doubt OCD
People who repeatedly check locks, appliances, or their own actions because of persistent uncertainty and fear of catastrophic consequences, even when they logically know the risk is low.
Scrupulosity and moral OCD
People with obsessions about morality, sin, or doing something wrong who seek reassurance, confess, or mentally review their actions repeatedly to reduce guilt or fear of damnation.
Relationship OCD (ROCD)
People with persistent doubts about their feelings toward a partner, about a partner's feelings for them, or about whether the relationship is "right," leading to compulsive checking, reassurance-seeking, or mental analysis.
Symmetry, order, and "just right" OCD
People who experience an uncomfortable sense that things are not right until objects are arranged, actions are repeated, or sensory experiences feel complete, even when they cannot identify a specific feared outcome.
What happens in a session?
- 1
Assessment and psychoeducation
The therapist gathers a detailed picture of your obsessions, compulsions, and avoidance patterns. They explain how the OCD cycle works and how ERP interrupts it, so you understand the rationale before starting exposures.
- 2
Build an exposure hierarchy
Together, you create a ranked list of situations that trigger obsessions, from mildly uncomfortable to very distressing. This roadmap helps structure treatment so you start with manageable steps rather than diving into the hardest situations first.
- 3
Practice exposures with response prevention
You deliberately face a triggering situation or thought while refraining from the associated compulsion. The therapist guides you through this in session first, then supports between-session practice as the main driver of change.
- 4
Work through the hierarchy progressively
As lower-level exposures become more manageable, you move toward more challenging situations. Progress is tracked, and the hierarchy is adjusted as your tolerance grows or new themes emerge.
- 5
Build skills for long-term management
Toward the end of treatment, sessions focus on maintaining gains, recognizing early warning signs of relapse, and planning how to handle future OCD flare-ups with the same tools.
How it compares to other approaches
General Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Standard CBT focuses on identifying and challenging unhelpful thoughts. ERP for OCD deliberately avoids challenging the content of obsessions and focuses instead on breaking the compulsion cycle. General CBT without ERP is considered less effective for OCD.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT encourages psychological flexibility and accepting difficult thoughts without acting on them. It is compatible with ERP and is sometimes used when clients struggle to engage with standard ERP, or when avoidance is driven more by experiential avoidance than a specific feared outcome.
Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT)
I-CBT targets the reasoning processes that make obsessional doubts feel credible, rather than focusing primarily on exposure. It may be a better fit for clients with "purely obsessional" presentations or those who have not responded well to ERP alone.
EMDR
EMDR is primarily used for trauma and PTSD. For OCD, there is limited research support. If a client has both OCD and trauma, a therapist may use EMDR for the trauma component while using ERP for OCD specifically.
Anxiety therapy (non-OCD focused)
General anxiety therapy may use relaxation, reassurance, or thought challenging techniques. For OCD, these strategies can inadvertently reinforce the compulsion cycle. OCD-specific therapy is recommended even when OCD presents mainly as anxiety.
How to choose an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) therapist
Questions to ask before booking:
- 1
Ask directly whether they have specific training in ERP for OCD and how much of their current caseload involves OCD clients. Because ERP requires active between-session practice and deliberate exposure work, familiarity with the protocol matters more than general CBT experience.
- 2
Ask whether they are familiar with your OCD subtype. Some subtypes, including harm OCD, scrupulosity, and relationship OCD, are frequently misunderstood or undertreated. A therapist comfortable with intrusive thought themes will not be alarmed by the content of your obsessions.
- 3
Ask about their approach to reassurance-seeking during sessions. A well-trained OCD therapist will avoid providing compulsive reassurance and will explain why, rather than simply withholding it.
- 4
Ask how exposures are designed and whether you will have any say in the pace. Good ERP is collaborative rather than something done to you. The hierarchy should be developed with your input, and the pace adjusted to what you can engage with.
- 5
Ask whether they offer between-session support or check-ins, and how they handle it when a client is struggling with an exposure outside of sessions.
- 6
If you are also considering medication, ask whether they are comfortable working alongside a prescribing physician or psychiatrist, and whether they have experience with combined treatment.
When this may not be the right fit
ERP involves deliberately triggering distress without performing compulsions, which requires a degree of stability. If you are in acute crisis, experiencing severe depression that makes engagement with treatment difficult, or have not yet developed basic distress tolerance skills, a therapist may recommend addressing those areas first.
OCD sometimes co-occurs with other conditions including ADHD, autism, tic disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, and eating disorders. If significant co-occurring concerns are present, treatment planning may need to account for those alongside OCD-specific work.
If your distress is primarily driven by a specific trauma, a different starting point may be appropriate, though OCD and trauma can occur together and may both need to be addressed over the course of treatment.
If the content of your intrusive thoughts has led you to avoid help due to shame, it is worth knowing that therapists trained in OCD are familiar with the full range of intrusive thought themes, including harm, sexual, and blasphemous thoughts. These thoughts are not indicative of intent or character, and a trained therapist will not respond with alarm or judgment.
Related specialties
Frequently asked questions
What is the most effective therapy for OCD?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the most well-researched and widely recommended therapy for OCD. It involves gradually facing feared situations without performing compulsions. Research consistently shows large reductions in OCD symptoms. Medication, particularly SSRIs, is sometimes used alongside therapy for moderate to severe cases.
What is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)?
ERP is a structured form of CBT specifically developed for OCD. It involves deliberately triggering obsessions in a controlled way, then refraining from the associated compulsion. Over time, this weakens the anxiety response and reduces the pull of compulsions. Sessions involve both in-session practice and homework between appointments.
How long does OCD therapy take?
Many people see meaningful improvement within 12 to 20 sessions of ERP, though this varies with symptom severity, OCD subtype, and consistency of between-session practice. Some clients benefit from longer-term support, particularly when OCD is severe or when additional concerns are present alongside it.
Can OCD be treated without medication?
Yes. ERP is effective for many people without medication. Guidelines from organizations including the International OCD Foundation recommend ERP as a first-line treatment. Medication is often recommended for moderate to severe OCD, or when therapy alone has not produced sufficient improvement. This is a decision to make with your therapist and doctor.
My OCD involves disturbing thoughts I would never act on. Can therapy still help?
Yes, and this is one of the most common OCD presentations. Intrusive thoughts about harm, sexuality, or morality are distressing precisely because they conflict with what you actually value. Therapists trained in OCD understand this. ERP and ACT are both well-suited to helping people disengage from the content of these thoughts without acting on them.
Is OCD therapy available online?
Yes. ERP has been studied in online formats and shown to be effective. Many OCD-specialized therapists offer video sessions, which can make it easier to access a therapist with specific OCD training regardless of location. For some exposures, being at home is actually an advantage, since many OCD triggers are home-based.
How is OCD different from anxiety disorders?
OCD involves a specific cycle of obsessions and compulsions. While anxiety is a central feature, the compulsion component sets OCD apart. Therapies that work well for generalized anxiety, such as relaxation techniques or reassurance, can reinforce OCD symptoms. This is why OCD-specific treatment, rather than general anxiety therapy, is recommended.
Looking for an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) therapist?
Browse therapists in Canada who specialize in obsessive compulsive disorder (ocd). Filter by location, fee, and session format to find the right fit.