About ocd
Explore profiles of therapists who work with OCD, with details on clinical focus, therapeutic approaches, languages, and years of experience. Browse the listings below to learn about different clinicians and find options that match your preferences.
What to compare in entries
| Credentials | A US state licence, or membership of a professional body such as BACP or NCPS. They are different kinds of thing; each profile shows what was supplied. |
|---|---|
| Focus | Whether ocd is listed as a main focus or among the wider list of areas. Entries show both. |
| Way of working | The approaches named on the entry. Two people working with the same concern can describe very different sessions. |
| Time in practice | Years in practice, as supplied. A fact to weigh, not a ranking. |
| Language | The languages sessions can be held in, where that matters to you. |
Common questions
How were these entries chosen?
Everyone listed on this page has ocd among the areas they told the platform they work with. They are not ranked, rated or endorsed by this directory, and the order is not a recommendation.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can contact a therapist through their entry directly. A GP referral is not required for independent online therapy.
What if the first therapist is not right?
Changing therapist is normal and expected, and can be done at any point. One session is a small sample of how someone works.
Entries for ocd
Savithri (Savi) Jayaweera, NCPS
Ref 151058
Compassionate counsellor for complex life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Hindi, Sinhala
View listingJoanne Maddison, BACP
Ref 276861
Compassionate counsellor blending insight and practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Parenting Languages: English
View listingJames French, BACP
Ref 203032
Practical support for anxiety and life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingTomasz Konieczny, BACP, NCPS
Ref 199992
Practical, compassionate online counselling
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English, Polish
View listingMargaret Johnston, LMHC
Ref 62092
Calm listening that helps you move forward
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingClement West, BACP
Ref 167549
Gentle, practical support for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDavid Potts, LCSW
Ref 23255
Practical, compassionate therapy for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingNicola Claydon, NCPS
Ref 183763
Calm, practical support for complex life issues
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues Languages: English
View listingDanielle Horn, LMSW
Ref 272733
Focused therapy that digs to the root
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingWellington Cesar Assis Bueno, BACP
Ref 226813
Healing emotions, building clearer choices
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Portuguese
View listingKizzie Wells-Daniels, LPC
Ref 67515
Therapist for stress, parenting, and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Parenting, Anger Languages: English
View listingRebecca "Becca" Mather, BACP
Ref 236007
Compassionate, practical support for life’s pressures
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Parenting Languages: English
View listingJennifer Lee Sylvester, LCSW
Ref 116075
Experienced LCSW offering respectful, practical care
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingSara Lowe, LPC
Ref 104527
Practical, compassionate therapy for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression Languages: English
View listingFrank Centonze, LPC
Ref 297421
Direct, practical counseling for emotional recovery
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJudith Ramsay, BACP
Ref 135275
Counselling that focuses on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingFaryal Choudry, LCSW
Ref 266995
Compassionate guidance for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingSherry Ramsey Hansen, LPC
Ref 352558
Collaborative counselor focused on practical progress
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJade Round, BACP
Ref 180505
Practical, person-focused therapy for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingSarah Anderson, NCPS
Ref 133882
Practical support for stress and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingCecile Terrelonge, BACP
Ref 134582
Person-centred counsellor offering practical support
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Family Languages: English
View listingMichael Witham, LPC
Ref 56161
Practical, person-focused counseling for daily struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English
View listingLisa Peter, LCSW, LIMHP
Ref 288708
Practical skills for anxiety and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingCallie Roberts, LPC
Ref 261180
Calm practical support for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Anger Languages: English
View listingClaudia Santiago, LCSW
Ref 149793
Practical, collaborative therapy for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English, Spanish
View listingAndrea Antrobus, BACP
Ref 121857
Warm counsellor blending practical therapy and listening
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingMaria Wilson, LCSW
Ref 138055
Understanding, practical support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingPaul Bryan, LPC
Ref 175985
Compassionate counselor guiding steady change
Works with: Family, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingFaye Noyland, BACP
Ref 176481
Calm, practical counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingGerry Byrne, BACP
Ref 224563
Practical, collaborative therapy for daily struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingDonna Watts, BACP
Ref 219020
Compassionate, practical support for real-life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingVictoria Harper, BACP
Ref 257028
Gentle person-centred counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingKelley Sullivan, LCSW
Ref 526
Compassionate, practical therapy for real life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Spanish
View listingDr. Robert Hunt, LPC
Ref 187307
Experienced therapist for life changes and emotion work
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingSally Henderson, ACA, PACFA
Ref 224972
Compassionate trauma and addiction counsellor
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingLisa Spears, LPC
Ref 101050
Hopeful, practical counseling for life
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingChris Rottcher, NCPS
Ref 167547
Compassionate integrative counsellor for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Afrikaans
View listingJamie Finkelstein, LPC
Ref 16744
Compassionate counselor for practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDanielle Turner, LCPC
Ref 43399
Practical, compassionate therapy for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Parenting Languages: English
View listingRani Sagar, BACP
Ref 180509
Gentle humanistic counselling for life changes
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingChase Carter, LCSW
Ref 330670
Skilled LCSW focused on relationships and recovery
Works with: Addictions, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingAndrew Mclay, BACP
Ref 236002
Compassionate counsellor for grief and life change
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingLisa Fairclough, BACP
Ref 160254
Practical, values-focused support for change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingFarah Southwell, LPC
Ref 203059
Practical, experienced therapist for life’s hard moments
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English, Haitian Creole
View listingNeha Kapoor, PACFA
Ref 212378
Compassionate counselling for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingLaurel Deegan, BACP
Ref 231520
Compassionate, person-centred counselling for identity and stress
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship Languages: English
View listingPeter Bramhill, BACP
Ref 236747
Practical, compassionate counselling for life’s challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingRosalind Oliver, BACP
Ref 232595
Gentle practical therapy for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, German
View listingMore about ocd
Understanding OCD and how it commonly affects people
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, often called OCD, involves recurring intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that feel difficult to control. Obsessions are persistent ideas, images, or urges that cause distress or anxiety. Compulsions are actions - mental or physical - that you may use to try to reduce the anxiety produced by those obsessions. The cycle of obsessions and compulsions can demand a lot of time and energy, affecting your work, relationships, sleep, and daily routines.
People experience OCD in many different ways. For some, obsessions center on contamination fears and the compulsion is cleaning or hand washing. For others, obsessions may involve fears of harming someone or of committing a moral transgression, and compulsions take the form of checking, seeking reassurance, or mental rituals. Some people have intrusive thoughts without obvious outward rituals, while others perform visible routines that can be disruptive. The intensity of symptoms can fluctuate with stress, life transitions, or co-occurring conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Living with OCD can be isolating because the thoughts often feel embarrassing or at odds with your values. Recognizing the pattern and knowing that many people seek help for these symptoms is an important first step. Therapy offerings vary in focus and style, and exploring clinician profiles can help you find someone whose approach aligns with how you prefer to work and the areas you want to address.
Signs that you might benefit from therapy for OCD
You might consider seeking therapy if your thoughts or routines take up more time than you intend, interfere with work or relationships, or cause significant distress. If you notice that rituals are prolonging your day, disrupting sleep, or leaving you exhausted, these are practical signs that targeted support could help. You may also want therapy if avoidance behaviors - skipping events, steering clear of certain places, or withdrawing from social situations - limit your options or reduce your quality of life.
Another indication is when the strategies you use to cope stop working or begin to create new problems. For example, repeated checking might make you late for appointments, or constant reassurance-seeking may strain relationships. You may find your concentration is impaired by intrusive thoughts, or that anxiety spikes in specific situations. People often report feeling trapped in patterns they do not want but cannot change on their own.
Therapy can also be helpful if you want clearer strategies for managing symptoms, better communication about your experiences with family or partners, or a plan to reduce the time and energy OCD demands. When considering a therapist, think about clinicians who list OCD or obsessive-compulsive behaviors among their focus areas and whose approaches and languages align with your needs.
What to expect in therapy sessions focused on OCD
When you begin therapy for OCD, initial sessions typically focus on understanding your experience and establishing priorities. You and the therapist will discuss the patterns of obsessions and compulsions, when they started, how they affect daily life, and any contributing stressors. Intake conversations also cover your goals for therapy and practical matters like session length, communication preferences, and how progress will be reviewed.
As treatment progresses, sessions often blend learning about the mechanisms that maintain OCD with hands-on practice. You can expect a mix of psychoeducation, skills training, and guided practice tailored to your pace. Therapists may work with you to develop a hierarchy of situations to address - starting with less distressing items and gradually working toward more challenging ones. Homework between sessions is common because practice in everyday settings supports progress in controlled sessions.
Therapy for OCD aims to help you respond differently to intrusive thoughts and reduce reliance on rituals. Progress is often incremental and can include improvements in how you tolerate uncertainty, reduced time spent on compulsions, and increased participation in valued activities. Good therapeutic work attends to your safety, personal values, and the practical barriers you face while offering clear, collaborative steps forward.
Common therapeutic approaches used for OCD
Several evidence-informed approaches are commonly used with people who experience OCD. Exposure and response prevention, often abbreviated as ERP, focuses on gradual, planned exposure to anxiety-provoking thoughts or situations while preventing the usual compulsive response. This approach helps your brain form new learning about feared outcomes and can reduce the urge to perform rituals. You may see references to ERP in therapist profiles as a specific intervention they use.
Cognitive approaches aim to identify and shift unhelpful beliefs that maintain obsessions. These methods help you examine thinking patterns, challenge assumptions, and develop alternative ways of interpreting intrusive thoughts. Mindfulness and acceptance-oriented approaches encourage noticing thoughts without acting on them and making choices based on values rather than anxiety. You might also find therapists who list acceptance and commitment therapy among their approaches, or who describe mindfulness-based strategies that support distress tolerance.
Some clinicians emphasize a collaborative model that integrates education about OCD, family involvement when appropriate, and coordination with medical providers if medication is part of your plan. You may encounter therapists who list medication management coordination among their services, meaning they work alongside prescribers rather than prescribing themselves. When reviewing therapist profiles, note the specific approaches they mention so you can find someone who uses methods you are comfortable trying.
How online therapy works for OCD and tips for choosing the right therapist
Online therapy makes it possible to work with clinicians across distances and to practice skills in the environments where your symptoms occur. Sessions typically happen through video or phone, and some therapists include text-based messaging or workbook-style assignments to support between-session practice. When working online, you can plan exposures that take place at home or in your community while the therapist coaches and debriefs remotely. This format can be particularly useful for ERP because it allows practice in real-world settings under professional guidance.
Practical tips for choosing a therapist
When comparing profiles, focus on several practical factors. Look at the therapist's listed focus areas to confirm they mention OCD or obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Pay attention to the approaches they list, such as ERP, cognitive-behavioral strategies, or mindfulness-based methods, and consider whether those align with the types of skills you want to build. Review languages spoken and years of experience to ensure communication and cultural fit. Check credentials and licensure to understand a clinician's professional background, and read profile notes about population focus to see if they work with adults, adolescents, or specific communities.
It can also help to think about logistical preferences. Decide whether you prefer video sessions, phone-only, or a mix, and whether you want a therapist who integrates family involvement or works primarily one-on-one. Some clinicians describe a collaborative, structured approach that emphasizes homework and measurable goals, while others highlight a more exploratory or supportive style. Choose a profile that describes a working style that feels comfortable to you.
Finally, prepare a short list of questions you might ask during an initial consultation or introductory message. You could ask how they approach exposure work, how they help clients manage distress during practice, and what kinds of between-session supports they offer. Clear communication about your goals and what matters most to you can make it easier to identify a therapist whose approach matches your expectations and needs.
Finding the right therapist for OCD is often a process of matching your personal needs and preferences with a clinician's focus and methods. By reviewing profiles, noting approaches and languages, and considering how you want to work, you can make an informed choice that supports steady progress toward living with fewer compulsions and greater freedom in daily life.