OCD treatment online that’s fast, caring, and affordable

Find affordable online OCD treatment tailored to your unique symptoms and needs. With a qualified provider on Klarity Health, get the treatment you deserve, whether therapy and/or prescription medication if medically necessary. All at a reasonable cost with no hidden fees. And with free consultation available from some providers.*

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Experienced OCD treatment specialists are ready to treat you

Find a licensed, caring OCD treatment specialist on Klarity Health. Choose from top-rated licensed providers for an initial online consultation, ongoing support, and unlimited messaging.

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OCD assessment online in as little as 24 hours*

from a licensed, board-certified healthcare professional

OCD medication prescribed online

or in-person through treatment tailored to you

OCD therapy

online or in-person that’s affordable and supportive

Your provider will discuss treatment options with you, which may or may not include medication and/or therapy. If both therapy and medication are recommended, you’ll see a different provider for each service.

OCD symptoms

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition characterized by obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions are persistent and intrusive thoughts, urges, or images. They’re unwanted and often lead to anxiety, fear, or distress. Attempts to ignore them are difficult and often unsuccessful. A person with OCD tries to alleviate their obsessions by engaging in compulsive behaviors.

Common obsessions include:

Fear of contamination or germs
Need for order, symmetry, or balance
Unwanted thoughts of an aggressive, sexual, or religious nature
Fear of not being able to control your behavior and harming yourself or someone else

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed in response to obsessions. The goal is to reduce anxiety, fear, or distress. The ritualistic behaviors can be time-consuming and affect your daily functioning.

Common compulsions include:

Excessive hand washing
Checking things repeatedly
Counting or ordering items
Repeating words, phrases, or prayers

Common types of OCD

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), which is used by mental health professionals to diagnose conditions, doesn’t include official subtypes of OCD. What is recognized is that a person’s symptoms may be centered around a specific theme, which varies from person to person.

OCD subtypes or themes include:

Contamination OCD
Checking OCD
Counting OCD
Existential OCD
Real events OCD
False memory OCD
Harm OCD
Relationships OCD
Hoarding OCD
Rumination OCD
Suicidal OCD
Somatic OCD

Contamination, counting, and harm are common themes of OCD. Fear and disgust related to germs, dirt, blood, fluids, and more can lead to excessive hand washing with contamination OCD. Someone with counting OCD may assign special meaning to numbers or count objects or occurrences, for example. It’s often a compulsion in response to fear something terrible may happen. With harm OCD, unwanted thoughts lead to fear of losing control and hurting yourself or someone else.

a man suffering from common types of OCD

a provider is diagnosing the OCD symptom for the patient

How is OCD diagnosed?

To diagnose OCD, a licensed mental health professional conducts a comprehensive assessment. This may include clinical interviews and standardized measures to help your provider better understand your experience.

During a clinical interview, your provider asks about your symptoms, the severity, the nature of your obsessions and compulsive behaviors, how they’ve affected your day-to-day functioning, and your medical history to help them rule out other conditions.

A comprehensive assessment may include measures like the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), which can be administered by the provider or as a self-report measure, to assess the severity of intrusive thoughts and ritualistic behaviors. It can also be used to monitor your symptoms over time.

It can take some time for a provider to make an accurate diagnosis. But a proper diagnosis is needed to ensure you get the right care. Once diagnosed, your provider will recommend an OCD treatment plan with options based on your individual needs and the severity of your OCD symptoms.

OCD treatment

To treat OCD online or in person, licensed medical professionals, including those on Klarity Health, work with you to create an OCD treatment plan tailored to you. If diagnosed with OCD, your provider may recommend a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) called exposure and response prevention (ERP).

If your provider recommends medication, they might prescribe Paxil or Prozac, which are both U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to treat OCD, or another medication along with ERP and/or lifestyle changes.

ERP is the most effective treatment for OCD. Research shows that ERP alone is as effective as ERP and medication combined and more effective than medication alone.

Your provider’s recommended treatment may or may not include medication.

a provider is offering ocd treatment to his patient

Common OCD medications

A class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line pharmacological treatment for OCD. SSRIs work by increasing levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that plays an essential role in regulating mood, behavior, memory, appetite, sleep, and stress.

SSRIs are effective in helping reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Some common antidepressants prescribed for OCD when a provider feels it medically necessary include:

Anafranil (clomipramine)
Luvox (fluvoxamine)
Paxil (paroxetine)
Prozac (fluoxetine)
Lexapro (escitalopram)
Wellbutrin (bupropion)

If your OCD symptoms are severe, disrupting your daily life, or if you have another mental health condition, like anxiety or depression, that exacerbates your OCD, your provider may recommend medication in addition to therapy to help you find relief.

Anafranil, Luvox, Paxil, and Prozac, are all FDA approved to treat OCD. Lexapro is FDA-approved to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Wellbutrin is FDA-approved to treat MDD and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Some providers may use them for OCD off-label (for a use they’re not FDA-approved for).

All medications, including those listed here can have side effects, some serious. SSRIs have a boxed warning for increasing the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and adolescents. Before you take any medications, talk to your provider so you understand all possible side effects, drug interactions, and contraindications.

OCD therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic intervention focused on the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Classic CBT aims to change patterns of thinking. In this type of therapy, if you can learn to challenge negative and irrational thoughts, you can positively influence your emotions and behaviors. CBT for OCD teaches you how to change compulsive behaviors.

A type of CBT called exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the gold standard treatment for OCD. In exposure therapy for OCD, you work together with your therapist to identify obsessive thoughts that cause distress. You create a plan for gradually exposing yourself to situations that trigger intrusive thoughts in a safe therapeutic environment while resisting the urge to act on the compulsion to reduce anxiety. In other words, exposure therapy teaches you how to tolerate unwanted thoughts without trying to change them.

How it works

Choose the right provider for you
Providers on Klarity Health are licensed, board-certified, and offer a personalized approach to your unique online OCD treatment needs. See detailed profiles for each provider and find an approach that’s best for you. (Costs for treatment options may vary.)
Have your initial patient visit
Treating OCD starts with an initial consultation. Your provider will work with you to diagnose you if needed and recommend the right approach for you and that may or may not include prescription medication, and/or therapy.
Work with your provider on your progress
Your initial OCD treatment consultation is just the beginning. You and your provider will follow up to make sure you’re doing okay and are reaching your goals. You stay on track with ongoing support from your provider(s) and medication refills if needed.
Access 24×7 support from Klarity Health
If you have questions or need assistance, the friendly Klarity Health Patient Support team is there to help. Along with your provider, they’re committed to making sure you have the best care and support throughout treatment.

With Klarity Health, you’re in good company

Read testimonials from real patients who received treatment from healthcare providers on Klarity Health.

Frequently asked questions about OCD treatment online

Can OCD be treated online?: Yes. Licensed professionals, like those on Klarity Health, can treat OCD online in a telehealth visit with therapy and medications if needed. You’ll see different providers for therapy and medication treatment regardless of where you get your OCD treatment online. If your provider recommends medication, some states require you have at least one in-person appointment to get your initial prescription. But follow-up medication management can be done entirely through telehealth appointments.
What is the hardest type of OCD to treat?: Treating OCD can be complex, that’s why it’s important to get the right care. Each person is different. Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms and a person’s individual needs. But some types of OCD, like purely obsessional OCD, may be more challenging to treat because it only involves obsessions.
What happens if OCD is left untreated?: The intrusive thoughts that come with OCD don’t go away on their own. Some self-help strategies can provide relief. But OCD is best managed with therapy and medication (depending on your symptoms). If left untreated, your symptoms can become severe, disrupt your life, and exacerbate comorbid mental health conditions.
What makes OCD worse?: OCD symptoms aren’t always predictable. Monitoring symptoms and your well-being can prompt you to seek help when you need it.

Factors that can cause OCD to get worse include:
• Stress (good or bad)
• Trauma
• Lack of sleep
• Avoidance
• Hormonal changes
• Engaging in compulsions
• Other mental health conditions like anxiety or depression
Is OCD a severe form of anxiety?: Knowing the difference between OCD vs anxiety ensures you get the right treatment. OCD is not a form of anxiety, though the distress related to OCD can lead to anxiety. OCD is characterized by obsessions and compulsive behaviors aimed at alleviating distress, while anxiety is characterized by excessive worry.
What medication works best for OCD?: Research shows that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most effective medication for OCD. SSRIs are a type of antidepressant that work by regulating neurotransmitters or chemical messengers in the brain. SSRIs increase levels of serotonin. They are most effective for OCD when coupled with exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP).
What therapy works best for OCD?: A type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) called exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the most effective therapy for OCD. ERP involves gradually exposing yourself to thoughts, situations, and objects that cause fear, discomfort, or obsessive thoughts while resisting the urge to engage in compulsive behaviors.
Can I get a prescription for OCD medication online?: Yes. Licensed professionals, like those on Klarity Health, can typically prescribe OCD medications during online appointments. They’ll only prescribe a medication if they feel it’s medically necessary for your condition. And in a few states, you’ll need to have at least one in-person appointment to get your initial prescription due to state laws. But follow-up medication management can be done entirely through telehealth appointments.
How do I find the right doctor for online OCD treatment?: Finding the right online OCD treatment specialist starts with looking for a licensed professional with experience in diagnosing and treating OCD. You can ask your primary care doctor for a referral, ask friends and family, check online reviews, and interview a provider before or during your initial consultations to help you find the right provider for your needs. On Klarity Health, many providers offer free consultations, so you can find out quickly if they feel like a good fit for your treatment needs. And you can see detailed profiles for each provider and pick ones that seem right for you.
Is OCD treatment online covered by insurance?: Most insurance plans cover in-person and online OCD treatment just as they would any medical or mental health visit. It’s still best to check with your insurance provider to understand your coverage and any out-of-pocket costs. The easiest way to do that is to call the customer service number on the back of your member ID card.

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Sources: Current neuropharmacology, Psychological Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Del Casale, A., et al., 2019, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7059159/

Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, Symptom dimensions and subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a developmental perspective, Leckman, J.F., et al., 2009, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3181902/

Indian journal of psychiatry, Exposure and response prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A review and new directions, Hezel, D.M., et al., 2019, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6343408/

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care, In brief: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279297/#:~:text=Cognitive%20behavioral%20therapy%20(CBT)%20is%20problem%2Doriented.,the%20here%2Dand%2Dnow.

National Institute of Mental Health, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Sept 2024, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

Nature reviews, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Stein, D.J., et al., 2019, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7370844/

Psychiatry research, The effect of exposure and response prevention therapy on obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Song, Y., et al., 2022, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016517812200453X?via%3Dihub

StatPearls, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Brock, H., et al., Feb 2024, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553162/
How we reviewed this article: This article went through rigorous fact-checking by a team of medical reviewers. Reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the author. Learn more about the editorial and medical review process and standards for the HelloKlarity site.

*Appointments are generally available within 24 hours. Free initial consultations are available only with select providers. Prescriptions, particularly for controlled substances, may require an in-person evaluation depending on the state of residence and current federal regulations.

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy. Nothing in this article is intended to diagnose or treat any condition, including guaranteeing prescription medication of any kind or dosage. Not all providers on Klarity Health prescribe all medications, particularly medications that are controlled substances.

If you’re having a mental health crisis or experiencing a psychiatric emergency, it’s crucial to seek immediate help from a mental healthcare professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist. You can also call your local emergency services, visit your nearest emergency room, or contact a crisis hotline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, by calling or texting 988 or dialing the Lifeline’s previous phone number, 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) in the U.S.