Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) Therapists in Vaughan, ON
Christine Nichols
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
You deserve the peace that comes with living authentically. On your journey to finding your purpose, you may be experiencing stress, anxiety, low-mood, or challenges with your self-worth. These experiences can make life feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to feel disconnected from the person you truly are. A better, more connected life is possible. As your therapist, I provide a genuine, compassion…
Denise Smith
Registered Social Worker, BSW, MSW, RSW
Are you feeling overwhelmed and anxious with balancing work, relationships and/or parenting? Maybe you’re feeling unmotivated, disconnected from yourself and your loved ones and find your mood up and down. You might be struggling with a big life decision or change. It can be difficult to know how to move forward. I’ve been there and I understand how stressful it can be.
Renata Roma
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I offer support for individuals dealing with anxiety, including high-functioning anxiety, OCD, intrusive thoughts, and phobias, including animal-related fears. Many of my clients come in with relationship struggles. I also specialize in pet loss, and anxiety related to pets.
Justin Mulder
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Hi there! I'm Justin. I'm glad you're here. I work with loneliness, anxiety, ADHD, and neurodiversity, tailoring therapy to your needs. We'll navigate these issues together. My passion lies in fostering growth through enhanced communication, whether it’s with others, the place you live, or your own inner voice.
Kanica Coshal, MSW RSW
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist
Welcome! My name is Kanica and I am a registered Social Worker with over 10 years of experience working with children, teens and adults. I work from a trauma informed lens and specialize in providing support to individuals experiencing anxiety, OCD, depression, ADHD, relationship challenges, parenting, school-related stressors (i.e. academics, attendance, bullying), self-harm, suicide, and self-e…
Amelia Traer
Pre-Licensed Professional, BA, PsiChi
My work is shaped by CBT, ACT, DBT, ERP, and trauma-informed, mindfulness-based approaches. I support clients with anxiety, burnout, OCD and phobias, ADHD, grief, life transitions, women's health, and chronic health concerns. Our therapy space adapts, with a focus on connection, emotional regulation, and practical strategies that fit your life.
Sarah Perone
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I help individuals and couples break painful relationship cycles so they can feel more connected, secure, and confident. I support concerns like recurrent conflict, relationship anxiety (and ROCD), limerence, and resentment. Using an attachment- and evidence-based approach, I offer warm, non-judgmental virtual therapy across Ontario. Book a free 15-minute consultation to get started.
Horace Spence
RSSW, Psychotherapist
Coach Spence Wellness & Therapy Services provides trusted, culturally grounded therapy and holistic coaching for individuals, couples, and families. We support healing from stress, anxiety, and conflict while strengthening communication, resilience, and self-care. Through counseling, workshops, and wellness tools, we help clients build balance across mind, body, and spirit.
Mike Thibodeau
Registered Clinical Psychologist (PhD)
Dr. Michel (Mike) Thibodeau has helped over a hundred adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety-related disorders. He offers efficient treatment using cognitive behavioural therapy and exposure and response prevention guided by current research on best practices. His pragmatic skills-based approach is paired with a collaborative therapeutic style to promote lasting changes.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
What is ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention)?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It involves two components: exposure — gradually and deliberately confronting situations, thoughts, or objects that trigger obsessional anxiety — and response prevention — refraining from the compulsion (the ritual or avoidance behaviour) that would normally reduce the anxiety. Through repeated practice, the person learns that the feared outcome does not occur and that the anxiety diminishes on its own without needing the compulsion.
How does ERP work for OCD?
OCD involves a cycle: an intrusive thought triggers anxiety, a compulsion (ritual, checking, reassurance-seeking) temporarily reduces the anxiety — but at the cost of reinforcing the belief that the thought is dangerous and the compulsion is necessary. ERP breaks this cycle by interrupting the compulsion, allowing the anxiety to peak and then naturally subside, and teaching the nervous system that the obsessional thought does not require action. The mechanism is partly habituation and partly inhibitory learning — new learning that the feared outcome does not occur.
Is ERP only for OCD?
ERP is also used for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), health anxiety, hoarding disorder, tic disorders (as part of CBIT), and some eating disorder presentations where avoidance maintains the symptoms. Exposure (without the response prevention component) is a core component of treatment for specific phobias, social anxiety, PTSD, and generalized anxiety. The principles of facing feared stimuli while refraining from avoidance underlie many anxiety treatments beyond OCD specifically.
What does ERP treatment look like?
ERP is typically delivered over 12–20 sessions following an assessment and psychoeducation phase. Therapist and client collaboratively develop a hierarchy — a graduated list of feared situations from least to most anxiety-provoking — and work up through the hierarchy systematically, practicing exposures in session and as homework. The therapist coaches the client through exposures, helping them tolerate the anxiety without performing the compulsion. Progress is tracked session by session. Daily homework practice is essential.
How do I find an ERP-trained therapist in Canada?
Not all therapists are trained in ERP — and a therapist who treats OCD without ERP is likely to be much less effective, regardless of their other skills. The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) maintains a therapist directory at iocdf.org and is searchable by country, including Canada. OCD Canada is a national organization with resources and a directory. Theralist also lists therapists who specialize in OCD and ERP. When contacting a potential therapist, ask directly whether they use ERP and approximately what percentage of their clients have OCD.