Best Online OCD Therapy

NOCD is our pick for the best online OCD therapy because of its effective treatment, acceptance of insurance plans, and ability to support all OCD subtypes. It was founded in 2018 by Stephen Smith after he went through the hardship of seeking treatment for OCD. We were especially impressed by the ethos of the company being founded by someone who struggles with OCD. 

This platform exclusively offers exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy. With ERP therapy, those living with OCD face the obsessing thoughts that are causing distress and then refrain from engaging in any compulsions as a response. This treatment is considered one of the best for OCD. However, therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation, so access to just one modality may feel limiting for some.

Sessions are available for children, teens, and adults. According to the NOCD website, clients can expect to see about a 40% reduction of symptoms within the first three to four months of treatment. Clients are generally satisfied with this platform; 71% of users we surveyed gave it a positive rating of good, very good, or excellent overall. 

Each session at NOCD costs $170. There aren’t any subscription plans offered. Instead, the number and frequency of treatments will be determined with your care provider. 

NOCD accepts UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. You are able to check your insurance coverage on its website.  

Seventy-eight percent of users stated their NOCD provider met all or most of their needs. Additionally, you can expect strong diversity amongst the providers: 70% of users gave positive feedback on therapist diversity at NOCD, rating it as excellent, very good, or good. 

Online-therapy.com is a virtual therapy platform that exclusively specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Offering treatment for adults worldwide, sessions are available via audio, video, or even chat messaging. What we find particularly special about this company is all the resources it offers. There is a CBT online course you can take, a virtual journal, worksheets, and even yoga videos. Your therapist will give you feedback on the resources you complete in your portal throughout the week, ensuring your growth is maintained between sessions. 

Scheduling is super easy. Once you sign up and are assigned to your therapist, who you can change at any time, you will be prompted to book your first session. Depending on your provider, you may be able to book a session within just a few days. 

There are a few cons to be aware of. First, therapists cannot provide diagnoses through this platform. Therefore, it is best for those who already have received an OCD diagnosis. Additionally, only adults and couples can receive treatment through Online-therapy.com. 

Online-therapy.com offers four different plans:

• The Basic tier costs $200 a month and offers access to all the platform’s therapeutic resources and unlimited messaging. No live sessions are included in this tier.
• The Standard tier is $320 a month and includes all the platform’s resources, messaging, and weekly 45-minute sessions.
• The Premium tier costs $440 a month and includes everything the basic tier does plus two 45-minute sessions a week.
• The Couples Therapy tier is $440 a month and includes everything in the basic tier plan plus weekly couples therapy sessions.

Unfortunately, Online-therapy.com does not accept insurance.

Seventy-nine percent of users found Online-therapy.com to have a strong value for the money it costs. Users also report positive experiences with their therapists—45% state that they feel their therapist is understanding and open-minded, while another 40% feel heard by their therapist.

Wellnite is a mental health company that aims to make quality care accessible by way of reasonable pricing and acceptance of insurance. It offers both therapy and psychiatry, with the option to receive treatments separately or combined in its various monthly plans. Keep in mind that only non-controlled substances can be prescribed, which is typical for most telehealth services. 

What we find especially unique about this company is its focus on certain mental health conditions, including OCD and ADHD. Almost 12% of individuals living with OCD, also have ADHD, making it incredibly important to access providers who are versed in treating both of these conditions. ADHD and OCD can be successfully treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is what Wellnite primarily focuses on. 

Wellnite has three different plans are available:

• Psychiatry services, which are referred to as “medical care,” cost $95 a month charged biweekly. This plan includes access to one monthly visit and wholesale pricing on any mental health medication prescribed. 
• Therapy services cost $450 a month. This plan gives you multiple options for how you’d like your services rendered. You can have six 30-minute sessions, four 45-minute sessions, or three 60-minute sessions. 
• Combined psychiatry and therapy services cost $250 a month, but this plan includes fewer therapy sessions. You will still have access to one monthly psychiatrist visit, but you only receive either two 30-minute therapy sessions or just one 60-minute session. 

Wellnite also offers reimbursements for PPO plans, which means you’re responsible for all upfront costs and will have support in seeking reimbursement from your insurance company.

About half of users surveyed (52%) considered the process of finding a therapist through Wellnite easy. Another 30% said it was neither easy nor difficult and just 6% referred to it as difficult. Users weren’t unanimously thrilled with provider options, but the majority was. Sixty-three percent of users stated they were satisfied with the therapist options provided. Another 24% were neutral about the options available. 

Brightside Health wins best online psychiatry treatment for OCD thanks to its affordable price point, ability to integrate talk therapy sessions into medication management, and access to virtual self-care lessons that focus on mindfulness and coping strategies. It was founded by Brad Kittredge, Mimi Winsberg, MD, and Jeremy Barth in 2017 with the goal of providing evidence-based mental healthcare treatment for anxiety and depression. Brightside’s primary treatment modality is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). While the platform focuses on treating anxiety and depression, CBT is an effective treatment for OCD, making its services appropriate for OCD in some circumstances. 

What stands out to us is its affordable psychiatry plan. For $95 a month, you can meet with a psychiatrist, message them anytime, and track your progress so they can tweak your treatment accordingly. If you’re paying out-of-pocket, any prescribed medications cost just $15 each. All sessions are held as live video sessions. The only downside? Sessions are short. Psychiatry visits are only 15 minutes, though the first one is a bit longer (exact length depends upon the treatment). 

Brightside offers three different plans:

• Receive weekly psychotherapy sessions and access to virtual self-care lessons that focus on coping tools to be used in-between sessions for $299 a month.
• Monthly medication management, consisting of a 15-minute appointment, progress tracking, and messaging with your psychiatrist, costs $95 a month. 
• Access to both weekly psychotherapy sessions and monthly medication management is $349 a month. 

Brightside also accepts Aetna, Anthem CA, Allegiance, Cigna, Optum, and UnitedHealthcare, so you could pay less, depending on your plans. Payments can also be made from an HSA or FSA account. 

Brightside has a high level of user satisfaction. Ninety percent of users surveyed gave it a positive rating. Seventy-five percent would recommend the platform to a friend. Additionally, according to 78% of users surveyed, Brightside beats out other therapy services they’ve used in the past. 

LifeStance offers therapy for individuals, couples, families, children, and teens, plus medication management and psychological testing. We love that it offers treatment for the whole family. This means any youth in your life suffering from OCD symptoms may be able to find relief through treatment at LifeStance. Additionally, the family system may be rocked by the news of a family member receiving an OCD diagnosis, making it all the better that LifeStance offers family therapy sessions. 

This platform accepts a wide range of insurance plans. The exact number depends on the state you live in—for example, it accepts 39 insurance plans in California alone. This makes services with LifeStance even more accessible.

LifeStance does not offer monthly plans. Instead, you pay by session. Your session fee will depend on the provider you see and the service rendered. Fees generally range from $75 to $300 per session if paying out of pocket. Costs will vary by insurance provider

The company is in-network with over 50 insurance plans, including Anthem, Optum, UnitedHealthcare, and Oscar. The exact plans accepted depend on your location and coverage.

Users were pleased with LifeStance’s therapist qualifications—90% of those we surveyed gave it a positive rating. Half of the LifeStance clients we surveyed stated the platform featured therapists with better qualifications and specialized training than other companies they’ve used in the past. 

Making the decision to seek treatment for OCD can be hard enough. Having to endure an arduous wait for a session can make matters even worse. Amwell is a virtual therapy platform that offers same-week availability. In fact, it isn’t uncommon to see an option for an appointment available within the next 24 hours. Founded in 2006, Amwell is one of the largest telehealth companies in the world and offers primary care services as well. 

It is incredibly easy to sign up for services at Amwell. You’ll simply head to its website, verify your insurance, and make an account. After that, you are taken to your patient portal where you can browse different provider options before landing on your pick. Then, you will be able to review their availability. You are able to receive the therapy of your choosing and explore psychiatric services too, if needed. 

There are no plans offered and all services are paid per session at Amwell. Therapy sessions range from $109 to $129. A psychiatry intake session costs $279 and follow-up sessions are $109. 

Amwell accepts over 100 insurance plans, including Blue Cross, Aetna, Oscar, and UnitedHealthcare. You can also use an HSA or FSA to pay. 

Eighty-eight percent of Amwell users we surveyed gave the platform a positive overall rating, and another 88% rated it a high value for the service rendered. Additionally, 79% of users found the sign-up process to be easy. 

Zencare is an online therapy directory that aims to streamline the process of finding a therapist. Its bright interface with distinct search filters and rigorous vetting system brings a sense of ease when navigating the trenches of finding a provider. You can filter your search to find therapists and psychiatrists who specialize in treating OCD. 

Since this is a therapy directory, there is no fee to use the service and all session fees vary by provider. Keep in mind that since this isn’t a membership-based service, you will schedule appointments, handle billing, and manage your care directly with your therapist.

It is free to use the directory. Session fees vary by provider. All providers offer a free consultation call, though. Some providers also take insurance—you’re able to filter your search by your insurance plan. 

Seventy-one percent of Zencare users were able to find a provider that met all their needs through the directory. But it might take a bit of trial and error. Fifty-six percent of surveyed users saw two to three providers before finding the right fit.