R-OCD Therapist in Ontario, Canada
Evidence-Based Treatment for Relationship OCD (R-OCD) in Ontario
You are likely feeling stuck in cycles of doubt, anxiety, and overthinking about your relationship. Relationship OCD (R-OCD) can make even healthy, loving relationships feel confusing, urgent, and emotionally exhausting.
At Lovebird Couples Therapy Ontario, we focus on the evidence-based treatment of Relationship OCD (R-OCD) through Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Our approach focuses on treating OCD, not evaluating or deciding your relationship, so you can step out of the anxiety cycle and reconnect with what matters most to you.
To Read more about ERP for ROCD, click here.
What Is Relationship OCD (R-OCD)?
Relationship OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder where intrusive thoughts, doubts, or urges center on your romantic relationship.
These thoughts feel urgent, convincing, and emotionally charged, and often lead to compulsive behaviors meant to gain certainty or relief.
Common R-OCD obsessions may include:
“What if I don’t really love my partner?”
“What if I’m in the wrong relationship?”
“What if I’m settling or missing someone better?”
“What if I never feel sure?”
In response, many people engage in compulsions such as:
Reassurance-seeking from friends, family, therapists, or online forums
Mental checking of feelings, attraction, or certainty
Comparing your relationship to others
Reviewing memories or testing emotional reactions
Avoidance or emotional distancing
While these behaviors may bring temporary relief, they strengthen the OCD cycle over time.
Why R-OCD Requires Specialized Treatment
R-OCD is often misunderstood as relationship anxiety, attachment insecurity, or a sign that the relationship is wrong. Unfortunately, traditional talk therapy or reassurance-based couples counselling can unintentionally worsen R-OCD by reinforcing doubt and compulsive reassurance.
Effective R-OCD treatment requires:
A clear understanding of OCD mechanisms
Comfort working with uncertainty
A structured, evidence-based approach
Avoidance of reassurance or relationship analysis
At Lovebird Couples Therapy Ontario, R-OCD is treated as OCD first and foremost.
Our Approach: ERP-Based R-OCD Therapy
We use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard treatment for OCD, adapted specifically for relationship-focused obsessions.
ERP helps you:
Respond differently to intrusive relationship thoughts
Reduce compulsive behaviors (both mental and behavioral)
Build tolerance for uncertainty
Decrease anxiety without needing certainty
Reclaim your life and relationships from OCD
R-OCD treatment may include:
Gradual, intentional exposure to triggering thoughts or situations
Learning to resist reassurance-seeking and mental checking
Identifying and disengaging from rumination
Values-based decision-making instead of fear-based analysis
The goal is not to convince you that your relationship is “right,” but to help you stop letting OCD run the relationship.
Integrating Attachment & EFT, Without Reinforcing OCD
Our therapists are trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and attachment-informed care. This allows us to understand the emotional and relational impact of R-OCD without feeding the OCD cycle.
This integration is especially helpful when:
R-OCD is impacting emotional intimacy
A partner is involved in reassurance cycles
Couples need support navigating OCD safely
When appropriate, we offer OCD-informed partner support or adjunct couples sessions, always keeping ERP principles at the center of treatment.
Support for Partners of Individuals With R-OCD
R-OCD does not only affect the individual experiencing obsessions, it often pulls partners into cycles of reassurance, emotional checking, and conflict.
We provide partner-informed support to help loved ones:
Understand what R-OCD is (and what it is not)
Learn how reassurance unintentionally fuels OCD
Respond to anxiety in ways that support recovery
Reduce conflict and emotional exhaustion
Partner support is offered without making the partner responsible for treatment and without turning therapy into relationship analysis.
Meet Your R-OCD Therapist
Sarah Perone, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), is the owner of Lovebird Couples Therapy Ontario and focuses on the treatment of Relationship OCD (R-OCD).
Sarah works with individuals experiencing:
Persistent relationship doubt
Intrusive thoughts about love, attraction, or compatibility
Compulsive reassurance-seeking
Fear of making the “wrong” relationship decision
She offers OCD-informed care that is structured, compassionate, and grounded in evidence-based practice, without reassurance or relationship analysis.
Who R-OCD Therapy Is For
R-OCD therapy may be a good fit if you:
Feel consumed by doubts about your relationship
Constantly analyze your feelings or your partner
Seek reassurance but never feel satisfied
Feel anxious even when things are “going well”
Have tried talk therapy but feel more confused
You do not need to feel certain about your relationship to start therapy.
Virtual R-OCD Therapy Across Ontario
We offer secure virtual therapy for R-OCD across Ontario, including Toronto, Vaughan, Mississauga, Hamilton, Ottawa, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Durham Region, York Region, and beyond.
Virtual ERP therapy allows you to:
Access specialized OCD care regardless of location
Practice skills in real-life settings
Maintain consistency and privacy
Related R-OCD Resources From Lovebird Couples Therapy Ontario
Many clients find it helpful to deepen their understanding of R-OCD alongside therapy. You may wish to explore the following educational resources:
R-OCD vs. Relationship Anxiety: How to Tell the Difference
Can Couples Therapy Help R-OCD? What to Know First
These blog posts are written from an OCD-informed, non-reassuring perspective and are designed to support, not replace, therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is R-OCD therapy couples therapy?
No. R-OCD treatment is typically individual therapy using ERP. Couples sessions may be added selectively and only when clinically appropriate.
Will you tell me whether to stay in my relationship?
No. Therapy focuses on helping you disengage from OCD-driven doubt, not making relationship decisions for you.
Can EFT help R-OCD?
EFT alone is not sufficient for R-OCD. However, attachment-informed work can be helpful when integrated carefully with ERP.
Do you offer virtual R-OCD therapy in Ontario?
Yes. We provide secure virtual R-OCD therapy to clients anywhere in Ontario.
Start R-OCD Therapy in Ontario Now
If you are looking for an R-OCD therapist in Ontario who understands both OCD and relationships, Lovebird Couples Therapy Ontario offers high-quality, evidence-based care.
We offer virtual therapy available across Ontario, Canada
