Home > Gateway Institute Telehealth Program
Online OCD Treatment & Telehealth Therapy
The Gateway Institute’s telehealth program delivers the same evidence-based OCD and anxiety care as our in-person clinics using virtual ERP, CBT, and mindfulness therapy. Clients who can’t travel to our treatment centers, or find it more convenient can schedule an online telehealth session.
What Is Gateway’s OCD Telehealth Program?
Gateway’s OCD telehealth program is a fully remote treatment track that provides specialized care for OCD and anxiety disorders through live video sessions with a licensed therapist.
It delivers the same clinical approach as our in-person programs, with no need to travel to a treatment center. The program is built for people who don’t live near one of our clinics, who can’t step away from work, school, or family responsibilities, or who simply do better working on their mental health in a familiar environment.
The Gateway Institute was founded in 2008 by James Sterner, LMFT, and specializes exclusively in OCD and related anxiety conditions. Telehealth extends that specialty care to clients wherever they are, while keeping the one-on-one, individualized structure Gateway is known for.
Is Online OCD Treatment Effective?
Yes. Research shows that OCD treatment delivered via online teletherapy is highly effective, with symptom improvements comparable to in-person care.
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the first-line, evidence-based therapy for OCD, supported by numerous controlled trials. Studies of ERP delivered over video have found large reductions in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, with effect sizes similar to those seen in face-to-face treatment.
Treating OCD remotely also carries a distinct advantage: because compulsions and triggers usually occur at home, working through exposures in your own space can make them more realistic and directly relevant to daily life. Many clients also report feeling more comfortable beginning difficult exposure work from a familiar environment.
Conditions We Treat Through Telehealth
Gateway’s telehealth program treats OCD and a range of related anxiety conditions, including the following:
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OCD and its many subtypes
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Phobia
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD
Trichotillomania
Hair-pulling disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
GAD
Panic Disorder
Panic and anxiety attacks
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
BDD
Related compulsive conditions
Assessed case by case
How Online ERP and CBT Work
Gateway’s telehealth program uses the same evidence-based methods virtually as it does in person: exposure and response prevention (ERP), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and mindfulness-based behavioral therapy (MBBT).
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP is the gold-standard treatment for OCD. With your therapist guiding you over video, you gradually face the thoughts, images, and situations that trigger anxiety while resisting the compulsions you normally use to relieve it. Over time, this breaks the cycle that keeps OCD going.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps you identify and reshape the thought patterns that fuel anxiety and compulsive behavior, building skills you can keep using long after treatment ends.
Mindfulness-Based Behavioral Therapy (MBBT)
MBBT teaches you to observe distressing thoughts without reacting to them, reducing their grip and supporting the work you do in ERP.
What to Expect From Treatment
Your treatment frequency is set entirely around your individual needs, ranging from one weekly session to several sessions per week.
- Individualized plan. After a consultation, your clinician recommends a schedule and approach matched to your symptoms and goals.
- Weekly or intensive pacing. Clients can attend a weekly program or step up to multiple sessions per week when more support is helpful.
- Aftercare and relapse prevention. Telehealth is also ideal for continuing care after an in-person intensive program, helping you stay on track with the progress you’ve made.
- Progress you can measure. Gateway tracks OCD symptom severity over the course of treatment so you and your therapist can see improvement clearly.
Who Telehealth Is Right For?
Telehealth is a strong fit for many people, though some clients with severe symptoms may benefit more from in-person intensive care.
You may be a good candidate for the telehealth program if you live far from a Gateway clinic, have a demanding schedule, prefer the privacy and comfort of home, or are continuing care after an intensive program. Telehealth ERP is well established for mild to moderate symptoms and for aftercare.
If symptoms are severe or complex, our in-person 3-week intensive outpatient program may be the better starting point. A free consultation is the easiest way to find out which level of care fits you — and there is no pressure to decide before you’re ready.
Where We Offer Telehealth
Gateway currently offers telehealth to residents of California, Arizona, Washington, and Colorado.
Telehealth therapists must be licensed in the state where the client is physically located during sessions, so availability depends on your home state. If you live in one of these states, you can work with a Gateway clinician from anywhere within it. Contact us to confirm coverage for your specific location.