Exposure therapy is one of the most effective, evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders, OCD, and related conditions. It works. The research is clear on that.
What many people still question is how exposure therapy can be delivered—specifically, whether virtual exposure therapy can be as effective as in-person care.
If you’re dealing with anxiety, panic, phobias, or OCD, this question matters. Not academically, but practically. You want to know whether online exposure therapy can actually help you feel better and live differently, not just talk about anxiety week after week.
Let’s break this down clearly and honestly.
What Is Exposure Therapy?
Exposure therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that helps people reduce anxiety by systematically facing feared situations, sensations, thoughts, or urges, rather than avoiding them.
Avoidance keeps anxiety going. Exposure therapy interrupts that cycle.
Depending on the diagnosis, exposure therapy may include:
- Gradually confronting feared situations (e.g., driving, social situations, public spaces)
- Interoceptive exposure (intentionally bringing on feared bodily sensations, common in panic disorder)
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD
- Exposure for specific phobias (needles, dogs, vomiting, choking, etc.)
The goal is not to “relax” your way out of anxiety. The goal is to learn—through experience—that anxiety is uncomfortable but not dangerous, and that you can tolerate it without relying on avoidance or safety behaviors.
What Is Virtual Exposure Therapy?
Virtual exposure therapy uses the same evidence-based principles as in-person exposure therapy, delivered through secure telehealth sessions.
The difference is location, not treatment quality.
In virtual exposure therapy:
- Sessions are conducted via video
- Exposures are planned collaboratively with the therapist
- The therapist coaches and guides exposures in real time
- Homework and between-session practice are a core part of treatment
Importantly, virtual exposure therapy does not mean “just talking about exposure.” It means actively doing the work—often in the environments where anxiety actually shows up.
Can Exposure Therapy Be Done Online?
Yes. Exposure therapy can be done online—and for many people, virtual exposure therapy is just as effective as in-person treatment.
Multiple studies have shown that CBT and exposure-based treatments delivered via telehealth lead to outcomes comparable to in-person care for anxiety disorders and OCD.
But effectiveness depends on how the therapy is delivered, not just whether it’s virtual.
Virtual exposure therapy works when:
- Treatment is structured and goal-oriented
- Exposures are planned intentionally, not avoided
- The therapist actively coaches and challenges avoidance
- The client is willing to engage in the work
In other words, therapy works when the therapy is done correctly.
Why Virtual Exposure Therapy Can Be Especially Effective
Here’s something people don’t always expect: virtual exposure therapy often has unique advantages over in-person treatment.
1. Real-World Exposure Happens Faster
Anxiety doesn’t usually show up in a therapist’s office. It shows up:
- At home
- In public
- At school
- At work
- While driving
- While eating
- While parenting
Virtual exposure therapy allows exposures to happen in the exact environments where anxiety lives.
Instead of role-playing or planning hypotheticals, the therapist can coach you in real time as you:
- Sit with anxiety at home
- Enter a feared situation
- Resist compulsions
- Allow uncomfortable sensations to rise and fall
That kind of real-world practice is powerful.
2. Less Reliance on the Therapist as a “Safety Signal”
In in-person therapy, the therapist’s physical presence can sometimes become a safety behavior without anyone meaning it to.
With virtual exposure therapy, clients learn more quickly that they can tolerate anxiety on their own, with guidance rather than rescue.
That independence is critical for long-term relief.
3. More Frequent and Flexible Practice
Virtual therapy removes barriers like commuting, travel time, and scheduling constraints. That often means:
- More consistent attendance
- More frequent check-ins
- Better follow-through on exposure homework
Exposure therapy works through repetition. Virtual care can make that repetition more realistic and sustainable.
How Virtual Exposure Therapy Compares to In-Person Care
Both virtual and in-person exposure therapy can be effective. The right fit depends on the person, the diagnosis, and the severity of symptoms.
Virtual Exposure Therapy May Be a Strong Fit If You:
- Have anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, or OCD
- Are avoiding everyday situations
- Want treatment that fits into real life
- Are motivated to actively participate
- Want evidence-based, goal-oriented care
In-Person Exposure Therapy May Be Helpful If You:
- Need support with very young children
- Require hands-on behavioral coaching
- Have severe symptoms requiring additional supports
- Benefit more from in-office structure
The key point: virtual exposure therapy is not “less than.” It is different—and often just as effective when done properly.
What Virtual Exposure Therapy Is Not
It’s important to be clear about what virtual exposure therapy should not look like.
It is not:
- Endless talking about anxiety without behavior change
- Reassurance-based therapy
- Avoidance dressed up as “coping”
- Long-term treatment without measurable progress
Effective exposure therapy—virtual or in-person—is:
- Structured
- Time-limited
- Action-oriented
- Collaborative
- Focused on relief through behavior change
What Conditions Respond Well to Virtual Exposure Therapy?
Virtual exposure therapy is commonly used to treat:
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety
- Separation anxiety
- Specific phobias (needles, choking, vomiting, dogs, etc.)
- ARFID and anxiety-driven eating challenges
- Body-focused repetitive behaviors (in some cases)
- Tic disorders (with behavioral approaches)
What Makes Virtual Exposure Therapy Successful?
Success doesn’t come from the format alone. It comes from commitment to the process. Virtual exposure therapy works best when:
- Goals are clearly defined
- Progress is tracked
- Avoidance and safety behaviors are addressed directly
- The therapist provides clear guidance and accountability
- The client practices outside of sessions
A Note on “In-the-Moment” Coping vs Long-Term Change
Many people look for immediate ways to make anxiety stop. Exposure therapy takes a different approach. The goal is not to eliminate anxiety instantly. The goal is to change your relationship to anxiety, so it no longer controls your choices.
Over time, anxiety becomes:
- Less intense
- Less frequent
- Less controlling
That’s how real change happens.
Is Virtual Exposure Therapy Right for You?
If anxiety, OCD, or panic is dictating your decisions, limiting your life, or keeping you stuck in avoidance, exposure-based treatment is worth considering.
Virtual exposure therapy offers:
- Evidence-based care
- Real-world application
- A clear path toward relief
- Flexibility without sacrificing effectiveness
It does require effort. It does require showing up. But the methods work.
Reach out if you think you could benefit from exposure therapy.
If you’re ready to stop organizing your life around anxiety and want evidence-based help, Dr. Tice offers virtual exposure therapy for children, adolescents, adults, and families.
This work is direct, structured, and focused on results. If you’re willing to commit to the process, relief is possible.
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Tice today to learn whether virtual exposure therapy is the right fit for you.
You don’t have to keep living this way—and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
