Abstract Background The growing prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) along with increasing complexity of providing high-quality, patient-centered care within a resource-constrained healthcare environment presents a major challenge. IBD-related psychological distress (IBD-PD) is the emotional impact of IBD and is associated with mental health disorders, increased disease severity, and premature mortality. With estimates of nearly 90% of IBD patients experiencing PD, the inability to provide high-quality, person- centered care for IBD- PD that is proportionate to clinical need is a significant care gap in the Canadian healthcare system. The aim of this project was to generate stakeholder-derived data to inform the design and development of stepped-intensity, cognitive behavioral therapy-based interventions for IBD-PD using evidence-based, patient–centered interventions and implementation strategies. Methods Virtual semi-structured interviews were conducted from September to October 2021. The interview guide was developed iteratively by researchers, IBD care providers, and patient research partners and guided by the COM-B Model of Behaviour and the Theoretical Domains Framework. Interview questions assessed perceptions, experiences, barriers, and facilitators to accessing IBD-PD care. Adults diagnosed with IBD were recruited from academic centers across Canada. Interviews were co-facilitated by a researcher and patient research partner, audio recorded, and transcribed. Using thematic analysis, codes were generated to identify themes using an inductive approach. Results As of October 2021, eleven interviews have been completed, with data collection ongoing. The mean participant age was 33.5 years (range 21–55 years) with 63.6% of respondents identified as female (7/11). The majority of participants worked full time (8/11, 72.7%) and all had completed at least high school. Diagnoses of Crohn’s Disease (7/11, 63.6%) were more common than ulcerative colitis (4/11, 36.4%) among the participants. Thematic analyses identified five major themes: 1) Lack of holistic care and acknowledgement of IBD-PD; 2) System-level and financial barriers to psychological support; 3) Lack of psychological support from providers with an understanding of IBD; 4) Preference for individualized virtual-based support; 5) Heavy reliance on informal support structures (caregivers) due to lack of access to formal psychological support. Conclusion As part of human-centered design, stakeholder engagement is key to understanding behavioral, social, attitudinal, and environmental barriers and facilitators for accessing IBD-PD care. Interviews are ongoing and specific intervention functions will be defined and incorporated into patient-centered implementation strategies.