Controversial Canadian psychologist Dr Jordan Peterson has checked himself into rehab as he tries to wean himself off prescribed medication.

On Thursday, Peterson's daughter, Mikhaila, posted a nearly nine-minute video on YouTube updating her followers on her family, including her mother who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in April.

While her mother, Tammy, has mostly recovered, several surgical complications and operations put massive stress on the family, including Dr Peterson - a self-help author who gained international attention for pushing back against political correctness.

To deal with the stress, Dr Peterson was prescribed anti-anxiety medication Clonazepam, which Healthline says is used to treat panic disorder.

When Tammy recovered, Mikhaila said her father "tried to get off the medication he was prescribed. Turns out Clonazepam is hell to get off."

"He stopped cold-turkey in the summer after talking with a psychiatrist and experienced horrific physical withdrawal and anxiety."