Child & Teen Anxiety and OCD Therapy

For children and teens ages 3+

Helping children and teens build confidence, face fears, and manage anxiety and OCD using evidence-based therapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP).

What Anxiety and OCD Can Look Like in Children and Teens

Children and teens may experience:

  • Excessive worry or frequent reassurance-seeking

  • School refusal or avoidance

  • Separation anxiety

  • Intrusive thoughts or OCD behaviors

  • Difficulty with transitions or routines

  • Sleep or bedtime struggles

  • Irritability or emotional outbursts

  • Perfectionism and fear of mistakes

  • Physical complaints such as headaches or stomachaches

  • Avoiding situations because of anxiety

Anxiety and OCD can affect much more than emotions. They may impact school attendance, friendships, family relationships, sleep, confidence, and daily routines. Over time, children and teens may begin organizing their lives around avoiding anxiety.

Why Anxiety Keeps Taking Over

Anxiety often grows stronger when children begin avoiding situations that feel uncomfortable.

While avoidance can bring temporary relief, it can teach anxiety that the situation is dangerous.

Over time, children may become increasingly restricted by anxiety and lose confidence in their ability to handle challenges.

Therapy helps children gradually face fears, build confidence, and learn that they can tolerate uncertainty and discomfort.

How I Work With Children and Teens

Therapy is structured, supportive, and focused on helping children and teens gradually face fears, build confidence, and develop skills they can use outside of therapy.

I use evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) to help children and teens build confidence, face fears, and develop skills they can use outside of therapy.

Treatment focuses on helping young people:

  • Reduce anxiety and avoidance

  • Manage intrusive thoughts

  • Increase flexibility

  • Build coping skills

  • Improve emotional regulation

  • Build confidence in handling challenges

My goal is to help children and teens learn skills that continue to benefit them long after therapy ends.

What Progress Can Look Like

Anxiety and OCD are common and treatable. Many children and teens struggle with these challenges, and effective treatment can help them regain confidence and participate more fully in daily life.

With treatment, many children and teens begin attending school more consistently, participating in activities they previously avoided, spending less time consumed by worry, and feeling more confident handling uncertainty and challenges.

Parent Involvement

Parents play an important role in treatment. When appropriate, I work collaboratively with caregivers to help support progress outside of sessions.

Parent involvement may include:

  • Understanding how anxiety and OCD are maintained

  • Responding effectively to anxiety-driven behaviors

  • Reducing accommodation of avoidance

  • Supporting emotional regulation at home

  • Building consistent strategies across settings

The goal is to help parents feel more confident supporting their child while encouraging independence and resilience.

You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone

Watching your child struggle with anxiety or OCD can feel overwhelming. Therapy can help your child build confidence, develop coping skills, and return to the activities that matter most.

Not sure where to start? A consultation is a great place to begin.

Now accepting new clients with availability within the same week.