ERP Therapy for children and teens With OCD and anxiety

Anxiety disorders often show up differently in young people than they do in adults. Many children struggle silently or develop behaviors that parents and teachers may not immediately recognize as anxiety. I specialize in treating:

Children and teens with OCD experience intrusive thoughts and urges that create intense anxiety. They often feel compelled to perform rituals to reduce the distress.

Common examples include:

• Excessive handwashing or cleaning
• Repeated checking (doors, homework, safety)
• Fear of harming someone accidentally
• Religious or moral worries (scrupulosity)
• Reassurance seeking from parents
• Mental rituals like repeating phrases or counting

Social anxiety often becomes more intense during adolescence.

Teens may experience:

• Fear of embarrassment at school
• Avoiding class participation
• Anxiety about presentations
• Fear of being judged by peers
• Avoidance of social events or sports
  .

Children with GAD often worry excessively about everyday things such as:

• School performance
• Health or safety
• Family members
• Making mistakes
• The future
   

Some children develop intense fears about being sick or dying, even when medical reassurance is given.

Common patterns include:

• Frequent body checking
• Repeated questions about health
• Searching symptoms online
• Fear of contamination or disease
   

Panic attacks can feel terrifying for children and teens.

Symptoms may include:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness
• Feeling like they can’t breathe
• Fear of losing control
• Avoiding places where panic occurred
   

Children often develop strong fears that interfere with daily life, such as:

• Fear of vomiting
• Fear of dogs or animals
• Fear of needles or medical procedures
• Fear of flying
• Fear of storms or natural disasters

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the most effective therapy for OCD and many anxiety disorders.

ERP works by helping children gradually face fears instead of avoiding them.

During treatment we:

1. Identify anxiety triggers
2. Build a gradual exposure plan
3. Practice facing fears step-by-step
4. Reduce rituals and avoidance
5. Build confidence and resilience
    

Over time, the brain learns something powerful:

The feared outcome usually doesn’t happen, and anxiety naturally fades on its own.

ERP teaches children that they are stronger than their anxiety.

Many parents are surprised to learn that online therapy works extremely well for anxiety disorders.

Telehealth actually allows treatment to happen in the environments where anxiety occurs.

Examples include:

• Practicing exposures at home
• Facing fears related to schoolwork
• Working through social fears
• Reducing reassurance seeking with parents
• Addressing avoidance behaviors in real time
• Avoidance of specific locations or triggers

It may be time to seek professional support if anxiety is causing:

• School avoidance
• Frequent reassurance seeking
• Panic attacks
• Rituals or compulsions
• Excessive worry
• Sleep problems
• Avoidance of friends or activities
• Emotional distress or irritability
   

Early treatment can prevent anxiety disorders from becoming more severe over time.

Parent involvement is an important part of effective treatment for children and teenagers with OCD and anxiety disorders. Because anxiety often shows up at home through reassurance seeking, avoidance, or family routines shaped around fears, parents play a key role in helping support progress between sessions. In therapy, parents learn how anxiety works, how Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helps children face fears, and how to respond in ways that encourage confidence rather than unintentionally reinforcing anxiety.

An important part of treatment involves working closely with parents and family members to reduce family accommodation, which refers to the ways loved ones may unintentionally help maintain anxiety or OCD symptoms. Out of care and a desire to reduce distress, family members may provide reassurance, participate in rituals, help avoid feared situations, or adjust routines around the child’s anxiety. While these responses are understandable, they can strengthen the anxiety cycle over time. In therapy, we work together to help families gradually shift these patterns in supportive and compassionate ways. Parents learn practical strategies for responding to anxiety, setting consistent limits around compulsions, and encouraging their child to face fears using the skills learned in treatment. This collaborative approach helps create an environment that supports lasting progress and greater independence for the child.

I work collaboratively with both children and parents.

Treatment focuses on:

• Teaching children how anxiety works
• Building practical coping skills
• Gradually facing fears through ERP
• Reducing reassurance cycles
• Supporting parents with effective responses
   

The goal is not just symptom relief, but helping children develop long-term resilience and confidence. My goal is to help your child get back to doing what they love to do.

Many traditional talk therapy approaches are not effective for OCD and certain anxiety disorders.

ERP is a specialized treatment that requires specific training and experience.

My practice focuses on evidence-based treatment for OCD and anxiety, with most of my clinical work centered on these conditions.

If your child or teenager is struggling with anxiety, OCD, panic attacks, or phobias, effective help is available.

ERP therapy can help young people:

• Face fears with confidence
• Reduce compulsions and avoidance
• Build emotional resilience
• Return to school and activities
• Feel in control again