OCD therapy for kids, teens, & young adults
Specialized ERP therapy that helps kids break free from obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
Support for contamination fears, harm obsessions, symmetry needs, and other OCD presentations.
Insurance accepted. Appointments often available within days.




teens, & families
OCD, at a glance
OCD, at a glance
1 in 50
About 1-2% of children and adolescents are affected by OCD.
2+ year delay
Average delay between OCD symptom onset and diagnosis in children.
Highly treatable
60-80% of children respond to ERP-based therapy.
Understanding OCD
What OCD looks like and how it affects daily life.

OCD is a neurobiological condition that causes unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety.
A licensed clinician evaluates the cycle of obsessions and compulsions and considers overlapping conditions like anxiety or ADHD.
Obsessions
Intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause significant anxiety. Common themes include contamination, harm, and symmetry.
Compulsions
Repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety. Common examples include washing, checking, and counting.
The OCD cycle
Obsessions trigger anxiety, compulsions temporarily relieve it, reinforcing the cycle. ERP breaks this pattern.
Common OCD presentations by age
Symptoms look different at every stage of development.

Young Children (4-7)
Repetitive rituals at bedtime
Excessive handwashing
Need for things to be 'just right'
Separation fears tied to rituals
School-Age (8-12)
Intrusive harm thoughts
Checking and rechecking
Avoidance of 'contaminated' items
Difficulty completing homework due to rituals
Teens (13-17)
Mental compulsions and rumination
Social avoidance tied to OCD
Perfectionism and reassurance-seeking
Hidden rituals and shame
Young Adults (18-25)
Impact on work and relationships
Avoidance patterns that limit independence
Masking compulsions
Co-occurring anxiety and depression
Could it be OCD?
Take a quick, clinically validated screening to better understand your child’s symptoms.
Y-BOCS OCD Screening
The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is a clinically validated tool that measures the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. It can help you understand whether your child's behaviors may warrant professional evaluation.
This screening is not a diagnosis. Results should be discussed with a qualified mental health professional.

How OCD therapy helps
ERP-based strategies for breaking the obsession-compulsion cycle.
- Breaks the obsession-compulsion cycle with ERP
- Builds tolerance for uncertainty and anxiety
- Reduces avoidance behaviors
- Tracks progress with Y-BOCS screening
- Supports school and social functioning

Why families choose Emora
Specialized pediatric OCD care vs. general providers.
Other providers
Licensed pediatric and young adult clinicians
Generalist providers
ERP-trained OCD specialists
Talk therapy without ERP training
Parent-inclusive model
Limited parent involvement
Y-BOCS tracking built into the platform
Limited progress tracking
Insurance accepted
Insurance not always accepted
Virtual sessions reduce OCD-related avoidance
In-office visits can trigger OCD avoidance
Get started in minutes
Three simple steps to connect with the right clinician.
- 1
Share what’s going on
Answer a few questions about symptoms and goals.
- 2
Verify coverage
See insurance estimates and available times.
- 3
Start sessions
Meet your clinician and begin building skills.

Frequently asked questions
What parents and young adults ask most about OCD therapy.
OCD involves two components: obsessions (unwanted, intrusive thoughts that cause distress) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce that distress). If your child spends significant time on rituals, asks for constant reassurance, or seems trapped in repetitive patterns, it may be OCD.
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard treatment for OCD. It involves gradually facing feared situations while learning to resist performing compulsions. Research shows 60–80% of children improve significantly with ERP — it's the most effective approach available.
Most children see meaningful improvement within 12–16 sessions of ERP-based therapy. Some children benefit from longer treatment depending on OCD severity and how many areas of life it affects.
Yes — OCD affects 1–2% of children and teens, but it's often underdiagnosed because children may hide their symptoms. On average, there's a 2+ year delay between symptom onset and diagnosis.
Yes. Family involvement is critical in OCD treatment. You'll learn how OCD works, how to avoid accidentally reinforcing rituals, and how to support your child's exposure work at home.
Yes, we accept most major insurance plans and verify your coverage before your first appointment. Most families pay between $0 and $30 per session.
Many children achieve significant symptom reduction with proper ERP-based treatment. While OCD is a condition that can wax and wane, the skills learned in therapy provide lasting tools for managing symptoms throughout life.
Real stories of growth
Every session is rated by parents. Our therapists maintain a 4.9+ average, because results matter.
She make my daughter feel exelente
Parent of a 13 year old
1 hour ago

Morgan Tulley, RCSWI
Very happy with Ms Tamika! My daughter looks forward to talking with her every week.
Parent of an 8 year old
13 hours ago

Tamika Brown, LPC
The coping skills exercise was very helpful
Parent of a 12 year old
13 hours ago

Shantel Rayford, LPC
She was excellent with my daughter and made her feel very comfortable for her first appointment. She was very nervous but opened up a lot with her.
Parent of a 6 year old
14 hours ago

Maygen Hicks, LCSW
My child felt comfortable the first visit. This is great news because she has tried plenty of counselors and therapist's.
Parent of a 13 year old
14 hours ago

Lillian Tinsley, RMCHI
We are so happy with Harper’s care. It feels thorough and well-planned.
Parent of a 13 year old
14 hours ago
Leah Medina, PMHNP, FNP
We love emora health. Ms. Jerome-Saintil is an amazing listener. She really tries to engage my child in the activities they are doing in their session. I'm hopeful that my child will take real life lessons from her.
Parent of a 10 year old
15 hours ago

Magdala Jerome-Saintil, LMHC
I think she will be very helpful with Harper. She was super kind
Parent of a 7 year old
15 hours ago

Nelda Hunt, LSW
Fabulous! Dr. Nitsch cares and is making a difference!
Parent of a 10 year old
15 hours ago

Dr. Liz Nitsch, PsyD
she was so patient kind and took her time to understand my son and his thoughts n thought process she was excellent
Parent of a 17 year old
15 hours ago

Lisa Raigeluw, LCSW
The session was fun! We read a story and did a worksheet activity! We talked about triggers and how anger can start. Chely is a great therapist! I would definitely recommend her! - From the 11 year old child
Parent of an 11 year old
16 hours ago

Chely Craig, LCSW-A
My son is very excited to begin!
Parent of a 7 year old
17 hours ago

Katherine Vasquez Lugo, RMHCI
She listens very well and has help me in her sessions.
Parent of a 15 year old
17 hours ago

Leah Malloy, LPC-A
She ought to understand what I was asking and looking for and provided it, which was mostly listening. And I found her insight about grief and grieving very helpful.
An Adult client
18 hours ago

Sandra Serna, LPC
Helped me find the perfect therapist!
Parent of a 13 year old
18 hours ago

Jennifer Clark, LCSW
She was super sweet and I can feel the improvement already. Made her feel cared for.
Parent of a 13 year old
18 hours ago

Shemise Michael, LPC
I came to Carrie with deep concerns about the aggression and violent episodes that have been really negatively impacting my other children so much so that one of my sons is so scared of his brother he has been staying at my parents house. She took it very seriously and started us on a new medication immediately. She really cares about the well being of the whole family not just her patient.
Parent of an 8 year old
20 hours ago

Carrie Colson, PMHNP
Stephanie knows how to guide us with our teenager and our teenager enjoyed her talks very much. Wonderful addition she is to have her!
Parent of a 12 year old
1 day ago

Stephanie Rodriguez, LPC-A
OCD does not define your child
Structured, developmentally informed therapy can help build skills that last.
Not sure where to start? Book a clinical matching session.





