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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.

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4.94
10k+ satisfied kids,
teens, & families
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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.

A young boy wearing a blue and white striped shirt sits on a sofa, looking down intently at something in front of him. An adult's hands are gently placed on his leg, suggesting a supportive and comforting interaction in a relaxed indoor setting.

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.

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Obsessions

Intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause significant anxiety. Common themes include contamination, harm, and symmetry.

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Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety. Common examples include washing, checking, and counting.

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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.

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  • 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.

Take the Y-BOCS Screening
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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
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Why families choose Emora

Specialized pediatric OCD care vs. general providers.

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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

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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.

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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
Provider:

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
Provider:

Tamika Brown, LPC

The coping skills exercise was very helpful

Parent of a 12 year old

13 hours ago

Shantel Rayford
Provider:

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
Provider:

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
Provider:

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
Provider:

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
Provider:

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
Provider:

Nelda Hunt, LSW

Fabulous! Dr. Nitsch cares and is making a difference!

Parent of a 10 year old

15 hours ago

Dr. Liz Nitsch
Provider:

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
Provider:

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
Provider:

Chely Craig, LCSW-A

My son is very excited to begin!

Parent of a 7 year old

17 hours ago

Katherine Vasquez Lugo
Provider:

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
Provider:

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
Provider:

Sandra Serna, LPC

Helped me find the perfect therapist!

Parent of a 13 year old

18 hours ago

Jennifer Clark
Provider:

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
Provider:

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
Provider:

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
Provider:

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.

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