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
Trusted by 5,000+ kids, teens, and families.
  • Anthem Blue Cross
  • aetna
  • blue cross
  • cigna
  • united healthcare
  • optum
  • tricare
  • Champ VA US Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Florida Blue
  • Baylor Scott and White
  • UMR
  • Oscar Health
  • Magellan
  • Anthem Blue Cross
  • aetna
  • blue cross
  • cigna
  • united healthcare
  • optum
  • tricare
  • Champ VA US Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Florida Blue
  • Baylor Scott and White
  • UMR
  • Oscar Health
  • Magellan

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.

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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.

Courtney made my child feel comfortable and she looks forward to meeting with her again.

Parent of an 11 year old

5 hours ago

Courtney Trejo
Provider:

Courtney Trejo, LPC-Associate

Very easy to talk to, great listener and did not feel rushed at all

Parent of a 13 year old

7 hours ago

Runako Richardson
Provider:

Runako Richardson, PMHNP

Chely was very down to earth and friendly, she gathered a lot of information from both myself and my son to map out a plan. There was no judgement at all. I'm really looking forward to seeing Greyson work through things and develop emotional regulation and resilience.

Parent of a 10 year old

9 hours ago

Chely Craig
Provider:

Chely Craig, LCSW-A

Friendly and easy to work with

Parent of a 12 year old

10 hours ago

Amanda Rodriguez
Provider:

Amanda Rodriguez, LPC-A

Runako made my daughter feel comfortable sharing.

Parent of a 9 year old

12 hours ago

Runako Richardson
Provider:

Runako Richardson, PMHNP

Happy with the session. Provides a foundation to build on. Other than a technical hiccup, good session.

Parent of a 12 year old

12 hours ago

Tlexia Victor
Provider:

Tlexia Victor, LPC-A

She asked questions and kept my son interested.

Parent of a 16 year old

13 hours ago

Leah Medina
Provider:

Leah Medina, PMHNP, FNP

Leah is very attentive and informative!!

Parent of an 8 year old

13 hours ago

Leah Medina
Provider:

Leah Medina, PMHNP, FNP

She’s the best! So impactful thoughtful and kind.

An Adult client

14 hours ago

Caroline Schwenke
Provider:

Caroline Schwenke, LPC-Associate

After going back and forth between different options and not knowing if our child would open up to a specialist, I'm so glad we found Emora! Excited to see what the future holds for our daughter.

Parent of a 13 year old

16 hours ago

Shemise Michael
Provider:

Shemise Michael, LPC

Great to hear our child decided to open up about her feelings and get the help she needs. First session was a success and looking forward to seeing the progress she makes.

Parent of a 13 year old

16 hours ago

Shemise Michael
Provider:

Shemise Michael, LPC

My son loves talking to her, the best time of the week. Awesome and caring doctor!

Parent of an 11 year old

18 hours ago

Dr. Nacona Bunker
Provider:

Dr. Nacona Bunker, PsyD

Just the best! We love her! Very patient and caring.

Parent of an 11 year old

18 hours ago

Dr. Nacona Bunker
Provider:

Dr. Nacona Bunker, PsyD

Great communication and constructive coping skills for all involved were helpful.

Parent of an 11 year old

19 hours ago

Maliya Smith
Provider:

Maliya Smith, LPC

Lisa is really sweet and her capability of understanding is amazing.

Parent of a 16 year old

1 day ago

Lisa Raigeluw
Provider:

Lisa Raigeluw, LCSW

Morgan was very easy to talk to. She was very knowledgeable in my situation and offered valuable advice.

An Adult client

1 day ago

Morgan Williams
Provider:

Morgan Williams, LPC

We shared our art and that was nice

Parent of a 13 year old

1 day ago

Joy Steiner
Provider:

Joy Steiner, LCSW

Sarah is very easy to talk with.

Parent of an 11 year old

1 day ago

Sarah Newton
Provider:

Sarah Newton, LMSW

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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