OCD Therapy for Children, Teens, and 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.

young woman
person using laptop
girl using phone
kid playing with paint
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.

women having a meeting

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.

Learn More
star icon

Obsessions

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

hand icon

Compulsions

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

calendar icon

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 girl on her laptop in her bedroom
  • 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

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
Find Care
Father and son looking at eachother

Why families choose Emora

Specialized pediatric OCD care vs. general providers.

Emora Health Logo

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

Double Semi Shape
Leaf Shape

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.

Find Care
young girl smiling

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.

Stefanie has helped me immensely in both my professional and personal life

An Adult client

8 hours ago

Stefanie Luttrell
Provider:

Stefanie Luttrell, LPC, NCC, C-DBT

Assurance that there is no judgment.

Parent of a 12 year old

8 hours ago

Monica Valentine
Provider:

Monica Valentine, LCSW-A

It went really well, my son felt really good after his call and he even said that he picked a really good therapist.

Parent of a 12 year old

8 hours ago

Blanca Orellana
Provider:

Blanca Orellana, LPC-A

Leah was very professional, easy to talk to and gave me all the feedback I was looking for. Thank you for all your help!

An Adult client

8 hours ago

Leah Medina
Provider:

Leah Medina, PMHNP, FNP

Kept my son engaged for 60mins and he felt comfortable right away to share. Great experience!

Parent of a 9 year old

9 hours ago

Anita Plank
Provider:

Anita Plank, LCSW

Today was. A hard day that Tara stepped right into with us and was amazing.

Parent of a 12 year old

10 hours ago

Tara Devlin
Provider:

Tara Devlin, LCSW

It felt like Kourtney has a good idea of what our family is needing

Parent of a 13 year old

15 hours ago

Kourtney Raven
Provider:

Kourtney Raven, LPC

Liliana seemed very positive after, was happy to return to school and is excited for her next session!

Parent of an 8 year old

15 hours ago

Mary Barahona
Provider:

Mary Barahona, RMHCI

The person listened to me attentively.

An Adult client

18 hours ago

Chiedza Nwakudu
Provider:

Chiedza Nwakudu, PMHNP

What I thought was helpful was receiving positive self talk and being more aware of my negative thoughts

An Adult client

1 day ago

Katrease Matthews
Provider:

Katrease Matthews, LPC

She seems like a great fit for my daughter. She is very patient and understanding..

Parent of an 11 year old

1 day ago

Shalena Mosley
Provider:

Shalena Mosley, LPC

She was amazing and sweet and kind I really loved her

Parent of a 6 year old

1 day ago

Dr. Apree Clicque
Provider:

Dr. Apree Clicque, PsyD

Loved the activity and work done within the session!

Parent of a 10 year old

1 day ago

Yari Reyes
Provider:

Yari Reyes, RMHCI

Jennifer was so amazing and kind she walked us through some tough decision-making and emotions

Parent of an 8 year old

1 day ago

Jennifer Guzman
Provider:

Jennifer Guzman, LPC

She was very helpful. Wish we could move forward with her but I appreciate her help navigating our next steps!

Parent of a 13 year old

1 day ago

Kayla Kimes
Provider:

Kayla Kimes, PMHNP

She made me comfortable and heard. I am really happy I scheduled my first therapy session with her.

An Adult client

1 day ago

Shanice Watson
Provider:

Shanice Watson, LPC-A

My daughter feels comfortable sharing with Ericka and is enjoying her sessions.

Parent of a 12 year old

1 day ago

Ericka Jarvis
Provider:

Ericka Jarvis, LCMHC-A

Was very attentive and caring

An Adult client

1 day ago

Kourtney Raven
Provider:

Kourtney Raven, LPC

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.

Find a clinician
Father and son looking at eachother