Online 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.
Covered by insurance · Licensed specialists · Start within 48 hours
Covered by insurance · Licensed specialists · Start within 48 hours




teens, & families
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.



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.
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.
The OCD cycle
Obsessions trigger anxiety, compulsions temporarily relieve it, reinforcing the cycle. ERP breaks this pattern.
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.
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.
Chely was very nice and professional. The onboarding was thorough. She was very thoughtful and considerate with my daughter. It was a great experience overall.
Parent of a 12 year old
Jul 13, 2026
Chely Craig, LCSW-A
Great conversation and helpful breakthroughs in understanding deeply rooted emotions.
An Adult client
Jul 13, 2026
Sonia Maria Landino, LCSW
Carrie is fantastic and helpful while we figure out what kind of medicine my daughter needs to be on. It’s a journey but she’s making it easy!
Parent of an 11 year old
Jul 13, 2026
Carrie Colson, PMHNP
She allowed us time to fully express our concerns and goals moving forward. My daughter feels like she will be easy to connect with and open up to. She looks forward to future sessions!
Parent of a 17 year old
Jul 13, 2026
Christina Avila, LPC
Milton is kind, patient, and very invested in my child's mental health. He's a great support to our 12-year-old and to our family.
Parent of a 12 year old
Jul 13, 2026
Milton Hernandez, LPC
Matt is really great and really is helping me see things from a different perspective and I really apperciate his help
An Adult client
Jul 13, 2026
Matt Dellon, RCSWI
Kendall said her session today was great. She is doing much better in a lot of areas of her life.
Parent of a 13 year old
Jul 13, 2026
Miranda Delehoy, LCSW
It was helpful to learn that Jennifer has experience with a wide range of ages and with neurodivergent children.
Parent of a 6 year old
Jul 13, 2026
Jennifer Onibudo, LPC
She is amazing and so flexible with our schedule and my son does really seem to be opening up to her!
Parent of a 7 year old
Jul 12, 2026
Korina Herrera, LMHC
Just starting out we will see how we go
Parent of a 10 year old
Jul 12, 2026
Dagmar Chinchilla, LCSW
I love Ms. April. She is an amazing therapist. I enjoy my sessions. Even when it gets hard. She’s insightful and knowledgeable.
An Adult client
Jul 11, 2026
April Medici, LMHC
Even though it was hard for him to express himself, he knows it will get easier
Parent of a 7 year old
Jul 11, 2026
Zi'nequa Parker, LSW
A very patient, unbiased, considerate woman! Excited to speak to her again
An Adult client
Jul 11, 2026
Shannon Anes, PMHNP
She was very easy to talk to and listened to what you had to say. She was very reassuring about the process and made sure to answer any questions and asked great questions to make sure she understood my child the best she could to give the best suggestion.
Parent of a 3 year old
Jul 11, 2026
Aishah Crosley, LPC
Michelle is absolutely the best! She is helping me with CPR training and it’s making such a difference!
Parent of a 5 year old
Jul 11, 2026
Michelle Yoo, LPC
Made my 10 year old and myself feel very comfortable and trusting in her care. Looking forward to our next session.
Parent of a 10 year old
Jul 11, 2026
Dr. Ana Zuniga, PsyD
I really have enjoyed my sessions with Carrie so far, in the past I’ve felt like my therapists weren’t a great fit and could tell from the first session or two. I feel like Carrie really cares about what I’m going through and is here to help me. I feel safe to talk to her and I’m excited to keep going through sessions with her and allowing her to help me with my challenges.
An Adult client
Jul 11, 2026
Carrie Cotter, LPC-A
Maria is a very good therapist. She makes you feel heard.
An Adult client
Jul 10, 2026
Maria Martinez, RMHCI
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.



