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Online OCD therapy for kids, teens, and parents

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

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Covered by insurance · Licensed specialists · Start within 48 hours

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4.94
10k+ satisfied kids,
teens, & families
Insurance providers Emora accepts

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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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.

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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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 clinicians for kids, teens, and parents

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 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.

I scheduled the start of an assessment, and the counselor my son was paired with does not assess ADHD or Autism patients. Whole I would like Karson to be paired with him for familiarity, I would like my son assessed by someone who specializes in ADHD and Autism, which is why I chose your group.

Parent of a 9 year old

Aug 28, 2026

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Jahn Quattlebaum
Provider:

Jahn Quattlebaum, LPC

Diana was amazing and a very good listener. My 6yo loved her!

Parent of a 6 year old

Aug 28, 2026

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Diana Gaona
Provider:

Diana Gaona, LPC

I love how she challenges you to open up and just think

An Adult client

Aug 28, 2026

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Ronnie Roper
Provider:

Ronnie Roper, LCSW

She’s so sweet and understanding, and I deal with stress and anger so much better.

Parent of a 15 year old

Aug 28, 2026

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Tonya Coleman Seimears
Provider:

Tonya Coleman Seimears, LCSW

very thorough and made my daughter feel comfortable

Parent of a 7 year old

Aug 28, 2026

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Jocelyn Zafra
Provider:

Jocelyn Zafra, LMFT

I felt very comfortable opening up, much quicker than I expected. We unpacked a lot in 60 minutes, and I have a few helpful things to think about before our next session. The biggest thing was shifting my mindset to the fact that I'm in charge of my emotions, and not letting others actions, or inactions guide my "boat."

An Adult client

Aug 27, 2026

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Dr. Jon Skidmore
Provider:

Dr. Jon Skidmore, PsyD

I absolutely adore my therapist. She has gotten me through so much. I actually was her patient when she was at thrive works and I highly recommend her. She is very understanding very gentle. If you were going through any type of trauma, I would recommend her 10 out of 10.

An Adult client

Aug 27, 2026

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Jacinta Little
Provider:

Jacinta Little, LMHC

Dane seems to be responding well with Alyssa. I am grateful he has found someone who he can share with.

Parent of a 16 year old

Aug 27, 2026

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Alyssa Jimenez-Solis
Provider:

Alyssa Jimenez-Solis, LCSW

I am so grateful for Dr. Ibe and the care she provided for my teenager. Finding the right support for adolescent anxiety and PMDD is difficult, but Dr. Ibe made my teen feel instantly comfortable and heard. She listened without judgment and explained treatment options clearly. I am happy she provided a solution and look forward to seeing improvement in my child’s confidence and stress management. Highly recommend to any parent looking for compassionate, expert teen mental health care

Parent of a 13 year old

Aug 27, 2026

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Dal Ibe
Provider:

Dal Ibe, PMHNP

My therapist is amazing easy to talk to and very understanding.

An Adult client

Aug 27, 2026

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Sharlyn McGary
Provider:

Sharlyn McGary, LPC

Very easy to talk to and understanding

An Adult client

Aug 27, 2026

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Laura Doocy
Provider:

Laura Doocy, LPC

A chart was shared to help him reference something visual to help with challenging moments and to practice calming himself.

Parent of a 12 year old

Aug 27, 2026

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Ari’Ton Scales
Provider:

Ari’Ton Scales, LMHC

She really understands my child, and has done great with getting her to open up

Parent of a 14 year old

Aug 27, 2026

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Marleth Garza
Provider:

Marleth Garza, LPC-A

Dr. Apree was awesome. Thorough, insightful, communicated well with our 7 year old.

Parent of a 7 year old

Aug 27, 2026

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Dr. Apree Clicque
Provider:

Dr. Apree Clicque, PsyD

Ms. Lopez was a great therapist in our first session.

Parent of a 13 year old

Aug 27, 2026

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Maricruz Lopez
Provider:

Maricruz Lopez, LPC

Discussing an option to work out my daughters frustrations when she is upset .

Parent of a 7 year old

Aug 27, 2026

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Victoria Foss
Provider:

Victoria Foss, LPC-A

Dr. Apree was very thorough and took her time. She answered all of my questions and encouraged me to reach out if I needed anything.

An Adult client

Aug 27, 2026

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Dr. Apree Clicque
Provider:

Dr. Apree Clicque, PsyD

Ms. Cole was just so sweet and loving to my boy that it really settled this mama’s heart❤️

Parent of a 5 year old

Aug 27, 2026

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Rebecca Cole
Provider:

Rebecca Cole, 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.

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Used in care: the Y-BOCS OCD severity scale

The Yale-Brown scale: 10 clinician-administered ratings covering obsessions and compulsions. We don’t publish it here — an Emora clinician uses it as part of an evaluation.

All mental health assessments

See how it works