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.




teens, & families
OCD, at a glance
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.
My therapist was so kind, informative and patient. I did not feel rushed and immediately was made comfortable.
An Adult client
1 hour ago
Vivian France, LCMHC
My 7 year old needed this and I am so thankful to have found this provider. So excited to watch his progress
Parent of a 7 year old
4 hours ago
Deann Harrison, PMHNP-BC
As a parent I appreciate the patience and flexibility Ms. Quan extends to our family.
Parent of an 11 year old
7 hours ago
JoAnna Quan, LCSW
My son seemed excited about his next session; that says a lot!
Parent of an 11 year old
9 hours ago
Seairra Williams, LPC-A
Was going through a lot of anxiety, but these sessions have helped me calm down
An Adult client
18 hours ago
Mark Wallman, LPC
She did a great job at listening and identifying the work needed to be done
Parent of a 13 year old
21 hours ago
Miranda Esparza, LPC
I feel like Brianna asked really good question and truly tried to understand my daughter. I believe she is going to be a really good fit! Not very ofter does that happen on the first try! I was really hesitant on doing this but I am already thinking this was a great choice!
Parent of an 8 year old
21 hours ago
Brianna Doran, LMHC
Dr. Smart has a caring bedside manner. She’s way to speak with and explains her methods in an easy way to understand.
Parent of a 4 year old
23 hours ago
I like how my doctor listened to me.
Parent of a 15 year old
1 day ago
Mary Barahona, RMHCI
Korina is great at what she does! My son looks forward to his sessions with her.
Parent of a 7 year old
1 day ago
Korina Herrera, LMHC
She is patient and understanding
Parent of a 4 year old
1 day ago
Lesli White, LPC
We appreciate Dr. Clicque’s help in diagnosing our daughter. Especially the rapid evaluation process. It helped us to understand what our daughter has been experiencing.
Parent of a 13 year old
1 day ago
Dr. Apree Clicque, PsyD
Overall, he was looking forward to his session today. He enjoys having someone else he can talk to. He has an instant connection which makes it easy and makes him comfortable opening up.
Parent of a 16 year old
1 day ago
Wayne Lyons, LSW
I am sure she was so sweet as she was the first time I met her…I was not present today, my sons father was but I’m certain she was a delight
Parent of a 5 year old
1 day ago
Ari’Ton Scales, LMHC
My daughter felt comfortable and that session went well. She wasnt hesitant about booking more sessions.
Parent of a 13 year old
1 day ago
Cindy-Joy Ortiz, LMHC
She seems to really make my 9yo very comfortable
Parent of a 9 year old
1 day ago
Marilyn Borom, LCSW-A
She’s a great listener and offered insight.
Parent of a 13 year old
1 day ago
Dr. Julia Hollinger, PsyD
Really good. We are seeing a connection build
Parent of a 10 year old
1 day ago
Lauren Galvin, RCSWI
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.



