Child and Teen Anxiety and OCD Therapy
Helping Kids and Teens Break Free from Anxiety & OCD
Common Signs of Anxiety in Kids (and When OCD May Be Involved)
Anxiety in children and teens doesn’t always look like constant worry. Sometimes it shows up as avoidance, irritability, perfectionism, or physical symptoms. Here are some common signs:
Frequent reassurance-seeking (“Are you sure?” “What if…?”)
Avoiding school, activities, social situations, or sleeping alone
Stomach aches, headaches, nausea, or “not feeling well” before events
Meltdowns, irritability, or emotional shutdown
Perfectionism or fear of making mistakes
Trouble falling asleep, nightmares, or needing repeated check-ins at night
Panic symptoms (racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness)
OCD can look like: unwanted intrusive thoughts + rituals meant to reduce anxiety (checking, repeating, confessing, ordering, counting, mental reviewing, etc.).
If you’re seeing these patterns, you’re not alone—and it’s not a sign of failure. It’s a sign your child needs the right kind of support.
How I Work with Kids + Parents
I specialize in working with anxiety and OCD for children through older adults, and my approach is thoughtful, evidence-based, and collaborative. A big part of my therapy work with children and teens involves parent training using an approach called SPACE (supportive parenting for anxious childhood emotions).
I offer the combination of child therapy + parent training and/or parent training only (if your child is already working with a therapist or is unable/unwilling to do therapy for whatever reason). Either way, an initial intake with the child is required (with certain exceptions).
Twice a year, I offer 6-week parent groups called Brave Together. This is a group for parents of anxious kids who are looking for condensed support with a small group of other parents who get it.
I do not require a phone consultation, but I’m happy to schedule a brief call to help you determine the best option for your needs.
How Therapy Works for Child & Teen Anxiety and OCD
Therapy helps your child understand anxiety and learn skills to respond differently—so fear doesn’t run the show. Treatment is practical and supportive, not just “talking about feelings.”
Depending on your child’s needs, therapy may include:
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Understanding anxiety and how it affects the body and behavior
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Learning tools to manage worry, panic, and overwhelm
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Building confidence through gradual practice facing fears
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Strengthening emotion regulation and flexibility
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Reducing avoidance and helping your child feel capable again
Progress usually looks like more willingness to try, less avoidance, and more confidence—even when anxiety shows up.
How Parents Are Involved (SPACE-Informed Support)
Parents are not the problem—but they are often a powerful part of the solution. Based on my SPACE training, I help parents learn how to respond in ways that are supportive without feeding the anxiety/OCD cycle.
This includes:
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Reducing accommodations (in a compassionate, planned way)
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Learning supportive language that builds bravery
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Responding to reassurance-seeking differently
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Encouraging independence and resilience over time
Sometimes this is combined with child sessions; other times parent work is central. We’ll choose what fits your family best.
Ages I Work With
I work with children, teens, and young adults ages 5 and up. If you’re unsure whether what you’re seeing is anxiety, OCD, or something else, we can clarify next steps.
ERP / CBT
For anxiety and OCD, evidence-based approaches matter:
CBT helps identify anxiety patterns and build healthier coping responses.
ERP (often used for OCD) gently helps kids face feared thoughts/situations while reducing compulsions—so anxiety loses power over time.
This Is Not Your Fault
Anxiety and OCD are not caused by “bad parenting.” Many supportive families get pulled into patterns that feel impossible to change. With the right support, you can learn how to respond in a way that encourages your child’s growth, courage, and resilience—step by step.