Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (or OCD) affects many children and teens. I have worked with children as young as 7 years old with symptoms of OCD. Whether your child has a diagnosis of OCD or you think they may be experiencing symptoms, finding the right therapist is an important step. Here are my recommendations of what to look for (as a therapist who works with children with OCD).
1. Find a therapist that explicitly states on their website / Psychology Today profile that they work with OCD. It is different from anxiety work, so you want to see someone who knows the difference and has specific experience with OCD. You don’t want any therapist, you want a therapist that is confident in their knowledge and skills in supporting OCD.
2. Make sure they have "Exposure and Response Prevention" or "ERP" on their list of trainings/treatments offered. This is THE evidence-based treatment for OCD. Therapists who work with children may add in elements of play therapy and art therapy into sessions to keep things creative and help children learn about their OCD, but it is ERP that gets the job done when it comes to reducing obsessions, compulsions, and intrusive thoughts.
3. Find someone who works with children/teens the same age as your child. Therapy for children looks different at different ages and you want a therapist who knows how to engage children the same age as your child in therapy.
4. Your therapist should have a clear game plan for OCD treatment within the first few sessions. If they don't, it may be time to try someone new.
Walking through childhood with OCD is not easy, and it’s definitely not easy for parents to navigate. If your child/teen has OCD, our skilled child, adolescent, parent and family therapists are here for one on one support to help you navigate obsessions, intrusive thoughts, and compulsions. Book an intake call now.
If you think your child has anxiety and you want to learn real strategies for how to support them, check out our Parenting Children with Anxiety Online Course for practical strategies to support through anxious moments.
Written by: Meghan Pistchik MSW, RSW | Owner of Attached Kids, Child and Family Therapist
