OCD Treatment for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults
In-network with major insurers.
*We do not currently accept Medicaid.
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
OCD has two parts that feed each other: obsessions, the unwanted thoughts or urges that keep coming back, and compulsions, the responses that bring short-term relief but make OCD stronger over time.
Thoughts, images, or urges the brain gets stuck on, arriving without invitation and often focusing on something deeply distressing or completely out of character. The content varies: contamination, fear of accidentally harming someone, something feeling not quite right, or a thought that feels nothing like who the person actually is.
The responses that follow: washing, checking, repeating, arranging, seeking reassurance, or running through mental rituals. They bring relief in the moment, but each time, the brain learns that the compulsion is what makes you feel better or safer, so the urge to respond grows stronger. That is the cycle, and it is exactly what treatment is designed to interrupt.
OCD affects about 1 to 3% of children and adolescents and often first appears between ages 8 and 12. It is a real, recognized condition with effective, well-researched treatments that can help.
How OCD Can Show Up
Contamination - fear of germs, illness, or contact with something harmful
Harm - fear of hurting someone, even against their own wishes
"Just right" - discomfort when things feel asymmetrical, incomplete, or off
Identity - persistent doubt about who they are, including sexual orientation or gender identity
Scrupulosity - fear of moral or religious wrongdoing
Relationship - persistent doubt about feelings toward a partner or the “rightness” of a relationship
Pedophilia (POCD) - unwanted intrusive thoughts about children that feel completely out of character and cause significant distress
Existential - obsessive preoccupation with unanswerable questions about life, reality, or existence
The Cycle Behind OCD and How to Break It
Where it comes from
OCD develops from a combination of genetics, brain chemistry, and patterns of responding to distressing thoughts that build up over time.
What keeps it going
Obsessions and compulsions create a cycle that keeps OCD going. When distressing thoughts show up, it can feel like certain things have to be done to make them go away or feel safe. Those compulsions bring relief in the moment, but the relief is temporary, and the urge to do them again grows stronger every time.
What treatment changes
Young people learn to sit with uncomfortable thoughts without doing compulsions, building evidence that what they fear is not as likely as it feels and that they can handle the discomfort.
How is OCD Treated?
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the most effective treatment for OCD. InStride delivers it with a dedicated care team and guided exposure in the places where OCD actually shows up.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT helps young people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected and teaches them more effective ways to respond. For OCD, that means learning to recognize the cycle of obsessions and compulsions, understanding how each compulsion reinforces the fear, and building new ways to respond.
Exposure and response prevention (ERP)
ERP means gradually facing the thoughts and situations that trigger OCD while resisting the compulsions. Over time, the brain stops treating the obsession as a threat that requires a response. This helps break the cycle of OCD at its core, rather than just managing symptoms.
How Families and Schools Can Support Progress
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Parents and caregivers
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School coordination
Lasting Change for Young People Living with OCD
Hear from young people and families who came to InStride when OCD was running daily life, and built the skills to manage it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if it’s OCD and not just anxiety or perfectionism?
The difference is often in the cycle. While many young people experience worry or want things to be done a certain way, OCD involves a specific pattern: an intrusive thought (obsession) that creates distress, followed by a behavior or mental ritual (compulsion) that brings temporary relief. Over time, this cycle repeats and the urge to do the compulsion becomes stronger. In anxiety, worries usually focus on real-life concerns and do not include compulsions. You don't need a diagnosis to apply. Our team completes the evaluation and determines whether and how we can help.
Therapy has been tried before and it didn't work. Why would this be different?
The type of treatment matters significantly for OCD. ERP, the evidence-based approach designed specifically for OCD, is different from general talk therapy or anxiety management. Many therapists are not trained in ERP, and standard approaches can unintentionally reinforce the cycle. InStride provides ERP delivered by a team trained specifically in OCD, with guided exposure practice in the places where OCD actually shows up rather than just office-based sessions. Many families come to InStride after earlier therapy didn't produce results. That experience doesn't predict what's possible with the right approach.
Does someone need a formal OCD diagnosis to apply?
No. Our team completes a full evaluation and determines whether InStride is the right fit. If OCD is a primary driver of what you're seeing, even without a formal diagnosis, the evaluation will clarify what's happening and what makes sense next.
Can my child have OCD alongside another condition?
Yes. OCD often appears alongside anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, or other conditions. When OCD is the primary concern, our program can help even when other things are going on. The evaluation takes the full picture into account.
Can InStride help with OCD themes that feel disturbing or too difficult to talk about?
Yes. OCD can attach to thoughts that feel shameful, disturbing, or completely out of character, including intrusive thoughts about harm, identity, or other themes that feel hard to share. These themes are treatable with ERP, and our team has experience with every OCD theme. Nothing a young person brings to an evaluation will be surprising or disqualifying.
