Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Therapy for California-Based Children, Teens and Adults with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Understanding OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) happens when someone has constant, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and feels the need to do certain actions or routines (compulsions) over and over. This can cause a lot of stress and make everyday life harder. In kids and teens, OCD often shows up as routines or habits they feel they have to do to feel less anxious, which can be really hard to handle without the right help.
Our OCD therapy provides individuals of all ages with practical tools to manage and reduce OCD symptoms, helping them regain a sense of control in their lives. We use a highly effective, evidence-based approach that is adaptable for children, teens, and adults alike.
By addressing OCD directly, our goal is to support clients as they work toward symptom relief and improved quality of life, fostering long-term resilience.
Who We Help
The Child Psychology Center’s OCD therapy services are designed to support a wide range of clients living in California, each facing unique challenges related to OCD symptoms. We work with individuals as young as five-years-old and make specific adjustments for younger children as needed. OCD often coexists with other conditions, such as Autism, ADHD, and even illnesses like strep throat (i.e., PANS/PANDAS). By conducting thorough assessments, we ensure each client receives tailored support, including those who experience overlapping concerns or developmental challenges.
While the following list is not exhaustive, it offers a glimpse into the types of clients we support and the needs they bring to California’s Child Psychology Center:
Children who show early signs of OCD, such as repeated routines or rituals, and may struggle with meltdowns when unable to complete them.
Teens who may avoid social interactions, school activities, or family events due to intrusive thoughts or compulsive behaviors.
Adults experiencing daily disruptions from obsessive thoughts and compulsions, impacting work, relationships, and personal goals.
Families who want to better understand how to support their loved one with OCD and reduce the impact on family routines.
Individuals with co-occurring conditions, like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or ADHD, who may experience unique challenges in managing OCD.
While we are ‘The Child Psychology Center’ and specialize in treating children, we also offer virtual therapy services to adults throughout California and in-person therapy in Carlsbad, California.
Our approach is built to meet each person’s needs wherever they are on their OCD journey, providing steady, personalized support to address symptoms and achieve meaningful change.
Our Therapeutic Approach
Our therapeutic approach to treating OCD is rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard intervention for OCD. With ERP, we work with clients to gradually face the thoughts, situations, or sensations that trigger their obsessions or compulsions, guiding them in resisting the urge to perform their habitual responses. Over time, clients develop coping tools that empower them to regain control over obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, with noticeable symptom reduction as they build skills. This approach is adapted for children, teens, and adults, ensuring each person feels prepared and supported in managing OCD.
Common Goals in OCD Therapy
In therapy for OCD, clients generally aim to build resilience and find relief from symptoms that impact their daily lives. Some common goals include:
Reducing the intensity and frequency of OCD symptoms to improve daily functioning.
Engaging in activities previously avoided due to obsessive thoughts or compulsions, like attending school, going to work, or participating in family events.
Helping parents and families regain a sense of normalcy by reducing OCD-related disruptions, like avoiding public spaces or daily meltdowns.
Empowering younger children to manage their OCD responses with age-appropriate strategies, minimizing distress during routines or rituals.
Achieving greater independence in teens and adults by managing compulsions in social, educational, and professional settings.
Through these goals, we work to help each client create a more balanced and fulfilling life, enabling them to face OCD with confidence.
What a Typical Session Looks Like
Sessions typically last 45 minutes and are available in our Carlsbad, California office or virtually throughout California, depending on each individual client’s needs. OCD therapy sessions are typically conducted weekly. For ERP, the setting often plays an essential role, as real-life exposures yield the best outcomes. For instance, a child needing support with a nighttime routine would ideally receive virtual exposure therapy within their home environment, allowing them to address triggers where they naturally occur. Likewise, an adult struggling with compulsive checking behaviors at work may engage in virtual sessions to target these actions on-site.
Sessions follow a structured ERP framework, yet remain flexible to each individual’s needs and pace. We aim to ensure clients feel comfortable with each step before progressing, and we often involve family members or other support figures to enhance the therapeutic impact between sessions.
Our Unique Approach
California’s Child Psychology Center’s therapists are committed to evidence-based, individualized care. Our expert child therapist’s approach to ERP therapy stands out by prioritizing flexibility and responsiveness to each client’s needs. We conduct exposures wherever necessary, creating a supportive and adaptable environment that allows clients to target their symptoms where they’re most prominent—whether that’s at home, school, or other real-world settings. We also integrate family values and personal beliefs into our methods, making sure therapy aligns with each client’s life context. With extensive experience working with individuals with OCD as young as five years old (an accommodation that can be made in specific instances), we are equipped to deliver effective, compassionate care across all ages and stages of life.
Our Commitment to Neuro-Affirming Care
Our neuro-affirming therapists understand the complexities of treating OCD in our neurodiverse clients. We collaborate with other providers on the team (i.e., occupational therapists) to make sure therapy is effective and sensitive to each client’s specific needs.
Collaboration with Clients and Families
Collaboration is essential to successful OCD treatment. Our clients actively participate in setting their goals and shaping their treatment plans, ensuring each step aligns with their values and life goals. We check in regularly to incorporate feedback and refine our approach.
In our collaborative process, we:
Personalized Goal Setting - We include parents, caregivers, or partners in the goal-setting process, providing them with strategies for supporting their loved one.
Ongoing Feedback - We welcome feedback at each session to ensure the therapy plan continues to meet the client’s needs.
Tailored Treatment Plans - We adjust treatment approaches based on family culture and values, helping support loved ones without reinforcing OCD behaviors.
Check ins and Adjustments - We offer regular check-ins with family members to discuss progress and address any challenges in the home environment.
When there are differing goals between children and caregivers, we work to find a balance, so everyone finds value in the therapy process. With this collaborative therapeutic approach, families are engaged partners in the therapeutic journey, creating a network of support to ensure progress extends beyond sessions.
Challenges Addressed in OCD Therapy
OCD therapy is specifically designed to address:
Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors related to cleanliness, order, checking, or repetitive rituals.
Intrusive thoughts and rituals tied to specific anxieties, such as contamination fears or safety concerns.
Co-occurring conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD, which may complicate OCD treatment.
This service addresses symptoms that frequently arise with OCD, ASD, and ADHD, as well as conditions like generalized anxiety and related disorders.
What Clients Can Expect
Clients can expect an active, hands-on therapy experience where they’ll gradually encounter anxiety-provoking situations and work through their OCD triggers with guidance and support. We create a compassionate and collaborative environment that focuses on each client’s progress, with an emphasis on safety and respect for their pace. Our goal is for clients to feel empowered and capable of managing their symptoms, with many noticing progress within the first month of treatment. Clients find that they can enjoy their lives more and live more in line with their personal or family values, doing the things that are most important to them.
Long-Term Benefits of OCD Therapy
Engaging in OCD therapy provides clients with lifelong tools for managing OCD’s challenges. Though OCD symptoms may reoccur at times, our clients report they feel prepared to handle them with confidence.
Long-term benefits include but are not limited to:
Significantly reduced OCD symptoms and increased ability to engage in everyday activities.
A strong set of coping strategies to manage future OCD flare-ups.
Increased independence and resilience in the face of new or recurring triggers.
Improved family relationships and understanding around OCD symptoms.
In the end, clients leave with the skills to maintain their progress and a renewed sense of control in their lives.
Adapting Therapy to Your Needs
Our OCD therapy is highly adaptable, shifting to meet each client’s evolving needs. If progress slows or new challenges emerge, we adjust our approach—whether by revising goals, changing the frequency of sessions, or integrating additional therapeutic methods. When co-occurring issues like depression become a priority, we pivot to ensure therapy remains relevant and effective. Our OCD experts regularly collaborate with other professionals, such as psychiatrists, school staff, PCPs, to support their progress across settings and facilitate communication with other providers. We are committed to ensuring therapy is consistently beneficial, meeting clients where they are in each stage of treatment.
Special Considerations or Exclusions:
OCD therapy is generally not recommended when OCD symptoms stem directly from unresolved trauma. In such cases, we suggest addressing the underlying trauma first, as this approach tends to lead to more meaningful, lasting symptom reduction. Child Psychology Center offers evidence-based treatment for trauma.
Ready to start therapy?
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Ready to start therapy? 〰️
Other Services:
Child Psychology Center offers neuro-affirming, culturally competent, evidence-based therapy for children (ages 0+), teens and caregivers. We offer virtual therapy for people throughout all of California, and we offer in-person therapy in Carlsbad, CA. Our services are available in both English and Mandarin. Our licensed psychologists offer psychological assessments. While our therapists specialize in treating children, we also treat adults. We specialize in treating anxiety, child behavioral problems, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), ADHD, autism (ASD), and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We offer parent coaching and consultation. We would love to support you along your journey. Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation today!