OCD Treatment for Teens
If you’ve landed on this page, you might be pretty certain that your teenager has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and you’re just trying to figure out the best way to help him or her. We’ll get to that in just a sec!
Or, you might not be sure whether your teen has OCD. Below are some red flags your son or daughter might show, which could mean that they are struggling with OCD:
Or, you might not be sure whether your teen has OCD. Below are some red flags your son or daughter might show, which could mean that they are struggling with OCD:
- Repeated questions
- Needing to say or do things a certain way
- Complaints of strange or anxiety-provoking persistent thoughts
- Spending too much time on daily routines (e.g., washing hands or body repeatedly)
- Odd or repetitive behaviors (e.g., stepping, tapping, blinking, arranging)
Parenting a teenager with OCD
Parents joke that you do not get a manual when you become a parent. Well, there is definitely not a manual that helps parents deal with the challenges of raising a teenager with OCD! On a daily basis, parents often struggle with:
- I’ve answered the same question hundreds of times… but he keeps asking them, and I’m not sure my answers are helping!
- Sometimes she gets so stuck in a ritual (e.g., washing hands, tapping, counting, etc). I don’t know how to help her stop.
- When he or she feels nervous about something, it’s so hard to know how to help! Should I encourage him to do what is triggering his anxiety? Or should I avoid these situations for now, so that he doesn’t get so worked up?
If these are questions you’ve been asking yourself, you are not alone! I’ve heard them hundreds of times and though there are no easy answers, with effective OCD treatment – you will learn to navigate these tough situations effectively. And most importantly, you will learn to support your child or teen in beating OCD.
There are a lot of things that make parenting today harder than it was 20 years ago. But thankfully one thing that we can say is definitely easier today is access to effective OCD treatment for children and teens. We are lucky to live in an age where we know (based on tons of research!) that Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the most effective treatment for adults and children with OCD.
What exactly is ERP?
ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is a critical part of effective OCD treatment. ERP means that your child will learn to face his fears AND gradually stop doing the compulsions or rituals that he feels compelled to do to feel safe. This might seem really hard at first, but we will ease into it. We might first try delaying the compulsion, changing it, or messing it up in some way. The goal is to help your teen stop doing the compulsion altogether - but often we need these steps to get there.
In ERP your teen will practice facing their fears in a warm and supportive environment. With lots of exposure practice, they will learn:
In ERP your teen will practice facing their fears in a warm and supportive environment. With lots of exposure practice, they will learn:
- How to label thoughts as obsessive (e.g., persistent worry about feeling contaminated, not having things be “just right”, etc.)
- The discomfort that these thoughts create feels dangerous, but those uncomfortable feelings are actually completely safe and will subside
- Doing a ritual to feel less anxious feels better in the moment, but only makes OCD stronger in the long run
- Facing fears gets easier with practice
Unique aspects of Treating OCD in Teens
When choosing a therapist for your teen, working with someone with extensive experience and training in working with youth is essential.
A therapist specialized in working with teens with OCD should keep you closely in the loop about treatment because it is so important that YOU (the parent or caregiver) learn every skill that your teen learns in session.
I typically meet with patients for one weekly therapy session (50 minutes) – so lots of practice needs to happen between sessions in order for your child to experience improvement quickly.
Who better to support this practice than their parent (s) ? And importantly with teens - how do you do this in a way that is not perceived as annoying or cringe? We'll come up with a plan together that you and your teen can stick to.
I typically meet with patients for one weekly therapy session (50 minutes) – so lots of practice needs to happen between sessions in order for your child to experience improvement quickly.
Who better to support this practice than their parent (s) ? And importantly with teens - how do you do this in a way that is not perceived as annoying or cringe? We'll come up with a plan together that you and your teen can stick to.
Parents and I work together as a TEAM to help their teen learn to beat OCD.
Finding Effective OCD Treatment
Unfortunately, I’ve had many families tell me their teen has been in therapy before and it didn’t work for them. But when I hear more about the therapy, I realize that usually what they’ve been doing is not CBT or ERP (the gold-standard, research-based treatment for OCD). Instead, I often hear that they have been working on a mix of:
- General talk therapy without a clear plan of working toward the teen learning to face their OCD triggers
- Focusing on relaxation skills when feeling nervous (e.g., deep breathing, how to try to distract yourself from obsessive thoughts, how to think positive)
- Therapist working exclusively with the teen, without including parent and discussing specific strategies on how to continue supporting them in managing OCD symptoms at home
Although general talk therapy and learning relaxation skills may be helpful for other issues, there is no research showing its effectiveness in the treatment of children and teens with OCD.
If your teen has OCD and their therapy is focused on some of the activities listed above, please be cautious and consider seeking a second opinion.
If your teen has OCD and their therapy is focused on some of the activities listed above, please be cautious and consider seeking a second opinion.
Choosing to Start Therapy for your Teen with OCD
Sometimes starting therapy is a difficult decision to make because parents might feel guilty or ashamed about their child needing more help than they, as a parent, can provide. Some parents might feel that bringing their teen to therapy means that there is something wrong with them or that they are "crazy." But if your child is struggling with a toothache or chronic stomachaches – do you feel embarrassed about calling the dentist or a GI specialist?
We’ve made great strides as a society in reducing the stigma around seeking mental health services, but we’ve still got a lot to work to do on this front. OCD is a known illness with very effective, science-backed treatments. Don't let guilt or shame hold you back from doing what is best for your child.
We’ve made great strides as a society in reducing the stigma around seeking mental health services, but we’ve still got a lot to work to do on this front. OCD is a known illness with very effective, science-backed treatments. Don't let guilt or shame hold you back from doing what is best for your child.
Get Started with OCD Therapy with Dr. Penela
Making that first call to start treatment for your son or daughter can be a difficult step for many parents. If you make the brave choice to schedule that first session, I would feel honored to be part of your family’s journey toward helping your teen beat OCD.
I offer therapy in English and Spanish to families throughout Florida and 42 other states via tele-health (see all states here). I also offer in-person sessions from my office in South Florida (Pembroke Pines).
I offer therapy in English and Spanish to families throughout Florida and 42 other states via tele-health (see all states here). I also offer in-person sessions from my office in South Florida (Pembroke Pines).
