Children & Teens
Children with Anxiety and OCD
You may have noticed your child’s anxious feelings showing up in their body—headaches, stomachaches, chewing on hair or nails, or trouble sleeping. Kids with worries often ask many questions, seek reassurance, or try hard to avoid anything uncomfortable. For children with anxiety or OCD, that might mean avoiding their beds at night, germs, bugs, or social gatherings.
Avoidance can bring temporary relief, but over time, it makes anxiety stronger. You might feel like your child is facing one fear after another—and you’re not sure how to help.
I work with children experiencing separation anxiety, social anxiety, selective mutism, OCD, phobias, fears, and frequent worries. Whether your child struggles with obsessions, compulsions, or missing school because of anxiety, we can find a way forward.
As a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S), I help children express themselves in their natural language—play. Through play, we can safely explore fears, build coping skills, and strengthen your child’s confidence and emotional resilience. Other modalities and theories I am trained in are listed below. However, even if a child meets the criteria for OCD, you should know that I playfully integrate exposure with response prevention, and I find a way to do things in a fun, playful way.
You want your child to enjoy being a kid again—and to get a good night’s sleep, too. I’d love to help your child rediscover joy and calm.
Schedule a free 10-minute phone consultation to get started.
Teens with Anxiety and OCD
Sometimes, things just don’t feel okay. Your mind might fill with “what if” thoughts, or you may replay conversations with friends and overanalyze things people said in your DMs. Maybe you feel nervous before tests, speaking in class, or trying something new. Many teens with anxiety work incredibly hard to get good grades and avoid mistakes—often to the point of exhaustion.
Anxiety looks different for everyone. Some teens struggle with perfectionism, social anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Others feel paralyzed by fears, excessive shyness, separation anxiety, or constant worry. I’ve also helped teens with emetophobia (fear of vomiting) and those who feel overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts or fears they can’t turn off.
Our goal isn’t to “get rid” of anxiety or change who you are—it’s to help you live with anxiety in a way that doesn’t control your life. Together, we’ll make a plan to manage your fears, face them gradually, and find more joy and freedom along the way.
This process takes courage and some hard work, especially when it comes to exposure therapy. Avoiding the things that make you anxious can bring short-term relief, but it often makes anxiety stronger over time. In our work together, we’ll learn how to face those fears safely and effectively.
We’ll also focus on self-care, self-compassion, healthier ways of thinking, and doing hard stuff anyway. Sometimes, the loudest part of anxiety is the voice in your head saying “what if” or “you can’t handle this.” We’ll work on quieting that noise so you can build confidence, reconnect with what matters to you, and start living your life—not your anxiety.
Areas of Expertise
Childhood neglect
OCD
Childhood physical abuse
Childhood sexual abuse
ADHD
Divorce
Separation Anxiety
Selective Mutism
Social Anxiety
Emetophobia
Agoraphobia
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Acute Stress Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Adoption
Bullying
Modalities
I am trained in several therapeutic modalities. If you’re unfamiliar with these terms, that’s completely okay — we’ll talk through them in our first session and decide on the best treatment plan for your child.
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CCPT is a play-based treatment for children ages 4–10. It can be effective for behavioral issues, grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, and challenges with school or social relationships. CCPT allows children to express themselves naturally through play, fostering emotional growth and self-understanding.
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I am nationally certified in TF-CBT, an evidence-based treatment for children and teens (ages 7–18) who have experienced trauma such as abuse, neglect, or witnessing a distressing event. In our first session, I’ll provide a parent handout outlining the TF-CBT process and goals, so you’ll know what to expect every step of the way.
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Sometimes words aren’t enough to describe what’s going on inside. Sandtray therapy gives kids and teens a creative, nonverbal way to express emotions using sand and miniature figures. It’s a gentle, hands-on approach that helps process big feelings, build confidence, and make therapy feel more comfortable—especially if talking feels hard at first.
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If faith is important to you or your family, I offer Christian counseling upon request. You decide how much (or how little) spirituality you’d like to include in your sessions. Some clients choose to start or end with prayer, others prefer a Bible-based approach, and some just appreciate knowing their counselor shares their faith and values.
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EMDR is a structured therapy that helps your brain heal from distressing memories. While focusing on a difficult memory, you’ll engage in eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation (like tapping or tones). Over time, those memories lose their emotional intensity and stop feeling so overwhelming. EMDR is highly effective for trauma, anxiety, and panic.
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ERP is the gold-standard treatment for OCD and certain anxiety disorders. It helps you face fears—like germs, messiness, or scary thoughts—without doing the rituals or avoidance behaviors that make anxiety stronger. With practice, you’ll learn that the feared situations aren’t as dangerous as they feel and that you can handle the discomfort. This approach takes courage, but it works.
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ACT helps teens stop fighting their thoughts and start living their lives. Instead of trying to control every anxious or unwanted thought, you’ll learn mindfulness and acceptance strategies to let them pass without giving them power. We’ll focus on what matters most to you—your values, goals, and what makes life meaningful—and help you move toward those things, even when anxiety shows up. This is a great option for teens with an OCD diagnosis.
If you’re ready to quiet the noise in your mind and start feeling like yourself again, I’d love to help you get there.
Call today — you don’t have to suffer alone.