OCD & Anxiety Treatment for Children & Teens
Anxiety and OCD are among the most common challenges we treat at Wellness Associates, and also among the most treatable. At Wellness Associates, our White Plains-based team specializes in evidence-based therapy for children and teens dealing with a wide range of anxiety disorders and OCD-related conditions.
We serve families throughout Westchester County, including Scarsdale, Chappaqua, Rye, and surrounding communities.
Conditions We Treat
Our clinicians are experienced in working with children and teens who are struggling with:
Emetophobia in Children & Teens
Emetophobia — an intense fear of vomiting — is one of the most under-recognized anxiety conditions we treat, and one of the most disruptive to a child's daily life. It can drive avoidance of food, school, travel, and social situations, and is often misread as picky eating or general anxiety rather than named and treated directly. Our clinicians are experienced in identifying emetophobia and treating it with the same evidence-based, exposure-based approach we use for OCD: gradual, clinically-paced exposure and response prevention (ERP) that helps children build tolerance for the sensations and situations they currently avoid.
Our Approach: CBT and ERP
Our OCD treatment for children and teens combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP), the gold-standard, evidence-based approach for obsessive-compulsive disorder and related anxiety conditions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps children recognize and shift unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior, building the skills to respond to difficult feelings in new ways.
Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP is a specific, evidence-based approach that helps children gradually build confidence in situations they currently find overwhelming or frightening. Step by step, at a clinically appropriate pace, children learn that the situations anxiety made feel impossible are ones they can handle.
We also draw on a range of other evidence-based approaches as clinically appropriate, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Habit Reversal Therapy (HRT). Our approach is always tailored to your child's individual needs.
What Treatment Looks Like
Treatment at Wellness Associates begins with an initial assessment, typically spanning one to three sessions, where your child's clinician will take time to deeply understand their concerns, history, and goals. From there, a personalized treatment plan is developed collaboratively with you and your child.
- Individual therapy sessions are typically 45 minutes and held weekly, either in person at our White Plains office or via telehealth
- For children with more severe symptoms, intensive therapy (involving longer and more frequent sessions) may be recommended
Involving Parents in Treatment
Parents are an important part of their child's treatment at Wellness Associates. Depending on the treatment plan, this may include regular updates, parent-focused sessions, or dedicated parent training. We help caregivers understand their child's challenges and develop effective strategies for supporting treatment at home.
Getting Started
If your child is struggling with anxiety or OCD, you do not need a referral to reach out. Contact us to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help.
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