Therapy for Children and Teens

I am a board certified, licensed child and adolescent psychologist and I work with kids, teens and young adults of all ages. Over the past 15 years, I have specialized in helping kids overcome anxiety that can take over the lives of kids and families holding them back from the lives they want. I specialize in therapy with kids, teens, and young adults with OCD and anxiety disorders, BFRB’s and eating disorders.

 Cognitive-behavioral Therapy usually involving Exposure with Response Prevention is the most scientific supported intervention and usually takes about 15 sessions to provide relief. Sometimes interventions start with only targeting parent accommodation, such as the Supportive Parenting of Anxious Childhood Emotions is a science supported intervention that may reduce OCD distress by working with the parents alone. 

I help you better understand the ways OCD interferes in your life and gradually learn to face the fears OCD is telling you so you can overcome them. If OCD is taking over you and your child’s life, I can support you to reduce anxiety and help your family take their lives back.

See below for more information about these conditions:

  • What is OCD? 

    • OCD affects 1 in 200 kids and teens 

    • Many young adults are first diagnosed around age 19 but can occur at older and younger ages

    • It can be hard to tease apart OCD in young children where there may be developmentally appropriate repetitive behaviors and rigidity. 

    • OCD involves intrusive and obsessive thoughts that are upsetting to kids and teens

    • There is often a lot of shame around OCD so kids may not tell others they are struggling

  • Fears about being harmed

    o Contamination fears

    o Upsetting or violent images

    o Fears that they may have or will harm others

    o “Forbidden” topics of sexual, aggressive, or religious 

    o Need for perfection or symmetry 

    o Hoarding or keeping things, needing to “know” things or fear of forgetting 

  • Also involves repetitive behaviors that in the moment may help them feel safe but in the long run make OCD and anxiety worse. These can be observable behaviors but often is also mental compulsives such as praying, ruminating, or counting. Caregivers may not even notice. 

    · Compulsions may include:

    o Praying

    o Checking 

    o Asking parents/caregivers for reassurance. E.g asking parents: 

    § “Am I a bad person? 

    § Will I get sick?

    § Did I hurt my brother?

    o Ruminating

    o Handwashing

  • Caregivers also play an important role a child’s recovery because as parents we may be impacting anxiety even if we don’t mean to. Parent accommodation may look like providing reassurance, avoiding stressful situations because OCD says so, or not doing things a certain way because OCD says so. 

Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors

 Ever find yourself picking at your skin, pulling your hair, or biting your cheek or nails without even realizing it? These are body-focused repetitive behaviors, or BFRBs, and they can sneak into your life when stress, boredom, or anxiety show up. While these habits might seem small, they can have a big impact on your daily life, self-esteem, and even your health. BFRBs aren’t just “bad habits”—they’re often coping mechanisms that can feel impossible to control.  Some clients tell me that their BFRB gets in the way of showing up and being seen by the world the way they want to be seen. But with the right help, you or your child can break free from these patterns.

**Check out this video from the OCD Family Podcast where they explain it all!  About — OCD Family Podcast 

How do we treat BFRB's?

Habit Reversal Therapy or Comprehensive Behavior Therapy (ComB)  are science backed treatments that works by increasing awareness of the behavior and then replacing it with alternatives. I'll guide you through identifying the triggers and subtle patterns leading up to the BFRB, and together we’ll develop strategies to interrupt that cycle. Through this work, yo can build new behaviors and tools that can be used not only for the specific behavior but also to manage stress more broadly. This hands-on, practical therapy can dramatically reduce symptoms and lead to lasting change. Check out here for more information.

Understanding Emetophobia: Fear of Vomiting

Emetophobia, the intense and often overwhelming fear of vomiting, affects so many a lot of us and can make life feel unpredictable and anxiety-inducing. This phobia goes beyond a typical aversion to sickness, as you may develop extreme worry over any situation you perceive as carrying the risk of vomiting. Social gatherings, school activities, or even family meals may trigger intense anxiety, and sufferers often go to great lengths to avoid situations they think could lead to nausea or exposure to illness. As a psychologist with expertise in both clinical and academic settings, I recognize how deeply this fear can disrupt a young person’s quality of life and the courage it takes to seek help.

Living with emetophobia can significantly impact a young person's education, relationships, and emotional well-being. Have you or your child ever:

  • Avoided attending school or extracurricular activities fearing exposure to potential illness?

  • Became so upset even when classmates mentioned feeling unwell? 

  • Limited what you eat to avoid feeling sick?

  • Become hypervigilant about cleanliness and hygiene to avoid perceived threats?

 This hyperfocus on avoiding illness can lead to feelings of isolation, missed opportunities for social engagement, and, in some cases, even nutritional challenges. Addressing these behaviors early on with specialized care is crucial, as untreated emetophobia may lead to further complications with anxiety or OCD-related concerns.

Choosing our practice means working with an expert trained psychologist with a deep commitment to helping children, teens, and young adults facing anxiety and phobia-related challenges. At our practice, we specialize in evidence-based treatments tailored to help young people overcome emetophobia and anxiety. Working with an expert means treatment and relief are faster and better tailored to what you need! Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) are highly effective approaches for managing emetophobia. Through these methods, patients gradually confront and reframe their fears with professional support, allowing them to develop healthy, adaptive responses to situations they once avoided. Many find relief and lasting resilience through targeted treatment that helps reduce the grip of their phobia over time, empowering them to engage more fully in their lives.