Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be debilitating, especially if it goes untreated. If your child’s OCD causes stress in their everyday life, exposure and response prevention (ERP) could help them address their triggers and reactions.
ERP provides healthy, controlled exposure therapy to individual triggers, sharing effective strategies and tools to help children gain more control over their compulsions.
For many years, symptoms of OCD were limited to being overly organized or hyper-focused on patterns and colors. Today, we know OCD can be much more. If you believe your child or teen is struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder, keep an eye out for the following symptoms:
Scary situations are uncomfortable for us all — no matter the age. However, if the fear of what could happen is affecting your child’s everyday life, they could be experiencing OCD.
If you notice your child avoiding the same situations or events, they may feel that something could put them or their loved ones in danger. By not participating, they could believe they are preventing that harm.
Patterns are very common for children and teens with OCD. Although it is normal for early learners to categorize, label and classify, these actions can become excessive. Common examples of compulsive rituals seen in children with OCD are:
When children feel fearful or anxious, they can doubt their safety — just like the rest of us. However, if you notice your child continuously on edge, even in their own home, they could be struggling with OCD.
Doubts of safety can burden children and teens because their fear of something going wrong can make it difficult to focus on daily activities. This OCD symptom could also be why your child has trouble falling asleep at night.
Exposure and response prevention is often the most effective type of psychotherapy for OCD. ERP does exactly what it says — it exposes children to the things that are causing their anxieties and helps them develop new behaviors to prevent their compulsive responses.
Exposure and response prevention for OCD includes assessment, treatment and planning. Each child or teen’s version of ERP differs, as therapists carefully study and develop plans based on specific triggers and symptoms. After an ERP therapist identifies external or internal triggers, they will work closely with you and your child to make irrational fears less scary.
Exposure therapy can encourage peace and security in your child’s life. With individualized ERP sessions, children with OCD can slowly address their fears and live the life they want. Some benefits include:
At Courageous Kids Counseling, we understand just how unique every person is — including your child. We create specialized ERP treatment plans so that each fear, obstacle or doubt receives a coping mechanism chosen specifically for your child’s experience and response.
We know there is no pain like watching your child struggle, which is why we make your child’s improvement our priority. We offer virtual ERP sessions and in-person sessions in Nyack, New York.
Courageous Kids Counseling offers a direct approach to our exposure therapy. We focus on educating you and your child, setting you up with tools and strategies from the first session. Whether you prefer to be with your child every step of the way or want them to focus on independent coping mechanisms, we will help you find the best options for your family.
At Courageous Kids Counseling, we seek to change your child’s experience with OCD through exposure and response prevention treatment that caters to their unique triggers and compulsions, giving them tools and strategies they can use for life.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder does not define your child. Help them reduce their anxiety and find joy again with Courageous Kids Counseling ERP therapy. Contact us or give us a call at 914-326-2803 to start your child’s ERP journey today.
In our work together, we will uncover what is missing from your child’s life, what’s holding them back in worry and despair, and what are the ways we can help them move toward a place of happiness and fulfillment.
We provide convenient online sessions.
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