Teen Therapy for Anxiety & OCD
Anxiety, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in teens can show up in big ways and leave families spiraling. Being parents ourselves we get that we can’t always prevent our teens from struggling, but we can give them the skills to thrive in the face of life's challenges.
With skill building through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), we help youth and parents develop a toolbox of evidenced based strategies to face their fears and courageously take back their lives from Anxiety and OCD.
The therapy we provide focuses on equipping kids with the skills they need to manage life's challenges successfully. We teach children to be mindful of their emotions, to notice their thoughts, and use adaptive strategies to build tolerance of the uncomfortable and uncertain, helping them get back to focusing on the stuff they care about.
Providing therapy in California & Oregon
If you're feeling stuck, give us a call—we can help.
Our Specialties
-
Anxiety & Related Disorders
We all experience worry from time to time, but for some teenagers, anxiety becomes a constant companion. In fact, it's reported that more than 30% of individuals will be affected by an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. These can take many forms from
Separation Anxiety
Health Anxiety
Panic Disorder
It's essential to remember that occasional worry is a normal part of growing up. However, when your child's worries start to impact their daily activities—school, friendships, or their overall happiness—it's time to seek support.
We believe in empowering teens to become their own champions, helping them navigate through anxiety, and growing into brave individuals. We're here to work with you and your teen, celebrating their victories and supporting them through their challenges.
-
OCD & Related Disorders
OCD in teens is characterized by unwanted and persistent thoughts, urges, or images, accompanied by compulsive behaviors or rituals aimed at alleviating anxiety. It's important to know that OCD can manifest differently in youth compared to adults, often leading to challenges in recognition and diagnosis.
As parents, it's natural to have questions and concerns. Rest assured, early intervention is crucial in helping teens manage their OCD symptoms effectively. Seeking professional help from a trained therapist experienced in working with pediatric OCD is a vital first step.
At our therapy practice, we prioritize evidence-based approaches for treating OCD in teens. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, a specific form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), has shown great success in reducing OCD symptoms. Through ERP, youth gradually confront their fears while learning healthier ways to respond, leading to improved distress tolerance and overall well-being.
OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
BFRB-Body Focused Repetitive Behavior
-
Other Areas We Support
We understand that you may seek support for your teen, even if they don’t meet the full criteria for an anxiety disorder. We're here to help, and can offer a free consultation to determine if our services are the right fit for your child's needs.
We also recognize that anxiety disorders and OCD often coexist with other challenges. Others areas we offer support for include:
Depression
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder)
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Insomnia & Bedtime Challenges
Behavioral Difficulties
Our treatment approach integrates techniques that address these co-occurring issues, providing comprehensive care for your child.
Please note that our practice is not suitable for children with active anorexia, psychotic symptoms, or substance abuse.
Evidenced Based Treatment for Transformative Outcomes:
-
CBT is a highly effective treatment method that focuses on identifying and modifying negative thought patterns and behaviors.
By helping children recognize and challenge unhelpful thoughts, CBT equips them with practical skills to cope with various challenges.
Through collaborative efforts with a trained therapist, parents can expect their children to develop healthier coping strategies, build self-esteem, and manage emotions more effectively.
-
ERP is a specialized treatment approach primarily used to address anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This technique gradually exposes children to anxiety-provoking situations or triggers while simultaneously preventing the typical response or compulsion associated with their fears.
ERP empowers children to confront their fears in a controlled and supportive environment, helping them to overcome anxiety and regain control over their lives.
-
ACT is a therapeutic method that encourages children to accept their thoughts and feelings without judgment while committing to actions that align with their values. By fostering psychological flexibility, ACT helps children develop resilience and adaptability, enabling them to effectively manage stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges.
ACT empowers children to make meaningful changes and live a fulfilling life in alignment with their personal goals and aspirations.
-
Mindfulness-based techniques involve cultivating present-moment awareness and non-judgmental acceptance of one's thoughts, emotions, and sensations. These techniques, such as mindfulness meditation and breathing exercises, can help children develop a greater sense of calmness, emotional regulation, and focus.
By integrating mindfulness practices into their daily lives, children can enhance their overall well-being, reduce stress, and improve their ability to handle challenges with greater clarity and composure.
-
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Childhood Emotions) is an innovative, evidence-based parent-based treatment program for children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, and related problems. This unique approach equips parents with the skills needed to effectively manage and reduce their child's symptoms.
Some of the main anxiety problems treated with SPACE include:
-Separation anxiety
-Social anxiety
-Generalized anxiety
-Fears and phobias
-Panic disorder and Agoraphobia
-Selective mutism
-Obsessive-compulsive disorder
-
Habit Reversal Training is a highly effective approach for treating Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) such as hair pulling (Trichotillomania) and skin picking (Excoriation). This method helps individuals build awareness of the thoughts, feelings, urges, and physical sensations that come before the behavior. Once these triggers are recognized, clients learn to interrupt the pattern by using a competing response—an action that is physically incompatible with pulling or picking. With consistent practice, HRT helps weaken the urge-behavior cycle and build healthier habits over time.
-
Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is the gold-standard behavioral treatment for Tourette Syndrome and other tic disorders, recognized by the Tourette Association of America and major medical organizations as a first-line, non-medication approach. It helps kids and teens learn to notice the urges that come before a tic, use competing responses that make tics less likely to happen, and adjust daily habits and environments so tics are less frequent and less disruptive—giving families a clear, evidence-based path for managing Tourette’s & tics with practical tools and more confidence.
What to Expect When Getting Started
If you've been encouraged to seek therapy for your teenager, you may be wondering what the process looks like. Starting therapy can feel like a big step, but our goal is to make it as comfortable, collaborative, and supportive as possible for both you and your teen.
We begin with an 60 - 90 min assessment that includes both you and your teenager. This first appointment helps us understand what's been happening, how your teen has been feeling, what's already been tried, and what you're hoping will change. We also take time to learn about your teen's strengths, interests, relationships, and the challenges that may be affecting their daily life.
During the assessment, we'll explain how therapy works at Raising Brave Kids, answer any questions, and gather important background information. When appropriate, we'll assess for concerns such as anxiety, OCD, phobias, panic, or other emotional and behavioral challenges to ensure we develop the most effective treatment plan. Depending on your teen's age, comfort level, and needs, part of the session may be spent together and part individually so they have space to begin building a trusting relationship with their therapist.
Following the assessment, most teens participate in weekly therapy sessions. Depending on your family's goals, treatment may include individual therapy for your teen, parent coaching, family sessions, or a combination of these approaches. Our clinicians use evidence-based treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and other developmentally appropriate interventions tailored to your teen's needs.
Parents remain an important part of the treatment process. We typically schedule parent check-ins every six weeks—or more frequently when helpful—to review progress, discuss strategies to support your teen at home, and ensure everyone is working toward the same goals.
As your teenager gains confidence, develops new coping skills, and begins reaching their treatment goals, we'll gradually reduce the frequency of sessions and create a thoughtful plan for the next phase of care. Our goal is to help your teen build lasting skills that support success long after therapy has ended.
How long are sessions and how frequently do they occur?
Treatment usually consists of weekly sessions that last 45 min each. It is impossible to predict how many sessions one may need, as everyone’s needs are different. However, the treatment we provide is evidence-based, behavioral intervention. By this nature, the focus is on progress in treatment with weekly assignments. If you don’t see measurable gains in therapy, then this will be something we will address early in the treatment.
Do you provide In-person child therapy services?
Yes, we do!
We see kids and teens in person at our NW Portland, Oregon office. Families often reach out when anxiety is starting to take over, school feels harder than it should, friendships are getting complicated, or their child just doesn’t seem like themselves lately.
There’s something powerful about having a consistent, calm space outside of home to practice new skills. In-person teen therapy gives kids the chance to connect face-to-face, build confidence, and work through challenges in real time with a supportive therapist.
If you’re looking for child therapy in NW Portland and want care that’s evidence-based but still warm and approachable, we’re here.
Is Online Counseling Right for My Teen?
Many families across California and Oregon face real barriers when trying to access specialized child mental health care, particularly for concerns like anxiety, OCD, and depression. Limited availability of trained pediatric clinicians, long waitlists, and geographic distance can make getting the right support challenging.
For many families, the challenge is not just access — it’s logistics. Between school, homework, soccer practice, piano lessons, and busy family schedules, adding one more in-person appointment can feel overwhelming. Online and hybrid therapy options allow children and teens to receive consistent, high-quality care without disrupting the rhythm of family life.
Research shows that telehealth treatment for childhood anxiety, OCD, and depression can be as effective as in-person therapy when delivered by trained clinicians.
At Raising Brave Kids, our licensed clinicians carefully assess whether online counseling is the right fit for each child. We consider developmental level, clinical needs, family preferences, and the home environment to ensure telehealth is not only convenient, but clinically appropriate and effective for your child’s growth and wellbeing.
Research & Professional References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Guidelines for the practice of telepsychology.
Comer, J. S., Furr, J. M., Cooper-Vince, C., et al. (2017). Internet-delivered, family-based treatment for early-onset OCD: A pilot randomized trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85(2), 178–186.
Storch, E. A., Caporino, N. E., Morgan, J. R., et al. (2011). Preliminary investigation of web-camera delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy for youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychiatry Research, 189(3), 407–412.
Vigerland, S., Lenhard, F., Bonnert, M., et al. (2016). Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy for children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 50, 1–10.
What are your fees & do you take insurance
More detail on our rates & insurance can be found here.