First steps
If you think your child has OCD, start with your . Ask for a referral to:
- (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) – for assessment and therapy
- Community paediatrics – if you suspect co-occurring autism or
- Private CBT – if waits are long and you can afford it
What to tell the
Be specific:
- "My child washes their hands 30 times a day and gets distressed if they cannot."
- "She checks the front door 20 times before bed."
- "He has intrusive thoughts that upset him and counts to 100 to make them go away."
Bring a diary of behaviours if you can.
CBT for OCD
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the first-line treatment for childhood OCD. It includes:
- Psychoeducation – understanding how OCD works
- Cognitive strategies – challenging OCD thoughts
- ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) – gradually facing fears without doing compulsions
- Family involvement – helping parents stop accidentally reinforcing OCD
What is ERP?
ERP is the most effective part of OCD treatment. It works like this:
- Make a list of fears (from least scary to most scary)
- Start with the least scary
- Face the fear without doing the compulsion
- Stay with the anxiety until it naturally drops
- Repeat until the fear reduces
Example: If a child fears germs, they might touch a doorknob and wait 5 minutes before washing. Over time, the waiting period extends and the anxiety fades.
Medication (SSRIs)
- Sertraline and fluoxetine are commonly used for children with OCD
- They are usually prescribed by a child psychiatrist, not a
- They can take 4–8 weeks to work
- Side effects may include nausea, sleep changes, or headaches
- They are not addictive
Medication is often used alongside CBT, not instead of it.
Waiting lists?
While you wait for :
- Read Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD by Eli Lebowitz (for parents)
- Contact OCD Action – they have a youth helpline and parent forum
- Try NOCD – online ERP therapy (private, but sometimes faster)
- Use our anxiety tools and grounding techniques