How Can I Support My Teenager With OCD? 4 Realistic Strategies for 2025

Has your teen recently been diagnosed with OCD?

Navigating treatment can feel isolating and daunting for both of you, but it doesn’t have to.

Here are 4 tips on how to support your teen with OCD from a licensed OCD teen therapist.

When your teenager is struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), it can make you feel helpless. Many teens with OCD have a hard time sharing their intrusive thoughts and obsessions with their parents because they worry it will make them sound “crazy”, or that you won’t understand. This is one of the reasons why it can take an average of a decade to get diagnosed with OCD and receive proper treatment.

Add on top of that that many teenagers feel like they’ve got it all figured out and don’t want to concern others with what they’re dealing with, and you get a perfect storm for both you and your teen to feel like you’re going through this all alone.

As OCD specialists, here are our top 4 ways you can support your teen with OCD, designed to help both of you feel more supported and connected throughout this difficult time.

1) Get them connected to the right support

Getting your teen connected to a therapist who specializes in diagnosing and treating OCD as soon as possible can make the biggest difference in how they navigate this new challenge. A qualified therapist will help your teen develop the tools they need to manage their OCD and set them up for success should they have any OCD flare ups in the future. They will also help you as their parent better understand what keeps OCD going and how you can help your child manage their OCD between sessions and once treatment is complete.

What to look for in an OCD therapist for your teen:

a) They’re trained in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP), which is the “gold standard“ of treatment for OCD, meaning it has proven to be effective for all populations, including teenagers, with OCD. ERP works quickly and can help your teen achieve lasting results.

b) They specialize in treating teenagers with OCD specifically. Although the treatment for teens vs. adults is generally the same, having a specialized teen therapist can make a difference in how comfortable and engaged your child is in therapy. A good teen OCD therapist will work with their sense of humor and values to build rapport and make therapy enjoyable, which leads to better outcomes and faster progress.

If you are also considering medication for your child, finding a psychiatrist who specializes in treating OCD is also imperative, as people with OCD often need a different dosage than those with typical anxiety or depression.

2) Offer emotional support, but not reassurance

Many teens with OCD will ask their parents for reassurance that they did something correctly, or didn’t do something they shouldn’t have. Common examples of reassurance-seeking can sound like:

“Do you think I washed my hands well enough?“

“Am I a good person?“ or “Do you think I’m a bad friend?“

“Can you check the lock on the front door before I go to sleep?“

While offering reassurance can feel good for both of you in the moment (of course you want your child to go to you for help!), it ultimately hurts more than it helps. This is because OCD feeds on reassurance and causes your child to rely on you to resolve the doubt they’re feeling as a result of their OCD, rather than them using the proper tools to manage it on their own.

So what can you do instead?

Phrases like the ones below can work wonders in helping your teen feel loved and supported by you without you inadvertently enabling their OCD:

“You can always share with me anything that’s on your mind, no matter how weird or strange it may seem“

“You’re doing such a good job with your therapy homework, I can see you’re really trying“

“No matter what your OCD tells you, I love you and I’m proud of you“

3) Help them do their exposures

Your teenager will likely be given exposure assignments to do between sessions. Helping them stay on track with their therapy homework can not only help them stay consistent, but also feel less like they’re having to do it all alone. Ask your teen’s therapist if it would be appropriate for you to be with them during certain exposures and praise them for their efforts with some encouraging words, a hug, or a high five.

4) Find support for yourself, too

OCD doesn’t just affect your teen, it impacts the whole family, too. It’s incredibly difficult to watch your child suffer knowing there’s only so much that you yourself can do. Connecting with other parents of teens with OCD can reduce isolation and help you gain a better understanding of your teen’s experience with OCD by trading insights and tools. Facebook groups are a great place to start, and you may be able to find a support group hosted by your teen’s therapist or psychiatrist as well.

Looking to get your teen started with an OCD therapist? We offer in-person sessions in Sacramento, CA and virtual sessions to anyone in California. Use the button below to schedule a complimentary consultation with an OCD teen therapist today.