Teen OCD Treatment in Los Angeles for High Schoolers

OCD in teens is not about being neat. It is a cycle of unwanted, upsetting thoughts (obsessions) and things a teen feels driven to do to make the distress go away (compulsions), such as checking, rereading, redoing, washing or asking for reassurance. It is treatable. Blackburn Clinical Services offers one-on-one OCD therapy for teens 13 to 17 in our West Los Angeles office, with family sessions to help parents respond in ways that support recovery.

Who this page is for

Parents of high schoolers ages 13 to 17 across Los Angeles, including families at private and independent high schools, Catholic high schools, boarding schools and college prep schools, who are seeing rituals, endless homework or constant reassurance seeking. For adults, see OCD treatment in Los Angeles.

How common is OCD in kids and teens?

The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) reports that up to 3 percent of children worldwide will have OCD in their lifetime, and that in children it most often appears between ages 7 and 12. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that symptoms usually begin between late childhood and young adulthood. IOCDF also notes that kids and teens may try to hide their symptoms from parents and peers, which is one reason OCD can go unnoticed for years.

What OCD can look like in a high schooler

• Homework that never ends. Rereading the same paragraph, erasing until the page tears, or rewriting notes until they feel “just right.”
• Running late. Checking a backpack, a door or a phone over and over before leaving for school.
• Reassurance seeking. Asking “Are you sure?” or “Did I do something wrong?” many times a day.
• Contamination fears. Avoiding locker rooms, shared lab equipment or cafeteria food, or washing until hands are raw.
• Intrusive thoughts. Upsetting thoughts about harm, religion, relationships or identity that feel completely out of character, followed by mental reviewing or confessing. For families of faith, see therapy for teens at faith-based high schools.
• Avoidance. Steering clear of places, people or classes that set off obsessions. See school refusal and anxiety-related absences.

Slow, perfectionistic work can also come from ADHD, anxiety or a learning difference, and these can overlap with OCD. If the picture is unclear, ADHD and learning evaluations for private school teens can help sort it out.

How OCD is treated

The National Institute of Mental Health describes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication as effective treatments for OCD. Therapy helps a teen understand the cycle of obsessions and compulsions and build skills to respond to it differently. IOCDF notes that medication may be considered when symptoms are very severe or do not improve with therapy alone.

What therapy at Blackburn looks like

• An assessment with your teen and with you, covering obsessions, compulsions, school, sleep, mood and safety.
• One-on-one CBT-based therapy in our office or by secure video for clients located in California, with ACT skills for making room for uncomfortable thoughts and a step by step plan to rely less on rituals and reassurance.
• Family sessions, because families often get pulled into reassurance or rituals. We help parents step back from them in a planned, supportive way.
• Psychiatric care can be arranged if an evaluation for medication is appropriate.
• More support if needed through the Blackburn Concierge Outpatient Program, typically 3 to 5 hours a week of one-on-one therapy, with no groups.
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, scheduled within those hours around the school day.

What parents can do now

• Separate your teen from the OCD. Your teen is not choosing these behaviors; OCD is pushing them.
• Notice how the family is involved. IOCDF notes that kids and teens may involve family members in their rituals. Make a list of the ways the household has adjusted, such as answering the same question repeatedly or changing routines.
• Do not suddenly stop all reassurance on your own. Pulling back works best as part of a plan made with a therapist.
• Stay curious, not critical. Ask what the thought is telling them will happen.
• Call for an assessment. You do not need to be certain it is OCD to ask for help.

When to get urgent help

If your teen is in danger right now, call 911. If your teen talks about wanting to die, is harming themselves or you are worried they might, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time of day. Parents can call 988 too, for advice about what to do next. If your teen also seems low or hopeless, see teen depression signs parents miss.

Questions

Is my teen just a perfectionist, or is it OCD?

Perfectionism is about high standards. OCD is driven by distress and a feeling that something bad will happen or something is not right unless a ritual is done. If the behaviors take up a lot of time or cause real distress, an assessment can help tell the difference.

What is the most effective therapy for teen OCD?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a well established treatment for OCD in children and teens, and the National Institute of Mental Health describes CBT and medication as effective treatments. At Blackburn, teens work one-on-one with a therapist using CBT and ACT skills, with family sessions for parents.

Should I keep reassuring my teen?

Reassurance brings quick relief but can keep OCD going. Rather than stopping all at once, work with your teen’s therapist on a plan to reduce it step by step.

Does my teen need medication for OCD?

Not always. Many teens improve with therapy. If symptoms are severe or not improving, psychiatric care can be arranged so a prescriber can evaluate your teen.

Will you talk with my teen’s school?

Only with your written permission. When clinically appropriate, we can provide documentation for your teen’s school.

More for families: therapy for private school students, teen anxiety treatment and executive function struggles in high school.

Get started

You can also email info@blackburnclinical.com or contact us. Parents usually make the first call; your teen does not need to be on the line.

Sources

• International OCD Foundation: OCD in Kids and Teens (brochure, July 2025)
• National Institute of Mental Health: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline