Can OCD involve thoughts that are scary, weird, or taboo?

Yes. Many children experience intrusive thoughts that feel frightening or confusing (e.g., harm or moral themes). These are symptoms of OCD, not a child’s character. Therapy helps kids notice and detach from these thoughts without shame.

Do children with OCD know their rituals don’t make sense?

Often they do, but the anxiety feels unbearable without the ritual. Therapy explains the OCD cycle and teaches new responses so kids can tolerate uncertainty without compulsions.

Can OCD in kids go away on its own?

OCD rarely resolves without treatment. Early ERP-informed support makes it easier to interrupt the cycle and reduce impact on school, friendships, sleep, and family life.

How involved are parents in OCD treatment for kids and teens?

Parent involvement is essential. We coach families to step out of reassurance and accommodation cycles, respond calmly, reinforce progress, and reduce stress at home.

How does therapy help with OCD in children and teens?

The gold-standard is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a CBT method that helps youth face triggers without rituals. We pair ERP with emotion regulation and parent coaching for durable change.

What causes OCD in children and adolescents?

OCD arises from genetic, neurological, and environmental factors. Some children have heightened sensitivity to uncertainty; others develop symptoms under stress or after illness. Therapy focuses on giving kids control over OCD—not the other way around.

How is OCD different from anxiety or perfectionism?

OCD includes distressing obsessions and compulsions aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing harm. Perfectionism involves high standards but not necessarily rituals. A child psychologist can clarify the pattern and treatment plan.

What are the signs of OCD in children and teens?

Common signs include intrusive thoughts, reassurance-seeking, checking, handwashing, arranging, counting, or needing things to feel “just right.” If these patterns interfere with daily life, OCD therapy can help.

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Ashley Megaw

Registered Psychologist

Children 5+, Teens, Young Adults & Parents · Anxiety · Depression · ADHD · Autism · Emotion Regulation · Sport & Performance Psychology

Ashley is a Registered Psychologist who works with children, teens, young adults, and parents. She supports clients navigating generalized, social, and separation anxiety, low confidence and self-esteem, school refusal, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), emotional regulation difficulties, and behavioural concerns.

She also has a special interest in sport and performance psychology, helping athletes — both recreational and competitive — build the mental strategies to perform with confidence and resilience.

Clients value Ashley's approachable, supportive style and her gift for connecting with children and parents alike. Her sessions are engaging and collaborative, designed to give practical tools you can use right away while supporting long-term growth. She draws from CBT, Solution-Focused Therapy, attachment-based strategies, play therapy, and parenting support — offered both in person and online.

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Ashley Megaw, Registered Psychologist at Creative Sky Psychology in Calgary