OCD Therapy for Children and Teens in Calgary

Teen washing their hands at the Creative Sky Psychology Office after an OCD exposure session

Helping Kids Break Free from the Loop of Uncertainty and Compulsion

OCD can feel like a relentless rulebook written in invisible ink — full of musts, shoulds, and what-ifs. It can be hard to make sense of the thoughts, and hard to get it right.. Just when one worry settles, another takes its place. Rituals offer momentary relief, but the comfort fades fast, and the cycle begins again. Creative Sky Psychology specializes in the treatment of OCD to nterrupt the loops in a safe and supportive manner. We collaborate with children and teens and support with building tools, insights, and confidence to challenge OCD thoughts and behaviours.

Child Psychologist in Calgary providing OCD treatment and resources for a teen with OCD

What OCD Looks Like in Kids and Teens

Obsessive-compulsive disorder doesn’t always show up as “handwashing” or “checking.” In children and adolescents, OCD can wear many disguises:

  • Intrusive thoughts about harm, germs, or mistakes

  • Mental compulsions (counting, praying, “undoing” thoughts)

  • Physical rituals (touching, tapping, arranging)

  • Reassurance-seeking that becomes constant

  • Avoidance behaviors that shrink a child or teen’s world

It’s not about being picky or controlling — OCD feels like a matter of emotional safety. Children often know their thoughts or actions don’t make sense, but the anxiety is overwhelming. OCD often goes unnoticed and stays hidden, though can come out as behaviour issues and cause emotion regulation challenges. Therapy helps by addressing both the fears and the rituals in ways that feel safe and empowering.

Our Approach to OCD Therapy at Creative Sky Psychology

We use a compassion-first model rooted in EECT (Embedded Emotional Coaching Tone), helping your child feel safe while confronting difficult thoughts and urges.

What We Use:

  • ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) – the gold-standard treatment, tailored by age and readiness

  • CBT for OCD – to build thought flexibility and challenge fear-based beliefs

  • Narrative and Play-Based Tools – for younger children to externalize the “OCD boss”

  • Parent Coaching – to shift out of accommodation and into confidence

  • Emotion Regulation & Co-Regulation – because fear needs safety, not logic, to calm down

Image of a child psychologist in Calgary who specializes in the treatment of OCD

Age-Specific Support

Preschool and Young Children

We externalize OCD and find a suitable label. This helps children see OCD separate from themselves. We use art, play, and stories to help kids face fears in bite-sized, safe ways. Parents are active participants, learning to become co-regulators and boundary-holders instead of rescuers.

Ages 6–12

This age group often struggles with mental compulsions and seeks constant reassurance. We introduce ERP gently and playfully, building bravery through visual tools, metaphors, and rewards. We also coach parents in reducing accommodations without increasing fear.

Teens and Tweens

Teens often carry shame or hide their rituals. We validate their experience while teaching practical, values-based tools to handle OCD’s demands. We normalize common subtypes (like harm OCD or moral scrupulosity) and offer a roadmap to reclaim identity and freedom.

Calgary Psychologist Marie Goulet providing OCD treatment for a teenager at the Creative Sky Psychology office

Support for Parents: Stepping Out of the OCD Loop

You didn’t cause your child’s OCD — but your responses can help them break the loops!

An OCD child Psychologist can guide you to:

  • Reduce accommodations and “checking” cycles

  • Respond calmly to panic without reinforcing rituals

  • Help your child tolerate uncertainty

  • Use confident language instead of comforting out of fear

Parent’s are provided with scripts, strategies, and confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the signs of OCD in children and teens?

Children with OCD may have unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that cause anxiety, followed by repetitive behaviors or rituals (compulsions) they feel they must do to feel safe or "just right." Common signs include excessive checking, handwashing, arranging items, reassurance-seeking, counting, or needing things to follow a strict order. If these patterns are interfering with daily life, OCD therapy can help.

How is OCD different from anxiety or perfectionism?

While OCD is related to anxiety, it’s defined by a cycle of obsessions (distressing thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive actions) meant to reduce anxiety or prevent something bad from happening. Perfectionism may involve high standards, but OCD includes mental or physical rituals that feel impossible to stop. A Calgary child psychologist can help clarify the difference and recommend the right approach.

What causes OCD in children and adolescents?

OCD is believed to stem from a combination of genetic, neurological, and environmental factors. Some kids may have a biological sensitivity to uncertainty or a strong need for control. Others may develop OCD after illness (like PANDAS/PANS) or during periods of intense stress. Therapy focuses on helping your child gain control over OCD—not the other way around.

How does therapy help with OCD in children and teens?

The gold standard treatment for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that helps children gradually face anxiety-provoking thoughts without giving in to compulsions. Our therapists use gentle, supportive ERP techniques along with emotional coaching and parent involvement to help children reclaim their freedom from OCD.

  • Yes. Many children with OCD have intrusive thoughts that feel frightening or confusing (e.g., “What if I hurt someone?” or “What if I did something bad?”). These thoughts are not reflective of who they are—they’re symptoms of OCD. Therapy helps kids understand and detach from these thoughts without shame, fear, or judgment.

  • Often, yes. Many kids are aware that their behaviors are illogical but still feel intense distress if they don’t complete them. Others may not fully recognize the pattern yet. Either way, therapy helps children and teens understand what’s happening in their brain and build new responses to obsessive thoughts.

  • OCD rarely resolves without treatment—and untreated OCD can become more entrenched over time. The earlier children get support, the easier it is to interrupt the cycle and prevent long-term impact on confidence, relationships, and daily functioning. With the right therapy, OCD can become far more manageable.

  • Parent involvement is essential. Children with OCD often rely on parents to participate in rituals or offer reassurance. In therapy, we teach parents how to step out of the OCD cycle in a way that’s supportive, not punitive. You’ll learn how to respond calmly, reinforce progress, and reduce family stress while empowering your child’s growth.