How ERP Therapy Helps Children With OCD
Is your child struggling with intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviours, or anxiety?and the urge to perform compulsive behaviors to feel better. Obsessive-compuslive disorder (OCD) can be overwhelming for children and families, but there is evidence-based help available.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy is a mode of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy that helps kids break the cycle of OCD and learn healthier ways of coping, to help them regain control of their lives. This blog will discuss the goals of ERP and how it targets OCD in children.
How OCD Presents in Children
OCD is a mental health condition characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions. Obsessions are unwanted, distressing, and often irrational thoughts or urges—while compulsions are the repetitive behaviours or rituals performed to try to reduce the discomfort caused by these thoughts.
Common examples in children might include:
Excessive hand washing due to a fear of germs
Repeated checking to prevent harm to loved ones
An overwhelming need for perfectionism or things to be "just right"
Constant reassurance-seeking or rumination over what-if scenarios
What is ERP Therapy for Children?
ERP helps kids confront their fears in a safe and structured way. Instead of avoiding what makes them anxious or performing rituals, they learn to tolerate discomfort and break the OCD cycle.
There are two main components:
Exposure: The child is gradually and repeatedly exposed to situations or thoughts that trigger their OCD. This could include touching a "contaminated" object or imagining a feared scenario.
Response Prevention: The child is supported in resisting the urge to perform their usual compulsions or ritualistic response. Instead, they learn to sit with the anxiety and allow it to pass naturally, building resilience over time.
Through this process, children learn healthy coping skills and discover that their fears are often exaggerated or unfounded. The goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety altogether but to empower kids to live with uncertainty without being controlled by it.
ERP Therapy Tailored to Different Types of OCD
Our child OCD therapists in Ontario customize ERP for each child’s specific OCD themes. Here’s how ERP is tailored to approach common subtypes:
1. Contamination OCD
Fear: Germs, dirt, illness
Compulsions: Excessive washing, avoidance of certain objects or places
ERP Approach: Gradual exposure to “contaminated” objects, like touching doorknobs without washing hands, and preventing the excessive hand washing routine.
2. Checking OCD
Fear: Causing harm, making a mistake
Compulsions: Checking locks, appliances, or repeatedly seeking reassurance
ERP Approach: Encouraging the child to avoid checking and learning to tolerate uncertainty or mistakes.
3. Symmetry and Perfectionism OCD
Fear: Things being out of order or feeling “off”
Compulsions: Rearranging objects, repeating actions until they feel right
ERP Approach: Accepting imperfections without fixing them.
4. Harm OCD
Fear: Hurting others or oneself, even unintentionally
Compulsions: Mental checking, avoidance, rumination
ERP Approach: Imaginal exposures to feared scenarios and resisting the urge to mentally review or seek reassurance.
5. Religious or Moral OCD (Scrupulosity)
Fear: Being sinful or morally wrong
Compulsions: Excessive praying, confessing, or moral rumination
ERP Approach: Facing feared thoughts without engaging in unhealthy response or seeking moral certainty.
6. Intrusive Thoughts OCD
Fear: Having inappropriate or dangerous thoughts
Compulsions: Avoidance, reassurance seeking, mental rituals
ERP Approach: Learning to sit with the discomfort of intrusive thoughts without reacting to them.
Why Choose ERP Therapy?
Healing Voices Psychotherapy offers compassionate, specialized care for children with OCD across Ontario. ERP therapy offers a proven path to freedom from the distressing grip of obsessions, compulsions, and anxiety. With patience, practice, and professional guidance, kids can learn to face their fears, resist compulsive behaviors, and develop lifelong coping strategies.
If your child is struggling with OCD symptoms, ERP therapy can provide relief and lasting change. To learn more, visit this page or book a free consultation with one of our child therapists today, to learn how your child can break free from OCD.
