Child OCD Therapy · Marin County, CA
OCD Therapy for Children in Marin County
OCD in children is more common than most parents realize — and it's highly treatable with the right approach. Reframe CBT specializes in child-adapted ERP for children ages 6 and up, with active parent coaching throughout treatment.
How OCD Appears in Children
Childhood OCD often looks different from adult OCD. Children may not be able to articulate their obsessions, and compulsions may look like unusual habits, tantrums, or excessive reassurance-seeking. Parents often notice something is wrong before the child can explain it.
- Bedtime rituals that must be performed exactly or the child becomes extremely distressed
- Excessive reassurance-seeking — asking 'Are you sure?' repeatedly
- Fear of contamination — refusing to touch certain objects or people
- Checking behaviors — checking locks, lights, or homework repeatedly
- Magical thinking — believing that thoughts or actions can cause harm
- Avoidance of school, social situations, or everyday activities
Child-Adapted ERP — How We Work with Kids
ERP for children requires a different approach than adult treatment. We use games, metaphors, and age-appropriate language to make ERP engaging and accessible. Parents are active partners in treatment — learning how to support ERP at home.
Child & Parent Assessment
We meet with both the child and parents to understand OCD from multiple perspectives and build a complete picture of how it's affecting the family.
OCD Education for Kids
We use age-appropriate metaphors (like 'the OCD bully') to help children understand their OCD and feel empowered to fight back.
Parent Coaching
Parents learn how to respond to OCD without accommodating it — a crucial skill that dramatically improves treatment outcomes.
Playful Exposure Work
We use games, humor, and creativity to make exposures engaging for children — reducing resistance and building momentum.
Home Practice
We assign fun, manageable homework that extends ERP gains to the home environment between sessions.
School Coordination
When needed, we provide guidance on school accommodations and communicate with teachers or school counselors.
Meet Your Therapists
Julie Hingsbergen, LMFT
Julie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the founder of Reframe CBT. She specializes in CBT and ERP for OCD, anxiety disorders, phobias, and BFRBs, and holds specialized credentials including IOCDF Clinical Member and Certified ADHD Professional (ADHD-CCSP).
- Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT)
- IOCDF Clinical Member
- Certified ADHD Professional (ADHD-CCSP)
- Fear of Flying Clinic (FOFC) Affiliate
- 15+ years clinical experience
Nicole Springer, Registered AMFT
Nicole is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at Reframe CBT, supervised by Julie Hingsbergen, LMFT. She specializes in CBT and ERP for OCD, anxiety, phobias, and BFRBs, and works with children, teens, college students, and adults.
- Registered Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
- Supervised by Julie Hingsbergen, LMFT
- IOCDF Member
- Specializes in CBT & ERP
- Works with children, teens, college students & adults
Frequently Asked Questions
Child OCD Therapy in Marin County
Book a free 20-minute consultation to discuss your child's OCD. We'll explain how child-adapted ERP works and help you take the first step.