Parents’ frequently asked questions about OCD
by Joyce Li, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Posted: December 7, 2024
Here are some commonly asked questions we get in our child psychology practice about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
What is OCD, and how is it different from typical kid behaviours?
Kids who have OCD experience obsessions (thoughts or urges that pop into their head and stick around) and compulsions (repetitive behaviours that bring them relief from the compulsions).
All individuals, including those without OCD, have unwanted, odd, and distressing thoughts at times. It is also normal for people, especially children, to have rituals that bring them comfort. However, when these thoughts or urges start to significantly interfere with a child’s life, or when a ritual starts to take up excessive amounts of time or cause distress, this may indicate a more significant problem. An assessment of OCD may be warranted.
I suspect my child may have OCD; how can I get them assessed? How can they get a diagnosis?
Speaking to your child’s doctor can be a good first step. Your child’s doctor can do a screening for OCD and other concerns and refer you to a suitable provider, if appropriate. This could include a psychiatrist, a hospital clinic, a community mental health centre, or a psychology private practice. Parents and caregivers can also contact a psychologist in private practice directly.
Here in Ontario, psychologists and physicians (including psychiatrists) can assess your child for OCD and other concerns. This process usually involves speaking with parents/caregivers and with your child. You may also be asked to complete some questionnaires about your observations of your child. The professional may share a diagnosis if it is applicable. They will then make recommendations for next steps.
Is OCD treatable?
The gold-standard therapy for childhood OCD is cognitive-behavioural therapy with exposure and response prevention (more about that here). Research studies show that this is an effective treatment for childhood OCD that results in a significant reduction in symptoms and that can be used with kids as young as 3 years old.
What does therapy for kids with OCD look like?
I wrote more about this here!
What if my child with OCD is reluctant (or refuses) to go to therapy?
I have a few answers to this question. First, it is important to acknowledge that it’s perfectly natural for a kid to not want to go to therapy. They may find it uncomfortable or embarrassing to talk about their OCD and they may worry about what will happen in therapy. They might also just not like the idea of meeting someone new and doing something that is unfamiliar to them. Having empathy for this position can help you have an effective conversation with them about going to therapy.
You can talk to the prospective therapist about how to approach a conversation about therapy with your child, and they can strategize with you about how to make it a more manageable experience. For example, some kids feel better if they know they can start with a brief meet-and-greet to get to know the therapist and see the space they’ll be meeting in.
If a child starts therapy but they have low motivation to engage (or their motivation decreases over time), an effective therapist will be able to work with the child and the family to figure out how to increase their engagement.
It’s also helpful for parents to know that it is possible to see significant improvements in a child’s OCD by working with parents only. When we work with our parents, our aim is to increase a parent’s understanding of how OCD “works” within their child (how it shows up and how it sticks around) and to increase their confidence in how to handle it. We do this by increasing their ability to support their child through challenging moments while supporting parents through their own emotional reactions, frustrations, and burnout. This kind of parent support can be done alongside children’s own therapy, or before children are ready to start therapy for themselves.
Have other questions about OCD? Feel free to reach out!
Recommended reading
Helping a child with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Harvard Health Publishing
How do I talk to my child about OCD?, International OCD Foundation