Areas of expertise
Anxiety Disorders in Kids, Tweens & Teens
Anxiety is one of the most common and most treatable mental health concerns in children and teensWhile some anxiety is a normal part of growing up, it becomes a problem when fear starts interfering with daily life, friendships, school work, family routines, or sleep. It can look like endless worries, perfectionism, irritability, or even physical complaints like stomachaches before school. For others, it shows up as meltdowns, avoidance, or needing constant reassurance.
At Peekaboo, therapy helps children and teens understand what anxiety is, why it shows up, and how to face it with courage and confidence.
We treat the following Anxiety Disorders in kids and teens:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Specific Phobias
- Selective Mutism
- Health Anxiety
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Kids, Tweens & Teens
OCD is more than just being tidy or liking things “just so.” It’s a serious condition where a child or teen gets caught in a cycle of unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and rituals or mental behaviors (compulsions) aimed at easing their distress.
Obsessions are intrusive thoughts or images that feel outside the young person’s control. Compulsions are the things kids and teens do (or avoid doing) to try to make the fear go away. These compulsions end up strengthening the OCD cycle, taking up time and interfering with the things they value. Because of this cycle, OCD is only limited by a person’s imagination. Below are some common themes in OCD, not a comprehensive list –
OCD can look different in children and teens. The key marker is that the behaviors consume time, cause intense distress, or significantly interfere with daily life.
At Peekaboo, I understand how debilitating this can feel for your child, and for your family. Our approach uses Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold‐standard treatment for OCD combined with CBT and ACT. These tools help children and teens learn they don’t have to be defined by their thoughts or rituals. They can learn to live richly and fully, even with uncertainty.
You and your child don’t have to go through this alone with the right care, OCD is manageable, and freedom is possible.
PANS/PANDAS
Pediatric Acute Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS) are similar conditions. Both diagnoses hypothesize that the onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms in a previously healthy child are the result of immune dysregulation or inflammation which follows from an infection.
Both PANDAS and PANS share multiple symptoms with other common childhood diagnoses, such as pediatric OCD, tic disorders, acute restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), and anorexia nervosa. For this reason, the primary challenge in diagnosing PANS/PANDAS comes in differentiating these conditions from their related non-PANS/PANDAS conditions. Usually, it’s the severity and rapidity of symptom onset and correlation with recent or current infection that are the major differentiating factors in determining if a child has PANS/PANDAS.
Treatment typically requires a multidisciplinary approach: medical evaluation, possibly immune or infection-directed treatments, AND behavioral therapies such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
If you suspect PANS/PANDAS, it’s important to work with both a medical provider and a therapist who understands these dynamics. At Peekaboo, I am equipped to support the therapy side helping your child build resilience while collaborating with other specialists as needed.
Anxiety and OCD with Co-Occurring Conditions
Many children and teens experiencing anxiety or OCD also face other challenges such as ADHD, autism, depression, learning differences, or school refusal. These overlapping conditions can make symptoms feel more complex and harder to manage at home or school.
At Peekaboo, I take an integrated approach that honors the full picture of a child or teen’s needs. Rather than treating each concern in isolation, therapy focuses on understanding how anxiety interacts with attention, mood, or sensory sensitivities, and how those connections shape behavior and daily life.
Treatment combines evidence-based therapies including CBT, ERP, ACT, and mindfulness-based techniques to help kids and teens build confidence, flexibility, and practical coping tools. Parents learn how to support progress at home and school in ways that feel clear and doable.The goal is not perfection, it’s helping your child feel capable, understood, and hopeful again.
Why Early Intervention Matters
When anxiety or OCD begins to interfere with a child’s or teen’s daily life, early support can make a world of difference. The longer fears go unchecked, the more they tend to grow creating patterns of avoidance and self-doubt that become harder to break. Early intervention helps kids and teens learn tools before anxiety becomes deeply rooted, building confidence, emotional flexibility, and resilience for years to come. With the right support, treatment doesn’t just help reduce symptoms, it helps young people reclaim joy, and a sense of autonomy over their own story.
Resources for Parents
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
http://www.adaa.org/
International OCD Foundation
https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/
https://iocdf.org/ocd-treatment-guide/treatment-for-pans-and-pandas/
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
https://www.abct.org/
American Psychological Association
http://apa.org/