Where Intrusive Thoughts Quiet,
and Peace Feels Like Home

Understanding Teen OCD & Related Disorders

When OCD and anxiety begin affecting your teen’s wellbeing, finding the right guidance becomes crucial. At Ascend Healthcare, we honor each individual path, creating personalized care journeys that address obsessive-compulsive disorder and related anxiety conditions at their roots—fostering pathways to profound change and lasting wellness.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) that create intense anxiety, leading to repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) aimed at reducing distress. For adolescents, OCD can significantly impact daily functioning, requiring specialized evidence-based treatment approaches that help teens break free from these cycles.

Signs Your Teen May Need Support:

Repetitive behaviors like excessive handwashing, checking, or counting
Mental rituals such as repeating words or phrases silently
Intrusive thoughts that cause significant distress
Avoidance of situations that trigger obsessive thoughts
Academic decline due to perfectionism or time consumed by rituals
Social withdrawal to hide compulsive behaviors
Family members drawn into accommodating rituals
Excessive time spent on routine activities
Distress when prevented from completing compulsions
Physical symptoms like raw hands from washing or fatigue from rituals

Recognizing 3 or more signs?

Schedule a confidential assessment

Why Teens Are Vulnerable to OCD & Related Disorders

The adolescent brain continues developing until age 25, with regions governing decision-making and anxiety regulation still maturing. This neurological reality creates unique vulnerabilities for OCD development:

Brain development patterns make teens more susceptible to anxiety-based disorders like OCD
Academic and social pressures can trigger perfectionism and control-seeking behaviors that fuel OCD symptoms
Identity formation challenges during adolescence can intensify fears about making mistakes or being different
Increased independence expectations can overwhelm teens who rely on rituals for emotional regulation
Social media and information overload can provide endless triggers for obsessive thoughts and checking behaviors
Family dynamics and accommodation can inadvertently reinforce OCD patterns when loved ones participate in rituals
Co-occurring conditions like anxiety and depression often accompany OCD, creating complex treatment needs

The Ascend Difference:

Honoring Each Individual Path

At Ascend, we provide diagnostic-specific care that champions inner strength through our four pillars of excellence:

Clinical Excellence:Evidence-based therapies delivered by experts with a 3:1 therapist-to-client ratio, specializing in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) under the consultation of Dr. Lisa Coyne, nationally recognized OCD specialist
Family Integration:Industry-leading 6+ hours weekly of parent programming that strengthens family connections and teaches families how to support recovery without accommodating OCD behaviors
Premium Experience:Curated spaces for personal wellbeing that combine clinical sophistication with the comfort of home, including specialized exposure therapy zones and nature-based healing environments
Innovative Approach:Progressive healing methods including animal-assisted therapy and eco-psychology programming that enhance engagement in ERP and ACT while supporting emotional regulation and building confidence

Clinical Excellence

Clinical Excellence:Evidence-based therapies delivered by experts with a 3:1 therapist-to-client ratio, specializing in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) under the consultation of Dr. Lisa Coyne, nationally recognized OCD specialist

Family Integration

Family Integration:Industry-leading 6+ hours weekly of parent programming that strengthens family connections and teaches families how to support recovery without accommodating OCD behaviors

Premium Experience

Premium Experience:Curated spaces for personal wellbeing that combine clinical sophistication with the comfort of home, including specialized exposure therapy zones and nature-based healing environments

Innovative Approach:

Innovative Approach:Progressive healing methods including animal-assisted therapy and eco-psychology programming that enhance engagement in ERP and ACT while supporting emotional regulation and building confidence

The Difference Authentic Care Makes

Our personalized approach to teen OCD and anxiety recovery creates profound change:

85%

of teens demonstrate significant reduction in OCD symptoms and compulsive behaviors

89%

of families report improved understanding of OCD and strengthened supportive communication

82%

of teens show marked improvement in daily functioning and quality of life

Oaks House:

A Specialized Healing
Environment

Teens struggling with OCD and anxiety-related disorders find their path to recovery at Oaks House, our specialized residential program thoughtfully designed for adolescents aged 12-17 with primary Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and related anxiety conditions. Located on a peaceful animal farm in Santa Clarita, this healing sanctuary provides gold-standard clinical treatment through Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Daily interactions with horses, goats, pigs, and sheep provide therapeutic benefits that enhance engagement in challenging ERP work while supporting emotional regulation and building confidence in a low-pressure, meaningful environment that reinforces clinical gains.

Experience Oaks House

“I laughed more here than I have in years—healing isn’t just therapy, it’s joy too. ”
— Ascend Client

“The groups like Restorative Drumming and Ink Expressions truly helped me heal. ”
— Ascend Client

“This is the first time I actually feel in control of my life. ”
— Ascend Client

“From equine therapy to community process, every group changed me. ”
— Ascend Client

Talk to Us Today

Common Questions
About Teen OCD &
Related Disorders Recovery

What is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and why is it important for OCD?

ERP is the gold standard treatment for OCD, helping teens systematically face their fears while resisting compulsive behaviors. Through gradual, supported exposure to anxiety-provoking situations without performing rituals, teens learn that anxiety naturally decreases over time and that they can tolerate uncertainty. Our specialized program makes ERP more approachable through animal-assisted therapy and farm activities.

How does Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) help with OCD recovery?

ACT teaches teens psychological flexibility—the ability to navigate distressing thoughts and emotions through mindfulness and values-based action. Rather than trying to eliminate intrusive thoughts, ACT helps teens change their relationship with these thoughts, reducing their power and impact. This approach supports long-term recovery by building resilience and helping teens live according to their authentic values.

How long does OCD treatment typically take for teenagers?

Most teens in our specialized OCD program engage in treatment for 45-120 days, as learning to resist deeply ingrained compulsive behaviors and develop new coping strategies takes time. ERP and ACT require practice and gradual skill-building. Recovery continues beyond residential care through our comprehensive family support and alumni programming.

How does animal-assisted therapy help with OCD treatment?

Emerging research shows that animal-assisted therapy can lower stress hormones, enhance emotional engagement, and increase willingness to participate in challenging therapeutic tasks like ERP. For teens with OCD, structured farm chores and animal caregiving provide real-world settings to practice tolerating uncertainty, resisting compulsions, and staying aligned with values—core skills in recovery.

How does family involvement help with OCD recovery?

Family involvement is crucial because OCD often impacts entire family systems. Our extensive family programming teaches parents and siblings how to support recovery without accommodating OCD behaviors, improve communication, and create home environments that reinforce therapeutic gains. Families learn to balance support with encouraging independence and risk-taking.

What if my teen has both OCD and other mental health conditions?

Co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression, or disordered eating are common with OCD. Our specialized approach addresses all conditions simultaneously, with weekly dietician sessions available for eating-related concerns. We recognize that comprehensive treatment requires addressing all aspects of your teen’s mental health while maintaining focus on evidence-based OCD treatment.

Resources on Teen OCD & Related Disorders Recovery

Explore our collection of articles and resources todeepen
your understanding of teen OCD and recovery approaches: