1. Focus on Cognitive-Behavior Therapy
A licensed child therapist is likely to use cognitive-behavior therapy for a child with OCD. Such a counselor helps the child become aware of the condition and address it in ways that make sense to a young person. This type of therapy focuses on shifting negative thoughts towards healthier and more positive patterns, which can reduce the symptoms of obsessive compulsion. It may also involve something called exposure-response prevention, which entails triggering the obsessive thoughts and then preventing the child from engaging in the ritualistic-coping mechanisms. If properly applied, it is very effective in reducing the symptoms and helping children cope with their fears.
2. Ask About Medication Options
Medication must always be applied to children carefully. However, several types of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have proven effective in addressing obsessive-compulsive behavior and have been cleared by the FDA for use by children. They include Luvox (fluvoxamine), Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride), Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) and Anafranil (clomipramine). Talk to you child's doctor about the doses that are best for him and carefully weigh the benefits against any side effects that may occur.
3. Check Your Child's School for Counseling Programs
Many schools have counselors to help children deal with emotional issues or conditions like OCD. Even if yours does not, it pays to consult with teachers and administrators about your child's condition. Stress and anxiety can often make OCD worse, triggering obsessive thoughts and the ritualistic responses to them. If they know what to expect, teachers can help your child interact with peers better, anticipate and prevent falling grades, accept tardy arrivals when OCD has caused problems at home and allow for longer testing and homework time as a means of relieving stress.
4. Look for Family-Based Therapy
OCD also impacts those in frequent contact with your child. Group therapy (in which all of the members of the family participate) can help everyone understand the condition and find ways to address it. Better understanding means less friction at home as family members can better accommodate the child's struggles with obsessive-compulsive behavior. The reduced tension and calm atmosphere can help speed healing and compensation time. Furthermore, family therapy signals to your child that you and other members of the family are supportive and understanding, which may decrease her sense of isolation and anxiety about OCD.
