Child Therapy for Anxiety & OCD on the Upper West Side
When worry gets loud, families start rearranging life around it—extra reassurance at bedtime, staying within arm’s reach, avoiding the places that spark meltdowns. Anxiety and OCD can make life really hard for both you and your child.
Our child therapists use CBT and Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) with coping skills and gently pacing so kids can practice bravery bit by bit. Sessions are in person on the Upper West Side (near Central Park) or online anywhere in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.
For a broader view of our child/teen work, see Child Psychologist.
When Therapy Can Help
Morning separation difficulty or school refusal, bedtime battles, and “stay with me” requests, endless reassurance loops (“Will I be OK?” “Are you sure?”)…..
Rituals and “just-right” urges, perfectionism that stalls homework, avoiding classes, activities, or playdates, and
tummy aches or headaches that show up with worry…
If these patterns sound familiar, if once occasional issues have become everyday struggles, a course of structured care can help.
How We Help (CBT/ERP for Children)
We translate CBT into kid-friendly steps and gradually build brave behavior gradually.
We map out fears and rituals together, design a clear ladder, and practice tiny exposures while avoiding the old safety behaviors.
When hair-pulling or skin-picking is part of the picture, we incorporate Habit Reversal Training (HRT) to provide hands with an alternative activity and make urges easier to manage.
Parent Role & SPACE-Informed Support
Parents are essential. We’ll identify accommodations—such as extra reassurance, sleeping in your bed, or avoiding certain doors or routes—and replace them with supportive language and planned responses.
You’ll communicate care (“I know this is hard”) and confidence (“I also know you can handle this”) while setting gentle limits around rituals and avoidance.
Weekly parent coaching sessions keep progress moving between sessions and make home routines more manageable. (For parent-only work when that’s the best fit, see SPACE Therapy for Childhood Anxiety.)
School Collaboration
With your consent, we coordinate with teachers and counselors to ensure that skills are demonstrated in the classroom.
We share practical strategies for attendance plans, transitions, and testing, and we can suggest 504/IEP accommodations that align with the therapy plan—so your child isn’t trying to “do therapy” alone at school.
Measuring Progress
Progress shouldn’t be a guess. We track reassurance requests, rituals, avoidance behaviors, recovery time after spikes, and participation in school and extracurricular activities.
Each week, we celebrate small wins and refine steps based on what actually worked at home and in class.
Our Team & Supervision
Your child will work with licensed psychologists who are experienced in CBT, ERP, and HRT for children. In addition, all treatment is supervised by Dr. Tamar Gordon, PhD (20+ years in CBT) so you always know your child is getting expert attention.
In-Person on the UWS & Secure Telehealth (NY)
We’re in a quiet office near Central Park, close to the 1/2/3 and B/C lines. Many families use a hybrid schedule—office visits for key practices and secure video for parent coaching, or weeks when travel and activities are heavy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my child have to undergo exposures immediately?
No. We begin by learning the pattern and establishing support. Exposures are planned with your child, introduced gradually, and paired with tools so practice feels doable—not overwhelming.
How much do parents participate?
A lot, in short, focused ways. We schedule parent sessions to give you coping skills and language to use at home. We’ll also outline when to step back so that coping skills can grow.
How long before we see changes?
It varies. Many research protocols are 12-16 sessions, so we expect to see some improvement in that time frame. However, every family and child is different, and how long we work together will depend on your individualized treatment plan
Can this work with medication or school support?
Yes. With your permission, we coordinate with pediatricians/psychiatrists and school teams so everyone uses the same plan.
Do you treat hair-pulling and skin-picking?
Yes. We blend ERP with HRT, ComB, and practical environment tweaks. If BFRBs are the primary concern, see Skin Picking & Nail Biting Counseling.
Do you provide documentation for school?
We can provide summaries or letters and, with consent, speak with school teams to align supports with the therapy plan.
Start With One Conversation
We’ll discuss your child’s toughest moments and make a plan to help—on the Upper West Side or via secure video.
Call (917) 972-5671 or request an appointment.
Location
241 Central Park W # 1D, New York, NY 10024
Phone: (917) 972-5671
Email: info@gordontherapygroup.com
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Saturday – Sunday: Closed