Anxiety and OCD Group Treatment Program

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Through Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine’s Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment Program, we teach children and teens how to face and overcome their fears. We also teach parents and caregivers how to best support their child in making these changes.

This program is a stepped-care program, meaning that most families start at the lowest intensity level of care (typically a group therapy series), then step up to a higher level of care (like short-term individual therapy), depending on how your child responds to treatment.

What groups are offered?

Our program offers therapy groups for parents, caregivers and youth through age 18. We offer parent and caregiver-only groups for children ages 6 through 8.

Similar material is covered in all groups. Our programs are based on well-researched Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions that have proven successful. CBT uses exposure therapy to help your child face the fears and worries they have been avoiding.

When and where do the groups take place?

All group sessions are through telehealth (video) visits. Several groups are offered throughout the week. We will share information on days and times when we contact you to schedule. Some in-person groups may resume in the future.

How many sessions are there in the series?

There are 9 sessions in the series plus an individual feedback session at the end of group to discuss progress. You should plan to attend all sessions.

We do not recommend missing 2 or more sessions. If you know you will miss more than 2 sessions, please sign up for the next series of sessions. Please join the group when you can fully attend and benefit from this program. The group series restarts about every 12 weeks.

What groups are available?

We offer several treatment groups for children based on age:

Young child anxiety groups (ages 6 through 8): These 60-minute groups for young children are for parents and caregivers only.
Tween anxiety groups (ages 9 through 12): These 90-minute groups involve tweens, parents and caregivers together for the first 45 minutes, and parents and caregivers only for the second 45 minutes.
Teen anxiety groups (ages 13 through 18): These 90-minute groups involve teens only for the first 45 minutes, and parents and caregivers only for the second 45 minutes.

QR code To learn more about other anxiety group offerings, scan the QR code or visit seattlechildrens.org/clinics/psychiatry-and-behavioral-medicine/patient-family-resources and view the “Anxiety and OCD” section under “Treatment Groups and Classes.”

Other offerings include caregiver groups for school avoidance and caregiver groups for children with complex neurodiversity. Younger children can be seen in the Early Childhood Clinic. To learn more, visit seattlechildrens.org/clinics/psychiatry-and-behavioral-medicine/services/early-childhood-clinic.

Does insurance cover the groups?

Your insurance will be billed for each session you attend. We recommend you call your insurance company to find out if the cost of the group is covered and how much you need to pay. Most insurance companies cover child groups, but not all cover parent and caregiver groups. These are the procedure codes billed for the groups:

All anxiety groups by telehealth (video visit): 90849 multiple family group therapy

Families are welcome to apply for financial aid if they have concerns about whether the group visits will be covered.

How do I register?

If you are interested in finding out if this group is a good fit for your family, please contact your child’s primary care or mental health provider. Your provider will need to send a referral to Seattle Children’s Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine for an anxiety evaluation. If we receive a referral from your provider and we have an opening, we will call you to schedule an initial evaluation.

If you are a current Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine patient, please talk to your Seattle Children’s provider about a possible referral to this group.

For more information about services, visit seattlechildrens.org/getservices.

Is there follow-up care?

At the end of the group sessions, we discuss the follow-up needs for all families. This might include a recommendation for no further care at this time, short-term individual CBT (6 to 8 sessions) to continue to work on skills learned in group, a medicine evaluation, a different specialized service or more intensive treatment. These services might be in our clinic or in the community.

Additional resources

First Approach Skills Training (FAST): Scan this QR code or visit seattlechildrens.org/healthcare-professionals/community-providers/fast/parents-caregivers to find free handouts, workbooks and other mental health resources for parents and caregivers to use on their own or with their child’s mental health provider.

Mental Health Resources: Scan this QR code or visit seattlechildrens.org/mental-health-hub to learn how to recognize the signs of a mental health problem and what to do to help your child.

To Learn More

Ask your child's healthcare provider
seattlechildrens.org/patient-education

Free Interpreter Services

In the hospital, ask your nurse.
From outside the hospital, call the toll-free Family Interpreting Line, 1-866-583-1527. Tell the interpreter the name or extension you need.

Seattle Children’s offers free interpreter services for patients, family members and legal representatives who are deaf or hard of hearing or speak a language other than English. Seattle Children’s will make this information available in alternate formats upon request. Call the Family Resource Center at 206-987-2201. This handout has been reviewed by clinical staff at Seattle Children’s. However, your needs are unique. Before you act or rely upon this information, please talk with your healthcare provider.

04/01/2026

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