Diagnostic clarification
Evaluation explores symptom patterns, triggers, avoidance, reassurance, functioning, development, physical health, and treatment history rather than relying on a single checklist.
Child and adolescent anxiety & OCD
Understanding when anxiety or OCD needs more support.
Developmentally informed psychiatric care for children and adolescents whose worry, fear, avoidance, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms are interfering with daily life.
Board-certifiedDevelopmentally informedFamily-centered
Careful listening.
Clear thinking.
Collaborative next steps.
Understanding the concern
Ordinary worry and clinical anxiety are not the same.
Worry is a normal part of development. It becomes more concerning when its intensity, persistence, or impact begins to limit sleep, school attendance, relationships, independence, or participation in age-appropriate activities. Anxiety can appear as persistent worry, panic symptoms, perfectionism, school avoidance, irritability, physical distress, or social and separation fears.
OCD can overlap with anxiety but often includes intrusive thoughts and compulsions or mental rituals intended to reduce distress or prevent a feared outcome. Reassurance seeking and avoidance may occur in both. A careful evaluation helps distinguish these patterns and identify other factors that may be contributing.
Who may benefit
Signs that a consultation may add clarity.
The question is not simply whether a child worries, but how the symptoms affect development, functioning, and well-being.
- Worry, panic, perfectionism, social fear, or separation distress is persistent and difficult to manage.
- Avoidance is narrowing school participation, family activities, sleep, friendships, or independence.
- Intrusive thoughts, rituals, repeated questions, checking, or a need for things to feel exactly right may suggest OCD.
- Anxiety and OCD symptoms overlap with depression, irritability, attention concerns, autism, sleep difficulties, or physical symptoms.
- The family wants to understand whether medication may be appropriate alongside psychotherapy and other supports.
Approach to care
A plan built around the child, not only the diagnosis.
Treatment recommendations reflect developmental stage, strengths, context, prior care, and the young person’s and family’s perspectives.
Thoughtful medication care
Medication can be considered when clinically appropriate. Potential benefits, risks, alternatives, and monitoring are discussed with the young person and family.
Coordination with therapy
Psychiatric care is often most useful when it supports evidence-based psychotherapy and provides a consistent framework across treatment.
Family participation
Parents and caregivers provide essential context and can help reinforce practical strategies while the structure of visits remains appropriate to age and development.
Connected care
Psychiatric care can connect the people already helping.
With authorization, communication with therapists, pediatricians, schools, and other specialists can help everyone work from a shared understanding. Coordination is tailored to what is clinically useful and appropriate for the young person.
When physical symptoms are part of the anxiety picture, psychiatric treatment can also be coordinated with medical care. Physical symptoms remain real and deserve appropriate medical evaluation rather than being dismissed as merely emotional.
Begin a conversation
Request a consultation.
If you would like to explore whether this approach may be a fit, submit a request securely through the SimplePractice portal.
Please do not include emergency information in a consultation request.
EmailDrRaj@drrajmd.com
Phone617-334-5660
Service areaCurrently serving patients located in Massachusetts.