Children's Hospital Colorado
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About the Colorado OCD and Anxiety Outpatient Program

The Colorado OCD and Anxiety Program (COAP) provides evaluation and treatment for kids and families dealing with anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other similar conditions, such as trichotillomania, misophonia and Tourette syndrome.

What are anxiety disorders and OCD?

Anxiety disorders are mental health problems that cause extreme fear and worry. They often begin in childhood and are the most common type of mental health disorders. If kids with anxiety disorders aren’t treated, they can develop other conditions, including problems with substance use, depression and even physical health issues.

OCD features obsessions, which are unwanted or intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety. These obsessions can also lead to repetitive behaviors called compulsions. OCD can show up in many ways. Like anxiety disorders, OCD can lead to more concerns if left untreated.

What to expect from OCD and anxiety outpatient treatment

When patients visit us for the first time, we do an evaluation. This visit includes questions and measures from our doctors that help us learn what your child is dealing with and how we can help. We then offer detailed feedback and treatment recommendations.

COAP helps children having mild challenges, severe issues and everything in between. For children with mild or moderate symptoms, we may recommend weekly group therapy or individual therapy. We might suggest kids with more severe anxiety get treatment in one of our intensive group programs that meet multiple times per week. In addition to these care options, we help families with medication and offer summer camps for kids with OCD or social anxiety. 

At COAP, your family will get care from experts who offer proven treatments. Our therapists all provide cognitive-based therapy with exposure therapy, which is the gold-standard care to help kids face their fears. COAP team members also use other proven care approaches, such as:

  • Parent-focused advice to help parents support kids with anxiety
  • Helping kids manage their tics
  • Helping reduce symptoms like skin-picking or hair-pulling

Why choose us for anxiety and OCD treatment

The COAP team includes skilled psychologists, counselors, social workers and a psychiatrist. We are a leader in treating pediatric anxiety and OCD in the state and the region, and we are known as a national center of excellence. Ben Mullin, PhD, is the Director of COAP. He has extensive training and experience caring for kids and teens with anxiety and OCD. He continues to lead research to find out what makes kids more vulnerable to severe anxiety.

Who we treat

At COAP, we treat kids from preschool to age 18 who are struggling with possible anxiety or OCD symptoms. We also treat many problems that happen alongside anxiety and OCD, such as tics, compulsive hair-pulling (trichotillomania) and skin-picking. Our program helps kids with all levels of severity.

Contact COAP

We offer group-based services and medication management at Children’s Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora and our South Campus in Highlands Ranch. Individual therapy is available at these campuses too, as well as our North Campus in Broomfield.

If you are interested in visiting COAP, please call us at 720-777-6200.

Meet our pediatric experts

Zuzanna Wojcieszak, PhD

Zuzanna Wojcieszak, PhD

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Ashley Kreeger, LPC

Ashley Kreeger, LPC

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Benjamin Mullin, PhD

Benjamin Mullin, PhD

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