Personalized CBT for anxiety, OCD, and related conditions.
Individual Therapy
Tailored, evidence-based treatment for high school students, college students, and young adults navigating anxiety, OCD, and related conditions. Our goal goes beyond symptom relief: we want you to become your own expert in managing anxiety and OCD, build real resilience, and hold onto your gains long after treatment ends.
Our treatment is structured, collaborative, and paced to fit your life, not the other way around.
+ Family involvement
For teens and young adults, especially those living with their parents, treatment often includes parents as an important part of the process. We help families understand anxiety and OCD and learn how to respond in ways that support, rather than unintentionally reinforce, recovery.
Parent Support & Strategies
Evidence-based training and support that helps parents respond to emotional and behavioral challenges with confidence instead of guesswork. We equip you with proven strategies to support your child's mental health, strengthen your relationship, and create change that lasts.
You don't have to figure this out on your own. We give parents a clear, science-based framework for knowing what to do and why.
Psychological Testing
Comprehensive psychological testing that leads to targeted, actionable recommendations for treatment and personal growth. Evaluations are usually conducted over 2 hours. For youth, especially those living at home, parents are often invited to participate in part of the evaluation, with the patient's consent.
We do not currently offer cognitive, neurological, or educational testing.
Consultations
Sometimes you don't need another weekly therapy appointment. You need an experienced expert to help you understand what is happening and plan what to do next.
Consultation sessions provide science-based guidance and recommendations for individuals, parents, and caregivers seeking help with questions about anxiety, OCD, treatment options, or next steps.
We specialize in treating
If you aren't sure whether anxiety, OCD, or something else is the right name for what you or your child is experiencing, we're happy to help you understand what may be going on.
Our Approach
At the OCD & Anxiety Institute, we follow a cognitive-behavioral (CBT) approach to the treatment of anxiety, OCD, and related conditions. CBT has the most research supporting its use for these conditions. We also work closely with psychiatrists who support many of our clients. Treatment has three targets.
Developing Awareness
The first step is helping your child understand the connection between mind, body, feelings, and behaviors. It means becoming aware of their own patterns, the way their body responds to different emotions, what thoughts pop up in different situations, what behaviors have become habits, and observing them without judgment. Awareness gives them enough distance from the situation to think about how they'd like to respond.
Cultivating a Mindset of Growth and Flexibility
The next goal is helping them see how their thoughts and behaviors influence how they feel and what they experience in the world. A mindset that there's no failure or rejection, only opportunities to learn, equips them to bounce back after a tough test or a betrayal from a friend. They learn they can choose their focus: what do I have, what can I do?
Adopting a Lifestyle of Approach
Approach is perhaps the most crucial, yet most often skipped, step. Doing the thing that's been avoided, or purposefully planning to approach challenges, is key to creating new connections and weakening old ones. Without practicing the "new" or "chosen" behavior, your child won't re-wire or "teach" their brain that they are OK, that it wasn't dangerous, it was just new/difficult/uncomfortable.
When standard therapy isn't moving the needle, this is where it changes.
Our programs are grounded in decades of robust, peer-reviewed research, created and delivered by the very clinicians, researchers, and treatment developers behind that research.
You get long-term care consistency, the same clinician, the same approach, from your first session onward.
When standard therapy isn't moving the needle for your OCD or anxiety, our specialized treatment might be able to provide a path forward.
Accessible, personalized, gold standard care from the comfort of your home.
Most treatments are conducted weekly or every other week and finish within about three months (12-16 sessions). Some need more time, depending on the type of anxiety and any complicating factors.
First improvements
Most complete treatment
Scheduling, made simple.
New Clients
Book a free 15-minute call to talk through what's going on and whether treatment or a consultation at the OCD & Anxiety Institute is the right fit for you.
If it is, your next step is scheduling an intake and evaluation session. From that first call, you can start your treatment journey as quickly as the same week.
If it isn't the right fit, we'll offer recommendations and referrals to providers who are.
Book a free 15-minute call* →Existing Clients
Email muniya@muniyakhannaphd.com to book follow-up sessions.
Your next appointment can also be booked at the end of your current session, and future sessions can be scheduled the same way.
Virtual treatment can make it easier to incorporate therapy skills into everyday life, at home, in school, at work, and in the situations where anxiety and OCD actually occur. There is solid research showing that it can be as effective as in-person therapy.
Treatment Options
It can be hard to know whether you need to reach out to a professional when you see your child struggling. And if you do seek help, what kind of treatment is right for your child? There seem to be an endless number of providers who work with children with anxiety and other psychiatric and learning problems.
You might assume, like if your child had a sore throat, that all providers would offer similar treatment options for the same conditions. Unfortunately, that's not the case with mental health, which can get confusing even if you have experience with therapy and anxiety yourself. Here, we try to give you the information you'll need to find services that have been shown to be effective, or evidence-based, for treating anxiety in children and teens. When you're ready to start speaking with providers, you'll have the right questions to ask, and feel more prepared to find the most appropriate and effective care for your child.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (specifically Exposure and Response Prevention, or ERP), medication (like SSRIs), and their combination remain the primary gold-standard treatments for anxiety and OCD.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of treatment that has been shown to help kids who have anxiety. CBT is a talk-therapy that teaches different coping strategies to help kids manage their anxiety. The idea is not to cure anxiety or get rid of it, given that some anxiety can be helpful, but to learn how to cope with it better and help turn the volume down.
CBT is based on the principle that anxiety, like all emotions, is generated from three things, each of which impacts the other: your nervous system or fight-or-flight response, your thoughts, and your actions. It's the cycle between them, body feeding thoughts, thoughts feeding actions, actions feeding body, that produces and keeps anxiety going. CBT works by targeting each part of that cycle.
Awareness of the fight-or-flight response, combined with relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation.
The idea is that each strategy has a positive ripple effect on the entire cycle.
CBT is typically short-term treatment, provided over the course of 12–20 meetings, so you'd likely see improvement within 3–4 months. That said, treatment varies depending on the type of anxiety your child has, and should be tailored to your child's unique fears, so it may take fewer or more sessions, depending on their needs and any complicating factors.
Not sure if your therapist is providing CBT?
Here are some questions you can ask if your child needs services for an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety disorder, OCD, or a specific phobia:
Does the type of treatment you do involve exposure? The answer should be yes.
How much experience do you have diagnosing and treating children with anxiety disorders?
Are you board certified and/or licensed?
What are the goals, and how many sessions should we expect our child to be in treatment? CBT is typically time-limited with clear goals. Even if the therapist expects complications, they should be able to state their goals and estimate a timeline based on their initial evaluation.
What is the parents' role? CBT typically requires involvement from parents with younger children, and support from parents for older teens. Either way, parents should be meeting regularly with the therapist to understand what's happening in sessions, and stay informed about goals and weekly homework.
What research supports the treatment you're providing?
Do you have specialized training in this type of treatment?
Medication
Medication can also be a useful treatment for anxiety in youth. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the medication of choice for youth anxiety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of some SSRIs for the treatment of childhood OCD.
Medication can be a short-term or long-term option for youth anxiety, depending on how one responds to the medication and how severe one's anxiety is. Medications must be prescribed by a medical doctor, such as a psychiatrist or primary care physician. It's best to find a provider who has extensive training and experience working with youth with anxiety. Child psychiatrists are likely to have more expertise than general psychiatrists or general pediatricians.
Communication between the medical doctor and mental health provider is encouraged, to inform treatment planning and monitor progress over time.
FDA warning. In October 2004, the FDA issued a warning that antidepressant medications, including SSRIs, may increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in a small percentage of youth. No suicides were reported in the studies that led to the warning, and the FDA has not prohibited use of these medications for youth.
Although SSRIs are generally well tolerated, common physical side effects include headache, stomachache, nausea, and difficulty sleeping. If you opt to seek medication for your child's anxiety, talk to your child's doctor about any questions or concerns. Your child's doctor should conduct a thorough evaluation to determine the presence of physical symptoms related to medical problems or anxiety. Side effects, including suicidal thoughts, should be monitored.
If you'd like to learn more about psychiatric medications for children and teens, you can talk with your child's pediatrician or meet with a child psychiatrist.
Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids by Timothy E. Wilens. The Guilford Press, 2008.
Combination
Combining medication (such as an SSRI) with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) often provides a powerful, multi-pronged approach to treating anxiety and OCD. While medication helps stabilize underlying neurochemistry and lowers baseline distress, CBT equips individuals with practical, long-term tools to reframe unhelpful thought patterns and break avoidance cycles. Together, they address symptoms from both a biological and behavioral perspective, frequently leading to faster relief and more durable, lasting recovery than either treatment used alone.
Walkup et al. (2008), New England Journal of Medicine. Share of children rated "much" or "very much" improved after 12 weeks of treatment.
Alternative & Adjunctive Approaches
There are several alternative or adjunctive approaches that target symptoms differently.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Focuses on changing your relationship with distressing thoughts through mindfulness and personal values, rather than trying to force those thoughts away.
Inference-Based Therapy (I-CBT)
Targets the specific mental "loops" and doubts in OCD right at the start, helping you trust your immediate reality instead of obsessive narratives.
Metacognitive Therapy
Shifts focus away from what you are worrying about to how you think about worrying, helping to break habits of endless rumination.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
A non-invasive treatment using magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain involved in anxiety and OCD. FDA-cleared for treatment-resistant OCD.
Medication Augmentation
When standard SSRIs aren't fully effective, psychiatrists sometimes add alternative medications, like low-dose atypical antipsychotics or glutamate modulators, to boost results.
Regular Aerobic Exercise
Helps regulate neurochemicals and reduces baseline physical anxiety.
Mindfulness & Stress Reduction
Structured practices that build your ability to tolerate uncomfortable physical sensations and racing thoughts without reacting to them.
Is it time to seek treatment?
Having trouble deciding if it's time to seek treatment? A basic guideline is to think through four things.
Ready to find out if we're the right fit?
You don't have to know exactly what's wrong or what kind of treatment you need before reaching out.
Start with a conversation. We'll listen, answer your questions, and help you determine the best next step.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation* →The OCD & Anxiety Institute
Expert care. Grounded in science. Built for lasting change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is your treatment different from traditional therapy?+
Our treatment is specifically focused on anxiety, OCD, and related conditions, and is grounded in evidence-based CBT and exposure-based approaches.
Rather than relying primarily on general supportive therapy, we use structured, research-supported strategies designed to help clients change the patterns that maintain anxiety and OCD.
At the same time, evidence-based treatment should never feel cookie-cutter. We personalize the approach to each individual and family.
What if I've already tried therapy and it hasn't worked?+
That's an important reason to seek specialized care.
Anxiety and OCD can sometimes persist when treatment does not specifically target the mechanisms maintaining the problem. Our clinicians can help determine whether the treatment approach, diagnosis, intensity, or goals need to be reconsidered.
If we believe another provider or level of care would be more appropriate, we'll let you know.
Do you treat children?+
We provide specialized anxiety and OCD treatment for teens, young adults, and adults (individuals 13 and older).
For younger teens, parents are often an important part of treatment. We work with families to help caregivers support progress outside of sessions while encouraging teen independence and confidence.
Do you treat adults?+
Yes. We provide individualized treatment for young adults and adults with anxiety, OCD, and related conditions.
What if I live outside of PA?+
Dr. Khanna is licensed in PA and therefore is only able to provide care to those residing in PA. Training and consultations are for those living anywhere in the US, or anywhere in the world, as these are not treatments, but educational programs and services.
Please visit our Tools page for additional resources to help you find a provider in your area.
Do you accept insurance?+
The OCD & Anxiety Institute operates out-of-network. This allows us to provide highly specialized care without insurance companies determining the type or number of sessions that are appropriate.
We partner with Reimbursify to help clients verify their out-of-network benefits and deductible in advance.
Benefits verification is a guideline, not a guarantee of coverage. Reimbursement depends on your individual insurance plan. Reimbursify is not available for secondary insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, HMO plans, some EPO plans, or Workers' Compensation.
How much does treatment cost?+
Fees vary depending on the type of service provided. We will discuss fees and expected services before treatment begins. Our Good Faith Estimate will ensure there are no surprises. View our Good Faith Estimate.
For patients using out-of-network benefits, we can assist with benefits verification through Reimbursify.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?+
We are an out-of-network psychological practice, meaning that we do not participate with insurance. Under the No Surprises Act, healthcare facilities and individual healthcare providers are required to furnish a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of the likely costs of a proposed treatment prior to the self-pay patient's receiving that service.
Patients who are uninsured or who do not plan to use insurance have the right to receive this estimate of expected charges before care begins.
View the Good Faith Estimate →Is it anxiety?
Try our 5-minute symptom checker to see whether what you or your child is experiencing lines up with anxiety, and what to do next.
Take the symptom checker →
Find a Provider
Looking for care in-person or outside of PA? Start with a directory below.
If you are unable to find a treatment provider through this or other websites, you should:
- Contact the psychiatry department at a local medical school or a university psychology department.
- Contact your county mental health department, a local hospital or community mental health center and ask about mental health clinics or staff psychiatrists.
- Search through your insurance company for local behavioral health or psychiatry providers.
- Search the American Psychological Association provider database.
Disclaimer: We do not endorse the references or providers listed, we merely list available resources as a service.
Where can I get immediate help?
If you are suicidal or in emotional distress, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24-hour, confidential support. In life-threatening situations, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
PA Emergency Resources Statewide, with local lines by region
If you or someone you are with is in immediate danger, call 911. These are crisis services across Pennsylvania. Numbers and services change often, and while we do our best to keep this list updated, a call first is recommended to check before proceeding. Your county crisis line (dial 211) should be able to give you the most up to date information.
Anywhere in Pennsylvania
| Resource | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | 911 | Immediate danger to life, or a medical emergency |
| 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | Call or text 988 | 24/7, anywhere in the country. In Chester County, calls from a cell phone route to the local crisis center; texts go to the national center |
| Crisis Text Line | Text HOME or PA to 741741 | 24/7, text only. Both keywords reach the same counselors |
| Your county crisis line | Dial 211, or see the state list | Every Pennsylvania county runs a 24/7 crisis line with a mobile team. Find yours in the Pennsylvania county crisis services list |
| PA Support & Referral Helpline | 1-855-284-2494 | Statewide support for emotional distress that is not an emergency |
Southeastern Pennsylvania
| Resource | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chester County: Valley Creek Crisis Center, Exton | 610-280-3270 | 24/7 phone line and mobile crisis team for children, teens, and adults. Walk-in 7 AM to 11 PM. Free to Chester County residents |
| Delaware County: Crisis Connections Team | 1-855-889-7827 | 24/7 mobile crisis team for all ages, free to Delaware County residents. Comes to homes, schools, hospitals, and other community settings |
| Montgomery County: Mobile Crisis | 1-855-634-4673 | 24/7 and free to anyone currently in Montgomery County, not only residents. Phone support or an in-person team. Also reachable as 1-855-634-HOPE |
| Montgomery County Emergency Service, Norristown | 610-279-6100 | 24/7 crisis hotline and walk-in for psychiatric and substance use emergencies |
| Philadelphia Crisis Line | 215-685-6440 | 24/7. Dispatches mobile crisis teams for both adults and children. Any child or teen living in Philadelphia is connected to a Children's Mobile Crisis Team through this line, regardless of insurance |
Western Pennsylvania
| Resource | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Allegheny County: resolve Crisis Services 333 N. Braddock Ave., Pittsburgh |
1-888-796-8226 | 24/7, 365 days, free to all Allegheny County residents. Phone, walk-in with no appointment, or a mobile team that travels anywhere in the county. Also reachable as 1-888-7-YOU-CAN |
| Allegheny County children and teens: CACTIS | 1-888-796-8226 | The children and adolescent arm of resolve, free to all young Allegheny County residents. Intake line 412-864-5065 |
| Outside Allegheny County | Dial 211 | Use your own county crisis line from the Pennsylvania county crisis services list. Every county has one, staffed around the clock |
If a child or teen needs in-person emergency evaluation
Two psychiatric emergency centers built specifically for children serve the Philadelphia region. Outside those, a child is evaluated at a general emergency department or through the county mobile crisis team.
| Center | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CHOP Behavioral Health and Crisis Center 501 S. 54th St., Philadelphia |
445-428-5800 | 24/7 walk-in. Evaluates children ages 5 to 17. Open to any child or teen 18 and under in the Philadelphia area, including the suburbs, regardless of insurance or severity. Roughly 30 to 40 minutes from the Main Line |
| Philadelphia Children's Crisis Response Center 3300 Henry Ave., Falls Two Building, 3rd Floor |
215-878-2600 | 24/7. Also reachable at 844-211-4652 |
| Anywhere else in Pennsylvania | Dial 211, or see the state list | Call the county mobile crisis team first. They can evaluate at home and direct you to the right emergency department if one is needed, which often avoids an unnecessary ER wait. Find your county in the Pennsylvania county crisis services list |
Verified September 2026. This list is provided for convenience and is not a referral or endorsement. The OCD & Anxiety Institute does not provide emergency or after-hours crisis coverage.