Break free
from the grip of anxiety.

Anxiety Institute leads in anxiety and OCD treatment with our advanced, proven model.

Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is among the most comprehensive in the U.S., offering unmatched care. Utilizing measurement-based care informed by client and parent input, we achieve outstanding results:

90% of clients reintegrate into academics or work post-IOP, and 95% maintain participation six months later. Additionally, 96% report reduced anxiety or depression levels post-treatment.

Read our Outcomes Report

Exclusively treating anxiety and OCD, we adhere to evidence-based techniques rooted in rigorous research, supported by over 120,000 patient treatment hours.

Our clinical team, all with advanced degrees, undergoes continuous specialized training. Clients consistently report high satisfaction, with 96% praising our professional and competent staff. Each year, we train thousands of clinicians on effective OCD treatment through our Pro Series and OCD Intensive classes.

Our approach offers more individualized care than traditional acute anxiety and OCD programs.

Each client in our Intensive Outpatient Program receives ten hours of personalized treatment weekly, with a lead clinician dedicated to a maximum of three clients. This contrasts with typical programs where clinicians treat ten or more clients. Our focus on individual needs results in highly customized treatment plans, with 97% of clients and parents reporting strong therapist relationships and understanding of clinical needs.

Our clinical team employs evidence-based techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Daily in-person exposure therapy helps clients confront fears, reducing anxiety responses. We focus on both short-term and long-term solutions, with 95% of clients confident in our approach post-treatment.

More about Exposure Therapy

We prioritize in-person therapeutic relationships, which are crucial for effective treatment.

Face-to-face interactions allow clinicians to better gauge nonverbal cues, establish trust, and provide personalized care. This fosters a sense of safety and comfort, essential for clients with anxiety and OCD. In-person sessions also enable real-time adjustments, enhancing the therapeutic experience and promoting better outcomes.

Unlike residential treatment options, our IOP integrates clients’ local academic and social activities, ensuring smooth reintegration into daily life.

We provide extensive parental support, including coaching and psychoeducation, to sustain progress. Collaborative skill-building sessions improve family dynamics and overcome avoidance patterns. Parents appreciate our approach, with 93% noting responsiveness and flexibility from therapists, and 90% feeling well-informed about progress.

About our Intensive Outpatient Program

Our program is highly recommended by past clients and professionals.

We receive 83% of our IOP referrals and 76% of one-on-one therapy referrals from recommendations. We also partner with organizations like NAMI and IOCDF, providing ongoing parent training and support.

We serve bright, high-functioning adolescents and young adults who struggle with avoidance and procrastination to manage anxiety.

Common diagnoses include generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and OCD spectrum disorders, often with major depressive disorder (29%) and ADHD (15%). Our clients range from younger teens (13-15), older teens (16-18), to college students and recent graduates (19-25).

Unlike profit-driven, private equity-owned health companies, we focus on personalized, compassionate care.

Our program, inspired by a founder’s search for specialized treatment for her own child, is driven by commitment, passion, and personal experience, ensuring high-quality, empathetic care for all our clients.

Read our Founders Stories

Teens and young adults who may benefit from an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) are those who need more help than what regular therapy offers but don’t need to be in a hospital.

This might include teens whose anxiety is making it hard for them to go to school, socialize, or enjoy daily activities. An IOP is a good option for those who need structured support to get back on track but can still live at home with their families.

We treat individuals ages 12–26 in our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and children as young as 8 in outpatient therapy, depending on clinical fit. We also offer Parent Coaching services for adults.

We serve bright, high-functioning adolescents and young adults who struggle with avoidance and procrastination to manage anxiety. Common diagnoses include generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and OCD spectrum disorders, often accompanied by major depressive disorder (29%) and ADHD (15%). Our clients range from younger teens (13–15), older teens (16–18), to college students and recent graduates (19–25).

An intensive outpatient program (IOP) for mental health is a type of treatment that provides important support for teens struggling with anxiety, OCD or other mental health issues.

Unlike regular therapy, an IOP offers more frequent and focused sessions, usually several times a week. This helps teens get the care they need while still living at home. 

An IOP gives them a chance to learn coping skills, build confidence, and work through their challenges in a safe environment. At Anxiety Institute, we help our clients through individual and group therapy, family therapy, a wellness program, and other supportive therapies as a part of our IOP.

At Anxiety Institute, we specialize in the treatment of anxiety, OCD and anxiety-related disorders in adolescents and young adults.

Our clinical team provides evidence-based care for a range of conditions, including:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Specific Phobias
• Separation Anxiety Disorder
• School Avoidance
• Health Anxiety
• Performance Anxiety
• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
• Acute Stress Disorder
• Adjustment Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Reactive Attachment Disorder
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder
• Compulsive Hair Pulling (Trichotillomania)
• Hoarding
• Skin Picking (Excoriation Disorder)
• Co-occurring conditions such as depression and perfectionism

Anxiety Institute specializes in treating anxiety, OCD and related disorders. As such, individuals struggling with these Rule Out Conditions are better served by other programs. We are happy to refer you to an educational consultant who specializes in these clinical and educational options. 

Our personalized outpatient treatment for anxiety, depression, and OCD occurs Monday through Friday, over a six to 12-week time frame, depending on the severity of symptoms.

Each day consists of four hours of targeted individual and group therapy. Each client is assigned a dedicated anxiety specialist who provides one-on-one therapy as part of their treatment plan. This individualized support is complemented by group therapy and family work to ensure well-rounded care.

Clients can also choose to work with their existing psychiatrist or receive care from our integrated psychiatric team, ensuring a seamless and coordinated treatment experience.

Our IOP Treatments

While in Anxiety Institute’s IOP, you’ll undergo these treatments, depending on your personalized plan:

• Individual and Outpatient Group Therapy Sessions
  Therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure response prevention (ERP), and may integrate dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing and emotion-focused therapy.
• Parent Support, Education, and Family Therapy
  Parents and their children learn new skills together, improving family dynamics and breaking the cycle of accommodation and avoidance. Parent coaching using the SPACE program is also available.
• Supportive Advanced Treatments
  We use innovative technologies including virtual reality, biofeedback, and EMDR therapy.
• Recovery Tracking
  We provide a quantitative measure of progress over time.
• Wellness Program
  To strengthen the mind-body connection, restore physical wellness, build group cohesion, social confidence and manage technology consumption. Daily wellness activities may include mindfulness, music therapy, art therapy, restorative yoga, and fitness training.
• Integrated Psychiatric Services
  Collaborative care with your existing psychiatrist or our staff psychiatrist.

We specialize exclusively in anxiety, OCD, and related disorders in adolescents and young adults.

Our clinical team is deeply trained in evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). We offer both intensive outpatient and specialized outpatient programs tailored to each client’s needs.

What sets us apart is our immersive and integrative model that goes far beyond traditional outpatient care. Each treatment plan combines individual therapy, group sessions, parent coaching, and skills-based education to promote rapid, measurable progress. We also integrate cutting-edge tools such as virtual reality and biofeedback, alongside holistic wellness programming to support both emotional and physical health.

Unlike traditional programs, our Intensive Outpatient Program provides ten hours of individual therapy weekly, and our lead clinicians work with no more than three clients at a time—ensuring highly personalized and focused care. Our singular focus, specialized expertise, and family-inclusive approach create an environment where real and lasting change is not only possible—but expected.

More on Our Approach

Exposure response prevention (ERP) is a highly effective, evidence-based form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) used to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and other anxiety-related disorders.

ERP involves gradually and systematically exposing individuals to thoughts, images, situations, or objects that trigger anxiety or distress—without engaging in the compulsive behaviors or avoidance strategies they would typically use to feel better.

The goal of ERP is to help individuals build tolerance to anxiety, learn that distressing thoughts are not dangerous, and reduce the power these thoughts and compulsions have over their lives. Over time, ERP can significantly decrease anxiety and improve daily functioning.

Parents play an essential role in the treatment process at Anxiety Institute.

We actively involve parents through weekly therapy or coaching sessions, as well as parent-specific groups, to reinforce exposure work at home and support their child’s recovery journey.

Our approach includes Parent Support, Education, and Family Therapy, where parents and their children learn new communication and coping skills together. This collaborative process helps improve family dynamics and breaks the cycle of accommodation and avoidance that often maintains anxiety symptoms.

We also offer parent coaching using the evidence-based SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) program, empowering parents to respond supportively while encouraging their child’s independence and resilience. Parent involvement is critical in creating a supportive home environment that promotes long-term success.

Anxiety Institute is a private pay practice and is out-of-network with insurance providers.

We will provide you with a superbill that includes CPT codes, which you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. If you have out-of-network benefits, we also partner with an insurance advocate who can assist you with the reimbursement process.

To learn more about our intensive outpatient program (IOP) for anxiety or to schedule a consultation, contact us today.

Our team will guide you through the intake process and determine the best treatment path for you or your child.

Professional Courses

Explore courses with leading professionals covering the latest developments in adolescent anxiety research and treatment.
View all

Research

Browse a collection of professional articles covering the latest research in the treatment of acute anxiety from the publications we trust.
View all

Resources

Find an extensive list of relevant articles, videos, podcasts and book suggestions chosen for the anxiety professional.
View resources

Professional Training & Resources