Our Mission
The Pediatric OCD, Anxiety and Tic Disorders (POCAT) Program at Weill Cornell Medicine provides a team-based approach to treating children and adolescents with state-of-the-art evidence-based practices.
We provide specialty care across at our Manhattan and Westchester locations, including individual therapy, group therapy, and parenting services. For details on what programs are offered in each location, detailed below. Our programs address each family’s needs, and include both individual and group therapy approaches. In addition, our POCAT provides one of the only Intensive Treatment Programs for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Anxiety in the region.
Services and Programs
*Our services are currently operating using a hybrid model between in-person and virtual formats due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please inquire further depending on your program interest below.*
Individual Treatment Services (Manhattan)
Weill Cornell Medicine POCAT Team
We provide a range of specialty services for youth struggling with OCD, Anxiety disorders, and Tic disorders. Our services include outpatient weekly therapy, and provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), CBT groups, parent guidance, and medication evaluation and management.
Please note, these services are run through our Physician’s Organization (PO) and take only select insurance plans, including the Weill Cornell Aetna and the NYP Aetna plans. For insurance-based services specifically for OCD, please check out our NYP partner programs below.
Please view the list of our providers, or call 646-962-2820 and ask for the Pediatric OCD, Anxiety and Tic Disorders (POCAT) Program.
NYP Child and Adolescent Clinic: OCD Track
Located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the clinic offers an insurance based OCD track within the Child and Adolescent Clinic that includes weekly individual therapy promoting evidence-based approaches including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Exposure with Response Prevention.
Contact: Rebekah Mennies, Ph.D. | POCAT@med.cornell.edu
Intensive Treatment Program (ITP) for OCD and Anxiety (Manhattan)
Intensive Treatment Program for OCD and Anxiety
This program is run through our Physician’s Organization (PO) and takes only select insurance plans, including the Weill Cornell Aetna and the NYP Aetna plans. For insurance based services, please check out our NYP partner programs below.
What is it?
The Intensive Treatment Program (ITP) provides a comprehensive intensive treatment experience consisting of up to ten hours a week of active treatment. The ITP addresses OCD as well as other non-OCD anxiety disorders, such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Selective Mutism, and specific phobias.
The goal of the program is to provide short-term intensive treatment to target symptoms using Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) treatment strategies.
Who's it for?
It is appropriate for a broad range of children and teens with moderately to severely impairing symptoms, and their families.
What does it provide?
Our program provides evaluation, psychoeducation, group therapy, individual sessions and parent sessions. Additionally, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist with expertise in this area is available for consultations and medication changes as needed.
How do I contact?
- Children and Adolescents, ages 7–18 years, with a diagnosis of OCD or other anxiety disorder
- Contact Avital Falk, PhD at (646) 962-2820 or via email at POCAT@med.cornell.edu
Group Services
CBT and Exposure Group for OCD and Anxiety
This group is offered through the intensive treatment program, but we are happy to partner with outside individual providers to intensify treatment. The group provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills, with a strong focus on Exposure to target OCD and anxiety symptoms. It is intended for children and adolescents with a primary diagnosis of OCD and/or an anxiety disorder.
- Contact: Avital Falk, Ph.D. at 646-962-2820 or POCAT@med.cornell.edu
Partial Hospitalization OCD Track (Manhattan)
Partial Hospitalization Program: OCD Track
We offer a fully insuranced based OCD Specialty Track within the Partial Hospitalization Program for children and adolescents with OCD and related anxiety disorders. The goal of the program is to provide short-term intensive treatment to target symptoms to allow for transition back to their community. We work collaboratively to create a personalized aftercare plan that defines strategies for dealing with challenges.
This option is best suited for adolescents, aged 13 to 18, with moderately to severely impairing OCD symptoms who can be treated outside the inpatient setting.
The program provides:
- A fully accredited school program in conjunction with therapeutic services for acute stabilization.
- A team-based approach consisting of up to 15 hours a week of active treatment, including evaluation, psychoeducation, group, individual and family therapy components.
- One of the only intensive-treatment programs for Pediatric OCD that accepts insurance.
- Medication assessment and management, as needed.
Contact: Dr. Rebekah Mennies | POCAT@med.cornell.edu
Tics and Tourette’s Program
Coming soon!
Who We Are
Rebekah Mennies, Ph.D.
POCAT Postdoctoral Fellow
Locations
Virtual
All of our programs, including our partial hospitalization, outpatient, and intensive outpatient programs are operating under a hybrid model. Virtual sessions are available for all outpatient appointments if desired.
Weill Cornell Specialty Center (Manhattan)
Services offered here:
- Outpatient Individual Treatment
- Outpatient Parent guidance
- Outpatient Groups
- Intensive Treatment program for OCD and Anxiety
NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center
Services Offered Here:
- Outpatient Individual Treatment
- Outpatient Parent Guidance
- Partial Hospitalization Program
NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health Center
Services offered here:
- Inpatient Services