Julie Cox, LCSW

04/26/2026

There is a deep pain that many PANS/PANDAS parents carry.

It’s watching your child struggle in ways that don’t make sense.
Sometimes it’s sudden changes.
Other times, it’s a longer, ongoing pattern of symptoms that come and go.

At times, you may not recognize your child—and you may not be able to reach them in the ways you used to.

It’s trying to hold things together on the outside, while inside you’re carrying fear, confusion, and the constant question of what to do next.

And it doesn’t happen just once.

It happens over and over again.

For many parents, this becomes a quiet, constant weight they carry every day.

If this is something you’re going through, I want you to know you’re not alone in it.

I wrote more about this here, and ways to begin finding support within it:
https://bit.ly/4cQQTfC

04/12/2026

If you’ve been trying Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy for your PANS or PANDAS child or teen's OCD and it’s not working, you’re not alone.

I hear this from parents all the time:

“My child refuses to do exposures.”
“They get more upset when we try.”
“I don’t understand why this isn’t helping.”

ERP can be incredibly effective for OCD—but in PANS/PANDAS, it’s often not the first step.

When there is inflammation in the brain, kids may have a much harder time with flexibility, emotional regulation, and tolerating distress. That can make ERP feel overwhelming or even impossible.

In this blog, I talk about:
✔ Why ERP may not be working right now
✔ What can help first (including medical treatment and family support)
✔ How to support your child or teen during this phase
✔ How to know when your child may be ready for ERP

If ERP hasn’t been working, it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It may just mean your child needs a different starting point.

You can read more here:
https://www.juliecox.org/blogs//erp-not-working-pans-pandas-child-teen

03/29/2026

Struggling with anger in your PANS PANDAS child or teen? It might be OCD

Is your child’s anger related to PANS or PANDAS? It may be OCD. Learn how OCD shows up and how to respond more effectively as a parent.

03/29/2026

What looks like anger in your PANS or PANDAS child…
may actually be OCD.

When something doesn’t feel “right” internally—and that distress can’t resolve—it often comes out as frustration or emotional outbursts.

In my newest blog, I explain what’s really happening underneath—and how this understanding can change how you respond.

You’re not alone in navigating this 💛

👉 Read more here:

Is your child’s anger related to PANS or PANDAS? It may be OCD. Learn how OCD shows up and how to respond more effectively as a parent.

03/14/2026

If you're parenting a child, teen or young adult with PANS or PANDAS, I hope this feels supportive.

Parenting a child with PANS or PANDAS can place enormous strain on a parent’s nervous system.

Many parents find themselves constantly scanning for signs of the next flare — noticing small changes in mood, anxiety, sleep, or behavior and wondering what might come next.

Over time, this level of vigilance can lead to parent burnout.

In my newest blog, I explore why this happens and share several practical strategies that can help parents restore energy and support their nervous system while navigating the ups and downs of PANS/PANDAS.

You can read the full article here:
https://www.juliecox.org/blogs/pans-pandas-parent-burnout

Parent burnout is common when raising a child with PANS or PANDAS. Learn how caregiving stress affects your nervous system and discover practical ways to restore energy.

02/20/2026

Do you find yourself overthinking texts, replaying conversations, or panicking when someone seems distant? 😔

These patterns often come from attachment styles — ways our early experiences teach us to connect and protect ourselves.

In my latest blog, I explain how anxious, avoidant, and disorganized attachment show up in adult relationships — and how therapy like EMDR, IFS, CBT, and DBT can help you feel safer and more secure.

💡 Healing is possible — you don’t have to navigate this alone.



Read the blog here:

Learn how attachment styles shape adult relationships and anxiety — and how therapy like EMDR, IFS, CBT, and DBT can help you feel secure.

01/16/2026

Trying to be perfect can feel exhausting.
You may find yourself always striving, overthinking, or wondering if you’re doing enough.
And still, the anxiety never really eases.

You might not realize how closely perfectionism and anxiety are connected, or how often these patterns begin early in life—sometimes shaped by high expectations, fear of mistakes, or the belief that you had to “get it right” to feel safe or accepted.

In my latest blog, I explore why perfectionism can take such a toll on your well-being and how therapy, including EMDR, can help soften anxiety and untangle the deeper roots of these patterns.

If this resonates, you’re not alone—and change is possible.
Read the blog here: https://www.juliecox.org/blogs/perfectionism-anxiety-emdr-therapy

If you’d like support, you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out today: https://www.juliecox.org/contact

12/13/2025

💙 For Parents Navigating PANDAS/PANS Uncertainty

If you’re parenting a child with PANDAS or PANS, you already know how hard the uncertainty can be.

Symptoms can change overnight.
What helped yesterday might not help today.
And the constant “what if” thoughts can be exhausting.

I wrote a new blog specifically for parents who are living in this space — not to offer quick fixes, but to share realistic, nervous-system–supportive tools that can help you get through flares with a little more steadiness and self-compassion.

In the blog, I talk about:
✨ Why uncertainty affects your nervous system, too
✨ How staying regulated helps your child regulate
✨ Small, doable tools parents can use even on the hardest days
✨ Making space for grief and hope at the same time

This is written both as a therapist who specializes in PANDAS/PANS and as a parent who understands how heavy this journey can feel.

📖 You can read the blog here: https://www.juliecox.org/blogs/coping-with-pandas-pans-flares

You are not failing. You are responding to something incredibly hard — and you don’t have to carry it alone. 💛

Parenting a child with PANDAS or PANS is unpredictable and stressful. Learn trauma-informed, CBT- and nervous system-based strategies to stay grounded, support your child, and cope with medical uncertainty effectively.

12/05/2025

Not everyone looks forward to the holidays — and that’s okay.
For many trauma survivors, this season brings up old memories, pressure, complicated family dynamics, or a sense of grief about what was missing. Even when things look “fine” on the outside, the holidays can activate the nervous system and feel overwhelming.

If you’ve ever wondered why December feels heavier than it “should,” you’re not alone.

In my latest blog, I share why the holidays can trigger trauma responses, what your nervous system is trying to protect you from, and gentle strategies to support yourself through the season. I also talk about how EMDR can help separate past holiday memories from what’s happening now.

Read the full blog here: https://www.juliecox.org/blogs/holiday-trauma-anxiety-triggers

Be kind to yourself this season. 💜

The holidays can trigger trauma and anxiety. Learn why this season activates the nervous system and explore trauma-informed strategies, including EMDR support.

12/08/2023

Do you have a child or teen who is struggling with PANDAS or PANS. This is one of my specialties. Read about how I work with PANDAS/PANS families here:

Online therapy for PANDAS PANS families in Westchester and across NY. Find relief today with Exposure & Response Prevention, CBT, DBT, ACT, SPACE and more. Schedule a consult today.

12/07/2023

This is important information for the public to know:

12/04/2023

It's heartwarming to see that Ryder Anderson of the New York Giants has chosen PANDAS/PANS as his cause to represent in the "My Cause My Cleats" campaign.
PANDAS/PANS is an autoimmune disorder that causes neuropsychiatric symptoms and a tremendous amount of heartache for kids, teens and parents.
As a therapist, I work with many families affected by PANDAS/PANS.
It is incredibly important that this illness receives publicity because most families experience isolation and loneliness due to lack of awareness of PANDAS/PANS.
Please share this information to support families!