OCD Treatment in Waldorf, MD and Statewide in Maryland
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is treatable. At Oasis of Hope, we diagnose OCD through a comprehensive evaluation, then build a plan around exposure-based therapy and medication when it fits, in person in Waldorf or by telepsychiatry statewide.
Insurance plans we accept
What OCD is , and what it is not.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition marked by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions), repetitive behaviors a person feels driven to perform (compulsions), or both. The obsessions are unwanted and intrusive; the compulsions are an attempt to quiet the anxiety they cause. The relief is brief, and the cycle starts again, which is what makes OCD so exhausting to live with.
OCD is not about being tidy or particular. The thoughts are distressing rather than pleasurable, and the rituals, washing, checking, counting, arranging, mental reviewing, seeking reassurance, take up real time and get in the way of work, school, and relationships. Many people recognize that their fears are out of proportion and still cannot stop, which adds shame on top of the anxiety.
Symptoms usually begin between late childhood and young adulthood, and they often worsen during periods of stress. OCD frequently occurs alongside an anxiety disorder or depression, and some people also have a tic disorder. With accurate diagnosis and the right treatment, the obsessions and compulsions can loosen their grip, and most people get meaningfully better.
What it can look like.
OCD looks different from person to person, and only a comprehensive evaluation can diagnose it, but these are the signs clinicians look for.
- Recurring, unwanted, intrusive thoughts, urges, or images that cause marked anxiety (obsessions)
- Common obsession themes: fear of contamination or germs, fear of harming yourself or others, a need for symmetry or exactness, and unwanted taboo thoughts
- Repetitive behaviors or mental acts done to reduce anxiety (compulsions), such as excessive washing or cleaning, checking, counting, or arranging
- Mental rituals like silent repeating, praying, or reviewing, and frequent reassurance-seeking
- Feeling driven to perform rituals by strict rules, with only brief relief afterward
- Spending more than an hour a day on obsessions or compulsions
- Significant distress, or interference with work, school, relationships, or daily routines
- Awareness that the fears may be excessive, yet feeling unable to stop
- Avoiding people, places, or situations that trigger the obsessions
- Symptoms that worsen during periods of stress
How we treat OCD at Oasis of Hope.
Care begins with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. A diagnosis of OCD requires that full assessment, we take your history, ask about the specific obsessions and compulsions and how much time they consume, and screen for the anxiety, depression, or tics that often travel with OCD. We see patients ages 6 and up, including children and adolescents, with a parent or guardian taking part for younger patients.
Therapy is the foundation of OCD treatment. The most effective approach is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy called exposure and response prevention (ERP), which helps you face the triggering thought or situation while gradually resisting the compulsion, so the anxiety has a chance to fall on its own. Our psychotherapy draws on CBT and related, evidence-based methods, matched to you and your pace rather than a fixed script.
For many people, medication management is part of the plan alongside therapy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the medications most often used for OCD, sometimes at higher doses than for depression, and they can take several weeks to show their full effect. Charlotte Ayuk-Nkem, APRN, CRNP-PMH, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, starts where the evidence points, then adjusts the dose with you and reviews benefit against side effect at each follow-up.
Whether therapy alone, medication alone, or both is right depends on your symptoms and what you want from treatment, and that decision is made with you. We provide this care in person at our Waldorf, MD office or by secure telepsychiatry anywhere in Maryland, with the same depth either way.
Starting care is one phone call.
Your first visit is a comprehensive evaluation, a 60 to 90 minute conversation about what brings you in, how long the obsessions and compulsions have been present, how much of your day they take, and what you have tried before. You leave with an initial diagnosis where one is warranted and a plan you understand and agree with, whether that points toward exposure-based therapy, medication, or a combination.
You can be seen in person at our Waldorf office or by telepsychiatry from anywhere in Maryland, including evening telehealth slots from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily. We accept 13 insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, and we will verify your coverage before your first visit. If you or someone you love is in immediate crisis, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or call 911, Oasis of Hope is not an emergency service.
More conditions we treat
OCD questions
Common questions about obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd) and how we treat it at Oasis of Hope.
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Your first step is a single phone call.
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