What Is OCD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder involves two core parts:

• Obsessions — unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that cause significant anxiety or distress (for example, fears about contamination, harm, symmetry, or "just right" feelings)

• Compulsions — repetitive behaviors or mental rituals performed to reduce that distress or prevent a feared outcome (such as checking, washing, counting, or seeking reassurance)

OCD can show up differently from person to person, and it often overlaps with related conditions we also treat, including body-focused repetitive behaviors (like hair pulling and skin picking), health anxiety, and perfectionism.

Common Signs of OCD in Children, Teens, and Adults

In Children and Teens

• Excessive reassurance-seeking from parents

• Repeated checking (locks, homework, appliances)

• Rigid routines or rituals around bedtime, hygiene, or schoolwork

• Distress over asymmetry or things not feeling "right"

• Avoidance of certain objects, people, or situations

In Adults

• Intrusive thoughts about harm, contamination, or morality that feel distressing and out of character

• Excessive cleaning, checking, or ordering behaviors

• Mental rituals like counting, praying, or repeating phrases

• Avoidance that interferes with work, relationships, or daily life

How We Treat OCD: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

ERP is considered the most effective therapy for OCD, with decades of research supporting it. Treatment involves:

1. Assessment — We start by understanding your specific obsessions, compulsions, and how they impact your life.

2. Building a hierarchy — Together, we map out feared situations from least to most distressing.

3. Gradual exposure — You'll practice facing feared thoughts or situations in a supported, structured way, without performing the compulsion.

4. Response prevention — Over time, this retrains your brain to tolerate uncertainty and anxiety without relying on rituals for relief.

We also draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients build a healthier relationship with intrusive thoughts and reduce avoidance.

Who We Treat

Our therapists work with children, teens, and adults experiencing:

• Contamination and health-related OCD

• Harm OCD and intrusive thoughts

• Checking and symmetry-related OCD

• Scrupulosity (moral or religious OCD)

• Body-focused repetitive behaviors (trichotillomania, excoriation)

• Pediatric OCD, including school-related accommodations

Why Families Choose Maryland CBT Center

• Licensed psychologists trained specifically in ERP and evidence-based OCD treatment

• Individualized treatment plans for children, teens, and adults

• A supportive, non-judgmental environment, many people feel shame around their OCD symptoms, and we work to reduce that from the very first session

• In-person sessions in Bethesda, MD, or telehealth across PSYPACT states including DC and Virginia

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OCD treatable without medication? Yes. ERP has strong research support as a standalone treatment. Some clients also benefit from combining ERP with medication, which we can help coordinate with your prescriber.

How long does OCD treatment take? This varies by individual, but many clients begin noticing meaningful change within 12–20 sessions of consistent ERP work.

My child seems anxious but I'm not sure if it's OCD. Can you help? Yes — our first step is always a thorough assessment to understand what's driving the anxiety, whether that's OCD, generalized anxiety, or something else, so we can recommend the right approach.

Get Started

You don't have to manage OCD on your own. Reach out today for a free consultation to learn how ERP therapy can help.