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Because OCD can overlap with anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions, understanding the full clinical picture is an important part of an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Dr. McGuire takes time to understand how your symptoms, history, medications, and other aspects of your mental health may fit together before developing an individualized treatment plan.
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder characterized by obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessions are unwanted, recurring thoughts, images, or fears that cause distress. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to those obsessive thoughts.
Compulsions may temporarily relieve anxiety, but the relief is often short-lived. The obsessive thoughts return, creating a cycle of obsessions and compulsive behaviors that can become increasingly disruptive. OCD can affect daily life, relationships, work, school, and a person’s ability to feel comfortable with uncertainty. Although symptoms may develop at any age, OCD commonly begins during childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood.
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“I cannot recommend Dr. Colleen McGuire highly enough. She has been an incredible support in helping me manage my mental health, and her care has truly been life-changing. From the very beginning, she created a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental space where I felt heard, valued, and understood.”
OCD Symptoms
OCD symptoms can vary significantly from one person to another. Some people experience primarily obsessive thoughts, while others experience prominent compulsive behaviors. Many people experience both.
Common obsession symptoms and unwanted thoughts may include:
- Fear of contamination, illness, or dirt
- Persistent concerns about making a mistake
- Intrusive thoughts that feel disturbing or unacceptable
- Obsessive fears that something bad will happen
- Difficulty tolerating uncertainty
- Repeated doubts about whether a task was completed correctly
- Mental images that cause significant distress
- Excessive concern about order, symmetry, or things being arranged correctly
Common compulsions may include:
- Repeated washing or cleaning
- Constant checking of doors, appliances, locks, or other objects
- Repeating actions until something feels “just right”
- Following rigid routines or rules
- Arranging objects in a particular way
- Seeking repeated reassurance
- Avoiding situations that trigger obsessive thoughts
- Performing mental acts or rituals to neutralize unwanted thoughts
Having an occasional intrusive thought or preference for order does not necessarily mean you have OCD. When obsessions and compulsions become persistent, distressing, or disruptive to daily life, further evaluation can help determine whether OCD or another mental health disorder is contributing to the symptoms.
Risk Factors of OCD
A family history of OCD or related disorders may increase the likelihood of developing OCD. Other mental health conditions may also occur alongside OCD, and some people develop symptoms following significant stress or other life experiences.
OCD Treatment Options
Effective OCD treatment begins with understanding what is actually driving the symptoms. Dr. McGuire takes a comprehensive approach to psychiatric evaluation, considering your symptoms alongside your medical and psychiatric history, current medications, previous treatment response, and other factors that may influence your mental health.
Medications
Medication can be an important component of treatment for OCD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used as first-line medications for OCD, and certain other medications may be considered depending on the individual’s symptoms and treatment history.
Commonly prescribed medications for OCD include fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and clomipramine (Anafranil). Dr. McGuire can review your current and previous medications as part of a broader psychiatric assessment and help clarify what may be contributing to your symptoms.
Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), particularly exposure and response prevention (ERP), is considered a first-line therapy for OCD. ERP therapy involves gradually confronting thoughts, situations, or triggers that produce anxiety while learning to resist compulsive behaviors and rituals. Over time, this approach can help reduce the cycle between obsessive thoughts and compulsive responses.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) may also be incorporated into treatment. Rather than trying to eliminate every unwanted thought, commitment therapy can help people recognize obsessive thoughts without automatically responding to them and develop healthier ways of relating to distress and uncertainty.
OCD FAQs
Is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy available for OCD at Cottonwood Psychiatry?
Can OCD treatment be delivered via online therapy at Cottonwood Psychiatry?
What medications are commonly used in OCD treatment at Cottonwood Psychiatry?
Does Cottonwood Psychiatry address trauma as part of OCD therapy when needed?
How is progress tracked during OCD therapy?
Schedule a Consultation
OCD can affect far more than thoughts and behaviors. It can influence relationships, work, sleep, decision-making, and your ability to move through daily life without being consumed by compulsive rituals or obsessive fears.
If you are seeking an OCD diagnosis or have questions about treatment after trying other approaches, Dr. McGuire can take the time to look at the bigger picture. Call our office or message us via our online contact form.
Dr. Colleen McGuire
Dr. Colleen McGuire, DO, is a Board-Certified Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine specializing in Psychiatry with a background in Anthropology and Music from the University of New Mexico, pre-med studies in Denver, and a medical degree from Touro University in California. She completed her residency at the University of Colorado, serving as Chief Resident, and has held key roles such as Attending Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor at Denver Health, as well as working in various inpatient, outpatient, and telepsychiatry settings. Dr. McGuire specializes in trauma, midlife hormonal issues, and alternatives to medication, utilizing therapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Known for her empathetic, client-centered approach and strong collaborative relationships, she is licensed in multiple states and enjoys mentoring nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Outside of work, she is a classical pianist, swimmer, and animal lover who values personal growth and creativity.
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Dr. Colleen McGuire, DO, is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with a holistic approach to mental health. She completed her medical training at Touro University and residency at the University of Colorado, where she served as Chief Resident. Specializing in trauma, midlife hormonal issues, and alternatives to medication, Dr. McGuire integrates therapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Licensed in multiple states, she is known for her empathetic, client-centered care and dedication to mentoring. Outside work, she enjoys piano, swimming, and spending time with animals.