OCD Treatment · MD, DC & VA
OCD Treatment in Maryland — Compassionate, Evidence-Based Care
OCD is not a quirk. It is not about being “too clean” or “a little anxious.” It is a real, diagnosable condition — and with the right treatment, many people experience major improvement in their symptoms and quality of life. At Ardent Total Wellness, OCD treatment and ERP therapy are delivered by a specialist who understands OCD specifically — not a generalist who occasionally sees it.
OCD Treatment at Ardent
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Individual ERP Therapy — gold standard
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Psychiatric Medication Management
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Combined ERP and Medication
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Co-occurring Condition Treatment
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Telehealth Available Statewide
Your OCD Specialist
Meet Robin Hewitt—Your OCD Treatment Specialist
Robin Hewitt
Licensed Psychiatric Provider — OCD & ERP Specialist
Robin Hewitt is a licensed psychiatric provider with specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, following IOCDF evidence-based clinical guidelines. She has dedicated her practice to treating OCD, intrusive thoughts, and related conditions — not as one service among many, but as a clinical focus.
Most patients at Ardent begin ERP within their first two sessions. Robin does not use generic workbook templates. Every exposure hierarchy is built around how your OCD treatment specifically shows up in your daily life.
PMHNP-BC
NPI: 1013360569
ERP Specialist
IOCDF Guidelines
What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a chronic mental health condition where the brain gets stuck in a loop — an unwanted thought appears, anxiety spikes, a ritual provides temporary relief, and the cycle starts again. It is a clinically recognized condition that can significantly interfere with daily life, relationships, and functioning.
It affects 1 to 3 percent of the global population and is equally common across genders, ages, and backgrounds. OCD Treatment is a mental health disorder, not a personality weakness.
Subtypes include contamination OCD, harm OCD, checking OCD, symmetry OCD, intrusive thought OCD, and Pure O.
Types of Obsessions
Common Types of Obsessions in OCD Treatment
Obsessions involve persistent, unwanted thoughts, images, or impulses that create intense emotional discomfort. They appear without warning and feel impossible to dismiss.
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Fear of Contamination or Illness
Excessive worry about germs, disease, or spreading illness to others. The fear does not resolve even after washing or avoiding the trigger.
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Harm OCD and Violent Intrusive Thoughts
Unwanted, ego-dystonic thoughts about hurting yourself or someone you love. You do not want to act on them — the fear of the thought itself becomes the obsession. Harm OCD is one of the most distressing and most misunderstood subtypes.
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Need for Symmetry or a “Just Right” Feeling
Intense discomfort when things feel uneven or incomplete. The distress is disproportionate and is not the same as being organized or detail-oriented.
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Religious, Moral, or Sexual Obsessions (Scrupulosity)
Obsessive fear of sinning, blasphemy, or violating moral codes. A constant need for confession or reassurance about one’s character.
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Pure O and Intrusive Thoughts
Compulsions happen entirely in the mind. This includes mentally reviewing, analyzing, replaying, and neutralizing intrusive thoughts for hours without any visible rituals. Many people with Pure O do not realize they have OCD because there is nothing external to see.
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Relationship OCD (ROCD)
Persistent doubt and obsessive fear about romantic relationships. The distress comes from uncertainty, not from the relationship itself.
Types of Compulsions
Common Types of Compulsions in OCD
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that provide brief relief but reinforce the OCD cycle and make it stronger over time.
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Checking
Repeatedly verifying that doors are locked, appliances are off, and tasks were completed correctly. This can significantly delay leaving home or falling asleep.
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Washing and Cleaning
Excessive handwashing or cleaning routines triggered by contamination fears often result in skin damage and severely disrupted daily routines.
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Counting, Repeating, Ordering
Performing actions a set number of times or until they feel right. Arranging objects in precise patterns or redoing completed tasks repeatedly.
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Reassurance-Seeking
Repeatedly asking loved ones whether something is safe or morally acceptable. This may temporarily reduce anxiety, but over time, it unintentionally reinforces the OCD cycle.
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Mental Compulsions
Silently reviewing or neutralizing intrusive thoughts internally. This includes replacing unwanted thoughts with acceptable ones or repeating phrases mentally to reduce anxiety. Mental compulsions are just as exhausting as physical ones.
Recognizing OCD
Recognizing OCD—Symptoms and When to Seek Help
OCD symptoms are frequently hidden, rationalized, or mistaken for anxiety or perfectionism. Here is what to watch for:
Common Symptoms of OCD
Intrusive, unwanted thoughts that return repeatedly despite efforts to dismiss them
Rituals or mental acts consuming one or more hours per day
Knowing your thoughts are irrational, but being unable to stop the distress they cause
Avoiding specific places, people, or situations to prevent triggering obsessions
Significant impact on work, relationships, or ability to manage daily life
Shame or secrecy around your thoughts or behaviors
Feeling mentally exhausted from constantly fighting your own mind
When to Seek Professional Help
Thoughts or rituals are consuming one or more hours of your day
Compulsions are affecting your relationships, job, or ability to leave the house
You have tried to manage symptoms alone, and they keep returning or worsening
Prior therapy did not work — you may not have received ERP, the evidence-based standard for OCD treatment
Avoidance of daily activities is increasing
Many people wait years before seeking help, assuming the thoughts will eventually stop on their own. Most people see meaningful improvement with the right clinical approach.
Is It OCD or Just Normal Worry?
Is It OCD or Just Normal Worry?
Everyone worries. But OCD worry has a distinct structure that sets it apart from everyday anxiety. Normal worry is about real-world problems and fades once the situation resolves. OCD Treatment obsessions feel foreign, unwanted, and deeply distressing — and they do not respond to reassurance the way normal worry does. In fact, seeking reassurance makes OCD stronger over time.
The one-hour daily threshold is the key clinical marker. If intrusive thoughts or compulsive rituals are consistently consuming that much of your day, that warrants a proper evaluation. If you find yourself thinking, “I know this makes no sense, but I cannot stop,” that is worth discussing with a specialist.
What Causes OCD?
OCD does not have a single cause. Research consistently points to a combination of factors, and understanding your specific history matters before any treatment plan is developed.
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Genetics— Having a first-degree relative with OCD increases risk, though it does not make OCD inevitable.
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Brain Chemistry— Differences in serotonin regulation and communication between the orbitofrontal cortex and the basal ganglia are consistently found in OCD Treatment research. This is part of why SSRIs and structured behavioral therapies like ERP therapy are effective.
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Environment— Trauma, major life transitions, illness, or sustained stress can trigger or significantly worsen OCD. Childhood experiences and learned behavioral patterns also contribute.
At Ardent, every patient receives a full clinical history assessment before any treatment recommendation is made.
Diagnosis
How Is OCD Diagnosed?
An OCD diagnosis is not an online quiz or a brief screener. It requires a thorough clinical evaluation by a licensed psychiatric provider. At Ardent Total Wellness, the diagnostic process includes:
A structured clinical interview exploring thought patterns, behaviors, and personal history
DSM-5 criteria assessment and symptom severity review
Evaluation of how OCD is affecting work and daily functioning
Screening for co-occurring conditions, including anxiety, ADHD, depression, and body dysmorphic disorder
Every evaluation is led by Robin Hewitt. You will not receive a diagnosis from an automated tool or a provider who does not specialize in OCD.
What Your First Appointment Looks Like
Many people put off calling because they are not sure what to expect. At Ardent, your first appointment is a clinical conversation — not a test, not a judgment.
No prior diagnosis needed — just show up as you are
Robin will ask about your thoughts, behaviors, and how OCD affects your daily life
You do not need to have the right words
Most patients leave with a clear clinical picture of their OCD and a path forward
Your Care Journey
What Happens After You Call Ardent
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Book Your Appointment
Same-week availability, online or by phone, no extended waitlist.
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Meet Robin Hewitt
A one-on-one conversation about your thoughts, behaviors, and how OCD is currently affecting your daily life.
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Comprehensive OCD Assessment
A thorough DSM-5-based clinical evaluation, not an automated screener or online quiz.
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Get Full Clarity
You leave your first appointment knowing exactly what your OCD looks like clinically and what needs to happen next.
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Your Personalized Treatment Plan
Robin builds an ERP hierarchy specifically around how your OCD shows up, not a generic workbook template.
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Begin OCD Treatment
Most patients start ERP within their first two sessions, no months-long onboarding process.
Treatment Options
OCD Treatment at Ardent Total Wellness
Treatment at Ardent is structured around how your OCD specifically presents — not a generic anxiety protocol relabeled as OCD care.
Treatment Options
Individual ERP therapy
Gold-standard OCD treatment, one-on-one.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Psychiatric medication management
SSRIs or clomipramine when clinically appropriate.
Combined ERP and medication
For moderate-to-severe OCD.
Co-occurring condition treatment
ADHD, depression, anxiety, BDD, trichotillomania, hoarding disorder.
Who We Treat
Adults, teens, and pediatric patients
Individuals with co-occurring OCD and ADHD
Patients with BDD and hoarding disorder
Patients who have had prior therapy without meaningful results
OCD and ADHD Together: These two conditions frequently occur together but are often misunderstood. Racing thoughts, difficulty focusing, and mental exhaustion can appear in both for different reasons. Accurate diagnosis matters because treatment strategies are not always the same.
What Is ERP Therapy and How Does It Work?
ERP — Exposure and Response Prevention — is the gold-standard OCD treatment, endorsed by the International OCD Foundation and backed by decades of clinical research. It is different from general anxiety therapy in one important way: it directly targets the OCD cycle, not just the anxiety.
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You are gradually and safely exposed to thoughts or situations that trigger your obsessions.
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You practice resisting the compulsion — that is the response prevention part.
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Over time, the obsession-compulsion cycle loses its hold over your daily life.
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Sessions are paced at a speed you can manage — you are never pushed faster than you are ready for.
Robin builds an exposure hierarchy specific to your obsessions — not pulled from a generic workbook. This is what separates specialized OCD treatment from general therapy.
Service Area
Specialized OCD Care Across MD, DC & VA
Ardent Total Wellness provides specialized OCD treatment and ERP therapy to patients across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Can’t make it in person? Robin Hewitt offers telehealth OCD therapy across all three service areas — so expert care is always accessible.
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In-office and telehealth OCD treatment is available statewide. Same-week appointments for new patients.
Insurance, Scheduling, and Access
Ardent accepts the following major insurance plans. New patients are seen promptly. Telehealth OCD therapy is available across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. In-person appointments are also available.
BCBS
Cigna
Humana
Magellan Health
Maryland Medicaid
Medicare
Tricare
Optum
UnitedHealthcare
Priority Partners
Phone: 240-261-7184 · Email: info@ardenttotalwellness.com
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about OCD treatment at Ardent.
Is OCD curable or manageable?
OCD is highly treatable. Many patients experience major symptom reduction with ERP therapy, medication, or both, and regain meaningful control over daily life.
How long does OCD treatment take?
Many patients see improvement within 12 to 20 ERP sessions. Treatment length depends on symptom severity, OCD subtype, and consistency of attendance.
What medications are used for OCD?
SSRIs such as sertraline, fluoxetine, and fluvoxamine are commonly used. Clomipramine may be considered when SSRIs are not effective.
Can OCD return after treatment?
Symptoms can flare during stressful periods. ERP equips patients to manage future symptoms more effectively and reduce the severity of any relapse.
What distinguishes OCD from OCPD?
OCD involves distressing, unwanted, intrusive thoughts and compulsions that the person does not want. OCPD involves rigid perfectionism that the person typically views as appropriate and ego-syntonic.
Does insurance cover OCD therapy in Maryland?
Yes. Ardent accepts Maryland Medicaid, Medicare, Tricare, BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, and several other plans.
Can you have OCD without visible compulsions?
Yes. Pure O and intrusive thought OCD involve mental compulsions — reviewing, analyzing, or neutralizing thoughts internally — rather than visible rituals.
Can OCD occur alongside ADHD or anxiety?
Yes. OCD commonly co-occurs with ADHD, anxiety disorders, and depression, which is why a comprehensive evaluation is important before starting treatment.
What does ROCD mean?
ROCD stands for Relationship OCD — persistent, obsessive doubt about romantic relationships that causes significant distress despite no real problems in the relationship.
What is harm OCD?
Harm OCD involves unwanted intrusive thoughts about hurting yourself or others. These thoughts are ego-dystonic — meaning they are deeply against your values — and are a recognized OCD subtype treated effectively with ERP.
Ready to Start
Ready to Start OCD Treatment in Maryland?
Ardent Total Wellness is not a general clinic that occasionally sees OCD — this practice was built specifically for it: no judgment, no pressure, and no one-size-fits-all protocol. If previous therapy did not help, you likely never received ERP. That is the most common reason OCD treatment fails — and it is fixable. Insurance is accepted. Telehealth is available. New patients are seen promptly.