OCD Treatment in Asheville, NC

Medicine can quiet intrusive thoughts and loosen the grip of rituals, so you have more time and energy for your life. See us in our Asheville office or by video from anywhere in North Carolina.

Call (828) 283-0367 Request a callback

Same week

New patient visits

In person or video

Asheville office or telehealth

Board-certified

Psychiatric nurse practitioners

What is OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a health condition that brings unwanted, upsetting thoughts called obsessions. To calm the worry, you feel pushed to do certain things over and over, like checking, washing, or counting. These are called compulsions. OCD is not the same as liking things neat. It causes real anxiety and distress.

OCD can feel like a trap. A scary thought shows up, and a ritual brings a little relief. But the relief does not last, and each ritual makes the cycle stronger. For many people, rituals take an hour or more each day. A key sign is that the ritual comes from dread, not from choice.

OCD is not caused by a weak will or something you did wrong. It has to do with how certain parts of the brain send warning signals, and it can run in families. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, medicine combined with therapy can greatly reduce OCD symptoms.

A woman with a mug looks out a sunny window, calm and relaxed

OCD is a health condition, not a flaw in who you are. Help is real, and it works.

In person or by video

You can choose the kind of visit that fits your week, and switch when you need to.

Office visits
Come see us at our Hendersonville Road office in South Asheville for a calm, private visit with your provider.

Telehealth
Secure video visits for patients anywhere in North Carolina, when video is right for your care.

Common symptoms of OCD

OCD looks different for everyone. If a few of these sound familiar, it is worth a call.

Call (828) 283-0367

01Unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety

02Repeating actions or mental rituals

03Fear of germs or getting dirty

04Needing things even or in perfect order

05Upsetting thoughts you do not want

06Trouble stopping a thought or ritual

07Rituals that eat up hours of your day

08Distress when you cannot do a ritual

How treatment works

01

A full evaluation

Your first visit is a relaxed conversation about what you are going through, your health, and your history. We take the time to understand the whole picture before we suggest anything.

02

A plan made together

We explain your options in plain words and answer your questions. You help decide what to try first, and nothing happens without your say.

03

Finding the right medicine and dose

OCD often needs a higher dose than depression or anxiety, and it can take eight to twelve weeks to feel the full effect. We raise the dose carefully and watch how you do.

04

Regular check-ins

You see the same provider at each visit. We check how you feel, adjust the plan as needed, and can connect you with a trusted Asheville counselor if you want therapy too.

Freedom is possible.

With medicine, obsessions can lose their power and rituals can take up much less of your day.

A woman enjoys a warm drink on a quiet morning outdoors

Common medications for OCD

SSRIs

These are usually the first medicines tried for OCD. They work on serotonin, a brain chemical tied to worry. For OCD, they are often prescribed at a higher dose than for other conditions.

Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox

Clomipramine

Clomipramine is an older medicine that works well and is approved for OCD. Your provider may suggest it if SSRIs do not bring enough relief.

An older, proven option

Augmentation

Sometimes a second medicine is added to help the first one work better. This can make a big difference when symptoms have not improved enough on one medicine alone.

Adding a second medicine

Straight answers about OCD treatment

Still unsure? Call and ask us directly. Nothing you say puts you on a list.

It is often the same medicine, but OCD usually needs a higher dose to work. It also takes longer. Full results often take eight to twelve weeks.

Medicine can make obsessive thoughts and rituals much less strong and less frequent, but they may not disappear fully. The goal is less distress and more control. Many people improve the most when medicine is paired with a type of therapy called Exposure and Response Prevention, or ERP. We can refer you to therapists who specialize in OCD.

Most people start to notice a change after four to six weeks. The full benefit often takes eight to twelve weeks. Because OCD doses tend to be higher, we see you regularly to make sure the medicine is working and sitting well with you.

We can try a different SSRI or add a second medicine. There are several good options for OCD. Finding the right fit can take some trial and adjustment, and we will not give up on you.

Some people are able to lower or stop their medicine after a long stretch of feeling stable, especially if therapy has built strong coping skills. Many others do better staying on it to keep OCD from coming back. We look at your history carefully before making any change.

We focus on the medical side: evaluation, medicine, and regular check-ins. Therapy makes treatment stronger for many people, and we are happy to connect you with good counselors in the Asheville area.

Yes. Federal privacy laws protect your records, and we take that seriously. We do not share your information without your permission, except where the law requires it.

OCD treatment in Asheville and Buncombe County

We help adults in Asheville, South Asheville, and across Buncombe County take back time from OCD. Telehealth visits are open to adults anywhere in North Carolina.

932 Hendersonville Rd, Suite 106
Asheville, NC 28803
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Get help for OCD

You do not have to keep fighting these thoughts alone. Call us, and we will talk about how medicine can help.

Call (828) 283-0367

In person in Asheville or by telehealth
Most major insurance accepted
Confidential. No judgment. Same-week visits.

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We reply within one business day. This form is not for emergencies. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.