OCD
OCD services offered in Mesa, AZ
OCD causes recurring thoughts that affect how you behave and feel about certain ideas and situations. Fortunately, treatment is within reach at Blue Water Psychiatry in Mesa, Arizona. Board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners Justin McKinley, PMHNP-BC, Susan Bowen, PMHNP-BC, and their caring staff diagnose and treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to get your life back on track. Call the office or book an appointment online to learn more about OCD.
OCD Q & A
FAQ
OCD is a mental health condition that causes obsessive thoughts and compulsions, which are repetitive, ritualistic behaviors. While sometimes OCD is harmless, other times it interferes with your ability to effectively complete daily activities, do job tasks, or maintain healthy relationships.
The common symptoms associated with OCD include:
- Bothersome, persistent thought patterns
- Obsessions
- Repetitive routines
- Distressing thoughts
- Inability to control compulsions
- Anxiety or fears
If you have OCD, you often have intrusive thoughts that are hard to control. Some examples include constantly washing your hands or having constant fears about forgetting to lock doors or turning off the stove. You might have extreme organizational skills or be constantly worried about reducing germs, dirt, and messes.
The cause of OCD isn’t known, but it could be due to brain chemistry or learned behaviors. The most common OCD risk factors include:
- Family history of OCD
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Tic disorders
- Stressful life events
To find out if you have OCD, the Blue Water Psychiatry team reviews your medical history, medications, lifestyle habits, and symptoms in detail. They complete a comprehensive evaluation by asking questions about your thought and behavior patterns.
Blue Water Psychiatry also offers pharmacogenomic testing to determine how your genetic makeup might affect the effectiveness of certain medications. For patients with severe OCD, you may need antidepressants or other medicines.
Treatment for OCD is tailored to your lifestyle and goals. The Blue Water Psychiatry team often combines medications with positive lifestyle changes and psychotherapy (talk therapy). During therapy, they teach you ways to change thought or behavior patterns to reduce OCD symptoms.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is another helpful technique that may help you cope better with situations. It focuses on exposing you to your OCD triggers and gradually improving your response to them.
The Blue Water Psychiatry team tailors each treatment based on your unique needs and makes changes to your plan whenever necessary. To find out more about their expertise in treating OCD, call the office or book a consultation online today.
OCD Is More Than Just Being Neat
OCD is a chronic condition involving intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that feel hard to control. Our team offers compassionate support for individuals struggling with all forms of OCD, from checking to contamination fears to unwanted thoughts.
How We Help
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — the gold standard for OCD
- Medication Options like SSRIs
- Routine Monitoring to manage flare-ups and long-term management
- Judgment-Free Support from providers who truly understand OCD
You're Not Alone
OCD can feel isolating and confusing, especially when your thoughts go against your values. But millions of people live with OCD—and effective treatment is available. Our goal is to help you regain control and reduce the fear and doubt OCD creates.
Our Satisfied Customers: See What They’re Saying
Working with Justin has truly been life-changing. Justin is laid-back and immediately puts you at ease. He is very insightful and understands where you are coming from. Justin has taken great care with my medication management, works towards my goals, and has been the only provider in over 10 years to get amazing results on so few medications. I thank Justin for helping me get my life back! Thank you, Justin!
Amazing practice. From our first meeting I felt like I'd known Justin for years! His office staff responds quickly to emails and phone calls and I'm always able to get in for an appointment as soon as I need one.
My son has been going to Justin for a couple years now and I couldn't imagine seeing anyone else! He is professional, attentive to our needs, and so kind! We are so thankful we found Justin!! Highly recommend him.
I thought Jolene took the time to hear my issues. She offered great insight. She took the time to evaluate the best medication options that might help through this difficult time. I would recommend her.
Jolene was AWESOME!!! She was very thorough and detailed; however, very informal and inviting. She made me feel welcome immediately; and, I truly felt she understood my questions. Her guidance was most definitely focused on my needs and concerns. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone who asked me my thoughts.
I have had nothing short of an amazing experience at Blue Water Psychiatry more specifically with Jolene. I am so thankful that I made the decision to ask for help. She listened to me and my situation and assessed my needs. In the past 6 months since first seeing Jolene I feel exponentially better than I did upon starting. Thankful for her direction and input. Absolutely recommend!
Jolene is fantastic! She's not just knowledgeable about medications, but she also creates a welcoming environment that puts patients at ease. Her caring approach truly makes a difference!
I’ve seen Susan for almost a year now and my partner sees Justin. These providers have completely changed our lives, they are compassionate, knowledgeable and very thorough. They are VERY experienced and efficient, but never make you feel rushed... I will always recommend anyone in this wonderful practice. They are the best.
It can be confusing, stressful, and a little unsettling when you’re looking into this type of care. I was pleasantly surprised to not feel one bit uncomfortable, and actually felt a sigh of relief from the very first visit and after leaving. I am so happy that we found her.
