OCD Treatment Serving Vancouver, WA and Portland, Oregon
OCD Treatment in Vancouver, WA
Psychotherapy, medication management, and FDA-cleared TMS for eligible OCD patients—personalized care from a board-certified psychiatrist.
What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition defined by two interlocking experiences: obsessions—intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that create intense anxiety—and compulsions, the rituals or mental acts performed to quiet that anxiety. Checking the stove again and again, washing until skin is raw, counting, arranging, or silently repeating phrases can consume hours of each day. The relief a ritual brings is real but brief, and the cycle tightens over time.
OCD is not a personality quirk or a preference for tidiness. It is a treatable medical condition, and people living with it are usually painfully aware that their fears are out of proportion—which often adds shame on top of anxiety. If you recognize this pattern in yourself or someone you love, our guide to six signs you may have OCD is a good place to start, and a proper evaluation can give you a clear answer.
How We Treat OCD
At Diamond Edge TMS, treatment starts with a thorough psychiatric evaluation, not a one-size-fits-all protocol. From there, care typically draws on three complementary approaches.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a cornerstone of OCD care. Therapy helps you understand the obsession-compulsion cycle, tolerate the anxiety that drives it, and gradually loosen the rituals’ grip on your day. Dr. Block’s advanced training in psychoanalysis informs a depth-oriented approach that looks at the whole person, not just the symptom checklist.
Medication Management
Certain medications, particularly serotonergic antidepressants, are a well-established treatment for OCD, often at doses and durations that differ from how the same medications are used for depression. Careful medication management means finding the right agent and dose, monitoring side effects, and adjusting thoughtfully—not simply adding prescriptions.
TMS for OCD
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive, medication-free treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain circuits involved in OCD. NeuroStar TMS is FDA-cleared as an adjunct treatment for eligible adult OCD patients—typically people whose symptoms have not responded adequately to therapy and medication alone. Sessions are done in the office, require no sedation, and let you drive yourself home and return to your normal activities immediately.
Curious how it works? Read what TMS therapy is and how it works for OCD, or see our overview of how TMS therapy can help when you’re struggling with OCD.
Care Led by a Board-Certified Psychiatrist
Dr. Jerald Block brings more than 25 years of psychiatric experience to every evaluation. Board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, with advanced training in both psychoanalysis and TMS, he personally oversees each patient’s treatment plan. That matters with OCD, where the best results usually come from combining approaches and adjusting them as you improve—something that requires a psychiatrist who knows you, not a rotating cast of providers.
We accept many major insurance plans, including TRICARE. TMS coverage for OCD varies by insurer and generally requires prior authorization; our team will help you verify benefits and handle the paperwork. See the list of insurances we accept.
OCD Treatment FAQ
Yes. NeuroStar TMS is FDA-cleared as an adjunct treatment for eligible adult OCD patients, in addition to its clearance for treatment-resistant depression. During your evaluation, Dr. Block will review your history and determine whether you meet the criteria for TMS, or whether psychotherapy, medication management, or a combination is the better starting point.
Not necessarily. TMS for OCD is used as an adjunct, meaning it is typically added alongside your existing care rather than replacing it. Many patients continue their medication and therapy during a course of TMS. Any change to your medication is a decision you and Dr. Block would make together.
We accept many major insurance plans, including TRICARE. Coverage for TMS generally requires prior authorization and documentation that other treatments have been tried first; requirements vary by plan. Our team will help verify your benefits and navigate the authorization process before treatment begins.
OCD involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts paired with rituals or mental acts you feel driven to repeat, often taking up an hour or more each day. Only a clinical evaluation can confirm a diagnosis. Our guide to six signs you may have OCD is a helpful starting point, and a consultation with Dr. Block can give you a clear answer.
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