Is OCD Completely Curable?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that consists of a series of obsessions followed by compulsions. While OCD is not completely curable, it is highly manageable with effective treatment, through a combination of psychiatric and therapeutic care. Individuals struggling with OCD should not be discouraged by the fact that there is no cure–many manage their symptoms with effective treatment, especially with the help of ERP therapy, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other antidepressants.

AMFM Mental Health Treatment has over a decade of experience treating individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder, other anxiety disorders, or comorbidity of other related disorders. If you or a loved one are interested in treating OCD, call us today to learn more about our effective mental health treatment.

is ocd curable

OCD Symptoms and Related Disorders

OCD symptoms can manifest or display in a variety of ways, and can depend upon whether or not a person is experiencing mild OCD or severe OCD.

Symptoms of OCD:

  • Obsessive thoughts
  • Obsessive fears
  • Compulsive behaviors
  • Intrusive thoughts‌
  • Compulsive symptoms
  • ‌Repetitive behaviors
  • Unwanted thoughts
  • Excessive hand washing
  • Hoarding

Obsessive-Compulsive Related Disorders

  • Body Dysmorphic Disorders, 
  • Certain Eating Disorders, 
  • Trichotillomania
  • Excoriation
  • Hoarding Disorders

Find out about our free assessments and admissions process

We accept most major insurance providers and can check your coverage levels for you.

If we are not an appropriate provider for care, we will assist in finding a care provider that can help. 

Types of Therapy Offered at AMFM for OCD

Therapy is a component of treatment programs that includes structured interventions focused on addressing emotional, behavioral, and psychological symptoms. Therapy options are available at varying levels of care, to accommodate the range of symptom severity commonly seen with behavioral disorders. Psychotherapy can help you develop the coping skills you need to effectively cope with and manage your symptoms.

Therapy is available in individual settings, group settings, and support groups. Each of these has its advantages and uses. Common therapeutic approaches used in therapy sessions include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed care. 

For some, therapy can be most impactful when it is supplemented with psychiatric care and medication management services. Depending on your needs and the level of care you receive, therapy can occur as short-term crisis service intervention to long-term residential care. If you’d like to connect with us or access a crisis lifeline, call us today.AMFM Mental Health Treatment offers a combination of holistic mental health services‌ and evidence-based therapies like the following:

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy takes place in a one on one setting with a licensed professional, usually consisting of a combination of dialectical and cognitive behavioral therapies, in which a person can talk through his or her individual struggles. Individual therapy and mental health care is one of the most crucial steps for those facing mental health challenges.

Group Therapy

Group therapy sessions can be used to help provide structured times to help you understand that you are not alone in your struggles, that your peers are also walking through these challenges, while also providing guidance, suggestions and communications from psychologists with specialized backgrounds1. These groups can span a variety of backgrounds, including but not limited to art therapy, somatic therapy, and narrative therapy.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that’s focused on restructuring and reprogramming maladaptive and negative thought processes2. Psychologists are trained to help you change your cognitive and emotional processes in order to outgrow coping mechanisms that may no longer be serving you.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is most commonly referred to as “talk therapy,” and is designed to help process emotions. Qualified professionals offer psychological therapy to move forward with healthy ways of engaging in interpersonal relationships and alleviating physical and emotional distress. 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

EMDR Therapy is a renowned method of reprocessing most often used in trauma therapy.3 By activating the prefrontal cortex through a series of bilateral stimulation, qualified professionals can lead you through traumatic experiences, helping you to alleviate the distress symptomized by trauma.

Crisis Intervention and Stabilization Services

A crisis is defined by the National Library of Medicine “as an overwhelming event, which can include divorce, violence, the passing of a loved one, or the discovery of a serious illness.”4 The goal of crisis intervention is to provide safety and reduce any potential harm to an individual undergoing a crisis.

Psychiatric Care for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Historically, psychiatric disorders are treatable with a combination of psychological and psychiatric care. The primary treatments for OCD – cognitive behavior therapy, drug therapy with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, or sertraline, or both – are quite effective for many patients.5 However, recent studies have shown that glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter can play a role in the neuroscience of OCD, and in some cases, though research is still in progress, glutamate-targeting medications may be helpful for those struggling with this particular mental illness.

Family Therapy Programs

Family therapy may be used when a loved one’s mental health symptoms are affecting others. This can increase a family members’ understanding of anxiety and talk about how to support each other, providing family members with support groups. Family therapy sessions can improve communication patterns, focus on problem-solving, address unresolved conflicts, and increase the sense of understanding among one another.

Holistic Therapies

Holistic Therapy focuses on the mind-body-spirit connection, approaching the whole person when it comes to mental health treatment, rather than addressing a singular symptom or challenge at a time. By healing the whole person–encouraging balance and well-being for well-rounded growth, holistic therapy can build health habits that last a lifetime.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Exposure and Response Prevention therapy is a type of behavioral therapy used to treat OCD. A licensed mental health professional will help expose an individual to practice confronting the stimuli that provoke obsessions and compulsions. Then, the individual will practice making a new choice to avoid a compulsive behavior.

TMS Therapy is a type of therapy that uses magnetic pulses to treat depression by stimulating certain areas of the brain. This is a noninvasive method of treatment that some mental health programs offer for treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Effective Treatment Options for OCD

Inpatient/Residential Treatment

Residential mental health facilities are designed to offer mental health resources, structure, and treatment plans to those struggling with a variety of mental health conditions in a live-in environment. Because these are inpatient behavioral health programs, they offer a more holistic and hands-on, in-person treatment approach with 24/7 access to health care and personalized treatment plans. Our Residential Facilities have qualified clinicians on staff, to provide medication management, therapeutic programming, and the highest level of care.

Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP)

Intensive Outpatient Mental Health Treatment is a form of treatment designed to help those with mental health conditions through a combination of group and individual therapy. Qualified mental health professionals lead clients through behavioral health programming, providing personalized treatment plans, evidence-based programs, and psychoeducation resources. IOP programs provide comprehensive mental health treatment and thorough access to health care, but at a more flexible schedule. AMFM Mental Health Treatment offers outpatient programs in Virginia, Washington State, and California, with both in-person and virtual treatment options to meet your unique needs.

Partial Hospitalization Programming (PHP)

PHP is a form of mental health treatment designed to help those struggling with mental health issues through a combination of group and individual therapy, to improve well-being. Qualified mental health professionals lead clients through behavioral health programming, providing personalized treatment plans, evidence-based programs, and psychoeducation resources. PHP programs provide comprehensive mental health treatment and thorough access to health care, but at a more flexible schedule. Unlike inpatient residential treatment, the partial hospitalization program option only takes place during the day, allowing clients to return home at night and on the weekends, with less disruption to your daily life. This level of care may be helpful for those continuing studies or work in the evenings or on the weekends. AMFM Mental Health Treatment offers PHP in Virginia, Washington State, and California, with both in-person and virtual treatment options to meet your unique needs.

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By submitting this form you agree to the terms of use and privacy policy and give my express written consent for AMFM Healthcare to contact me at the number provided above, even if this number is a wireless number or if I am presently listed on a Do Not Call list.

I understand that I may be contacted by telephone, email, text message or mail regarding my disability benefit case options and that I may be called using automatic dialing equipment. Message and data rates may apply. My consent does not require purchase. Message frequency varies. Text HELP for help. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

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Additional Mental Health Disorders for Treatment

AMFM Mental Health Treatment has extensive experience treating a variety of mental health disorders beyond OCD through evidence-based therapies, including but not limited to the following:

  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Depression
  • Eating Disorders
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • ADHD
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Mood Disorders
  • Psychosis 
  • Schizophrenia
  • Panic Attacks

Recovery can feel isolating; mental health programming can provide cohesive treatment plans to help you or your loved one as you move forward, overcoming your mental illness.

Health Insurance Coverage for OCD Treatment

Most health insurance companies provide some form of coverage for OCD treatment. This often includes both inpatient and outpatient care, depending on your symptoms. Coverage generally applies to therapy, counseling, and medication management services. Your plan may have limitations, exclusions, or required authorizations.

We encourage you to verify your coverage with AMFM Mental Health Treatment to understand the full scope of your insurance plan’s in-network benefits. 

Verify Your Insurance

By submitting this form you agree to the terms of use and privacy policy and give my express written consent for AMFM Healthcare to contact me at the number provided above, even if this number is a wireless number or if I am presently listed on a Do Not Call list.

I understand that I may be contacted by telephone, email, text message or mail regarding my disability benefit case options and that I may be called using automatic dialing equipment. Message and data rates may apply. My consent does not require purchase. Message frequency varies. Text HELP for help. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

Disclaimer

What to expect

Insurance Verification:

Our team will verify if your insurance provider is in-network with an AMFM Healthcare Facility.

Contact From Admission Representative:

Expect a call within an hour from an admissions representative to discuss treatment options.

By submitting this form you agree to the terms of use and privacy policy and give my express written consent for AMFM Healthcare to contact me at the number provided above, even if this number is a wireless number or if I am presently listed on a Do Not Call list.

I understand that I may be contacted by telephone, email, text message or mail regarding my disability benefit case options and that I may be called using automatic dialing equipment. Message and data rates may apply. My consent does not require purchase. Message frequency varies. Text HELP for help. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

Disclaimer

“Psychotherapy: Understanding group therapy.” American Psychological Association, 31 October 2019, https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/group-therapy. Accessed 20 February 2025.

 “APA Dictionary of Psychology.” APA Dictionary of Psychology, https://dictionary.apa.org/cognitive-behavior-therapy. Accessed 20 February 2025.

“What is EMDR?” EMDR Institute, https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/. Accessed 20 February 2025.

 MA, Carlberg K. “Crisis Intervention – StatPearls.” NCBI, 24 April 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559081/. Accessed 20 February 2025.

Bloch, Michael H., et al. “New Horizons in OCD Research and the Potential Importance of Glutamate. Can We Develop Treatments That Work Better and Faster?” International OCD Foundation, https://iocdf.org/expert-opinions/expert-opinion-glutamate/. Accessed 13 May 2025.