Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

TMS for OCD

“During my treatment, my recovery was remarkably at a fast speed … My unwillingness to do anything, sadness, melancholic state of heart and mind, sleeplessness … all disappeared rapidly during my treatment and it truly recovered like I never had such symptoms.” – Anonymous, St. John Mental Health Clinic of Houston, TMS patient

Advanced OCD Therapy
Now in Houston

If you think you might have OCD, the expert staff at the St. John Mental Health Clinic of Houston can help. Dr. St. John and her staff treat patients with a broad range of disorders and are available to consult with you regarding your diagnosis and treatment. 

Contact Us Today to Schedule a Consultation in Our Houston Office

Why Choose St. John Mental Health Clinic of Houston for Your TMS Therapy?

Dr. St. John was an early adopter of Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS therapy). Because she has been performing TMS since 2013, nearly 10 years, she has extensive experience performing thousands of treatments.  She elected to further her training by undergoing a week-long training in advanced TMS topics at the Berenson-Allen Center for Neuromodulation at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA in 2015 and obtains routine continuity medical education on current research in TMS through her membership with the Clinical TMS Society.  She and her staff have developed a highly effective system for obtaining insurance approval for patients Dr. St John considers to be candidates for TMS.  Lastly, patients routinely rave about Rachel and the care she provides during their treatments. 

OCD FAQS

OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is generally a two part mental disorder involving intrusive thoughts and compulsions. OCD begins with intrusive thoughts. The intrusive thoughts are the “obsession” part of OCD, and can lead one to feel fear, disgust, anxiety, guilt or other distressing emotions. In order to relieve oneself from these distressing feelings, individuals sometimes develop “compulsions.”

Compulsions are the part of OCD, which are defined as physical or cognitive behaviors that are performed most often in a ritualistic, routine way in order to relieve oneself from the distressing feelings brought on by the obsessions. These compulsive behaviors tend to relieve the stress or anxiety temporarily and will begin again when the intrusive thoughts enter one’s mind again.

The intrusive thoughts or “obsessions” are typically not desired by an individual but they are incapable of controlling them.  Patients therefore end up in a looping pattern, performing their compulsive behavior over and over again due to the repetitive intrusive thoughts. Some patients may also avoid certain situations or scenarios that could trigger their obsessions.

Symptoms of OCD can be difficult to detect because there are many routines that are performed by individuals that are not life intrusive.  However, when routines become compulsions that interfere with work, social-life or day-to-day function, this can lead to a poor quality of life. 

There are several treatment options for OCD, including medication and therapy.

There are also non-drug treatments available, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). TMS is a groundbreaking new treatment that uses magnetic technology–similar in strength to an MRI machine–to stimulate underactive brain cells in the mood control center. This magnetic stimulation helps restore certain neurochemicals back to normal levels. 

TMS FAQs

Want to learn more about TMS, how TMS works, and if TMS has side effects?
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page to get your questions answered regarding TMS.

Please call our Office Regarding Insurance & TMS for OCD