“I want to stress how important it is to reach out for help if you are struggling. There should be no stigma in seeking professional counseling in order to obtain assistance with the issues so many of us are facing these days. This assistance is often available through Employee Assistance Programs, county mental health offices and many other avenues. It is so important to make the space in our lives to fully comprehend the issues we may be suffering from, such as depression, unresolved grief, isolation, marital pressures, [or] substance misuse. It is critical to get the help we need before we are in crisis.”
~ Archbishop William E. Lori
As part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore Mental Health Initiative, Archbishop William E. Lori created a workgroup of mental health professionals and people passionate about mental health to develop resources and training to assist individuals, parishes, schools, therapists and other institutions throughout the Archdiocese in accessing services and other support for the communities they serve. The workgroup compiled the following information to assist you with resources and support. The following list of agencies and health care providers is a non-exhaustive list of resources independent from the Archdiocese of Baltimore that you may consult if you are experiencing mental health challenges. The resources provided below are for informational purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, contact 911 immediately. In addition to the resources listed below, consider reaching out to your physician, pastor, mental health ministry at a local parish, or a trusted friend who might be able to help direct you to the services you need.
Please keep in mind that each individual will need to research options to determine which provider is best suited to their needs. Whether to pursue mental health treatment is your decision alone. The Archdiocese of Baltimore does not endorse or recommend any specific provider or plan of treatment and provides the resources on this page for informational purposes only. By providing the resources listed above, the Archdiocese of Baltimore intends only to provide you with options to consider, and it makes no guarantees as to the availability or quality of services of any health care provider or agency. The Archdiocese of Baltimore is not responsible for any dissatisfaction, problems, or harm that may arise in your private therapeutic relationships or as a result of your consulting any agency or provider listed above.
Villa Maria Community Behavioral Health Resources of Catholic Charities has numerous clinics throughout Maryland. Counseling, psychiatry, substance use disorder treatment and related services are provided to children, adults and families at the various locations as well as 120 public school partnerships. They are able to accept Medicaid and Medicare as well as out of network self pay.
NAMI Maryland provides educational resources and events, statewide outreach, advocacy and affiliate organizational support. NAMI Maryland provides the free trainings that allow NAMI affiliates to deliver NAMI programs. Local NAMI affiliates in Maryland offer free peer support, education and outreach programs, and engage mental health advocates in their communities.
The Kennedy Krieger Behavioral Psychology Department provides behavioral health services to children and families. Specialty clinics within the department provide a range of services that target most childhood behavioral health challenges and developmental differences.
Kennedy Krieger is contracted with many commercial insurance providers, and with Medicare and certain state Medicaid plans.
Divine Mercy University (DMU) is a Catholic graduate school of psychology and counseling, founded in 1999 as the Institute for the Psychological Sciences. The University is dedicated to the scientific study of psychology with a Catholic understanding of the person, marriage and the family. The University offers a Doctoral (Psy.D.) degree in Clinical Psychology, a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Psychology and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Counseling.
The Psychology Division at the Loyola Clinical Centers offers a full range of outpatient services that are designed to meet their clients’ psychological, emotional, and academic needs. Counseling is offered on a sliding scale fee by Loyola University graduate student clinicians who receive direct supervision and expertise from multiple professors licensed to practice psychology in Maryland.
Since the Loyola Clinical Center is a training facility, fees are already substantially lower than those provided by private practitioners. However, additional reduction of fees is available through our sliding scale to those who demonstrate financial need.
Licensed, professional Catholic counseling service provider with two local centers (Towson and Silver Spring, MD). SLI provides an array of mental health and spiritual care, along with related education resources for Catholic laity, religious and clergy.
Services include: traditional and intensive outpatient care, spiritual direction, over 170+ mental health and ministry support webinars, and more. We work closely with clients to address questions about cost of care and insurance reimbursement needs. Some clinical services may be available online. Free and low-cost education resources for healthy life and ministry also available at SLIconnect.org
Sheppard Pratt’s Psychiatric Urgent Care offers in-person and virtual care options for individuals of all ages who need immediate psychiatric assessments or referrals to a higher level of care; rather than going to an ER. Offered at their Towson and Baltimore/Washington campuses, their professionals will refer you or your loved one to the right care. Their care options include:
1. Psychiatric Urgent Care
2. Outpatient therapy and medication management
3. Community & Family Supports
4. Care coordination & in-home services
Learn more about their services using Sheppard Pratt’s Care Finder tool on their website.
Sheppard Pratt hospitals and some programs participate with Maryland Medicaid and Medicare and many major insurance companies (including CareFirst, CIGNA, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Kaiser). Because of variations between policies, it is best to contact your insurer directly to determine whether they are in their network for your plan.
Catholic Psychotherapy Association: Offers a referral base of qualified Catholic therapists. The mission of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association is to support mental health practitioners by promoting the development of psychological theory and mental health practice which encompasses a full understanding of the human person, family, and society in fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
Free therapy may be available for those who are sad, grieving, stressed or want to make a change in their lives. The Pro Bono Counseling Project assists families, couples and individuals. Services are available via teletherapy (video conferencing), and during the COVID-19 pandemic, telephone only therapy has been authorized in Maryland. The Pro Bono Counseling Project’s mission is to ensure that Marylanders with limited resources requesting mental health care are provided access to volunteer licensed mental health professionals and other necessary supportive services.
Things to consider about affording therapy:
Some employers offer free and confidential counseling through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).
Health care insurance may cover most or some cost of mental health care. Some insurance plans provide fuller coverage for “in network” lists of providers. A plan might provide some, but less coverage, for “out of network” providers.
Some providers do not participate with insurance companies at all but charge you directly. They will provide you with documents that you may submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. These providers may offer their own payment plans. When seeking a provider, be sure to ask about fees and payment, and what kind of insurance coverage they may accept. Health savings accounts can be used for counseling and therapy.
It will also be helpful ahead of time to ask your insurance company the following questions:
Is approval or prior authorization required from my primary care physician or by the therapist?
Please keep in mind that each individual will need to research options to determine which provider is best suited to their needs. The resources listed are meant to give many options and are not intended as specific recommendations. The Archdiocese of Baltimore is not responsible for any dissatisfaction or problems that may arise in your private therapeutic relationships.
This three part webinar series by the Archdiocese of Washington explores personal journeys of facing mental health challenges and how our Catholic faith is a source of strength. It also addresses how counseling services can assist individuals and families, and gives resources and strategies for parishes to form mental wellness ministries.
Seven Easter reflections author Paula Huston brings Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s spirituality of absolute trust in God’s will to bear on the life challenges and spiritual wounds confronting today’s youth.
By Dr. John Schmidt, a member of the Archdiocesan Mental Wellness Workgroup and deacon at St. Ignatius Parish in Ijamsville.
The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers (ACMHM) is a Lay Association of the Christian Faithful whose members are called to be a healing presence in the lives of people with mental illness. Their website provides a variety of resources to parishes for building a supportive community for those suffering from a mental illness and their families.
This website includes handouts, articles, webinars and a wide array of other resources to assist parishes and other Catholic institutions to become welcoming and supportive communities to those experiencing a mental illness or crisis.
Mental Health First Aid® Maryland is a public education national certification course designed to teach individuals, professionals, businesses, and community members the skills necessary to respond with care and genuine support to an individual experiencing a mental health or substance use concern or crisis.
For a full directory of the Behavioral Health Authority in each local jurisdiction in Maryland, click here.
Accompanying those who suffer from or are touched by mental illness in our community to provide hope, healing, support, and compassion.
Mental Health Ministry leaders do not take on the roles of health professionals, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists. Rather, they provide prayer, accompaniment, and human connections within parish communities. Lay ministers are trained through the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers and serve as prayerful companions for fellow parishioners experiencing mental illness, provide them with referrals, walk with them, and provide parish-wide education on mental health subjects.
If you or someone you know is interested in information about bringing a Mental Health Ministry to your parish, please email MWMinistry@archbalt.org.
If you are interested in starting a Mental Health Ministry follow these steps (as suggested by the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministries):