Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Maryland
When something feels off with your child, you do not have to figure it out alone. At Oasis of Hope, we evaluate and treat children and teens ages 6 and up, in person in Waldorf, MD or by telepsychiatry anywhere in Maryland.
Insurance plans we accept
When to consider help for your child or teen
Children and teenagers go through hard stretches, and not every difficult week means something is wrong. What clinicians watch for is a change that lasts and gets in the way of ordinary life: weeks of low mood, worry that will not settle, trouble at school that came on suddenly, or behavior that no longer fits the child you know.
You know your child better than anyone, and noticing that something has shifted is reason enough to ask. You do not need a diagnosis or a referral to reach out, and you do not need to wait until things reach a breaking point. An evaluation is how we sort out what is happening, not something you earn only after a crisis.
- Sadness, irritability, or withdrawal that lasts more than a couple of weeks
- Worry or fear that keeps them from school, sleep, or friends
- A sudden drop in grades, focus, or interest in things they used to enjoy
- Frequent meltdowns, anger, or behavior that feels out of character
- Changes in sleep or appetite, or unexplained aches and stomach trouble
- Pulling away from family and friends
- Any talk of self-harm or not wanting to be here
You are part of the evaluation
For a younger patient, a parent or guardian takes part in the visit and helps fill in the history. You see your child across the places we cannot reach in an appointment, and that context matters: how they sleep, how a typical morning goes, what changed and when. We build the clinical picture with you, not around you.
The first visit is a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, usually 60 to 90 minutes. We take a full history, talk through what brought you in, and where they add clarity we use validated screening tools rather than a quick checklist. You leave with an initial diagnosis where one is warranted and a plan you understand and agree with.
How much a teenager speaks for themselves and how much you fill in shifts with age. We make room for both, and we walk you through our clinical reasoning so you can make decisions with accurate information.
Conditions we commonly see in young people
Many of the conditions that bring families in are common in childhood and adolescence, and they are treatable. The same diagnosis can look different from one young person to the next, which is why an accurate evaluation matters more than a label.
Three of the most frequent are attention and focus difficulties, persistent worry, and low mood. You can read more about how we approach each on its own page.
- ADHD, trouble with attention, focus, and impulse control at home or school
- Anxiety, worry, fear, or avoidance that gets in the way of daily life
- Depression, lasting low mood, irritability, or loss of interest
- Trauma and PTSD, OCD, and other conditions that can begin early
How care works for a young person
We start with the evaluation, share what we find, and build the plan together. For children and teens we are deliberate about therapy and especially about medication: we explain the options and the trade-offs, weigh benefit against side effect, and the decision is always yours, made with accurate information.
Therapy is often the first tool. Through talk therapy, we match the approach to your child rather than fitting them to a method, and skills-based work helps with focus, worry, and the frustration that builds up over time. Where medication is part of the plan, it is started carefully and adjusted with you over follow-up visits, with side effects watched closely.
Care is consistent across the places your child spends their day. We involve you as the parent and coordinate with the school where it helps, so support does not stop at the office door.
In person in Waldorf, or by telepsychiatry across Maryland
Families in Waldorf, MD can be seen in person at our office. Everywhere else in Maryland, the same evaluation, therapy, and medication management are available by secure telepsychiatry, with the same depth either way. For a child or teen, telehealth often means no time out of school and no long drive after a full day.
Evening telehealth slots run from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily, so a visit does not have to compete with the school day or your work schedule. Some medications are controlled substances, which can affect how prescriptions are handled remotely, and we will let you know if your child's situation needs an in-person visit.
Insurance, including Medicaid
We accept 13 insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, UMR, Kaiser Permanente, Tricare, Priority Partners, Wellpoint, and GEHA. We verify your coverage before the first visit, so cost is clear up front.
If your plan is not listed, or you are not sure what applies, call us at 301-710-4218 and we will walk through it with you before you book.
If your child is in crisis right now
Oasis of Hope provides scheduled care and is not an emergency service. If your child is having thoughts of suicide or is in immediate danger, do not wait for an appointment. Call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or call 911 right now, these lines are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
Once anyone in danger is safe, call us at 301-710-4218 and we will help you arrange ongoing care.
Child & Teen Psychiatry questions
The questions we hear most, answered by our clinical team.
Still have a question? Reach out, we'll answer honestly.
Your first step is a single phone call.
Book a consultation online or call us directly. We answer Monday through Saturday, 8:30am–6pm.