Meritus Behavioral Health Outpatient Services & Employee Assistance Program
Quality Treatment in Maryland from Wellness to Acute Care
Meritus Behavioral Health is a comprehensive network of integrated programs and services for all people experiencing behavioral health problems to help minimize hospitalizations, stabilize and manage behavioral health symptoms and help people achieve the highest possible level of successful functioning in their community.
In the region, Meritus Behavioral Health is recognized for increasing the awareness of issues related to behavioral health, providing wellness and prevention programs, providing crisis intervention and recovery services following traumatic events, and integrating and collaborating with community medical, addiction and mental health practices to enhance continuity of care and the successful completion of treatment.
Employee Assistance Program
How Can EAP Help Me?
Your Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, plays a key role in helping you, your co-workers and family members cope with emotional, physical, or any other problems that may be affecting your personal well-being and/or your job performance. Click here for more information on EAP services. Additional EAP Resources can be found here.
For a complimentary proposal to become a Meritus Behavioral Health EAP organization, call 301-766-7615.
Outpatient Counseling and Psychiatric Services
Licensed and insurance-approved therapists and psychiatrists provide confidential assessment, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and follow-up for individuals, couples, families, groups and organizations. Extensive clinical experience and an ongoing multi-tiered program for continuing education ensure the counselors and psychiatrists have up-to-date knowledge of the most effective treatments. Specialists are available for a wide variety of treatment issues. The treatment team includes certified behavioral health nurses, masters prepared clinical therapists and counselors and board certified psychiatrists.
How Do I Know When I Need a Behavioral Health Evaluation?
If you feel you suffer from severe stress, anxiety, anger, or depression, talking with your primary care doctor is not a bad idea. It is important to be open and honest about how you feel so that your doctor can better understand the situation and provide appropriate assistance. Your doctor can help with a connection to our outpatient or you can contact our intake coordinator directly with inquiries.
Upon entry into outpatient services at Meritus Behavioral Health, you will work with our team to further assess the situation and together develop an individualized treatment plan, which may include some of the services below:
Individual Treatment
- Provides confidential, caring treatment in a private counselor’s office for 50-minute appointments to help with behavioral health conditions and concerns.
- Helps develop coping and problem solving skills to manage life challenges, unique personal circumstances/situations and address symptoms in every their everyday life.
- Coordination of care involves all members of the treatment team for improved progress and comprehensive care.
Group Treatment
- Gives individuals an opportunity to learn together and offer one another insightful feedback, helpful suggestions and emotional support.
- Group topics are selected, which would be helpful in addressing areas of concern and to meet both community and client requests.
- Groups usually run for eight to ten sessions, during which time an assessments is competed to determine appropriate ongoing recommendations for after group treatment ends.
Senior Services
- Designed to increase the quality of life for individuals and families facing retirement adjustment, depression, anxiety, conflict, memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.
- Components include assessment, diagnosis, medication evaluations, counseling and coordination with community resources, family support and education.
- Our experienced team of psychiatrists certified behavioral health nurses, social workers, counselors, and support professionals are dedicated to improving the quality of life for seniors and their families.
Psychiatric Evaluations and Treatment
At Meritus Behavioral Health, board certified adult and geriatric psychiatrists provide full mental health evaluations and treatments. Our services include evaluations, diagnosis, medication adjustments and monitoring. Full-spectrum psychiatric services are available on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.
What is a Psychiatrist Evaluation?
Mental health disorders are not always obvious. A variety of factors influence the way our brains function, some of which lead to abnormal, harmful behaviors. A mental health evaluation focuses on four things: Emotional expressions, thinking, perception and cognitive functioning. Once a psychiatrist has completed the evaluation, they can develop a personalized plan of care. In behavioral health, treatment focuses on equipping patients with the tools they need to better understand and interact with the world around them.
Situations can also be complicated when a grown loved one is exhibiting symptoms of mental health disorders. Behavioral health professionals are often willing to hear you out if you have concerns over someone else’s mental health. They can help you find tactful ways of addressing the issue with your loved one.
Progressive Care Service
At times, it may be important to start treatment more quickly due to a client’s presenting situation so there is an option available. The Progressive Care Service provides assessment, individual and group therapy, coordination of care, medication evaluation and family support for individuals impaired by mental health difficulties that do not require hospitalization or who need some additional support during as crises as they are connected to ongoing outpatient MBH or community resources..
This service is to be brief with a focus on rapid stabilization and referrals to ongoing treatment if needed. Progressive Care Service treatment is available Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 – 12:30 and has individual support contacts and/or a Progressive Wellness Class offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 – 11:30.
The Progressive Wellness Class focuses on client questions and concerns so may include topics on stress management, coping skills, communication skills and health management. Another important part of the service is coordination with other care providers and family involvement if requested by the participant.
While in the Progress Care Service participants will experience increased structure and monitoring, help with symptom identification and treatment issues. Support for the transition to ongoing counseling and psychiatry as well as education for patients and families to assist with diagnosis adjustment, medication information or any topic needed.
The intake coordinator helps identify and screen for this service. Initial inquiries may be directed to 301-766-7627 or 301-766-7602.
Alcohol & Drug Treatment
Meritus Behavioral Health works in collaboration with regional treatment providers to meet the needs of the community without duplicating services. Clients are assessed and referred to the appropriate provider and level of care within the community for addictions treatment.
Our master's prepared counselors are available around the clock for phone consultations and on-site crisis assessments at the Emergency Department of Meritus Medical Center.
Emergency Psychiatric Services
Counselors are available 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year for phone consultation and on-site crisis assessments at the Emergency Department of Meritus Medical Center. Following the assessment, individuals will be returned to the appropriate level of care and provider for counseling, mental health, or addictions issues.
Emergency Psychiatric Services provides the only after-hours assessments in the county. Individuals currently under the care of another mental health provider may use Emergency Psychiatric Services if required when their own counselors are unavailable.
All patients are seen by an Emergency Department physician and a master's-prepared mental health professional to assess both the patient's physical and mental stress. Patients are always referred to the least restrictive environment.
Below are several crisis intervention resources:
- Maryland Crisis Hotline call or text 988 (available 24/7)
- Washington County Mobile Crisis 240-625-2246 (available 24/7)
- National Suicide Hotline 800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255
- Para obtener asistencia en espanol durante las 24 horas, llame al 888-628-9454
- Youth - Help4MDYouth.org which is a Maryland Crisis Hotline Network. You can do online chat or call 800-422-0009.
Contact & Referral Information- Outpatient Services
For more information or to request an appointment for outpatient services, please call 301-766-7600 or 800-635-2774. Through the single point of entry, an intake coordinator and team will help determine the next best step and most appropriate help at Meritus or through regional options.
Location:
Outpatient Meritus Behavioral Health
Suite 2989
11116 Medical Campus Road
Hagerstown, MD 21742
Please use the ORANGE entrance- the office is located in the Link between Robinwood and the Hospital on the right as soon as you go in the Orange Entrance.
