Central Maryland · Howard County
Therapy, psychiatry and autism services for Howard County, MD
From Columbia and Ellicott City, our Bethesda office is a 35- to 50-minute drive down US 29 without traffic. Howard County residents can meet there or by telehealth.
Your nearest office
10411 Motor City Drive, Suite 615, Bethesda, MD 20817
About 24 miles from Columbia
Bethesda office details
Anywhere in Maryland
- Monday – Friday
- 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Saturday
- 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Sunday
- Closed
What we offer
Explore our core services, or call and we’ll help you choose.
Care for Howard County families
Howard County sits between Baltimore and Washington, and many families commute along US 29, I-95 or MD 32. The county’s hospital, Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center, made “Healthy Minds” (mental health, substance use and depression) one of its four community health strategies.
From Columbia and nearby towns, our Bethesda office is about 20–31 miles. Therapy and psychiatric visits, including evaluations, can also be done by telehealth.
Early childhood services and local needs
For children under 3, the Howard County Infants & Toddlers Program takes referrals at 410-313-7017. For ages 3 and up, call Howard County Public School System Child Find at 410-313-7046.
Howard County has more mental health clinicians per resident than the state average (County Health Rankings 2025), but finding the right fit and an opening can still take time. In 2022, 31.9% of Howard County high school students said they had felt sad or hopeless for two weeks or more in the past year (Maryland YRBS).
Getting to Bethesda
From Columbia or Ellicott City, US 29 south to the Capital Beltway (I-495) is the most direct route. From Laurel and Savage, I-95 is often quicker. Either way, the office is usually under an hour away without traffic.
If the Beltway is the hard part, telehealth is always an option, and you can switch between video and office visits.
- Columbia to our Bethesda office: about 24 miles, roughly 35 minutes without traffic, by US 29 and I-495.
- Ellicott City to our Bethesda office: about 30 miles, roughly 45 minutes without traffic, by US 29 and I-495.
- Laurel to our Bethesda office: about 21 miles, roughly 30 minutes without traffic, by I-95 and I-495.
Distances and times are estimates for normal driving conditions. Traffic, weather and bridge delays can add time.
Communities we serve in Howard County
- Columbia
- Ellicott City
- Elkridge
- Clarksville
- Fulton
- Laurel
- Savage
- Jessup
- Marriottsville
- Woodbine
Telehealth
Secure video sessions anywhere in Maryland.
How care works for Howard County
You’ll be matched with one provider who stays with you throughout. If you see both a therapist and a psychiatric provider, they can coordinate your care.
Insurance and costs
We accept Aetna, Anthem, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare. Maryland Medicaid and TRICARE are accepted for autism services. Self-pay and sliding-scale fees are available.
Hours and contact
- Monday – Friday
- 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Saturday
- 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Sunday
- Closed
Evening and Saturday appointments available.
Questions from Howard County
Who do I call if I’m worried about my child’s development in Howard County?
For children under 3, call the Infants & Toddlers Program at 410-313-7017 or refer online at referral.mditp.org. For ages 3 and up, call Howard County Public School System Child Find at 410-313-7046. Both are free.
Will Child Find tell us whether our child has autism?
Not as a diagnosis. Child Find looks at whether your child is eligible for school services. If your insurance, such as TRICARE’s autism program, needs a medical diagnosis, that comes from a clinical evaluation. Blue Sails offers autism evaluations.
Is there a Blue Sails office near Howard County?
The nearest Blue Sails office is in Bethesda, about 20–31 miles. Therapy and psychiatric visits, including evaluations, can be done by telehealth.
I’m a veteran in Howard County. Can Blue Sails help?
There’s no VA clinic in Howard County. Nearest VA Maryland sites include the Fort Meade and Glen Burnie VA clinics and Baltimore VA Medical Center. Blue Sails offers therapy and psychiatric care for veterans and military families. If you get your care through VA, ask your VA care team what options you have, and call us to talk through yours.
Where do we turn in a crisis in Howard County?
Call or text 988, or call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room in an emergency. 988 is available at any hour and connects to local crisis services; veterans and service members can press 1.
What services does Blue Sails offer?
Outpatient therapy for adults, children, teens and couples, including trauma-focused care such as EMDR; psychiatric medication management for children and adults; autism evaluations and an autism early intervention day program for ages 2 to 6 (ask about availability); and care for veterans and military families. Blue Sails accepts TRICARE.
Howard County resources
For reference only. These organizations are not affiliated with Blue Sails.
- In an emergency, call 911. Local hospital care: Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center in Columbia.
- For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988. It connects to Howard County’s mobile crisis provider.
- Infants & Toddlers Program: 410-313-7017. Child Find: 410-313-7046.
- Veterans: There’s no VA clinic in Howard County. Nearest VA Maryland sites include the Fort Meade and Glen Burnie VA clinics and Baltimore VA Medical Center.
- Dial 211 to reach 211 Maryland for food, housing and other local services.
Talk with us about care in Howard County.
Call or request an appointment. We’ll find a time in Bethesda or by telehealth.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For crisis support, call or text 988.