Ana Maria Garcia-Fernandez, Psy.D. in Baltimore: Individual Therapy for Adults with ADHD and Anxiety
Dr. Ana Maria Garcia-Fernandez is a licensed psychologist in private practice on Baltimore's South Side, specializing in cognitive-behavioral and trauma-informed treatment for adults experiencing ADHD, anxiety disorders, and depression. Her practice operates as a solo provider model, meaning patients work directly with her rather than cycling through clinic staff, which affects both continuity and scheduling flexibility compared to larger mental health centers in the region.
What Dr. Garcia-Fernandez actually offers
Dr. Garcia-Fernandez holds a Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) from an APA-accredited program and is licensed by the State of Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Her scope is individual psychotherapy for adults; she does not prescribe medication (that requires an MD or NP) and does not treat children or couples. Her stated treatment modalities include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is structured and time-limited; acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which focuses on behavior change alongside psychological flexibility; and trauma-informed care. The practice is small and operates from a private office rather than a clinic setting, which eliminates the medical center wait-room experience but also means no on-site psychiatrist for medication management.
Services and rates
Dr. Garcia-Fernandez charges $120 per 50-minute session for individual psychotherapy. She is in-network with several Maryland-based insurers, which typically means a copay of $20 to $40 depending on your plan, with the provider billing the insurer for the remainder. Out-of-network rates are $120 out-of-pocket. She does not require a multi-session commitment or retainer upfront; you pay per session. Wait times for a new-patient intake are typically two to four weeks. She does not offer evening or weekend hours; all appointments are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Friday availability limited. Verify insurance acceptance and current availability directly; mental health networks shift seasonally, and new-patient slots in the Baltimore area fill unpredictably.
How this compares to Baltimore alternatives
Baltimore has three broad tiers of mental health providers: large health systems like Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland Medical Center, which employ therapists and psychiatrists but often have wait times of six to twelve weeks for a first appointment; smaller group practices such as Baltimore Therapy Group or Harbor Health, which offer shorter waits (usually two to three weeks) but assign you to available staff rather than allowing choice of therapist; and solo practitioners like Dr. Garcia-Fernandez, who typically take longer to add new patients but guarantee continuity. Dr. Garcia-Fernandez's rates are at the market median for Baltimore; independent therapists range from $100 to $180 per session depending on credential and specialization. If you need medication management, the group-practice model or health system route is more efficient, since those settings embed psychiatrists. If you want a specific therapist known for ADHD or anxiety work and are willing to wait, a solo practice prioritizes relationship consistency.
Who this practice suits and who it does not
Dr. Garcia-Fernandez's practice is well-matched for adults with diagnosed or suspected ADHD or anxiety who want to work with one therapist over time, have some insurance or can sustain out-of-pocket cost, and work Monday through Friday business hours. She is not a fit if you need same-week urgent care, only speak Spanish and require a Spanish-speaking therapist (confirm language services before contacting), require medication prescription, or are in crisis. If you are uninsured and cannot pay $120 out-of-pocket per session, the Community Health Center of Baltimore and Medstar Health's community mental health clinic offer sliding-scale therapy based on income, though with longer waitlists and less provider choice.
What the first visit involves
A first appointment with Dr. Garcia-Fernandez runs 50 to 60 minutes and follows the standard intake structure: history of presenting problems, psychiatric and medical history, medication (if any), substance use, family history, suicidality screening, and collaborative goal-setting. She will ask what brought you in, what your symptoms look like on a typical day, and what you hope to change. She may assign homework (brief worksheets or behavioral tracking) between sessions. You will not receive a diagnosis on day one; that typically emerges over the first two to three sessions as the picture becomes clearer. Bring photo ID, your insurance card if applicable, and a list of current medications or supplements.
Hours, location, and practical logistics
Dr. Garcia-Fernandez's office is located on Light Street in South Baltimore, accessible by the Route 10 bus and near metered street parking. She does not maintain a dedicated lot. Her office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited Friday availability; call or email to confirm before assuming a Friday slot is open. Parking on Light Street is typically available but metered Monday through Saturday until 6 p.m. (costs 25 cents per 15 minutes, capped at $2 per hour). There is no waiting room in the traditional sense; arrive five minutes early. Telehealth sessions are available and do not require a commute or parking concern.
Dr. Garcia-Fernandez fills a specific role in Baltimore's mental health landscape: a solo provider with expertise in common adult conditions who prioritizes therapist-patient continuity and uses evidence-based methods. She is not an emergency resource and is not appropriate for everyone, but for adults seeking ongoing work with one therapist in the city proper, she reduces the three-to-four-month waits common at larger systems.
