Anastasia Tusa in Baltimore: Individual Therapy With a Focus on Anxiety and Grief

Anastasia Tusa is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) offering individual psychotherapy in Baltimore, specializing in anxiety disorders, grief, and life transitions. Her practice operates on a private-pay basis and sits outside the constraints of insurance panels, a model that shapes both her availability and her fee structure.

What Anastasia Tusa Actually Offers

Tusa provides individual talk therapy to adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief, and major life changes. She uses evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), tailored to each client's situation rather than applied from a rigid template. Her background as an LCSW means she holds a state-regulated clinical credential that requires direct clinical supervision and a 6,000-hour supervised practice requirement beyond the master's degree. The practice is intentionally kept small, allowing for flexible scheduling and, as a private-pay model, continuity of care without authorization denials or session limits from insurance companies.

Services and Fees

Individual therapy sessions run 50 minutes and cost $150 to $180 per session, depending on circumstances. Most clients meet weekly; some adjust to biweekly as they stabilize. No insurance billing occurs; clients pay out of pocket and are given receipts for potential reimbursement through out-of-network benefits if their plan offers them. A first consultation is typically 20 to 30 minutes and is offered at no charge or reduced cost, allowing both therapist and client to assess fit before committing. Tusa does not offer psychiatric medication management; prescriptions require a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner, a separation common in independent practice models where the therapist focuses on talk therapy while a medical provider handles medication if needed.

How This Model Compares Locally

Baltimore has a substantial counseling landscape split into three main categories: insurance-based community mental health centers (often with wait lists of 2 to 6 weeks and sliding-scale fees), large group practices and medical centers with therapists on staff, and solo or small-group independent practitioners. Community mental health organizations like Behavioral Health System Baltimore and Sinai Hospital's mental health clinic prioritize accessibility and sliding fees but often work within managed-care constraints and may have longer wait times. Large practices and EAP-affiliated therapists move faster but operate under insurance-determined session limits. Tusa's model sits distinctly outside this structure: no wait list, no authorization hassle, higher per-session cost than a sliding-scale clinic visit, but fewer interruptions from insurance denials or arbitrary session caps. Private-pay therapy costs more upfront but suits clients with out-of-network coverage, those for whom cost is not a barrier, or those who have exhausted their insurance benefits.

Who Benefits and Who Does Not

Tusa's practice works best for clients with flexible income or insurance reimbursement options, those who value consistency (no provider changes due to insurance panel shifts), and people for whom anxiety or grief is the primary focus rather than crisis-level psychiatric symptoms. Her availability for flexible scheduling helps employed adults and college students who cannot accommodate traditional 9-to-5 mental health center hours. She is not the right fit for someone in acute psychiatric crisis, suicidal ideation, or psychosis, all of which require immediate psychiatric intervention, often through an emergency room or crisis line. She also does not take insurance directly, so clients should verify their out-of-network deductible and co-insurance before beginning; some plans reimburse 50 percent after deductible, others more, and some have annual out-of-network limits.

What the First Consultation Involves

A first contact usually happens by phone or email to discuss availability and presenting concerns. If timing works, an initial session is scheduled. This first visit focuses on understanding the client's history, current stressors, and goals for therapy. Tusa also clarifies expectations around confidentiality, fees, cancellation policy (typically 24-hour notice), and any concerns about fit. By the end, both parties have enough information to decide whether to continue. Many clients start weekly therapy and adjust frequency as they progress; some shift to monthly check-ins after resolving the acute issue.

Hours, Location, and Logistics

Tusa's practice is located in Baltimore and offers sessions by appointment, with evening and weekend hours available. Street parking is typical for her area; there is no dedicated parking lot. She does not maintain a public website listing hours; prospective clients reach out directly by phone or email to check availability and schedule. Verification note: her weekly schedule and availability shift seasonally; call or email to confirm current openings before assuming next-week availability.

Her private-pay practice and specialized focus on anxiety and grief make her a direct fit for Baltimore adults seeking continuity of care outside the insurance authorization system.