Katie Arend in Baltimore: Individual therapy with a clinical social worker trained in trauma

Katie Arend holds a Maryland license as a clinical social worker (LCSW) and operates a solo practice offering individual psychotherapy focused on trauma, anxiety, and depression. She works by appointment in Baltimore, primarily serving adults who need longer-term counseling rather than crisis intervention or psychiatric medication management.

What Katie Arend's practice actually is

A solo therapy practice staffed by one provider. As a licensed clinical social worker, Arend has completed a master's degree and clinical supervised practice hours required by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners. Her scope includes psychotherapy, case assessment, and treatment planning but does not include psychiatry or prescription authority. She specializes in trauma-informed care, which shapes how she structures sessions and responds to client histories of harm.

Services and how they fit your needs

Arend offers individual outpatient psychotherapy, typically structured as weekly or biweekly sessions. Therapy focuses on processing difficult experiences, managing anxiety and depressive symptoms, and developing coping strategies. The modalities she draws on include elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy, somatic approaches, and trauma-sensitive practice, though she may tailor her method to the client's needs.

Session length is generally 50 minutes, standard across Maryland mental health practices. Pricing varies by insurance coverage; she accepts several major insurers including Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare, though coverage and out-of-pocket costs depend on your specific plan, deductible, and whether Arend is in-network. If you have coverage through your employer or marketplace plan, contact Arend's office or your insurer to confirm her participation status and your cost-sharing obligation. Cash-pay rates for uninsured clients range but should be confirmed directly; many therapists in Baltimore charge $90 to $150 per session for self-pay clients, though Arend's specific rate requires verification.

How she compares to other Baltimore therapists

Baltimore has hundreds of licensed therapists, but the choice often comes down to three factors: availability, insurance acceptance, and specialty fit. Arend's trauma focus appeals to clients specifically seeking that training, whereas a general-practice therapist may not specialize. Unlike larger group practices such as those affiliated with Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland Medical System, a solo practice offers continuity (you see the same person every session) but less administrative backup and potentially longer waitlists if Arend is accepting new clients slowly.

Arend's LCSW credential is clinically equivalent to a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) for therapy purposes, though the educational paths differ slightly. Both can diagnose and treat mental health conditions; LCSW training emphasizes systems perspective and often includes additional hours on family dynamics. If you need psychiatric medication, you would need to see a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner separately, whereas a group practice might have those providers on-site. If you are in active crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, emergency services and crisis lines (Baltimore's Crisis Response Team, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) are appropriate first steps, not routine outpatient therapy.

Who this practice suits and who it does not

Arend is a fit if you are seeking one-on-one talk therapy with consistent provider continuity, you have insurance or can pay out of pocket, and your concerns (trauma, anxiety, depression, grief) align with her advertised focus. You have the flexibility to attend scheduled appointments, likely weekly or every other week, and you are not in acute crisis. Adults working through past trauma, managing chronic anxiety or depression, or rebuilding after major life change often benefit most.

This practice is not the right choice if you are currently experiencing suicidal or homicidal thoughts (seek emergency services), you are in need of psychiatric medication evaluation (though Arend may collaborate with a prescriber), or you are looking for immediate availability. If Arend's waitlist is long, other Baltimore practices may have sooner opening dates. Couples therapy and family therapy typically require providers trained specifically in those modalities; check whether Arend offers couple or family sessions if that is your need.

What your first session involves

You will likely complete intake paperwork covering medical history, current symptoms, previous treatment, medication, and insurance information. The first session focuses on understanding your history and what brought you to therapy now. Arend will ask about traumatic or significant adverse experiences, your goals for therapy, and any safety concerns. This is an assessment phase; neither you nor the therapist makes long-term treatment commitments in one meeting, though you may get a sense of whether the fit feels right. Expect the first appointment to run close to a full 50 minutes and to be more question-focused than insight-focused.

Hours, location, and logistics

Arend operates by appointment; there is no walk-in availability. Hours and contact information should be verified through her office directly or through your insurance provider's directory. Most Baltimore therapists operate within standard business hours but some offer early morning or evening slots to accommodate work schedules. Parking depends on her office location; request this detail when you call to schedule. No specific location address is stated here because verification is required.

A licensed social worker trained in trauma and embedded in Baltimore's solo practice landscape, Arend serves clients who need sustained, focused therapy from one trained provider rather than a rotating group model.