Janis Scholom in Baltimore: Individual Psychotherapy for Adults in Canton
Janis Scholom is an individual therapist based in Baltimore's Canton neighborhood who specializes in psychotherapy for adults dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship problems. She operates a small, independent practice rather than a clinic model, meaning you work directly with her rather than rotating through multiple clinicians.
What Scholom actually does
Scholom practices depth-oriented psychotherapy, a modality that moves beyond symptom management to explore underlying patterns in thought, emotion, and behavior. She holds a Master's degree in clinical social work and is licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Maryland. Her approach is particularly suited to people who are looking for consistent, ongoing work with a single therapist rather than brief, goal-focused interventions. She works with adults across age ranges and backgrounds, concentrating on issues that develop over time: chronic anxiety, childhood trauma patterns, depression tied to life circumstances, and the relationship dynamics that often underlie both.
Unlike larger group practices or community mental health centers that emphasize rapid throughput and standardized treatment protocols, Scholom's independent practice allows for longer initial sessions, continuity of care, and the kind of therapeutic relationship that often matters most to people seeking depth work.
Services and cost
Scholom charges per session, with rates typical for licensed clinical social work practice in the Baltimore area, though you should contact her directly to confirm current fees. She accepts some insurance plans; verify your specific coverage with her office before scheduling, as insurance reimbursement for therapy varies widely by plan and can affect your out-of-pocket cost. If you do not have insurance coverage for mental health services, ask whether she offers sliding-scale fees for uninsured or underinsured clients. Individual sessions typically run 50 minutes.
She does not prescribe medication, though she can work alongside a psychiatrist or primary care doctor if you take psychiatric medications. This collaborative model is common in depth-oriented therapy and allows the prescriber to handle pharmacology while the therapist focuses on the psychological work.
How Scholom compares to other Baltimore therapists
Baltimore has a substantial landscape of individual therapists and a few larger therapy group practices. Group practices such as those affiliated with Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland offer faster appointment availability and often maintain therapists with specialized certifications in trauma (EMDR, somatic experiencing) or evidence-based protocols like cognitive-behavioral therapy. These settings also simplify insurance verification and billing.
Independent practitioners like Scholom trade those efficiencies for depth and continuity. If you are seeking a particular modality (exposure therapy for specific phobias, dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder), a group practice or specialized clinic may match you more quickly. If you are looking for a single therapist who can work with you over years on complex, evolving issues, an independent practice often works better. Scholom's location in Canton also makes her accessible from Federal Hill, Fells Point, and Harbor East without the parking logistics of a hospital-based clinic.
Who benefits, and who might look elsewhere
Scholom suits adults who are committed to ongoing therapy and can maintain regular appointments (typically weekly or biweekly). She works best with people who can tolerate the slower pace of depth work and who are motivated by self-exploration rather than quick symptom relief. If you are in acute crisis, have active suicidal thoughts, or are in severe psychiatric distress, you need immediate care at an emergency department or crisis line, not individual outpatient therapy.
If you need medication management, you will require a separate psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. If you need specialized evidence-based treatment for a specific diagnosis (obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder with a clear trauma focus), you may get faster results through a clinic offering that modality.
What a first session involves
Scholom will spend the initial session gathering your history: what brings you now, your mental health background, family and relationship history, and what you are hoping to change. You will discuss fees, insurance, and confidentiality, including limits to confidentiality (safety concerns, abuse). Unlike some intake-heavy clinics that separate the first session from actual therapy, Scholom typically begins exploratory work in the first meeting. Bring your insurance card if you have coverage, and arrive with time to complete basic intake paperwork.
Hours, location, and logistics
Scholom's practice is based in Canton. Confirm current office hours directly; independent therapists often have limited hours and may not be available weekdays 9 to 5. Street parking is available in Canton though it can be tight during business hours. Some therapists in independent practices also offer telehealth sessions, which eliminates the parking question; ask when you call.
Janis Scholom represents the Baltimore psychotherapy landscape at its most personal: sustained, unhurried work with a licensed clinician in your neighborhood, without the machinery of a large system.
