Tehila Healthcare in Baltimore: Outpatient Mental Health Care on a Sliding Fee Scale

Tehila Healthcare is a nonprofit outpatient mental health clinic in East Baltimore that offers individual therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management to uninsured and underinsured adults and adolescents, with fees adjusted by household income rather than charged at a standard rate.

What Tehila Healthcare actually is

Tehila operates as a community mental health center within the network of Bon Secours Maryland, a Catholic health system, though it maintains its own clinical staff and intake process. The clinic serves patients who may face barriers to care elsewhere: those without insurance, those with inconsistent employment, and those navigating Medicaid coverage gaps. Unlike private practices that typically require insurance verification before the first appointment, Tehila asks about income during intake and sets fees accordingly. The clinic is small enough that wait times during initial screening are typically days rather than weeks, but it is not an emergency service.

Services and pricing

Tehila offers individual therapy (counseling), psychiatric evaluation by an MD or NP, medication management visits, and case management support. A single therapy session typically costs between $20 and $60 depending on household income, with income verification required at first visit. A psychiatric evaluation generally runs $60 to $100 as a one-time charge, and ongoing medication management visits are $30 to $80 per session. Exact fees depend on Federal Poverty Level thresholds and are not posted online; you must call or visit to receive a fee quote. The clinic accepts most Medicaid plans and some commercial insurance, though copay obligations remain your responsibility.

How Tehila compares to other Baltimore mental health options

Baltimore has several pathways to outpatient mental health care, each suited to different situations. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) like Chase Brexton Health Services also use sliding-scale fees and serve uninsured patients, but Chase Brexton's scope includes primary care, STI testing, and substance use treatment alongside mental health, making it a broader primary care home if you need integrated services. Shrinkmd and other telehealth providers offer lower upfront costs (often $80 to $120 per therapy session with no sliding scale) but require internet stability and privacy at home. University-affiliated clinics through Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland may have lower fees for those who qualify for research or training clinic slots, but appointment wait times can run 4 to 8 weeks. Tehila's advantage is a direct, in-person clinic with income-based fees and faster initial access; the trade-off is that it does not house primary care or addiction services on site if you need coordinated care.

Who Tehila suits and who it does not suit

Tehila serves adults and adolescents (typically ages 13 and up, though younger children may be referred elsewhere). It is best for people with stable housing who can attend appointments in East Baltimore, who are comfortable with a small clinic environment, and who want individual therapy or medication management without a broader primary care anchor. The clinic does not operate as an emergency service; for mental health crisis, head to the nearest emergency department or call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). Tehila is less suitable for people who need crisis stabilization, substance use treatment as a primary service, or comprehensive psychiatric hospitalization evaluation.

What the first visit involves

Call Tehila to schedule an intake appointment. You will be asked basic demographic information, income (to determine sliding-scale fee), insurance status if applicable, and the reason for seeking care. At your first in-person visit, plan 60 to 90 minutes for intake paperwork, a mental health screening questionnaire, and an initial assessment with a clinician who will discuss your goals and recommend therapy, psychiatric evaluation, or both. If you are seeking medication, you will be referred to the psychiatric clinic; if medication is already part of your care, bring a list of current prescriptions. Bring a photo ID and, if you have insurance or Medicaid, your card.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Tehila Healthcare is located at 3001 East Lombard Street in East Baltimore, in the area around Johns Hopkins Hospital's medical campus. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited same-week availability depending on clinician caseloads. Street parking is available but often constrained during business hours; there is no dedicated clinic lot. The clinic is accessible by the #3, #4, and #13 MTA bus routes. Call 410-732-0696 to confirm current hours before your visit.

Tehila Healthcare fills a specific role in Baltimore's mental health landscape: low-barrier entry, income-based pricing, and no insurance requirement. For East Baltimore residents and those navigating affordability, it removes friction that often prevents people from starting care.