Brenda Castle-Young in Baltimore: Therapist-Led Psychiatric Practice for Adults Seeking Medication Management and Counseling

Brenda Castle-Young, LCSW-C, PhD, is a licensed clinical social worker and doctoral-level clinician who operates an independent practice in Baltimore offering psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and talk therapy for adults. She holds both a master's degree in social work and a doctorate, a dual credential that places her above the typical social worker scope but distinct from a psychiatrist's medical training. She serves individuals seeking integrated mental health care where the same provider manages both medication and therapeutic work.

What Castle-Young's practice actually is

Castle-Young is not a psychiatrist (who holds an MD or DO) and cannot prescribe medication in most states, including Maryland, without a specific waiver the state does not routinely issue to LCSWs. She functions as a psychiatric therapist and clinical supervisor, meaning her work centers on diagnosing mental health conditions, providing individual counseling, and referring clients to psychiatrists or psychiatric nurse practitioners for medication when needed. This model works well for people who want one trusted clinician to coordinate care or who are primarily seeking therapy but may need a referral to a prescriber alongside it. It does not work for those who need a single provider to handle all medication and therapy in one place.

Services offered and what to expect on intake

Castle-Young typically provides:

  • Diagnostic psychiatric evaluation and differential assessment
  • Individual psychotherapy for depression, anxiety, trauma, and life transitions
  • Care coordination and referral to prescribers when medication is indicated
  • Clinical consultation and supervision (she also works with other providers)

A first appointment usually lasts 60 to 90 minutes and covers mental health history, current symptoms, medication history if any, and goals for treatment. She will clarify early whether medication is appropriate and, if so, explain that a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner will handle prescribing while she continues counseling.

Fees are determined on a case-by-case basis; many independent clinicians in Baltimore charge between $150 and $250 per session, with some offering sliding scales. Call her office directly to discuss your insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs, as these vary widely.

How she differs from other Baltimore psychiatric providers

Baltimore's psychiatric landscape includes full-service psychiatrists (MDs or DOs who prescribe and do therapy), psychiatric nurse practitioners at major health systems, and therapists like Castle-Young who do not prescribe but provide depth in assessment and counseling. University of Maryland Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and MedStar operate psychiatry departments with psychiatrists available, typically for referred patients, though wait times often run 4 to 12 weeks. Therapists working through agencies like Bon Secours or Sheppard Pratt may have shorter wait times but less continuity with a single clinician across therapy and medication oversight.

Choose Castle-Young if you want an experienced clinician focused on talk therapy who will manage the psychiatry piece through careful referral. Choose a hospital-based psychiatrist if you need one provider to handle complex medication management and therapy simultaneously, or if your insurance requires in-network prescribing. Choose an agency therapist if cost is the primary concern and you are flexible about seeing multiple providers.

Who this practice suits and does not suit

Castle-Young is a fit for:

  • Adults working through therapy-responsive conditions (depression, anxiety, mild trauma) who may or may not need medication
  • People who value continuity with one clinician and are comfortable with a referral for prescribing
  • Those with private insurance or the ability to pay out-of-pocket (she may or may not accept Medicaid; confirm directly)
  • Individuals seeking a doctoral-level clinician with training in both psychotherapy and psychiatric assessment

She is not a fit for:

  • People who require a single provider to prescribe and manage complex medication regimens (bipolar disorder requiring mood stabilizers, schizophrenia, severe medication-resistant depression)
  • Those without insurance who cannot afford private rates
  • Anyone seeking immediate medication management without a referral step

Appointment logistics and what to confirm

Call her office to schedule; most independent practitioners in Baltimore operate by appointment only, with limited emergency access. Ask about:

  • Current wait time for a first appointment (often 2 to 6 weeks)
  • Whether she accepts your insurance or operates out-of-network
  • Whether she offers sliding-scale fees
  • Cancellation policy and how to reach on-call support if you are in crisis

For urgent psychiatric symptoms, Baltimore's crisis line (1-800-422-0009) and the ER at Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center, or Sinai Hospital offer immediate assessment and safety planning.

Why this practice matters in Baltimore's mental health ecosystem

Castle-Young fills a gap for adults who need psychiatric thinking (diagnosis, clarity on medication) paired with sustained therapy, and who do not fit neatly into hospital systems or group practices. Her doctoral credentials and clinical depth distinguish her from entry-level therapists and make her valuable for complex cases that benefit from expert assessment before or instead of medication.