Allison M Scarinzi in Baltimore: Individual Therapist for Addiction and Mental Health Counseling

Allison M Scarinzi is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-C) and certified addictions and mental health professional (CAIMHP) offering individual outpatient counseling in Baltimore. She works with adolescents and adults addressing substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and co-occurring issues, operating as an independent practitioner rather than as part of a larger clinic or hospital system. Her credentials place her within the clinical rather than psychiatric tier of the rehabilitation and mental health field: she provides talk therapy and behavioral intervention but does not prescribe medication, a distinction that shapes both her role in Baltimore's care continuum and the types of cases best suited to her practice.

What Scarinzi's practice actually is

Scarinzi operates a small-scale outpatient therapy practice, seeing clients one-on-one rather than running group programs or residential services. As an LCSW-C, she holds Maryland's highest licensed credential for social workers and is authorized to diagnose mental health conditions and provide treatment planning; the CAIMHP credential signals specialized training in addiction assessment and intervention. This positions her in the subset of Baltimore therapists qualified to address substance use alongside concurrent anxiety, depression, trauma, or other psychiatric conditions. She is not a physician, psychiatrist, or nurse and does not conduct medical detoxification, prescribe controlled substances, or provide the clinical oversight required for inpatient or intensive outpatient programs. Her scope is individual psychotherapy, counseling, and case coordination for clients who are stable enough for outpatient treatment or are stepping down from higher levels of care.

Services offered and what to confirm before booking

Scarinzi provides individual therapy focused on addiction, mental health conditions, and their intersection. Typical sessions are one hour and occur weekly or biweekly. She works with both adolescents and adults, though her specific age range should be confirmed directly. Her practice accepts insurance; what she bills, the copays or coinsurance clients may owe, and which plans she participates in are details you will need to verify by contacting her office or calling the insurance carrier's provider line with her name and license number. If you don't have insurance or your plan doesn't cover her services, ask about her cash fee before your first appointment. Session-by-session pricing, financial hardship accommodations, and sliding-scale policies are not standardized across Baltimore therapists and should not be assumed.

How Scarinzi compares to other Baltimore individual therapists

Baltimore hosts hundreds of licensed therapists; narrowing down matters. Unlike hospital-based counselors, Scarinzi's practice involves no referral requirement and no waiting list tied to a system's intake department, which typically means faster scheduling. Compared to therapists at community health centers (such as those operated by Baltimore City Health Department or federally qualified health centers), an independent practitioner usually has more availability and flexibility in scheduling but may have less administrative support for insurance verification or crisis coverage outside hours. Baltimore also has group therapy practices and private group clinics; these offer access to multiple clinicians if you need to change therapists or if your primary therapist becomes unavailable. Against the backdrop of Baltimore's shortage of licensed addiction counselors, Scarinzi's CAIMHP credential is a screening advantage: many therapists in Baltimore hold master's degrees and LCSW-C credentials but lack specialized addiction training, so confirming this credential when you need both addiction and mental health expertise narrows your search usefully.

Who Scarinzi suits and who should look elsewhere

Scarinzi is suitable for adolescents or adults with substance use disorders (alcohol, opioids, stimulants, cannabis, or other drugs) who also have mental health concerns and are capable of attending weekly outpatient appointments. She works well if you are beginning recovery, in active early sobriety, or maintaining longer-term recovery with ongoing therapy. She does not fit if you are currently intoxicated or in acute withdrawal (which requires medical evaluation first), if you need medication management (which requires a psychiatrist or primary care physician), or if you are in active suicidal or homicidal crisis (which requires immediate emergency care). If you live in a Baltimore neighborhood with limited public transportation and have no car, ask about her exact location and whether she offers telehealth; some Baltimore therapists do and some do not, and this detail is not always listed online.

What to expect on your first visit

Before you arrive, you will likely fill out intake paperwork electronically or on arrival, covering your history with substance use, mental health symptoms, medication list, emergency contact, and insurance information. The first session itself is typically 60 minutes. Scarinzi will ask detailed questions about your presenting problem, your goals for therapy, your substance use and mental health history, your support systems, and any prior treatment. She will explain her approach, discuss confidentiality and its limits (such as mandatory reporting if you disclose abuse or immediate safety risk), and likely assign a tentative diagnosis for treatment planning purposes. You should leave with clarity on the frequency of sessions going forward, the out-of-pocket cost, and what happens if you miss an appointment. Bring a photo ID, your insurance card if you have one, and a list of any current medications.

Hours, location, and logistics

To confirm Scarinzi's office location within Baltimore, her hours, and her telehealth policy, contact her directly or check her listing on your insurance provider's website or through the Maryland Health Care Commission provider directory (mhcc.maryland.gov). Parking details and accessibility accommodations should be clarified when you schedule.

A licensed individual therapist with dual credentials in clinical social work and addiction treatment offers Baltimore residents a streamlined pathway to outpatient care without system intake delays, a practical advantage in a city where mental health and addiction services are strained.