Someone in Silver Spring, someone in Washington, DC, and someone in Arlington can all see the same psychiatric provider without leaving home. None of them has to fight beltway traffic or sit in a waiting room.
That is the promise of telehealth psychiatry. It also raises fair questions: Does it really work? Is it allowed across state lines? What does a telehealth visit look like? If you have been searching for a telehealth psychiatrist in Maryland and Washington, DC, this guide answers those questions one by one.
Table of Contents
What Telehealth Psychiatry Actually Is
A telehealth psychiatric visit is a regular appointment held remotely instead of in an office. You talk with a licensed provider about your symptoms, history, and goals. The provider makes a diagnosis, recommends a plan, and follows your progress over time.
It is not a chatbot, a quiz, or a pill-by-mail service. The evaluation and the professional standards are the same as in an office.
At Balanced Life Behavioral Health & Counseling Services, that provider is Dr. Ben Ekwe, a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Many people search for a psychiatrist. Psychiatric nurse practitioners are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions, including managing medication.
The practice offers telehealth for every service on its services page. It also offers in-person visits at its office in Lanham, Maryland.
Why Your Location Matters More Than You Might Expect
Most people assume the rules depend on where the provider’s office is. In telehealth, what matters most is where you are sitting during the visit.
In general, a provider must be licensed in the state where the patient is physically located at the time of care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explains that delivering care across state lines depends on each state’s rules. A full license in the patient’s state is one of several pathways.
This matters a lot in the Washington, DC area. Maryland and Washington, DC are within a short distance of one another. A provider licensed in only one of them generally cannot see a patient who lives just across the state line. Dr. Ekwe is licensed in both Maryland and Washington, DC, allowing patients in both areas to receive care through telehealth.
Two practical points follow from this.
First, expect to confirm your physical location at the start of each visit. It is routine. It keeps your care within the rules, and it matters for safety if an emergency comes up.
Second, if you plan to travel outside Maryland or Washington, DC, call the office before you book. Some states allow short-term care for existing patients who are visiting, but the rules differ from place to place.
Does Telehealth Work as Well as an In-Person Visit?
For most people and most mental health conditions, the research says it does.
One systematic review compared telehealth with in-person care using studies from March 2020 to April 2023. It found that differences between the two were generally small and not clinically meaningful. An NIH review of virtual behavioral health care reported that telehealth produced similar or better outcomes than in-person care for mental health conditions. It also described high patient satisfaction and a bond between patient and provider that was comparable to face-to-face visits.
Honesty matters here, so one caution. The authors of the first review noted that many studies measured results in different ways, which makes broad conclusions harder. And in-person care can still be the better fit in some situations. Examples include needing a physical exam or lab work, not having a private space at home, or being in a crisis that calls for more support than a virtual visit can give.
What a Telehealth Visit Looks Like
Booking. You can book through the practice’s online scheduling link or by calling (240) 791-6150. The office is open Monday through Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM. Let the staff know you want a telehealth visit. Ask whether it will be by video or by phone.
Before the first visit. The practice asks new patients to have their comprehensive medical history ready. Its guide to what to expect at Balanced Life walks through how the first appointment works.
During the first visit. Expect a conversation about what has been going on. Your provider will ask about your symptoms, how long they have lasted, your medical and psychiatric history, your current medications, and what you hope will change. This is the same ground an in-person evaluation covers.
After the first visit. You and your provider agree on a plan. If medication is part of it, your provider explains the options and how the prescription will reach your pharmacy. Some medications carry extra federal and state rules, so ask what applies to you. Follow-up visits are usually shorter. They focus on how you are doing and what, if anything, needs adjusting.
A few simple things make the visit smoother:
- A private, quiet spot where you can talk openly
- A phone or computer with a working connection, charged beforehand
- Your list of current medications and doses, plus the name of your pharmacy
- Your insurance card
- A few notes on your symptoms and questions
- The address of the place where you will be during the visit
Where Telehealth Works Especially Well
Telehealth fits ongoing care. Medication follow-ups, progress check-ins, and therapy sessions all translate well to a screen or a phone call. It can also be the easier path if you live far from an office, have a packed schedule, or find leaving the house hard.
That last point matters for people dealing with anxiety, panic disorder, or depression. For them, the idea of a waiting room can be the very thing that delays care. It also helps adults living with ADHD, since booking and getting to appointments is the kind of task that slides to next week. Dr. Ekwe also treats mood disorders and OCD.
In-person visits are still available if you prefer them. Some people simply talk more easily across a desk, and that is a perfectly good reason to choose the office.
Care in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia
If You Live in Maryland
The practice says it serves all counties and cities in Maryland, and telehealth is available for all of its services. That includes Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and the Baltimore area.
If you would rather be seen in person, the office is at 9821 Greenbelt Road, Suite 207, Lanham, Maryland 20706. Patients in and around Lanham, including nearby Greenbelt, Bowie, and Landover, can book an in-person visit there.
If You Live in Washington, DC
Dr. Ekwe is licensed in the District of Columbia. Patients who are physically in DC during their appointment can be seen by telehealth from home or from another private space. There is no need to cross into Maryland to get care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see a Maryland-based provider if I live in Virginia or DC?
Yes, as long as the provider is licensed where you are located during the visit. Dr. Ekwe is licensed in Maryland, DC, and Virginia, so patients in any of those three can be seen by telehealth. Call the office to confirm availability for your area.
What if I am traveling or away at school?
In general, you need to be in a place where your provider is licensed. If you are outside Maryland, DC, or Virginia, call the office before booking. Some states have short-term rules for existing patients, but they differ.
Can I choose between telehealth and an in-person visit?
Yes. The practice offers both, so you can choose the format that fits you.
Can I get a prescription through a telehealth visit?
Often, yes. After an evaluation, your provider can discuss medication options if they fit your situation. Some medications are subject to extra federal and state rules. Ask your provider what applies to you.
Does insurance cover telehealth psychiatric visits?
Coverage depends on your plan and your state. The practice lists the insurance plans it accepts on its homepage. Confirm with your insurer and the office that telehealth psychiatric visits are covered before you book.
Is telehealth right for a mental health emergency?
No. Telehealth visits are not emergency care. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Ready to start?
Call (240) 791-6150, Monday through Saturday between 11 AM and 5 PM, or book an appointment online. If you would like to look around first, the services page shows everything the practice treats.
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