Address
Directions
Hours of Operation
Services
Group Therapy Schedule
Referral Process
Client Responsibilities
Professional Staff
Address
Silver Spring OMHC
8818 Georgia Avenue
Second floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
P: 301-563-7000
For door-to-door directions, please visit www.mapquest.com
By Bus:
Q2, Y7, Y8, Y9 To Ballard Street (the stop after Spring Street). Note: Directions by bus are from Silver Spring Metro, and are not accurate if traveling from Wheaton.
Clinic is located across the street in the same building with the Department of Health and Human Services on the 2nd floor.
Walking Directions:
The Center is approximately five blocks North on Georgia Avenue from Silver Spring Metro.
M 9 am - 8 pm
Tu, W, Th, F 9 - 5
- Medication Management
- Individual Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Family/Couples Therapy
- Psychiatric Assessment
- Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment
- Family Psychoeducation
Threshold Services has Spanish speaking therapists and psychiatrists located at both outpatient centers.
Click here to view the Silver Spring Schedule.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANY OF THESE GROUPS, PLEASE TALK TO THE FRONT DESK OR YOUR PROVIDER IN ORDER TO BE REFERRED TO THE GROUP LEADER.
Silver Spring - 8818 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20902 / Phone: 301-467-8993 (referral ONLY) For referral information please contact the centers directly at the number listed above. Threshold Services accepts Montgomery County residents with Medical Assistance (MA or Medicaid), Medicare and Medicaid, or PAC. Uninsured patients are reviewed on a case by case basis. Threshold Services is not paneled with any private insurance so we will need to confirm that any private insurance allows out of network providers. Threshold Services may ask for proof of income to determine ability to pay deductibles and/or co-payments.
The OMHC Director may need to approve private pay or private insured referrals before an intake appointment is scheduled.
The referral process occurs in two steps. Your first meeting is with a therapist. This session takes about 1.5 hours and you have some paperwork to complete. The second session is with a psychiatrist. This session takes about 30 minutes. After these sessions you will be assigned to a psychiatrist and/or therapist for ongoing treatment that you request or was recommended during the intake process.
- You are responsible for any cost of treatment or co-payment should your insurance company or other third party fail to fully reimburse Threshold Services for services provided to you. Your copay:
- Uninsured $2.00 per visit
- Medicaid/MA $0 co-pay
- PAC $0 co pay
- Medicare only 45% per visit ($30.86/$42.81 therapy; $15.42 group; $27.32 med management; see staff re: other services)
- Medicare/QMB $0
- Medicare/Medicaid $0 co-pay
- Private Insurance/Private Pay (Initial Evaluation: $181.12; Initial Psychiatric Evaluation: $181.12; Individual Therapy: $53.22/96.70; Group Therapy: $41.20; Medication Management: $72.68; Treatment Planning: $88.12)
- You are expected to attend all scheduled appointments. You are expected to be on time for all appointments. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, you MUST call at least 24 hours in advance.
- You are expected to meet with a therapist at least every six months to complete an individual treatment plan. This is mandated by the state of Maryland for all clients. In addition, if you have Medical Assistance, PAC, or are uninsured you must meet with a therapist every six months to complete a brief survey so that we can get authorizations to keep providing you services. This is also a state mandate.
- If you do not provide 24 hour notice prior to a cancellation, it will be documented as a NO SHOW.
- If you have a standing appointment, the space may no longer be held for you on a regular basis.
- After your second NO SHOW, when you call to reschedule, you will have to see whoever is available to see you. This means that it may not be your therapist/psychiatrist.
- If you do not show up for a scheduled appointment, it is your responsibility to call to reschedule. A staff member may attempt to reach you by phone at their discretion.
- If you miss repeated scheduled appointments, a staff member may mail you a notice regarding the absences as well as copies of this notice to any of your other healthcare providers for whom we have a signed release of information on file.
- After missing two (2) consecutive appointments, it is your responsibility to contact Threshold Services within five (5) business days to let us know if you wish to continue receiving services at our clinic.
- Lack of participation in treatment is grounds for discharge from the program.
- If you need to change a standing appointment day or time, please discuss this with your therapist or psychiatrist. We will make every effort to provide an alternative appointment time that is convenient. Weekend and evening hours may be individually scheduled. Check with your provider for availability.
- You are responsible for making sure that you have the necessary prescriptions and refills of any medication until your next appointment. If you run out of medication before your next appointment, you may be asked to schedule an additional appointment in order to receive the prescription.
- You are responsible for informing Threshold Services of any changes in name, address, phone number, insurance, marital status, etc.
Dennis Blair, LCSW-C
OHMC Director
Dennis has been working in mental health services for over 25 years. He has worked in community and hospital settings as well as a private practice. Dennis has worked with children, adolescents, and adults. He has experience with psychodrama and team building. He has been an administrator and supervisor for over 10 years.
Sarah Hammack, LCSW-C
Therapist
Ms. Hammack received her MSW from Catholic University. She began her career working with children and families, but now works mostly with adults with a wide variety of mood and other mental health disorders. She proceeds from a cognitive-behavioral perspective to help clients better understand their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to gain more control over their lives. Ms. Hammack has been with Threshold Services since October 2005. She serves as the therapist on one of the Integrated Dual Diagnoses Treatment teams – providing integrated services to people with both mental health and substance use disorders. She also participates in the Family Psycho-Education program.
Abby Morris, MD
Medical Director
Abby Morris, born and raised near Philadelphia, received her Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. in 1993. While in college she continued her commitment to community service and working with special needs populations. Although she intended to become a clinical psychologist, while working in research at Johns Hopkins Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, she was encouraged to pursue a medical degree. Her interests at the time were obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette’s syndrome and mood disorders. She completed her post-baccalaureate premedical studies at John’s Hopkins University and started medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1996. While in medical school, Dr. Morris gave birth to her oldest son and stayed home with him for two years and volunteered with the American Red Cross. After returning to and completing medical school, Dr. Morris completed an internal medicine internship with Georgetown University Hospital. In 2003, she started her psychiatry residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital. In 2005, she once again took leave from training to stay home with her youngest son, now two years old. She become part of the Threshold Services team after completing her residency in June, 2007.
Ralf Schneider, MA
Program Director
Mr. Schneider is one of the co-facilitators of the Family Psychoeducation Program. He is also the Program Director of the Halpine Community Residential Rehabilitation Program. He received his Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Maryland in 1995. He had training in psychological testing and individual psychotherapy, and the treatment of severe and persistent mental illness in adults and children. He has worked for 12 years in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation and has been a supervisor and counselor at Threshold for the past 7 years. Current professional interests include the treatment of families with members who have a mental illness and the teaching of mindfulness-based techniques.
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