About Us

Here's some information about us:

• Our role in mental health delivery in Maryland

• Comparison with other Maryland clinics

• Our beliefs

• Our approaches to treatment

• Our professionals

• Clinic Director (Mercy Nwankama)

• Tying it together: Who we are

• Directions (No walk-ins; by appointment only).

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Our Services

Here are our services:

Psychiatric Evaluation & Management

• Case management (psychiatric/mental health)

• Court services (psychiatric/mental health reports

• Medication management

• Psychiatric and mental health evaluation

• Other psychiatric and mental health reports.

Nutrition & Weight Management

• Nutrition/vitamin treatment

• Stomach reduction assessment/evaluation

• Weight management

• General health education (individual and group lessons)

• Other nutrition and weight management services.

Addiction Treatment & Recovery

Substance Abuse

• Alcohol addiction

• Coffee or stimulant addiction

• Drugs addiction (Cocaine, Marijuana, Heroin, Meth, etc.)

• Food or soda addiction

• Smoking, tobacco, or vaping addiction

• Opioids, painkillers, or prescription medicines addiction

Unhealthy Habits & Addiction

• Gambling or gaming addiction

• Internet and computer addiction

• Sexual addiction or disorder

• Shopping and spending addiction

• Work addiction (Workaholism)

• Other addiction issues.

Behavioral & Emotional Health Treatment Programs

• Abuse/Trauma

• Adjustment issues

• Anger issues

• Antisocial/deviant behavior

• Anxiety/stress

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Adult

• Autism (Adult)

• Autism (Child): for Information Only

• Body image problems

• Bipolar disorder

• Borderline personality disorder

• Compulsive stealing (Kleptomania)

• Crisis intervention

• Depression

• Eating disorders

• Eating disorders - Anorexia Nervosa

• Eating disorders - Binge Eating

• Eating disorders - Bulimia Nervosa

• Eating disorders - Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

• Family conflict

• Imposter syndrome (Self-imposter disorder)

• Intellectual development/learning disability

• Lying disorders (Compulsive lying and Pathological lying)

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

• Paranoia

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Psychosis

• Self-esteem issues

• Schizophrenia

• Sleep problems (sleep disorder, insomnia)

• Trauma

• Women’s Issues

• Other psychiatric and mental health issues.

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Insurance & Payments

Here's some information on insurance and payments:

• Insurance and payments accepted.

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BOOK AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE
Click here to schedule an appointment

Manage Your Information and Contact Us

These are how to make appointments or contact us:

• Schedule an appointment online

• Log in
  (Manage your personal information, view upcoming appointments and appointment history, self-schedule appointments, send messages to your provider, view and pay your invoices, and complete forms).

• Fill out our Contact Form and tell us anything

• Fill out our Contact Form and tell us how we’re doing

• Contact our webmaster or report website problems.

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Disease Diagnostic Categorization

Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

• Alcohol addiction

• Coffee or stimulant addiction

• Drugs addiction (Cocaine, Marijuana, Heroin, Meth, etc.)

• Food or soda addiction

• Smoking, tobacco, or vaping addiction

• Opioids, painkillers, or prescription medicines addiction

• Gambling or gaming addiction

• Internet and computer addiction

• Sexual addiction or disorder

• Shopping and spending addiction

• Work addiction (Workaholism)

Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

• Abuse/Trauma

• Adjustment issues

• Crisis intervention

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Mood Disorders

• Bipolar disorder

• Depression

Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety/stress

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Paranoia

Personality Disorders

• Antisocial/deviant behavior

• Borderline personality disorder

• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Eating Disorders

• Eating disorders

• Anorexia Nervosa,

• Binge Eating,

• Bulimia Nervosa,

• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Psychotic Disorders

• Psychosis

• Schizophrenia

Developmental Disorders

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Adult

• Autism (Adult)

• Autism (Child): for Information Only

Behavioral and Emotional Disorders with Onset Usually Occurring in Childhood and Adolescence

• Intellectual development/learning disability

Impulse-Control Disorders

• Compulsive stealing (Kleptomania)

• Lying disorders (Compulsive lying and Pathological lying)

Sleep Disorders

• Sleep problems (sleep disorder, insomnia)

Other Specific Disorders

• Anger issues

• Body image problems

• Family conflict

• Imposter syndrome (Self-imposter disorder)

• Self-esteem issues

• Trauma

• Women’s Issues

• Other psychiatric and mental health issues

Read more about our disease categorizations based on common diagnostic groupings. Our categorization strategy groups conditions by similar psychological symptoms and treatment approaches, simplifying how our patients navigate the comprehensive services we offer.

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Policies and Legal Matters

Here are our policies and information on some legal matters:

• Our privacy policy

• Terms and conditions

• Handling patients’ records

• Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) policy

• Controlled medicines prescription policy

• Controlled medicines prescription policy - Schedule I Drugs

• Controlled medicines prescription policy - Schedule II Drugs

• Controlled medicines prescription policy - Schedule III Drugs

• Controlled medicines prescription policy - Schedule IV Drugs

• Controlled medicines prescription policy - Schedule V Drugs

• Policy on Marijuana

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Download Clinical Forms

Download PDF Forms

• New Patient Intake Form

• Telehealth Informed Consent

• Acknowledgment of Rights and Responsibilities

• Authorization to Bill Insurance

• Self-Pay Agreement

• Consent for Treatment (Adult)

• Controlled Substances Agreement

• Notice of Privacy Policies

• Records Release Authorization

Remember that as a foremost Maryland outpatient clinic, we at the Joy of Life Clinic are ready to answer your questions and provide the best possible care for you or your loved ones.

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Downloadable Free Resources

Here are some helpful downloadable free resources:

• ADHD in Adults

• ADHD in Children and Teens

• Autism: Community Report on Autism (2023) - CDC

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Bipolar Disorder

• Bipolar Disorder (Suicide Risk in Bipolar Disorder: a Brief Review)

• Borderline Personality Disorder

• Controlled Medicines and Substances Prescription Policy

• Depression

• Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

• Eating Disorders: About More Than Food (Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating, Bulimia Nervosa, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

• Eating Disorders (Let's Talk Eating Disorders) Infographics

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Stress (I'm So Stressed Out)

• Stealing (Comparing Kleptomania and Shoplifting Addiction)

• My Mental Health - Do I Need Help?

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Panic Disorder - When Fear Overwhelms

• Positive Parenting: Building Healthy Relationships With Your Kids

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Prescription Drug Monitoring Policy

• Psychosis (Understanding Psychosis)

• Schizophrenia

• Suicide (Warning Signs of Suicide)

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Disease Categorization by Service

Addiction Treatment & Recovery

Substance Abuse

• Alcohol addiction

• Coffee or stimulant addiction

• Drugs addiction (Cocaine, Marijuana, Heroin, Meth, etc.)

• Food or soda addiction

• Smoking, tobacco, or vaping addiction

• Opioids, painkillers, or prescription medicines addiction

Unhealthy Habits & Addiction

• Gambling or gaming addiction

• Internet and computer addiction

• Sexual addiction or disorder

• Shopping and spending addiction

• Work addiction (Workaholism)

• Other addiction issues.

Behavioral & Emotional Health Treatment Programs

• Abuse/Trauma

• Adjustment issues

• Anger issues

• Antisocial/deviant behavior

• Anxiety/stress

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Adult

• Autism (Adult)

• Autism (Child): for Information Only

• Body image problems

• Bipolar disorder

• Borderline personality disorder

• Compulsive stealing (Kleptomania)

• Crisis intervention

• Depression

• Eating disorders

• (Anorexia Nervosa,

• Binge Eating,

• Bulimia Nervosa,

• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

• Family conflict

• Imposter syndrome (Self-imposter disorder)

• Intellectual development/learning disability

• Lying disorders (Compulsive lying and Pathological lying)

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

• Paranoia

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Psychosis

• Self-esteem issues

• Schizophrenia

• Sleep problems (sleep disorder, insomnia)

• Trauma

• Women’s Issues

• Other psychiatric and mental health issues.

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Blogs

Read our blogs:

• Marijuana DUI: What you need to know

• Balancing patient privacy, communication, and bias in healthcare

• Lessons from unrelenting spam attacks on our Facebook page

• How we combat doctor hopping and shopping in our clinic

• Is depression a sign of spiritual warfare? My view of Mark DeJesus’ thoughts

• Changing the conversation: Promoting acceptance in mental health

• No! ADHD is not being over-diagnosed.

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Miscellaneous Mental Health Information

Here are some useful miscellaneous mental health information:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

• The prescription opioid crisis

• Understanding OCD and OCP.

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Diagnosis & Treatment Approaches

Here are our approaches to diagnosis and treatment:

• Our holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment

• Patients with multiple diagnoses

• Psychotherapy (general information)

• Psychotherapy (Dialectical Behavior Therapy - DBT)

• Prescription medicines

• Telehealth

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Mercy Nwankama on Major Healthcare Services Networks and Directories

Explore some information about our Clinical Director, Mercy Nwankama

• Introducing Mercy Nwankama

• Education, certifications, and licensing

• Professional experience

• Dedication and service

Learn about Mercy Nwankama's impressive presence across top healthcare networks:

• WebMD

• Psychology Today

• ZocDoc

• Headway

• Healthgrades

• Vitals

• U.S. News & World Report

• Doximity

• Sharecare

• MediFind

• Kiwi Health

Discover her trusted profile in these leading portals and more.

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We’re at your service.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Solutions, not judgement

We are committed to you and your loved ones; we admire your courage in seeking help and we respond with unwavering support and personalized treatment.

Our compassionate care is aimed at healing and growth, breaking down mental health barriers, and celebrating positive change. Together, we'll journey towards wellness, guided by empathy and expertise.