Kennedy Krieger Institute Columbia

The Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress at Kennedy Krieger Institute sits near Route 32 in Columbia, Maryland. It serves young people from age 2 through 21, along with the adults who care for them, when trauma has shaped how a child feels and behaves. Staff address post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and stress responses that can follow abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence.

Family involvement runs through the work. Caregivers are treated as part of the team, helping them support a child's emotional development while respecting the family's own cultural background. If a child has a developmental or behavioral diagnosis as well as trauma, then the center's developmental behavioral health services may also be relevant.

Kennedy Krieger Institute Columbia

Care at the center is outpatient, so families attend scheduled visits instead of a residential stay. A typical program lasts about 5 days of intensive work, though the clinical team adjusts the plan to fit the child's needs and diagnosis. Therapy is evidence-based and draws on cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-specific therapy, art therapy, and family therapy, and individual counseling and group work are available as well.

Sessions mix structured conversation with movement and play-centered activities, so children can practice calming and regulation in ways that fit their age. Psychoeducation and mindfulness help young people understand what trauma has done to their stress response. For families in Columbia seeking outpatient addiction and mental health care, the center's trauma focus is a distinct starting point among Maryland treatment centers.

• Meditation & Mindfulness
• Family Involvement
• Evidence-Based
• Art Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Trauma-Specific Therapy
• Psychoeducation
• Adult-Child Therapy
• Individual Treatment
• Family Therapy

Who the Columbia center serves

• Young people from age 2 up to 21 who have been through trauma.
• Families and caregivers who want to be part of the child's care.
• Young people with post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, or grief and loss.
• Children with obsessive compulsive disorder, self-harm concerns, or significant stress.
• Neurodivergent youth, including those with developmental or behavioral health needs.
• Spanish-speaking families, since services are offered in English and Spanish.

Location and setting in Columbia

The center is at 9730 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia, MD 21046, close to Maryland Route 32, which makes it reachable for families across Howard County and nearby communities. Rooms are air-conditioned, and groups may include games and yoga. Located in Columbia, Maryland, this outpatient setting lets a child live at home while attending visits, which matters for families balancing school and work.

Paying for care at this site in Columbia

The center accepts private pay through cash rates, and families should confirm coverage details directly with the program before scheduling. If you are comparing options across the state, then ask each program about Medicaid acceptance and any sliding-scale policy, because Maryland rehab centers and clinics vary widely in which plans they accept Medicaid and commercial insurance from. The site is accredited by the Joint Commission, which families can verify through the accreditor's own directory.

Questions about this Columbia site

• Does my child's age and diagnosis fit the center's outpatient program?
• How long will the 5-day program length actually be for our family?
• Which therapies will be used, and how often will we meet as a family?
• Do you accept our insurance, Medicaid, or cash pay, and what will we owe?
• What follow-up sessions and continuing care are offered after the program ends?