Mental Health and Psychiatry

The Penn State Health Approach to Mental Health and Psychiatry

It’s not unusual to feel sad, distracted, anxious or more emotional at times- that’s a normal part of life. But when your ability to function at home or work, or your relationships are consistently impacted, seeking help may become important. The behavioral health experts at Penn State Health are experienced at helping people recover. Just like any other condition, it’s important to get help early to prevent serious problems with your mental health. Our skilled and compassionate team offers care for the full range of conditions- from anxiety and depression, to psychosis. As an academic medical center, we’re at the forefront of mental health advancements. That means you get the latest, proven approaches from knowledgeable mental health experts. You don’t have to go through this alone. We offer personalized treatment and designed to promote recovery and improve daily and long-term functioning

Complete Care for a Full Range of Mental Health and Psychiatric Conditions

We offer a full range of mental health services for people of all ages, including specialized programs for children and teens. We partner with Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI) to offer comprehensive care in a variety of settings - including inpatient treatment, day programs, outpatient treatment, individual and group therapy and more. We offer programs for substance use disorders, mood and anxiety disorders like depression and bipolar disorder, neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and many others.

Whatever you’re facing, we develop a treatment just for you - there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health and well-being. Our specialists draw from a wealth of programs, services and resources to make sure you get complete care. We help you gain the tools to manage your emotions and behaviors and gain a greater sense of control and well-being that leads to sustained improvement and recovery.

Support Groups

Support groups provide an opportunity to share your feelings and connect with other patients and caregivers who are experiencing similar struggles.

Learn more about support groups offered

Why Choose Penn State Health for Mental Health and Psychiatry

Families in central Pennsylvania have depended on our mental health expertise for decades.

At our academic medical center, you can expect state of the art diagnosis and treatment, but also much more. Penn State Health combines education and research with clinical care, making available treatments and resources that may not be accessible to community hospitals. Specialists from diverse backgrounds work together to provide you with the best care, while continuously monitoring outcomes. We also train the next generation of mental health professionals, ensuring that we will all continue to obtain cutting edge treatment. In coordination with the State of Pennsylvania, we also provide support and training to primary care doctors across the state on the assessment and treatment of the spectrum of behavioral health disorders in children and adolescents.

View Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

We offer opportunities to participate in clinical trials, with early access to novel diagnostics and treatment.

Complete Mental Health and Psychiatric Care

When you or someone you love is facing a mental health crisis, you want a team you can trust. These are just a few reasons why people count on us:

• Our psychiatrists are recognized by Best Doctors
• Our experienced professionals are at the forefront of mental health research. Our advanced knowledge and experience let us offer proven, personalized treatments.
• We provide care where and when it’s needed - in the hospital or an outpatient setting coordinated with your other medical care at Penn State Health. Treatment options include comprehensive assessment and diagnosis, medication, one-on-one counseling, group therapy, leading-edge approaches and more.
• We offer specialized programs - from treatments designed for children and teens, older adults and Hispanics/Latinx to programs that focus on substance abuse, eating disorders, psychosis, autism, attention deficits hyperactivity disorder and more.

Mental Health and Psychiatry Research and Clinical Trials

Since 1971, Penn State Health has been researching mental illness. We continue to pursue breakthroughs that can enhance our understanding and improve therapies and treatment methods. Our research efforts include behavioral neuroimaging, behavioral neurophysiology, molecular neuropharmacology, sleep research and treatment, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, substance abuse, eating disorder and more. For more information on our research groups.

Find out if a clinical trial  is right for you

Related Services & Treatments

• Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI)

Outpatient Services

Comprehensive general adult, geriatric, and child/adolescent services, and the following specialized areas:

• ID (Intellectual Disability) Clinic - ages 19-65
• Hispanic Program (Spanish-speaking) - ages 5 and older
• Dialectical behavior Therapy (DBT) - ages 18 and older
• CAPSTONE Program (First Episode Psychosis) - ages 16-30
• Dementia Assessments - ages 19 and older
• Persistently Mentally Ill Outpatient Care (includes Clozaril clinic) - ages 19 and older
• Opioid and other substance Use Disorders - ages 14 and older
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) - ages 14 and older
• LGBTQ related - ages 18 and older
• Organ transplant candidate evaluations - ages 18 and older

Partial Hospitalization Programs:

• Child/Adolescent - ages 6-18
• Adult Services - ages 18 and older (age 17, if not enrolled in School)

Inpatient Services:

• Child Services -ages 4-12 
• Adolescent Services - ages 13-18 (still in school)
• Adult Services - ages 18 and older 
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) - ages 14 and older
• Psychiatric consultations for medical and surgical admissions
• Addiction Medicine consultations for medical and surgical admissions
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
• Child psychiatry consultation and liaison
• Counseling services

Partial Hospitalization Programs:

• Adult partial hospitalization
• Eating disorder partial hospitalization program (children, teen and adults) [link to Adolescent Medicine]

Outpatient Services:

(Spanish –speaking therapists are available)

• Individual, group, and couples therapies (adult)
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Individual, group, and family therapies (child)
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
• Geriatric clinic
• Anxiety clinic (child)
• Early childhood assessment and treatment program (Ages birth – 60 months)
• Chronic illness clinic (child)
• Child Integrated program
  • Child Psychiatry Consultation program
• Telephonic Psychiatric Service (TiPS)
• Short term counseling
• Sleep Medicine (age 2 -16)
  • Pediatric neuropsychology services
• Eating disorders outpatient/intensive outpatient program (children, teen and adults)
• Mood Disorders clinic (Depression and Bipolar Disorder) (child and adult)
• Neuropsychological assessments
• Organ transplant candidate evaluations
• Attention and Behavior clinic
• Autism services
• Women’s mental health services

Conditions Treated

• Anxiety and phobias
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
• Childhood behavioral problems
• Conduct disorders
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Intellectual or developmental disabilities
• Learning disorders
• Memory disorders
• Mood disorders
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Psychosis
• Schizophrenia
• Schizoaffective Disorder
• Sleep disorders
• Substance use disorders