A guide to behavioral and mental healthcare at Inova

Not all mental health struggles look the same. Inova offers a full range of behavioral health services across Northern Virginia and the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, from routine check-ins with your primary care doctor all the way to emergency psychiatric care. Here’s a simple guide to help you or someone you love find the right level of care at the right time.

Level 1: Feeling down or anxious? Start with your primary care provider

Best for: Mild to moderate symptoms that are new or manageable

Sometimes life gets heavy. You might notice you’re sleeping more than usual, have lost interest in things you used to enjoy, or feel a persistent low-grade worry that won’t quit. These are real symptoms and they deserve real attention.

The good news? You don’t have to see a specialist first. Your Inova primary care provider (PCP) is a great first stop for mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or depression. They can evaluate your symptoms, discuss medication options, and refer you to therapy or specialized care if needed.

Signs it might be time to call your PCP:

• Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy levels
• Feeling down, hopeless, or losing interest in daily activities
• Difficulty controlling worry or nervousness
• Feeling irritable or on edge beyond what’s normal for you
• Mood swings

How to schedule: Visit Inova MyChart or go to Inova.org/PrimaryCare. In-person or virtual visits are often available the next business day.

Level 2: Need a specialist? Schedule with Inova Behavioral Health

Best for: Ongoing or more complex mental health concerns requiring specialized treatment

If your symptoms feel beyond what your PCP can address alone, including issues with substance use, it’s time to connect with a behavioral health specialist. Inova Behavioral Health Services offers outpatient therapy and psychiatric medication management, with both in-person and virtual appointments available.

Their team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed therapists, social workers, nurse practitioners, and addiction medicine specialists, all working together on a treatment plan built around your needs.

To schedule: Call 571-623-3500, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or visit Inova.org/BehavioralHealth.

Outpatient locations include:

• Merrifield Center (Fairfax) –  including partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
• Executive Park (Fairfax)
• Fair Oaks
• Loudoun (Leesburg)

Level 3: Need to be seen today (but not in crisis)? Walk into IPAC

Best for: Adults 18+ who need urgent psychiatric care today but are not in immediate danger

There’s a gap many people fall into: you need help now, but you’re not in a full-blown crisis. That’s exactly what the Inova Psychiatric Assessment Center (IPAC) was built for.

IPAC is a walk-in behavioral health urgent care clinic –  no appointment needed. It’s designed to bridge the time between when symptoms start and when you can get in to see a regular psychiatric provider. If you go before symptoms reach crisis level, you may be able to avoid the emergency room altogether.

IPAC is a good fit if you:

• Are 18 or older and experiencing urgent mental health concerns
• Need a one-time medication refill or bridge prescription
• Need a prompt psychiatric evaluation and are not yet established with a provider
• Are new to the area or switching providers and need continuity of care

IPAC does not provide:

• Long-term ongoing psychiatric care or psychotherapy
• Prescriptions for controlled substances (stimulants, benzodiazepines, or opioids)
• Non-psychiatric medications or doctor signatures for official documents
• Care for patients in acute psychiatric crisis (active suicide attempt, overdose, or psychosis)

Location: 8221 Willow Oaks Corporate Dr., Suites 400 – 420, Fairfax, VA 22031
Phone: 571-623-3500
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: Inova.org/IPAC

Level 4: Need urgent mental health support? Go to an Inova ER –  and ask about EmPATH

Best for: Adults experiencing a mental health emergency who need immediate, stabilizing care

When someone is in a psychiatric crisis but is medically stable, the traditional emergency room can feel overwhelming and overstimulating. Inova’s EmPATH (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing) unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital offers a calmer, more therapeutic alternative to the ER – and is the first of its kind in Northern Virginia.

Stays range from 8 to 48 hours, with a goal of discharge within 24 hours –  enough time to assess, stabilize, adjust medications, and arrange a clear aftercare plan.

EmPATH is designed for patients who:

• Are experiencing suicidal thoughts and need rapid assessment
• Present with severe anxiety, panic, depression, or emotional distress
• Are in acute mood episodes (such as mania or severe depression)
• Have psychosis or paranoia that can be safely managed without full hospitalization
• Would otherwise be waiting hours in a traditional ER for psychiatric placement

After EmPATH, the care team can arrange:

• Inpatient psychiatric admission (if a higher level of care is needed)
• Direct admission to partial hospitalization (PHP) or intensive outpatient (IOP) programs
• A follow-up IPAC appointment for medication management
• Connection to community aftercare resources

Level 5: Life-threatening emergency? Call 911 or go to the nearest ER immediately

Best for: Anyone who is not safe to wait –  including active suicide attempts, overdose, or severe psychiatric breakdowns

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, do not wait. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Go to the ER immediately if:

• There is a suicide attempt or imminent threat
• There has been an overdose or serious intoxication
• Someone is experiencing sudden, severe changes in mood or behavior
• There is an inability to function (cannot get out of bed, care for themselves, etc.)
• Hallucinations, delusions, or psychosis are present
• There is extreme paranoia, uncontrollable agitation, or violent behavior

Find an Inova ER: Inova.org/ER

Quick reference: Which level is right for you?

Situation	Where to go
Mild/moderate anxiety or depression	Inova Primary Care
Ongoing mental health concerns	Inova Behavioral Health (outpatient)
Need psychiatric care today, not in crisis	IPAC (walk-in, Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Acute psychiatric crisis, medically stable	Inova ER → EmPATH
Life-threatening emergency	911 or Inova ER

You are not alone

Whatever you’re facing – whether it’s a persistent low mood, a panic attack that won’t quit, or a full mental health crisis – Inova has a path forward for you. The key is knowing which door to walk through.

If you’re unsure where to start, your primary care provider is always a safe first call. And if you’re ever in immediate danger, call 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 911.

For more information on Inova Behavioral Health Services, visit Inova.org/BehavioralHealth or call 571-623-3500.