At a Glance
Primary Focus
Treatment Settings
Treatment Approaches
Special Programs
About Open Arms LLC
People Encouraging People Inc is a Baltimore-based outpatient addiction treatment center offering Outpatient Program and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) services to adults across six Maryland counties. NCQA-accredited and accepting Medicaid and Medicare, the center specializes in co-occurring disorders and trauma-informed care through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, serving a wide range of populations including veterans, young adults, seniors, and individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
People Encouraging People Inc (PEP) is an NCQA-accredited outpatient clinic located at 4201 Primrose Avenue in Baltimore, MD 21215, operating within Baltimore City and extending its reach across Baltimore County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, and Prince George's County. For individuals and families weighing longer-term addiction treatment options in the Baltimore metropolitan area, PEP represents a community-rooted recovery center built around outpatient care and accessible mental health support. The center accepts both Medicaid and Medicare, removing a significant barrier for people seeking sustained substance abuse treatment without the financial weight of private pay.
PEP provides two distinct levels of outpatient care: a standard Outpatient Program and an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). The IOP level is particularly suited for people who need more structured support than weekly sessions provide but do not require residential treatment — a common fit for those stepping down from a higher level of care or managing recovery alongside work, family, or community obligations. Both tracks are designed for ongoing recovery rather than acute stabilization, making PEP a realistic long-term option for adults committed to staying in treatment.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) anchors the clinical work at PEP. CBT is a goal-oriented, skill-building approach that helps people in recovery identify and change thought patterns that drive substance use and emotional dysregulation. The center also treats co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis presentations — recognizing that trauma, PTSD, and mental health conditions frequently intersect with addiction. This integrated focus on both behavioral health and substance abuse treatment positions PEP as more than a single-issue clinic.
People Encouraging People serves a notably broad population: men and women, veterans, young adults between 18 and 25, seniors and older adults, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and those referred through the court system. This range reflects a deliberate commitment to reaching communities that are often underserved by mainstream addiction treatment. The center operates Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and can be reached at (410) 764-8560 or [email protected].
Outpatient & IOP Recovery Programs in Baltimore, MD
People Encouraging People offers two levels of outpatient addiction treatment designed to support adults at different stages of their recovery journey. The standard Outpatient Program provides ongoing therapeutic support for people managing recovery alongside everyday responsibilities, while the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) delivers a higher frequency of care — a practical option for individuals who have completed residential treatment or need more structure than weekly sessions alone can provide.
Both programs are grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a clinically structured method that builds practical coping skills and addresses the thinking patterns connected to substance use. For people in Baltimore City and the surrounding counties, PEP's outpatient structure means recovery support that fits real life — not one that requires putting everything else on hold.
Dual Diagnosis & Trauma-Informed Addiction Treatment
A significant share of people entering addiction treatment are also managing untreated or undertreated mental health conditions. People Encouraging People directly addresses this reality by treating co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis presentations as part of its core outpatient services. Trauma and PTSD — conditions that frequently underlie or complicate substance use — are among the specific conditions the center is equipped to treat alongside addiction recovery programming.
This integrated approach matters for people who have cycled through treatment programs that addressed only the substance use piece without accounting for the mental health factors driving it. At PEP, both dimensions are part of the clinical picture from the start.
Who People Encouraging People Serves
PEP's admitted populations reflect a deliberate effort to reach adults who face real barriers to accessing addiction treatment. The center serves veterans, young adults ages 18 to 25, seniors and older adults, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and those entering treatment through court referral. Men and women are both served across all program tracks.
This breadth is not incidental — it reflects a recovery community model that recognizes addiction does not affect a single demographic. For families trying to find a treatment fit for a loved one who has struggled to connect with mainstream programs, PEP's population-specific experience is a meaningful differentiator in the Baltimore outpatient treatment landscape.
Insurance, Access & Service Area
People Encouraging People accepts Medicaid and Medicare, which directly expands access to structured outpatient and IOP addiction treatment for adults who might otherwise face cost as a barrier to sustained recovery. The center does not require private insurance, making it one of the more accessible options for longer-term substance abuse treatment in the region.
PEP's geographic reach extends across Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, and Prince George's County. The center operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Referrals and intake inquiries can be directed to [email protected] or by calling (410) 764-8560.
Why Choose Open Arms LLC
- NCQA accreditation signals a verified standard of care quality rare among outpatient clinics in the Baltimore area
- Accepts both Medicaid and Medicare, making ongoing addiction treatment and IOP services accessible without private insurance
- Specialized programming for populations often overlooked — including deaf and hard of hearing individuals, veterans, and court-referred adults
- Dual diagnosis and trauma/PTSD treatment integrated directly into outpatient and IOP programming, not handled as a separate referral
- Service area spans six Maryland counties, giving people across the Baltimore metro region a concrete path to structured outpatient recovery
Frequently Asked Questions
What levels of addiction treatment does People Encouraging People offer?
PEP offers two outpatient levels of care: a standard Outpatient Program and an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). The IOP provides more frequent sessions and greater structure, making it a common fit for people stepping down from residential treatment or those who need more support than a basic outpatient schedule provides. Both tracks are designed for ongoing recovery rather than short-term stabilization.
Does People Encouraging People treat co-occurring mental health conditions alongside addiction?
Yes. PEP is equipped to treat co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis presentations, including trauma and PTSD. These conditions are addressed as part of the outpatient treatment process rather than treated as separate concerns requiring outside referral.
What therapy approach does PEP use in its outpatient and IOP programs?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the confirmed therapeutic method used at People Encouraging People. CBT focuses on identifying and changing thought patterns that contribute to substance use and mental health challenges, giving people in recovery practical skills they can apply in daily life.
Does People Encouraging People accept Medicaid or Medicare?
Yes, PEP accepts both Medicaid and Medicare. This makes the center's outpatient addiction treatment and IOP services accessible to adults who rely on public insurance coverage for their healthcare, removing a common financial barrier to sustained recovery support.
Which counties does People Encouraging People serve?
The center serves residents across six Maryland counties: Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, and Prince George's County. The main clinic is located at 4201 Primrose Avenue in Baltimore, MD 21215.
What populations does People Encouraging People specifically serve?
PEP serves a wide range of adults, including veterans, young adults ages 18 to 25, seniors and older adults, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and those referred through the court system. Both men and women are served across all program tracks.
Is People Encouraging People accredited?
Yes. PEP holds NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance) accreditation. NCQA accreditation is a recognized standard in behavioral health and reflects a commitment to measurable quality in clinical care.
Does PEP offer services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing?
Yes. People who are deaf or hard of hearing are among the specific populations that People Encouraging People is confirmed to serve. This makes PEP one of the relatively few outpatient addiction treatment centers in the Baltimore area that explicitly accommodates this community.
What are People Encouraging People's hours of operation?
The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. It is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Intake and referral inquiries can be directed to [email protected] or by calling (410) 764-8560.
Is PEP an option for someone referred by the court system?
Yes. Court-ordered individuals are among the populations explicitly served by People Encouraging People. The center's outpatient and IOP structure can accommodate treatment requirements tied to legal referrals while still providing clinically grounded care.
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