Depression Treatment & Medication Management — Maryland & DC | MJB Holistic
- Melveena Johnson-Bolden, PMHNP-BC
- May 2
- 4 min read
Updated: May 6
MJB Holistic provides depression treatment and medication management to Maryland, DC, and Georgia residents via secure telehealth. In-person visits available at our Upper Marlboro, MD office; telehealth available statewide.
Depression doesn't always look like sadness. Sometimes it looks like exhaustion, irritability, numbness, or just going through the motions of a life that should feel meaningful but doesn't. At MJB Holistic & Therapeutic Services in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, we treat depression the way we treat every condition: by looking at the whole client, and not the hole in the client. Lasting recovery comes from understanding how your biology, history, relationships, and current life are all connected.
What depression actually feels like
Depression is more than feeling down. The patterns we see most often in our Maryland practice include:
Persistent sadness, emptiness, or a sense that nothing matters
Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
Fatigue that sleep doesn't fix
Sleep disruption — sleeping too much, too little, or waking unrefreshed
Appetite changes — eating too much or too little, weight changes you didn't intend
Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or being a burden
Irritability that doesn't match the situation (especially common in men)
Physical symptoms: aches, headaches, digestive issues with no clear medical cause
Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
If you're having thoughts of suicide, please call or text 988 — the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — or go to your nearest emergency room. You can also reach us during business hours at (301) 381-3622.
Our approach to depression treatment
Melveena Johnson-Bolden, PMHNP-BC, brings 28 years of nursing experience to depression treatment. We combine medication management, evidence-based therapy approaches, and lifestyle work that supports whole-person healing. Most patients see meaningful improvement within 4 to 8 weeks of starting treatment.
Depression treatment at MJB typically includes:
Thorough psychiatric evaluation to identify the type and severity of depression
Medication management when clinically appropriate �� using the lowest effective dose
Pharmacogenetic testing for treatment-resistant depression, so we can match prescriptions to your body chemistry
Coordination with therapists for talk therapy when that's part of your plan
Practical tools to support recovery between appointments
Regular follow-up so we can adjust as you improve
Treatment-resistant depression
If you've tried antidepressants in the past without good results — or if side effects forced you to stop — you're not alone, and you're not stuck. Up to one-third of patients don't respond well to the first or second antidepressant they try. This is exactly the situation pharmacogenetic testing was built for.
Medications and pharmacogenetic testing
If medication is part of your plan, MJB Holistic offers in-house pharmacogenetic testing — a simple test that helps your provider tailor psychiatric medications to your specific body chemistry. Patients who use pharmacogenetic testing are roughly 2.5 times more likely to achieve remission, with fewer side effects and fewer trial-and-error medication switches. The test is often free for patients depending on insurance, with results in 3 to 5 business days. Learn more on our pharmacogenetic testing page at mjbholistic.com/genetic-testing.
What to expect at your first appointment
and can be in-person at our Upper Marlboro office or via secure telehealth on Spruce. We'll talk through your current symptoms, your history with depression and any previous treatments, what's worked, and what kind of life you're trying to get back to. By the end, you'll leave with a starting plan.
Related Topics
Other resources from MJB Holistic that may be helpful:
Frequently asked questions about depression treatment
How long does it take for antidepressants to work?
Most antidepressants take 4 to 6 weeks to reach their full effect, though many patients notice subtle improvement within the first 2 weeks. We schedule a follow-up at the 2-week mark to check in and adjust if needed.
Will antidepressants change my personality?
No. The goal of treatment is to give you back access to yourself — your motivation, your interests, your ability to feel pleasure. If a medication is making you feel flat or numb, that's a sign we need to adjust the dose or try a different one.
Can I get depression treatment without medication?
Yes. Some patients prefer to start with therapy, lifestyle changes, or non-medication interventions, and we'll support that approach when it's clinically reasonable. We're not a one-size-fits-all practice.
How is depression treated differently from sadness or grief?
Sadness and grief are appropriate responses to difficult life events. Depression is a clinical condition that persists, often without a clear trigger, and interferes with daily functioning. The line can be blurry — that's part of what an evaluation helps clarify. We treat both depression and complicated grief; they sometimes overlap.
What if my depression has a clear cause — like grief, divorce, or job loss?
Even when depression has a clear trigger, treatment can dramatically shorten the recovery time and prevent it from becoming chronic. Therapy, medication, and structured support all help.
Insurance and payment
MJB Holistic accepts a broad range of insurance plans:
Aetna
Cigna
Blue Cross Blue Shield
UnitedHealthcare
Humana Military
TriCare
Johns Hopkins
Maryland Medicaid
DC Medicaid
Peach State Health Plan (Georgia)
If your plan isn't listed, contact us — we work with patients on out-of-network coverage and can provide superbills for reimbursement.
Telehealth across Maryland
In addition to in-person care at our Upper Marlboro office, we offer secure telehealth appointments through Spruce — a private, healthcare-focused platform built specifically for behavioral health. Telehealth is available across Maryland, with limited availability for patients in Washington DC and Georgia depending on Melveena's licensure in your state.
Schedule your consultation
If you're ready to take the first step toward depression treatment, you can book an appointment online through our patient portal at mjbholistic.intakeq.com/booking, call us at (301) 381-3622. Getting you seen quickly matters to us. We do our best to accommodate each patient's needs as soon as possible — same-day and next-day appointments are often possible, subject to availability.
MJB Holistic & Therapeutic Services, LLC is a Maryland-based psychiatric practice serving Upper Marlboro, Bowie, Largo, Lake Arbor, Mitchellville, Glenarden, and surrounding Prince George's County communities — plus telehealth across Maryland.
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