Ajay Bhandari, M.D.

Meritus Behavioral Health provides outpatient mental and behavioral health and substance abuse services. We provide confidential assessment, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and follow-up for individuals, couples, families, groups and organizations. Specialists are available for a wide variety of treatment options and include certified behavioral health nurses, clinical therapists and counselors and board-certified psychiatrists.

Our psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders - including substance use disorders. We offer a variety of treatments – including various forms of talk therapy, medications, psychosocial interventions and other treatments, depending on the needs of each patient.

Psychotherapy, sometimes called talk therapy, is a treatment that involves a talking relationship between a therapist and patient. It can be used to treat a broad variety of mental disorders and emotional difficulties. The goal of psychotherapy is to eliminate or control disabling or troubling symptoms so the patient can function better. Depending on the extent of the problem, treatment may take just a few sessions over a week or two or may take many sessions over a period of years. Psychotherapy can be done individually, as a couple, with a family, or in a group.