Northern Virginia has several public behavioral-health entry points. Fairfax–Falls Church, Arlington, Alexandria and Prince William publish different intake arrangements; DC has its own Access HelpLine. Start with the jurisdiction where you live, then use its assessment hours when planning the visit. [1][2][3][4][5]
Finding your starting point
The comparison below covers selected public entry routes across Northern Virginia and DC. An intake establishes the next step in care; it may involve screening, paperwork and a later treatment appointment. Check the service’s own page before travelling, especially around holidays. If you are unsure of your jurisdiction, give staff your full address rather than relying on a postal city name.
Compare local starting points
These are selected routes to investigate, not a comprehensive directory or a clinical ranking. Each organization confirms its own services, eligibility and arrangements.
| Starting point | Published role | Confirm directly |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax–Falls Church CSB | Non-emergency entry and assessment for mental-health and substance-use services [1] | Residence, age, current phone or walk-in process |
| Arlington adult Same Day Access | Walk-in assessment, Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–1 p.m. [2] | 703-228-5150; 2120 Washington Boulevard |
| City of Alexandria Same Day Access | City residents; last intake 2 p.m. Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri, 5 p.m. Wednesday; subject to clinician availability [3] | 703-746-3535; 4850 Mark Center Drive, second floor |
| Prince William Same Day Access | Manassas and Woodbridge walk-ins, Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; first come, first served [4] | Intake: 703-792-5241 Manassas; 703-792-7373 Woodbridge |
| DC Access HelpLine | DC behavioral-health service connections [5] | 888-793-4357; identify residence and request |
Choose the intake serving your home jurisdiction
Fairfax–Falls Church lists Entry & Referral at 703-383-8500. DC’s Access HelpLine operates around the clock at 888-793-4357. Arlington, Alexandria and Prince William have their own assessment contacts in the comparison above. [1][5]
An Alexandria mailing address can be different from City of Alexandria residency. The city’s program specifies that it serves city residents. Giving the full home address at first contact helps staff identify the applicable intake. [3]
Phone availability is different from walk-in arrival time
Fairfax’s published phone hours are Monday–Thursday 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; walk-in assessment hours end at 3 p.m., starting at 8 a.m. Monday–Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday. These are the normal hours shown on the source checked September 7, 2026. Confirm holiday or service changes before travelling. A call answered late in the afternoon does not establish that walk-in assessment is still accepting arrivals. [1]
Starting non-emergency services with the Fairfax–Falls Church CSB
For a video visit, give the location where you will sit
A person can live in Virginia, work in DC and visit Maryland in the same week. Tell the provider where you will physically be for a remote appointment. HHS explains that cross-state delivery depends on state rules and providers should verify location. The provider’s permission to conduct the visit, the clinical suitability of the format and the insurer’s coverage remain separate questions. Do not infer all three from a broad “available online” statement. [6]
Allow time for intake, not just a conversation
Arlington tells adult applicants to allow two to three hours, including forms, financial information, a health screen and an eligibility discussion. Its intake does not include a psychiatrist visit or a prescription. [2]
Fairfax describes a more detailed assessment of up to 90 minutes for people who appear eligible after initial screening. Waiting and registration add time. Use the local estimate when arranging time off work or a ride home. [7]
Fairfax financial help has more than one category
The CSB collects financial and insurance information and offers an ability-to-pay process for eligible residents. Its fees page distinguishes a basic subsidy from additional assistance for documented hardship. The basic subsidy does not apply to insurer-assigned copays, coinsurance or deductibles; a supplemental hardship request has its own approval process. [8]
Bring the financial question to registration with the insurance information and income evidence available to you. The county publishes a no-income attestation route for people without earnings. These policies belong to Fairfax CSB. They should not be assumed to apply to every private practice in Northern Virginia or to a District of Columbia service.
A video visit from DC or Maryland needs its own arrangement
If you live in Virginia but plan to connect from a Washington office or a relative’s Maryland home, tell the clinician before the appointment. HHS advises providers to verify the patient’s physical location and applicable state rules. [6]
The regional telehealth guide below explains what information to give the clinician and the health plan when a visit changes location.
Practical guides for Northern Virginia & DC
Start with the regional comparison when an in-person search spans state lines. Use the CSB guide for a Fairfax public-service inquiry and the telehealth guide before taking a session from another jurisdiction.
Virginia Medicaid and addiction treatment: understanding the ARTS benefit
Find the right service, check participation and follow a referral through to an appointment.
Starting non-emergency services with the Fairfax–Falls Church CSB
How do I begin a non-emergency CSB inquiry in Fairfax?
A video appointment across DC, Virginia and Maryland
Can a DC-area video appointment continue when I am in another state?
Questions to bring to an assessment
- Does this service cover my city or county of residence?
- If I live in DC or Maryland, can this Virginia program serve me?
- Will virtual appointments still be available if I am physically in another state?
Prepare with the first-conversation guide, program questions, and insurance questions. For urgent public contacts, use support resources.
Sources and scope
Based on the published sources below, with original planning tools and clearly labeled illustrative calculations. Hours, services and prices can change; the receiving organization determines current availability, eligibility and personal costs.
No named clinician has reviewed this guide. It provides general information about care and service navigation, not an individual treatment recommendation. Source checks are editorial checks, not clinical review.
- Fairfax–Falls Church CSB: how to begin · Public-agency guidance · Checked .
- Arlington: adult Same Day Access · Public-agency guidance · Checked .
- Alexandria: Same Day Access · Public-agency guidance · Checked .
- Prince William: Same Day Access · Public-agency guidance · Checked .
- DC Department of Behavioral Health: Access HelpLine · Public-agency guidance · Checked .
- HHS: licensing across state lines · Public-agency guidance · Checked .
- Fairfax CSB: screening and assessment explained · Public-agency guidance · Checked .
- Fairfax CSB: fees, documents and financial assistance · Public-agency guidance · Checked .
Worksheets are planning aids, not clinical assessments. Our source and correction standards.