Dr. Costello was born in the Shenandoah Valley. Her passion for mental health was passed down from her grandmother, who was one of the Chief Nurses at Western State Hospital. Oftentimes, Dr. Costello would accompany her to the hospital. This early childhood exposure sparked an intense desire to help others with the same love, patience, and compassion that her grandmother embodied.
At a very young age, Dr. Costello realized she wanted to be a doctor. She attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville where she completed her undergraduate degree and attended the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg. She was initially drawn to osteopathic medicine’s philosophy of using an integrative and whole-person approach for the assessment and treatment of patients. Dr. Costello learned, from the beginning of medical school, to consider the entire person, their social supports, barriers to care, and other factors which have continued to shape her approach to medicine.
Dr. Costello completed her adult psychiatric residency and child and adolescent fellowship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, MD. She worked as a staff psychiatrist at Walter Reed taking care of military members and their families. She is board certified in Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry. She is a member of the American Psychiatry Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
APPROACH TO TREATMENT
Dr. Costello takes a collaborative approach to the evaluation and treatment of children and their families. While training has provided her with expertise in medical treatment, Dr. Costello appreciates the importance of your family’s unique experiences and expertise regarding your child and family. Working together with your child, family, and therapist a well-rounded, effective, and implementable plan will be created. When considering whether medication is appropriate, exploration and education are critical to developing shared goals with families. Fully informed decisions are crucial to the overall success of the treatment plan created with families.
GOALS AND PRIORITIES
Being available for any questions or concerns related to the mental health of your child.
Building a relationship of trust with the parents and child so that the concerns are fully understood.
Considering, when clinically appropriate, new or evolving treatment options, to include integrative and alternative treatments.
Dr. Costello is honored to work with your family to provide the best possible care for your child.
How to Contact Me:
*In the case of an emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Phone: Mon-Fri 2:00-2:45pm, (301) 970-4001
Portal: I will respond within 2 business days
Email: To protect patient privacy, per our practice policy, I do not use email with current or prospective clients.
