--- title: Betsy Christenson, PA-C date: 2025-05-27T19:43:43Z modified: 2026-10-16T01:31:14Z permalink: "https://www.columbiapsychiatry-dc.com/team/elizabeth-christenson-pa-c/" type: team status: publish excerpt: "" wpid: 4484 specialty: - Psychiatry office: - Columbia Psychiatry - North Bethesda, MD modality_areas: - Brief Therapy - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) - Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) - Individual Counseling - Neuropsychological Testing - Psychopharmacology - Psychotherapy - Testing and Assessment - Weight Loss/Evaluation for Bariatric Surgery conditions: - Addiction & Substance Use - ADHD - Affective Disorders - Agoraphobia - Anger Management & Impulse Disorders - Anxiety Disorders - Asperger’s Syndrome - Autism Spectrum Disorders - Behavioral Issues - Bipolar Disorder - Body Dysmorphia - Borderline Personality Disorder - Career Issues - Child Abuse - Chronic Illness & Chronic Pain - Cultural (racial, ethnic) Identity Issues - Death, Dying, & Terminal Illness - Delusional Disorders - "Dementia & Alzheimer's" - Developmental Disorders - Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) - Domestic Violence - Eating Disorders - Eating/Food Insecurities - Family Conflict - Gender Dysphoria - Grief and Bereavement - Hoarding - Homelessness - Infertility or Pregnancy Loss - Intellectual Disabilities - Learning Disabilities - LGBTQI+ Issues - Marital/Separation/Divorce - "Men's Issues" - Military Lifestyle Issues - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - Panic/Phobias - Parenting Issues - Personality Disorders - Physical Abuse Victims - Post-Partum/Pre-Partum - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Psychotic Disorders - Relationship Issues - Schizophrenic Disorders - School Related Problems - Self-Harming Behaviors - Severe & Persistent Mental Illness - Sexual Addictions - Sexual Disorders - Sexual Dysfunction - Sleep Disorders - Social Anxiety - Stress Management - Suicidality - Transition to Adulthood - Trauma - Traumatic Brain Injury - Veteran’s Issues special_populations: - Co-Occurring Disorders - Disabilities – Developmental - Disabilities – Learning - Disabilities – Physical - Geriatric - HIV/AIDS - Immigrant Populations - LGBTQI+ - Medical Co-Morbidity - Refugees language: - "No" featured_image: "https://www.columbiapsychiatry-dc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Elizabeth_Christenson_1.jpg" timestamp: 2026-10-16T01:31:14Z tags: - Psychiatry - Columbia Psychiatry - North Bethesda, MD - Brief Therapy - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) - Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) - Individual Counseling - Neuropsychological Testing - Psychopharmacology - Psychotherapy - Testing and Assessment - Weight Loss/Evaluation for Bariatric Surgery - Addiction & Substance Use - ADHD - Affective Disorders - Agoraphobia - Anger Management & Impulse Disorders - Anxiety Disorders - Asperger’s Syndrome - Autism Spectrum Disorders - Behavioral Issues - Bipolar Disorder - Body Dysmorphia - Borderline Personality Disorder - Career Issues - Child Abuse - Chronic Illness & Chronic Pain - Cultural (racial, ethnic) Identity Issues - Death, Dying, & Terminal Illness - Delusional Disorders - "Dementia & Alzheimer's" - Developmental Disorders - Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) - Domestic Violence - Eating Disorders - Eating/Food Insecurities - Family Conflict - Gender Dysphoria - Grief and Bereavement - Hoarding - Homelessness - Infertility or Pregnancy Loss - Intellectual Disabilities - Learning Disabilities - LGBTQI+ Issues - Marital/Separation/Divorce - "Men's Issues" - Military Lifestyle Issues - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - Panic/Phobias - Parenting Issues - Personality Disorders - Physical Abuse Victims - Post-Partum/Pre-Partum - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Psychotic Disorders - Relationship Issues - Schizophrenic Disorders - School Related Problems - Self-Harming Behaviors - Severe & Persistent Mental Illness - Sexual Addictions - Sexual Disorders - Sexual Dysfunction - Sleep Disorders - Social Anxiety - Stress Management - Suicidality - Transition to Adulthood - Trauma - Traumatic Brain Injury - Veteran’s Issues - Co-Occurring Disorders - Disabilities – Developmental - Disabilities – Learning - Disabilities – Physical - Geriatric - HIV/AIDS - Immigrant Populations - LGBTQI+ - Medical Co-Morbidity - Refugees - "No" --- ### Certified Physician Assistant ### ![](https://www.columbiapsychiatry-dc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Elizabeth_Christenson_1.jpg) I am a provider at our [North Bethesda](https://www.columbiapsychiatry-dc.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/location/north-bethesda-md.md) clinic who offers [psychiatric](https://www.columbiapsychiatry-dc.com/psychiatric-care/psychiatry-and-medication/) services! I am a certified Physician Assistant and have completed my CAQ certification. I enjoy working with people of all ages and backgrounds who are suffering from mental health issues. I am able to diagnose and treat people experiencing symptoms of a variety of mental health conditions including (but not limited to): anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia. My ideal patient would be ready to take a collaborative and holistic approach to their mental health to ease their symptoms and improve their quality of life. I will provide kind and compassionate care to people of all ages and from all backgrounds. I like to work in a collaborative way with my clients to help them get the individualized help that they are looking for. I believe in treating the whole person, as there can be a lot of different factors influencing the severity of the psychiatric symptoms. This holistic care will include medication management and brief counseling, but often includes discussions about lifestyle interventions, alternative treatment options, and communicating with talk therapists, other medical professions and/or involved family members (if desired). I believe that mental health stability sets the foundation for people to enjoy and succeed in their lives. I feel honored to have the opportunity to use my skills and knowledge to help make my clients’ lives better. Originally from the Midwest, I moved to Montgomery County 15 years ago and I love the excitement and diversity of the area! I am married and have two daughters. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, hiking, and traveling.