Mark Alter, MD,
About Mark Alter (He/Him)
Dr. Mark Alter, MD, helps children, teens, adults, and seniors across Pennsylvania manage complex mental health challenges and achieve lasting emotional well-being. At LifeStance Health, he provides individualized care through medication management and therapy, supporting clients with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and trauma-related concerns. Serving communities throughout PA, Dr. Alter emphasizes a collaborative approach that engages clients and families, empowering them to understand their experiences, strengthen coping skills, and reach meaningful treatment goals.
He is particularly passionate about working with clients who are recently discharged from psychiatric hospitals. Dr. Alter brings expertise in addressing a wide range of conditions, including bipolar disorder, substance use issues, and post-traumatic stress, and he tailors treatment to each client’s needs using evidence-based approaches. His clinical practice integrates strategies such as CBT for insomnia alongside comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and personalized care planning. He works with diverse populations, including LGBTQ+ individuals, men, women, first responders, military and veterans, and clients with developmental or neurological considerations, providing a supportive, affirming environment for growth and recovery.
Dr. Alter emphasizes practical, goal-oriented treatment that aligns with clients’ personal and medical contexts. He collaborates closely with therapists, primary care providers, schools, and community partners when appropriate, ensuring continuity of care and coordinated support. His approach combines clinical expertise with compassion, fostering an environment where clients feel empowered to navigate challenges and develop resilience.
Outside of his clinical work, Dr. Alter enjoys spending time with family, traveling, playing tennis and skiing, exploring neuroscience research, optimizing systems, and investing in real estate.
Types of Care & Ages Served
- Psychiatry/Medication Management: All Ages
Areas of Focus
Psychiatry/Medication Management
Treat and prevent mental health disorders using medication and therapy.
- Ability status
- ADHD
- Adoption & foster care
- Aging
- Anger issues
- Anxiety
- Attachment issues
- Autism spectrum & neurodivergence
- Autism with developmental delay
- Autism: requires some assistance
- Bipolar Disorder
- Body image
- Bullying or harassment
- Career & work issues
- Caregiving
- Childhood ADHD, attention or focus issues
- Childhood behavioral issues
- Conditions caused by stress
- Dementia & memory concerns
- Depression/feeling down
- Detachment/disconnection
- Dissociative disorders
- Domestic violence & abuse
- Early adulthood: Independent living or relationships
- Early adulthood: Starting college or career
- Eating issues: binging
- Eating issues: food deprivation
- Eating issues: purging/regurgitating
- Emotional abuse
- End-of-life challenges
- Ethnic identity & mental health
- Family conflict
- Focus, concentration & memory
- Gender identity & mental health
- General relationship issues
- Grief & loss
- Hair pulling & skin picking
- Hallucinations
- Hoarding
- Immigration/cultural status
- Intellectual disability (caregiver-supported care)
- Intellectual disability (living independently)
- Intense mood changes
- Learning challenges
- LGBTQ+
- Marital stress or divorce
- Medical or surgical evaluations
- Men's health/issues
- Mental health changes after brain & head injuries
- Mental health during perimenopause
- Mental health related to pregnancy & reproductive health
- Mental health support for chronic pain
- Mental health support for neurological conditions
- Mid-life transitions
- Military, veteran, and first responder mental health
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Other addictive behaviors
- Other women's health concerns
- Panic attacks
- Parenting
- Patterns affecting behavior, emotions and relationships
- Personality disorders & related conditions
- Phobias
- PMS & PMDD
- Premarital counseling
- Psychosis/issues with reality
- Race, culture & mental health
- Religion, spirituality & mental health
- Retirement
- Schizophrenia/schizoaffective
- School avoidance
- School behavioral issues
- Self-esteem
- Self-injury or cutting
- Sex & intimacy issues
- Sexual trauma
- Sleep issues or insomnia
- Social skills & communication
- Sports performance
- Stress from ongoing health issues
- Stress management
- Stress related to discrimination & social injustice
- Stroke-related mental health conditions
- Trauma & PTSD
- Unhealthy eating habits
- Unusual thoughts or beliefs
Insurances Accepted
- Aetna
- Allied Trades Assistance Program
- Carelon (Beacon)
- Centivo
- Claritev (MultiPlan PHCS)
- Curative
- Devoted Health Plan
- Evernorth (Cigna)
- HealthSmart
- Highmark Blue Shield
- Humana
- Independence Blue Cross
- MediNcrease Health Plans (MHP)
- Medicare
- Northwell Direct
- Optum (UnitedHealthcare)
- Partners Direct Health
- Provider Network of America (PNOA)
- Quest Behavioral Health
- SVCMC US Family Health Plan
- Sana Benefits
- TELUS Health (BHS)
- Tricare East (Humana Military)
Languages
- English
Education
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
New patient?
Check availability and book your first appointment Call 610-477-8858 for Availability Call for Availability Call 610-477-8858 To Book Using Medicare Call To Book Using MedicareFrequently Asked
Questions About
Mark Alter
Please call us at 610-477-8858 to schedule an appointment with Mark Alter.
Mark Alter generally accepts new patients but there could be a waitlist. Please call 610-477-8858 to find out Mark Alter's schedule and availability.
LifeStance Health providers accept most commercial insurance plans that are offered in the states where we offer services, including telehealth. Please see the following list of insurances accepted by Mark Alter:
- Aetna
- Allied Trades Assistance Program
- Carelon (Beacon)
- Centivo
- Claritev (MultiPlan PHCS)
- Curative
- Devoted Health Plan
- Evernorth (Cigna)
- HealthSmart
- Highmark Blue Shield
- Humana
- Independence Blue Cross
- MediNcrease Health Plans (MHP)
- Medicare
- Northwell Direct
- Optum (UnitedHealthcare)
- Partners Direct Health
- Provider Network of America (PNOA)
- Quest Behavioral Health
- SVCMC US Family Health Plan
- Sana Benefits
- TELUS Health (BHS)
- Tricare East (Humana Military)
If you don't see your insurance listed, please contact us at 610-477-8858 to see how we can help.
Yes, Mark Alter is licensed to prescribe medication in appropriate situations.
Mark Alter works at the following locations:
Yes, Mark Alter does offer online telehealth visits.
Yes, Mark Alter is currently offering in-office visits at the following locations: