Outpatient Psychiatry & Medication Management in Cranford, NJ
If you've been managing anxiety, depression, mood swings, or something you've never fully talked about, you've probably tried to push through it. Most people do — for years.
Or call (908) 258-1939 for a free 15-minute consultation
Bethel Behavioral Healthcare Services provides psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and ongoing medication management for adults in Cranford and across Union County — in person at our Commerce Drive office or by secure telehealth. Your care is led by Augustina Ike, MSN, APN, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with 17+ years in nursing and psychiatric care.
Whether you're in Cranford, Westfield, Garwood, Kenilworth, or Union, you get a private appointment that fits around your day — and the same clinician at every visit.
Last updated October 2026
Who outpatient psychiatry is for
Psychiatric care isn't only for a crisis. It's for anyone whose mental health is affecting how they live, work, sleep, or get along with the people around them.
- Your primary care doctor started you on an antidepressant and no one has followed up since
- You've been in therapy and think you may also need medication support
- Symptoms are interfering with work, sleep, or your relationships
- You've never been formally evaluated and want to understand what's going on
- You received a diagnosis years ago and your treatment hasn't been reviewed
- You want to come off a medication safely, or find out whether you still need it
Adult conditions we treat
Augustina works with adults across a broad range of psychiatric and behavioral health concerns, including:
- Anxiety disorders — generalized anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, health anxiety
- Depression — major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, seasonal patterns
- Bipolar disorder — bipolar I, bipolar II, and mood cycling
- Adult ADHD — evaluation and ongoing management, including adults diagnosed later in life
- Trauma and PTSD — including complex trauma and delayed-onset symptoms
- OCD and related obsessive-compulsive conditions
- Borderline personality disorder and chronic impulsivity
- Insomnia and sleep problems linked to psychiatric symptoms
- Postpartum depression and anxiety
- Substance use and dual diagnosis — see addiction treatment
- Psychotic-spectrum conditions, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder
What happens at your first psychiatric evaluation
Knowing what to expect removes most of the anxiety about booking. Here's the actual sequence.
Free consultation
A short, no-pressure call to hear what's going on and confirm outpatient psychiatric care is the right fit. Nothing is diagnosed or prescribed on this call.
15 minutes · FreeComprehensive evaluation
In person in Cranford or by video. Augustina reviews your symptoms, medical and psychiatric history, past medications and how you responded, family history, sleep, substance use, and your goals.
Up to 60 minutesDiagnosis & plan
A clear explanation in plain language and a plan built with you — medication, therapy, sleep and lifestyle work, referrals, or a combination.
Same appointmentFollow-up & adjustment
Early follow-ups are closer together to monitor response and side effects, then spaced out as you stabilize. Your plan is reviewed as you change.
OngoingMedication management, done properly
Prescribing is the easy part. Managing is what decides whether treatment works.
As a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Augustina is licensed to evaluate, diagnose, prescribe, and manage psychiatric medication in New Jersey. In practice, that means:
- StartingAn honest conversation about what a medication does, how long it takes to work, realistic benefits, and the side effects to expect.
- MonitoringRegular check-ins in the first weeks, while response and tolerability are being established.
- AdjustingDose or timing changes, or switching medications if the first option isn't right.
- ReviewingPeriodically asking whether you still need what you're taking, instead of refilling by default.
- TaperingSupervised, gradual discontinuation when it's time to stop a medication.
Looking for a psychiatrist in Cranford?
Many people search for a "psychiatrist" when what they need is a psychiatric evaluation and someone to manage their medication. A psychiatric nurse practitioner provides exactly that.
A PMHNP-BC holds a graduate degree in psychiatric mental health nursing and national board certification. In New Jersey, a PMHNP can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe and manage psychiatric medication. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with a residency in psychiatry. For outpatient care — evaluations, ongoing medication management, and follow-ups — the day-to-day care is broadly the same, and appointments are often easier to get.
If your situation needs a higher level of care, such as hospitalization or a specialist consultation, you'll be told plainly and referred.
Therapy and psychiatry together
Medication and therapy treat different parts of the same problem, and for many adults the combination works better than either alone. Bethel also offers individual, couples, and family therapy, so your psychiatry and therapy are coordinated instead of split across two practices.
- CBT
- Motivational interviewing
- Trauma-focused
- Positive psychology
Already have a therapist you like? Augustina will coordinate with them, with your consent.
Care led by one clinician who knows your history
Augustina Ike, MSN, APN, PMHNP-BC
Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · Founder- 17+ years in nursing and psychiatric care, including inpatient and outpatient psychiatry
- Clinical focus: adult psychiatry, crisis management, and addiction care
- MSN, Psychiatric Mental Health — Walden University
- Licensed in New Jersey and New York
- NJ APN License 26NJ01306400 · NPI 1235875162
- Certified in substance use disorder management
In-network with major insurers
- Aetna
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna & Evernorth
- UnitedHealthcare
- Optum
- Medicare
- AmeriHealth
- TRICARE
- Wellpoint / Amerigroup
Not using insurance, or don't see your plan?
Call to check your coverage — we'll do the legwork. Self-pay and sliding-scale fees are available, and out-of-network patients receive a superbill for reimbursement.
Cost shouldn't be the reason you go untreated. If affordability is a concern, raise it on your free consultation call.
In person in Cranford — telehealth across New Jersey
In-person psychiatry at 20 Commerce Dr, Suite 135, Cranford, NJ 07016, Monday – Friday · 9am – 6pm. Telehealth is available to adults anywhere in New Jersey. Directions & contact.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer in-person and online psychiatry appointments?
Are you a psychiatrist?
Is online psychiatry as effective as in-person care?
Can you prescribe and manage medication?
Do I need a referral?
How long until I feel better?
What do I need for a telehealth appointment?
Is my information private?
Ready when you are
Start with a free 15-minute consultation. No cost, no obligation, no judgment — just a conversation about what you're dealing with and whether we can help.
Or call (908) 258-1939
In a mental health emergency, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or dial 911. This practice is not a substitute for emergency services.