Child & Teen Psychiatric Care in Cranford, NJ
You've noticed something is different. Maybe they've stopped talking. Maybe the meltdowns aren't ending like they used to, the grades slipped, or they're anxious about things that never bothered them before.
Or call (908) 258-1939 for a free parent consultation
Trust that instinct. Children and teenagers rarely have the words to explain what's happening inside them — which is exactly why so many young people go years without help.
Bethel Behavioral Healthcare Services provides psychiatric care and counseling for children and adolescents — in person at our Cranford office and by secure telehealth — led by Augustina Ike, MSN, APN, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. After-school appointments make it easier for families in Cranford, Westfield, Garwood, Clark, and across Union County.
Last updated October 2026
Signs it may be time to get help
Most parents wait longer than they need to, usually because they're not sure the problem is "big enough." It doesn't have to be a crisis to be worth addressing.
- Anxious, irritable, or withdrawn in a way that has lasted more than a few weeks
- Struggling at school — grades, focus, refusing to go, trouble with teachers
- Sleeping far more or far less than usual
- Losing interest in friends, sports, or things they used to love
- Frequent meltdowns, anger outbursts, or physical complaints with no medical cause
- Dealing with bullying, social exclusion, or online pressure
- Processing a loss, a divorce, a move, or something frightening
- Talking about self-harm, hopelessness, or not wanting to be here
Support for what young people actually face
Anxiety
Generalized worry, separation anxiety, social anxiety, panic, and school refusal.
Depression & mood
Low mood, irritability, withdrawal, and loss of interest that isn't lifting on its own.
ADHD
Evaluation, diagnosis, and ongoing management, including support for school accommodations.
Behavioral challenges
Defiance, aggression, and emotional outbursts that are straining the whole household.
School & social stress
Bullying, peer pressure, academic pressure, and hard transitions between schools.
Trauma & grief
Loss of a loved one, family disruption, or a frightening experience that still affects them.
Autism spectrum support
Emotional and behavioral support alongside existing services and school programs.
Family conflict
Communication breakdown between parents and children, and repeating conflict cycles.
Adjustment difficulties
Divorce, relocation, a new sibling, or immigration and cultural transition.
Care is Christian, faith-based, and culturally sensitive — and families of every faith and none are welcome and treated with respect.
How we work with children and teens
Age-appropriate methods
Younger children are reached through play, drawing, and storytelling — the way children process what they can't yet say. Teenagers get evidence-based approaches like CBT, delivered in a way that doesn't feel like a lecture.
Parents are part of the plan
Parent coaching gives you practical tools for what happens between sessions — handling a meltdown, setting limits without escalation, talking to a teen who won't talk back. Family sessions are available when they'll help.
Coordination with school
With your consent, Augustina can work with teachers, school counselors, and child study teams on accommodations and IEP or 504-related concerns.
Honest privacy rules
Teenagers open up only when they trust the room is private. Age-appropriate confidentiality is respected, and its limits are explained to you and your child at the start.
What the first steps look like
Free parent consultation
You call first, without your child. Describe what you're seeing and ask anything. Nothing is diagnosed — it's to confirm the right fit and level of care.
Initial assessment
In person in Cranford or by video. History from you and, depending on age, time with your child directly — symptoms, development, school, family, sleep, and goals.
A plan you both understand
A clear explanation and a recommended plan — counseling, parent coaching, school coordination, testing referrals, and in some cases medication.
Sessions and review
Progress is reviewed with you regularly. Plans change as your child changes, and you'll always know why.
About medication for children and teens
Medication is not the first answer, and it's never the only one.
When medication is considered, it's discussed with you first: what it's for, what to expect, what the alternatives are, and what happens if you'd rather not.
As a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner licensed in New Jersey, Augustina can evaluate, prescribe, and manage psychiatric medication where clinically appropriate. Some medications — including certain ADHD stimulants — carry additional federal requirements; because Bethel sees patients in person in Cranford, those are straightforward to meet. No parent is pressured into a decision.
Care led by one clinician who knows your family
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: child and adolescent care, adult psychiatry, and crisis management
- MSN, Psychiatric Mental Health — Walden University
- Licensed in New Jersey and New York
- NJ APN License 26NJ01306400 · NPI 1235875162
- Appointments Monday to Friday, including after-school hours
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 and we'll check your child's coverage. Self-pay and sliding-scale fees are available, and out-of-network families receive a superbill for reimbursement.
If cost is what stands between your child and help, say so on the consultation call.
In person in Cranford — telehealth across New Jersey
Child and teen appointments at 20 Commerce Dr, Suite 135, Cranford, NJ 07016, Monday through Friday including after-school hours, plus secure telehealth for families anywhere in New Jersey. Directions & contact.
Frequently asked questions
What ages do you see?
Do you offer in-person and online appointments for children and teens?
Can my child get an ADHD evaluation?
Do I need to be in the room?
Do you need consent from both parents?
What if my child refuses to go?
Is what my child says kept private from me?
What do we need for a telehealth appointment?
You don't have to be certain to reach out
Start with a free 15-minute parent consultation. No cost, no obligation — just a conversation about what you're seeing and what might 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.