Do I need to be in the room during my child's session?

It depends on the child's age and the goals of treatment. Younger children usually need a parent present or nearby. Teenagers typically benefit from private time, with parents brought in for updates and planning. This is agreed with the family at the start of care.

What if my child refuses to attend?

This is common and is not a reason to stop. Parents can begin with the free consultation alone. A great deal can be achieved through parent coaching, and there are practical approaches for engaging a reluctant teenager without confrontation.

What do we need for an online appointment?

A quiet, private space and a phone, tablet, or computer with a camera and a stable internet connection. A secure link is sent before the appointment. No app or account is required.

Child & Adolescent · Ages 8–17

Child & Teen Mental Health Care in Union County, New Jersey

Q: Will online therapy actually work for a child?

For many children and teens, yes, and for teenagers in particular it often works better. Familiar surroundings, no waiting room, and no risk of being seen entering an office all help. Methods are adapted to the online format rather than simply moved onto a screen. If online care is not appropriate for a child, the family will be told and referred to suitable alternatives.

Q: Do you need consent from both parents?

For minors, consent must be given by a parent or legal guardian with authority to consent to mental health treatment. In separated or shared custody situations, documentation may be requested. Families are encouraged to raise this during the free consultation call so it does not delay care.

Q: Is what my child says kept private from me?

Age-appropriate confidentiality is respected because it is what allows treatment to work. The specific limits of confidentiality, including safety situations in which a parent will always be informed, are explained to both parent and child before treatment begins.

You've noticed something is different. Maybe they've stopped talking. Maybe the meltdowns aren't ending like they used to, or the grades slipped, or they're anxious about things that never used to bother them.

Trusting your instinct here is the right call. 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 online therapy and psychiatric care for children and adolescents across Union County and New Jersey, led by Augustina Ike, MSN, APN, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 17 years of clinical experience.

Sessions happen from home — no time off school, no waiting room, no drive from Union, Elizabeth, Springfield, or Roselle after a full day.

Book an Appointment Free Parent Consultation — (908) 258-1939

Teenager attending an online therapy session with a licensed provider in Union County, New Jersey

When to reach out

Signs it may be time to get help

Most parents wait far 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's lasted more than a few weeks
Struggling at school — grades, focus, refusal 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

If your child has expressed thoughts of suicide or self-harm, do not wait for an appointment. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or go to your nearest emergency room. Online care is not appropriate for emergencies.

What we help with

Support for what young people actually face

Anxiety

Generalised 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.

Behavioural challenges

Defiance, aggression, and emotional dysregulation that's straining the whole household.

School & social stress

Bullying, peer pressure, academic pressure, and difficult transitions between schools.

Trauma & grief

Loss of a loved one, family disruption, or a frightening experience that's still affecting them.

Autism spectrum support

Behavioural and emotional support alongside existing services and school-based programmes.

Family conflict

Communication breakdown between parents and children, and repeated conflict cycles.

Adjustment difficulties

Divorce, relocation, a new sibling, or immigration and cultural transition.

Care is faith-inclusive and culturally sensitive. Families from every background are treated with respect, and no child is ever asked to be someone they're not.

Our approach

How we work with young people

Age-appropriate methods

Younger children are met through creative approaches — art, games, storytelling — because that's how children process what they can't yet say. Teenagers are met differently: evidence-based approaches including CBT and DBT-informed skills, delivered in a way that doesn't feel like being lectured.

Parents are part of the plan

You are not dropped off at the door. Parent coaching gives you practical tools for what happens between sessions — how to respond to a meltdown, how to set boundaries without escalation, how to talk to a teenager who won't talk back. Family sessions are available where they'll help.

Coordination with school

Where it's useful and you consent, Augustina can collaborate with teachers, counsellors, and child study teams to support accommodations, 504 plans, and IEP-related concerns.

Honest boundaries on privacy

Teenagers open up only when they trust the room is private. Age-appropriate confidentiality is respected, and its limits are explained clearly to both you and your child at the start — including the circumstances in which a parent will always be informed for safety.

Getting started

What the first steps look like

Free parent consultation

You call first, without your child. Describe what you're seeing and ask whatever you need to. Nothing is diagnosed on this call — it's to confirm whether this is the right fit and the right level of care.

Initial assessment

The first full appointment gathers history from you and, depending on age, time with your child directly. Symptoms, developmental and medical history, school functioning, family context, sleep, and what you're hoping changes.

A plan you both understand

A clear explanation of what's going on and a recommended plan — therapy, parent coaching, school coordination, referral for additional testing, and in some cases medication, discussed carefully and never assumed.

Sessions and review

Progress is reviewed regularly with you. Plans change as your child changes, and you'll always know why.

Medication

About medication for children and teens

Medication is not the first answer, and it's never the only one.

When it's considered, it's discussed thoroughly 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 categories of medication carry additional federal and state requirements for telehealth — if that applies to your child, it will be explained plainly. No parent is pressured into a decision.

Your provider

Care led by one clinician who knows your family

Augustina Ike, MSN, APN, PMHNP-BC

Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

17+ years of clinical experience across crisis management, psychiatry, and addiction care
Master of Science in Nursing, Walden University
Licensed in New Jersey and New York
NJ License 26NJ01306400 · NPI 1235875162
Faith-inclusive and culturally sensitive care
Appointments Monday to Saturday, including after-school hours

★★★★★ 4.7 out of 5 across 105 verified patient reviews on Zocdoc

In-network with most major insurers

Aetna Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Cigna & Evernorth UnitedHealthcare Optum Medicare AmeriHealth TRICARE Wellpoint / Amerigroup + 150 more plans

Not using insurance, or don't see your plan?

Self-pay is straightforward, sliding-scale options are available, and superbills are provided for out-of-network families to submit for reimbursement.

If cost is the thing standing between your child and help, say so on the consultation call.

Service area

Serving families across Union County and New Jersey

Online care for children and adolescents throughout New Jersey, with a focus on Union County and the surrounding communities.

UnionElizabethSpringfield RoselleKenilworthLinden RahwayCranfordWestfield SummitPlainfieldNewark

Appointments take place on a secure, confidential video platform, Monday through Saturday, including after-school hours.

Parent questions

Frequently asked questions

What ages do you see?

Bethel works with children and adolescents from age 8 through 17. Adults aged 18 and over are seen through adult psychiatry or individual therapy.

Will online therapy actually work for a child?

For many children and teens, yes — and for teenagers in particular it often works better. Familiar surroundings, no waiting room, no risk of being seen walking into an office. Methods are adapted to the format, not simply moved onto a screen. If online care isn't right for your child, you'll be told so and pointed toward appropriate alternatives.

Do I need to be in the room?

It depends on age and what's being worked on. Younger children usually need a parent present or nearby. Teenagers typically do better with private time, with parents brought in for updates and planning. This is agreed with you at the start.

Do you need consent from both parents?

For minors, consent must come from a parent or legal guardian with the authority to consent to mental health treatment. In separated or shared-custody situations, documentation may be requested. Raise this on the consultation call so it doesn't delay care.

Can my child get an ADHD evaluation online?

ADHD evaluation and management for children and adolescents is offered. Evaluation typically draws on parent report, school input, and standardised rating scales. If more extensive neuropsychological testing is indicated, you'll be referred.

What if my child refuses to go?

Extremely common, and not a reason to give up. Start with the parent consultation on your own — much can be done through parent coaching alone, and there are practical ways to approach a reluctant teenager that don't involve a confrontation.

Is what my child says kept private from me?

Age-appropriate confidentiality is respected, because it's what makes treatment work. The specific limits — including safety situations where you will always be informed — are explained to you and your child before treatment begins.

What do we need for an appointment?

A quiet, private space and a phone, tablet, or computer with a camera and stable internet. A secure link is sent before the appointment. No app or account required.

Get started

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.

Book an Appointment Call (908) 258-1939

In a mental health emergency, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or dial 911. Online care is not appropriate for emergencies.