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Children's Psychiatry Services
Children’s Psychiatry in Ocean & Monmouth County, NJ
When your child is struggling — at school, at home, with friendships, with emotions they can’t name yet — the hardest part is knowing where to start. At Preferred Behavioral Health Group, we believe the starting point should feel safe, unhurried, and focused entirely on your child.
Our children’s psychiatry services in Brick, NJ serve families across Ocean and Monmouth Counties with
psychiatric evaluations, individualized medication management, and direct school advocacy for IEP and 504 plans. We see children ages 3 and up, and we design every step around one principle: the child comes first.
Psychiatric Evaluations: Understanding Your Child’s Needs
A psychiatric evaluation at PBHG is not a 15-minute checklist. It is a comprehensive, interview-style assessment designed to understand the full picture of what your child is experiencing — the symptoms that show up at school, at home, and in their social world.
Our psychiatric nurse practitioners take the time to listen — to you and to your child. The initial evaluation is approximately 90 minutes and is always conducted in person, because that first meeting matters.
Medication Management: Individualized, Never Cookie-Cutter
If there is one thing families tell us they fear most, it’s the idea that their child will be put on medication without anyone truly understanding their situation. At PBHG, our medication management approach is individualized — not cookie-cutter. We do not rush to prescribe. We start by listening, assessing, and understanding the full picture.
Read our parent guide: From Hesitation to Hope: Understanding Medication Management for Your ChildÂ
When Medication Is — and Isn’t — the Right Step
Medication is one tool in a comprehensive treatment plan. It is never the only option. After evaluation, our NPs may recommend medication, outpatient therapy, a combination of both, or a referral to a specialist for further testing. The decision is always made in partnership with you, with full transparency about benefits, risks, and alternatives.
Our philosophy balances evidence-based medicine with an awareness of lifestyle factors and the family’s comfort
level. We will never pressure you into a decision.
IEP & 504 Advocacy: Bridging the Clinic and the Classroom
If you have ever tried to get your child an IEP or 504 Plan and felt like you were hitting a wall, you are not alone. Schools require documentation — evidence that a disability substantially impacts your child’s ability to learn. Without that evidence, families are often told their child “doesn’t qualify” — even when they clearly need support. PBHG bridges this gap.
Formal Letters and School Recommendations
Our psychiatric nurse practitioners and their collaborating physician provide formal letters and clinical recommendations that support 504 and IEP requests. These are not generic template letters. They are individualized documents based on your child’s evaluation, diagnosis, and specific needs — the kind of clinical weight that school districts require to move forward.
This documentation can include diagnostic findings, treatment recommendations, and specific accommodations your child needs in the classroom. It gives schools the evidence they need to act.
Working with Schools as a Team
We don’t just hand you a letter and wish you luck. PBHG has an active school partnership with the Manchester School District and is actively expanding school partnerships across Ocean and Monmouth Counties. Our clinical team works collaboratively with school personnel to ensure your child’s needs are understood and addressed.
This team-based approach — family, clinician, and school working together — is what turns a diagnosis into real classroom support.
What to Expect: Scheduling, Access, and Your First Visit
Flexible Hours and Hybrid Appointments
We understand that parents have jobs, other children, and full lives. That is why we offer Saturday and evening appointments in addition to standard business hours. We also keep our wait times minimal — because when you’ve decided to seek help for your child, waiting weeks or months is not acceptable.
Your child’s first appointment will be in-person and will take approximately 90 minutes. Follow-up visits are approximately 30 minutes and can be conducted virtually when clinically appropriate.
Inclusive, Culturally Responsive Care
Every family is welcome at PBHG, regardless of background, language, or circumstances. Our staff includes Spanish-speaking team members, and our entire approach is built around cultural competence and inclusivity. We create a space where no family feels judged and every child feels seen.
Your Next Step
If your child is struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood instability, trauma, bullying, peer or home conflict, or high-risk behaviors including self-injury — we are here. PBHG’s children’s psychiatry team in Ocean and Monmouth County is ready to help.
Call us at 732-367-4700 to schedule a psychiatric evaluation for your child. You can also learn more about our Pediatric Medication Management and IEP Advocacy services on our dedicated program pages.
We're Here To Help
Preferred Behavioral Health Group provides multiple youth and adult services to address emotional, mental, and behavioral health issues. However, some situations require different services. If your child is experiencing life-threatening danger or the immediate risk of harming themselves, you must take them to the nearest emergency room or dial 911 for immediate assistance.