Pediatric Behavioral Health
If your child struggles with an emotional issue or behavioral disorder, Virtua’s pediatric behavioral health experts can help.
Virtua’s pediatric behavioral health team is committed to helping children understand and cope with the challenges in their lives.
Our Approach to Pediatric Behavioral Health
If your child has a mild to severe emotional or behavioral problem, we understand that each day can be a struggle. And we also recognize how challenging it is to reach out for help. We’re here to help.
Virtua's Children Achieving Success Through Therapeutic Life Experiences (CASTLE) program provides diagnosis and treatment for children ages 3 to 18, who are experiencing issues such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, or emotional concerns.
The CASTLE program offers four unique levels of care in safe, secure settings to meet the mental, behavioral, and emotional needs of children and families.
The process starts with a phone call to our intake coordinator who collects information about your child and learns more about what’s happening in their life.
From there, your child is scheduled for an initial appointment and psychiatric evaluation to determine admission to the program and the level of care needed.
Evaluations, diagnoses, and treatments are determined and provided by our team of mental health experts, which includes:
- Child psychiatrist
- Psychiatric advanced nurse practitioners
- Registered nurses
- Licensed counselors and social workers
- Mental health counselors
Our mission is to help your child improve in areas where they struggle, so they can feel successful in school, at home, and in life. We also coordinate with your child’s school team to collaborate on behavioral plans or to ease their transition back to the classroom.
Pediatric Behavioral Health Treatment
Our treatment programs include:
Outpatient program
Children and adolescents who attend this long-term program meet with a clinician approximately once a week for individual and/or family therapy to help identify and work on issues related to home, school, and social situations.
Intensive outpatient program/after-school program
Children attend this half-day program and receive comprehensive mental health services. Children typically attend this program after their regular school day.
Partial hospitalization program
Kids and teens attend this full-day program during typical school days/hours (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). They receive intensive therapeutic services, as well as academic instruction in a nurturing and supportive atmosphere.
Therapeutic nursery
Our nursery provides intensive therapeutic services and educational enrichment to meet the developmental needs of 3- and 4-year-old children. Under the supervision of our child psychiatrist, our clinical team develops a comprehensive treatment plan for your child.
To help you and your child understand and cope with challenges, our programs also provide:
- Individual psychotherapy, including trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy
- Family therapy/education
- Group therapy
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Medication therapy
- Behavior modification system
- Academic programs
We offer some therapies in-person and via telehealth.
Virtua Pediatric Behavioral Health Locations
Virtua’s CASTLE programs in Berlin and Camden, N.J., provide high-quality diagnosis and treatment to meet the mental, behavioral, and emotional needs of children and teens.
The Virtua Difference for Pediatric Behavioral Health Care
Experience matters
The CASTLE program has been a trusted provider of behavioral and mental health services for kids and teens in Camden for almost 25 years, with more than 1/3 of new patient referrals coming from former patients and their families. We also offer the program at Berlin.
Experience matters
The CASTLE program has been a trusted provider of behavioral and mental health services for kids and teens in Camden for almost 25 years, with more than 1/3 of new patient referrals coming from former patients and their families. We also offer the program at Berlin.
Affordable, accessible care
The CASTLE program accepts Medicaid and private insurance. Door-to-door transportation is offered to eligible participants, and meals and snacks are provided each day.
Affordable, accessible care
The CASTLE program accepts Medicaid and private insurance. Door-to-door transportation is offered to eligible participants, and meals and snacks are provided each day.
Safety always comes first
Our mental health providers are trained and certified in de-escalating and managing challenging behaviors for the safety of all of our patients and staff.
Safety always comes first
Our mental health providers are trained and certified in de-escalating and managing challenging behaviors for the safety of all of our patients and staff.