About Us

We work together as a team to provide the best possible comprehensive care. Our practice consists of a diverse and dynamic group of professionals who have worked in schools, clinical practices, corporate environments, and teaching hospitals, which significantly contributes to the many years of experience and expertise in working with children and their families. We strongly advocate a holistic approach to the treatment of every individual. We value the many great benefits of traditional medicine but also understand and believe in a holistic and preventive health model with an emphasis on balanced physical and emotional hygiene. We strongly believe that parents play an essential role and are an integral part of treatment when any child or teenager is being seen in our practice. We communicate regularly with schools and other treatment providers when necessary.

To contact our MedPsych staff, please email them directly.

Laura Aguila, MS, LAC

Laura Aguila, MS, LAC,

is a Licensed Associate Counselor at MedPsych Associates. Laura joined MedPsych in the spring of 2018. She has previously worked in education and outpatient substance programs.

Laura specializes in working with high school teens and young adults, who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and the challenges that young adulthood may bring. She utilizes various therapeutic techniques including CBT, Mindfulness, and Meditation. Laura recognizes the immense pressures that our teens and young adults face, and she is passionate about helping them find the path that is most meaningful to them. Laura incorporates spirituality and existential ideologies when requested by her client.

Laura lives in the woods of New Jersey, with her husband and their English bulldog, Shark. She enjoys meditating, reading, hiking, exploring new towns, and spending time with loved ones.

Contact Laura by email laguila@medpsychnj.com

Justina M. Bittman, MA, LPC

Justina M. Bittman, MA, LPC is a licensed professional counselor who strives to empower her clients to build upon their resiliency by utilizing structured Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Solutions-Focused Therapy. Justina works with children, adolescents, and adults who struggle with ADHD, Anxiety, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, and various phobias. She also works with parents on effective problem-focused parenting strategies. Justina is an avid Parks and Recreation fan and sees it as required viewing before treatment is considered complete.

Contact Justina by email jbittman@medpsychnj.com

Lukas DeCandido

Lukas DeCandido Lukas joined Medpsych in the Spring of 2019. He graduated from Nyack College Alliance Graduate School of Mental Health Counseling and has a passion for working with children, adolescents, adults, and current or former athletes who struggle with symptoms of anxiety, ADHD, depression, challenging stages of development, injury, and chronic illness. Lukas is working towards his licensure and hopes to utilize various therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Deep Breathing, and other effective coping mechanisms. For intake questions, Lukas can be reached via email at: Ldecandido@medpsychnj.com

Olga Esterov, PA-C

Olga Esterov, PA-C is a certified Physician Assistant with additional Certification in Psychiatry. Olga spent three years working in Internal Medicine and HIV care before fully pursing her career as a Psychiatric PA. Olga has been helping children, adolescents, and adults navigate through difficult psychiatric/emotional states for close to 10 years. She performs psychiatric evaluations and medication management in collaboration with Dr. Hanna via telemedicine and is available for in-person sessions in her Shrewsbury, NJ office in Central NJ. She employs an evidenced-based medical and holistic approach to treatment – incorporating lifestyle changes, nutrition, and meditation/breathing/ relaxation exercises in addition to medication initiation and management as needed. Her empathic nature and dedication to improving the lives of her patient has helped many individuals with Anxiety, Depression, ADHD and other psychiatric conditions. Olga lives with her husband and 2 children near Red Bank, NJ. She enjoys spending time with friends and enjoying the outdoors but is also happy to be home with her husband, son and daughter – baking brownies, making popcorn (the old fashioned way) and watching a good movie!

Contact Olga by email at oesterov@medpsychnj.com

Mohab Hanna, MD

Mohab Hanna, MD is the founder of MedPsych Associates. He is board certified in Child, Adolescent, & Adult Psychiatry. Dr. Hanna completed his training in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Hanna seeks to use an integrative approach to treatment. As a result, he seeks to help his patients pursue a healthy lifestyle that emphasizes wellness and balance in all areas of life. He seeks to emphasize a conservative approach to the use of psychiatric medications that is part of a holistic treatment plan. Dr. Hanna is the author of the book: Making the Connection: A Parent’s Guide to Medication in AD/HD. He grew up in Northern New Jersey and currently lives there with his wife and three children. He has locally coached both baseball and basketball and is involved in the local community in a variety of roles.

Contact Dr. Hanna by email admin@medpsychnj.com

Sheena Lee, PA-C

Sheena Lee, PA-C is a certified physician assistant who has a passion for helping children and families live happy and healthy lives. She performs psychiatric evaluations and medication management with great care and attention to detail. Sheena has years of experience providing care to adults, children, and adolescents across many aspects of their health and well-being. Sheena works in close collaboration and consults with Dr, Hanna on every patient that she treats. She utilizes a very conservative approach to the use of medications and advocates a holistic approach to treatment. She lives with her husband and children in North Jersey. Sheena loves coffee and Victorian houses.

Contact Sheena by email admin@medpsychnj.com

Kara Peters, Payments Processing Specialist

Kara holds a degree in Psychology and also certifications in K-5 and Special Education. She is passionate about using her experience in ABA therapy, administration and customer service in helping individuals and families.

Contact Kara by email billing@medpsychnj.com

Jessica Smith MA LAC

Jessica Smith MA LAC is a licensed associate counselor who works with her clients to find balance, and hope. Jessica comes along side families, children, college-aged and young adults, to reach their goals; as she promotes an environment and therapeutic relationship that foresters growth and development. She uses an eclectic approach to therapy to meet the needs of each individual. Jessica has a passion for working with clients dealing with stress and anxiety, trauma recovery, and those struggling with self-image.

Contact Jessica by email jsmith@medpsychnj.com

Christine Bae MA, LAC, MHC-LP

Christine Bae MA, LAC, MHC-LP is a Licensed Associate Counselor who takes a collaborative, goal-oriented approach with her clients. Christine works with children, adolescents, and adults utilizing eclectic therapy to cater to each of her client’s needs, with emphasis on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Play Therapy, Parenting Support/Coaching, and Faith-based Counseling.

Christine has counseled in various settings including an in-patient hospital, college campus, non-profit, and private practice for various age groups. Christine is passionate about guiding her clients through life transitions, self-discovery, self-esteem/confidence building, relational challenges, stress management, anxiety, and depression.Christine is an aerial yoga enthusiast who enjoys soaking up the sun outside, playing sports, and trying to stay up-to-date with new music. She is a proud alumna of Syracuse; go Orange!

Contact Christine by email cbae@medpsychnj.com

Jonathan S. Byrne, MSW, LCSW

Jonathan S. Byrne, MSW, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and certified school social worker who specializes in working with adolescents, young adults, adults, couples, and families. Jonathan brings years of experience and expertise in working with clients who struggle with Anxiety, Depression, Addictive Behaviors, Bi-Polar Disorder, and ADHD. His customized approach effectively utilizes a variety of therapeutic techniques culled from CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, experiential therapy, and existential psychotherapy. He has written, implemented, and managed partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient programs for anxiety disorders, co-occurring/dual diagnosis disorders, and a young adult program for college students. Jonathan has years of experience in crisis and risk management; assisting families, couples, and individuals in navigating their or their loved one’s symptoms at the most challenging of times.

Contact Jonathan by email jbyrne@medpsychnj.com

Elyse Marie Elisano, LCSW, MSW

Elyse Marie Elisano, LCSW, MSW is a licensed social worker and a certified school social worker who specializes in working with children, adolescents, young adults and families living with Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, learning and behavioral difficulties. Her extensive specializations come from years of clinical work in both public education and therapeutic academic and outpatient settings. Elyse uses a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach, favoring a strengths perspective — guiding individuals to develop a flexible and solution-focused mindset, and exploring resolutions and possibilities. Elyse enjoys assisting individuals in this process by supporting their goals and identifying realistic objectives while addressing any additional and unexpected life stressors. Elyse’s goals include offering guidance and support to individuals committed to working towards unveiling an authentic and fulfilling life.

Contact Elyse by email eelisano@medpsychnj.com

Nardeen Faragalla

Nardeen Faragalla is passionate about health and wellness, and seeing people’s lives change for the better. She had a mysterious health condition develop in 2014, which led her on the road to discovering health and nutrition, both of which led to her eventual recovery. She was in the military for four years, and upon her medical release, she retrained as a Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. Because of her own journey, she is committed to helping others navigate their own health challenges and loves witnessing how lives can be transformed in so many unique ways.

In her coaching, she focuses on lifestyle modifications, especially in the areas of nutrition, sleep, stress management, mood regulation, and exercise. She specializes in working with teens and women to help them achieve optimal wellness and health in all areas of their life. She takes the approach of addressing small changes over time to develop new healthy habits and to establish consistency. She is committed to being healthy and enjoying life and finds ways to pursue this whenever possible. That’s probably why her favorite exercise is jumping rope – so much fun and so good for you at the same time. Contact Nardeen by email at nardeenf@gmail.com

Kendra St. Hilaire, PA-C

Kendra St. Hilaire, PA-C is a certified physician assistant committed to helping children, adolescents, and adults live confidently at home, in school, and beyond. She has worked in many different medical settings, and she brings with her a conservative approach to treatment consistent with MedPsych’s philosophy. She performs psychiatric evaluations and medication management in collaboration with Dr. Hanna exclusively via telemedicine. She has a special interest in holistic and natural treatment options.

Kendra currently lives in the suburbs with her husband and three kids. She loves sewing and the beach. As you would expect of a loyal native of Northern NJ, she is always up for reliving the exhilarating NY Giants Super Bowl victory of 2008 as she awaits their next big win.

Contact Kendra by email at admin@medpsychnj.com

Kyle Mack, MSW, LCSW

Kyle Mack, MSW, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He specializes in helping individuals who struggle with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and mood disorders. Kyle draws his diversified experience from years of providing comprehensive clinical services to adolescents, adults, and their families in inpatient facilities and partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient programs. Kyle works collaboratively with individuals and their families to create goal-oriented treatment plans that combine an assortment of therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Structural Family Therapy.Kyle is also passionate about utilizing Religiously-Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (RCBT) with adolescents and college-age adults seeking to integrate Christian principles into their therapy.

Contact Kyle by email kmack@medpsychnj.com

Amy Provencher, Administrative Assistant

Amy Provencher earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Montclair State University. She enjoys volunteering and mentoring youth, teens, and young adults and being a positive influence to others and helping individuals lead more healthier and fulfilled lives.

Contact Amy by email admin@medpsychnj.com

Beth Baumeister, Ph.D.

Beth Baumeister, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialty in neuropsychology. She received her internship and post-doctoral training at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in child and adult neuropsychology, and has more than 20 years of experience working with children and adults with learning difficulties, ADHD, traumatic brain injuries, chronic medical conditions, neurological disorders, Autism, learning disabilities, and behavioral and mood difficulties. She is an expert at helping parents navigate the school system with Neuropsychological, Psychoeducational and diagnostic testing for Individual Education Plans (IEP), as well as helping college students receive the accommodations needed to help them be successful in college.

Dr. Baumeister also provides psychotherapy services and has a passion for working with children, adolescents, adults, and parents struggling with depression, anxiety, grief, loss, trauma, infertility, and difficulties with relationships/ communication. She uses a multifaceted approach drawing at times from cognitive behavioral, attachment, mindfulness, psychodynamic, and play therapy modalities. She and her husband have 3 children, 2 dogs, and live in Bergen County. In her free time she loves reading, sewing/crafting, going to the beach, and a good “cuppa”.

Contact Beth by email bbaumeister@medpsychnj.com

Ashley Crumby, MD

Ashley Crumby, MD is a Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. She completed her Child & Adolescent Psychiatry training at Boston Children’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School. After her training, Dr. Crumby was on the faculty of Cornell University Medical School when she worked on the adolescent unit at New York Presbyterian-Westchester Division. Dr. Crumby treats children, adolescents, and adults. She is passionate about a holistic treatment approach; she considers all areas of an individual’s wellness and lifestyle. Dr. Crumby believes in the impact of diet, psychotherapy, and overall family health. She will be accessible at both our Ramsey and Old Tappan offices. She resides in Northern New Jersey with her husband and children.

Contact Dr. Crumby by email admin@medpsychnj.com

Carol Eng, MA, MCLC

Carol Eng, MA, MCLC is a Certified Life Coach specializing in working with teens and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Executive Function Disorder. She works with students of all ages to develop and establish effective study habits, organizational and time management skills and collaborates with adults to achieve personal and professional goals and life transitions. A prior resident of England for over twenty years, she has traveled extensively, worked overseas, and enjoys learning about different cultures and people groups. She has spent a good chunk of her career in corporate Learning and Education and has worked for Lloyds of London, J.P. Morgan, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Contact Carol by email caroleng@medpsychnj.com

Brian Greco, LCSW

Brian Greco, LCSW passion, and experience are working with children, adolescents and young adults to help them ultimately help themselves through challenging phase of development. Brian has great experience in helping those who struggle with Anxiety, ADHD, and depression. He incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Solutions Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) into treatment.

Contact Brian by email bgreco@medpsychnj.com

Donna Hong

Donna Hong is a mental health counseling intern and an intake coordinator. She is currently completing her studies at Nyack College Alliance Graduate School of Counseling. She is passionate about taking a compassionate and collaborative approach to supporting her clients’ unique goals and needs. Donna utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based therapy. She specializes in helping individuals who struggle with anxiety, depression, and stress management, and she believes in treating the whole person with a holistic approach to mental health.

Donna enjoys spending her downtime exercising and cooking new food recipes on the weekends. She loves to play softball, lawn games, and board games with friends to stay active and keep life fun and enjoyable.

Contact Donna by email at newpatient@medpsychnj.com

Mena Mirhom, MD

Mena Mirhom, MD is a Board Certified Psychiatrist who specializes in Adults and Adolescents. He completed his adult psychiatry training in the Mount Sinai health system in New York City and his fellowship training at Columbia University Medical Center. He currently teaches the Psychiatry Fellows at Columbia University. He incorporates the Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual model of whole-person integrated care in order to help patients truly thrive and find joy in everyday life. He is the co-author of “Master the Boards Step 2 CK” as well as “Neuroscience for psychiatrists” He is also a struggling New York Knicks fan and is always up for a game of NBA 2K.

Contact Dr. Mirhom by email admin@medpsychnj.com

Susan Rice, MA, LAC

Susan Rice, MA, LAC s a graduate of Alliance Graduate School of Counseling in NYC and a Licensed Associate. Susan uses a Person-Centered approach to therapy and employs several therapeutic interventions including CBT, REBT, and DBT to help her clients in their emotional recovery and stress management. She enjoys helping clients who are experiencing attachment and relationship difficulties, anxiety, low self-esteem, parenting challenges, and effects from trauma. Susan trained in a psychiatric ward and worked with families impacted by trauma. She grew up in Scotland and Africa and lived in several other countries before moving to the US in 2003 with her husband and three daughters. She enjoys meeting people from different cultures and offers faith-based counseling if requested by her clients.

Contact Susan by email at srice@medpsychnj.com

Mark A. Sykes, PhD

Mark A. Sykes, PhD takes a compassionate, collaborative, goal-oriented approach to therapy. He personalizes treatment, tailoring it to each client’s unique needs and strengths. His approach incorporates cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based therapy and motivational enhancement therapy. He specializes in the treatment of anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive behavior, trauma, and substance abuse.

Contact Mark by email msykes@medpsychnj.com