Innerspace Counseling Recognized as Best Specialized Mental Health IOP and PHP Services in New Jersey

OLD BRIDGE, N.J., Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Innerspace Counseling, a specialized mental health provider offering Intensive Outpatient Program and Partial Hospitalization Program (IOP/PHP) services for children, teens, and adults, has been recognized for its continued commitment to individualized, evidence-based mental health care in New Jersey.

In 2026, Innerspace Counseling was named Best Intensive Mental Health Program Specialist 2026 - New Jersey by the GHP Mental Health Awards. The organization was also recognized as Best Mental Health Service in Old Bridge for 2026 by Business Rate, powered by Google Reviews.

Founded by Ajita Shah, LPC, NCC, ACS, PMH-C, Innerspace Counseling provides in-person mental health treatment at its Old Bridge, New Jersey location, with virtual mental health treatment available throughout New Jersey. The practice offers specialized mental health care in three ways: with specialty tracks, specialized evidence-based approaches, and specialized supports. 

"At Innerspace Counseling, our goal was to create a place where clients feel safe, empowered, and heard," said Ajita Shah, Founder and CEO of Innerspace Counseling. "We intentionally built a more personalized model of care, one that recognizes each client's unique needs and provides targeted, evidence-based treatment in a supportive environment."

The specialty tracks offered address a wide range of mental health needs and allow for targeted, individualized care. The General Mental Health track supports those struggling with depression, some anxieties, bipolar and other mood disorders, trauma, grief, personality disorders, relationships and workplace stressors and anger concerns. The OCD & Anxiety track treats those struggling with OCD, anxiety, school phobia or refusal, panic disorder, emetophobia, and other phobias. The Perinatal Wellness track is led by perinatal certified prescribers and therapists and offers support to those struggling with Perinatal Mood Disorders (PMADs) during pregnancy and post-partum, including perinatal and postpartum depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar, OCD, and psychosis.

Innerspace Counseling's clinical team's expertise covers a wide range of clinical modalities to accommodate each client's individual needs. Treatment may include Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma-informed care, Brainspotting, and family systems work, depending on the client's assessment and treatment plan. All clients receive a combination of medication management, individual therapy, group therapy, and family sessions.

The specialized supports across the programs at Innerspace include weekly individual therapy sessions, group therapy, family sessions, medication management, and individualized treatment planning. The team regularly conducts collaboration with other providers who may be involved in your care, making Innerspace a top referral choice for over 650 providers in the region.  Innerspace maintains a partnership with LearnWell who brings certified teachers on site to conduct educational services for our teen PHP program, ensuring that when teens need to prioritize their mental health, they do not fall behind academically.

This individualized approach is reflected in Innerspace Counseling's recent internal outcome reporting. In Q2 2026, clients across all programs maintained an average 95% attendance rate, reflecting a high level of engagement in treatment. PHQ-9 outcome data collected from January through June 2026 also demonstrated meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms. Overall, 81% of clients showed improvement. Among clients who entered treatment with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms, 85% improved—and 50% completed treatment with depression scores in the mild-to-minimal range which are consistent with industry standards*¹.

"These outcomes speak to the importance of structured, evidence-based care that is also deeply individualized," said Ira Hays, LCSW, Director of Clinical Services at Innerspace Counseling. "Clients come to treatment with different histories, symptoms, strengths, and goals. Our responsibility is to match clinical expertise with practical tools and compassionate care, so each person has the support they need to make meaningful progress."

Hays oversees Innerspace Counseling's evidence-based programs and is trained in ERP and DBT. His clinical background includes work with OCD, anxiety-related conditions, emetophobia, school attendance concerns, and attachment-driven challenges. He has worked across outpatient, Intensive Outpatient (IOP), Partial Hospitalization (PHP), school-based, and private practice settings. In addition to his clinical leadership, Hays provides training and consultation to educators, school counselors, families, and school districts to strengthen mental health support across communities.

Innerspace Counseling's specialized programs are designed for individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, phobias, mood disorders, school avoidance, complex life transitions, perinatal mental health concerns, and other challenges that may require a higher level of care. The organization's hybrid model allows clients to access care in person at the Old Bridge, NJ office, or via telehealth throughout New Jersey, or through a personalized blend of both.

Innerspace Counseling accepts most major commercial insurances and offers free screening calls to help individuals and families determine whether IOP or PHP treatment may be an appropriate next step. If IOP or PHP is a recommended next step we can share why Innerspace is the choice for intensive mental health treatment in New Jersey.

Citation

¹Hoffmann JA, et al. Treating Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults Using Remote Intensive Outpatient Programs: Quality Improvement Assessment. JMIR Formative Research. The study included 1,062 IOP clients; among those beginning treatment above the clinical threshold for major depressive disorder, 53% crossed below that threshold by discharge.

Contact
Innerspace Counseling
Old Bridge, New Jersey
Phone: 732-332-8270
Website: https://www.innerspacecounseling.com

Media Contact: Melissa Maranzano 732-307-5673

SOURCE Innerspace Counseling