Dr. Chizoba Mbachu

Are you tired of carrying anxiety or depression by yourself?

Have you been told X medication is your only option, and wondered whether anyone would listen first?

I am Dr. Chizoba Mbachu, a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. For eight years I have worked with adults across New Jersey living with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and trauma.

Some of what I know did not come from school. I came to the United States from Nigeria when I was twenty. I have four children. One of my sons has severe autism and does not speak, and years of learning to understand him without words made me a better listener. I also know what it costs to care for someone when help is hard to find.

Here is what makes my practice different: I do talk therapy and counseling, not only medication management. Most people expect a psychiatric provider to write a prescription and move on. We talk first. If medication turns out to be the right tool, we decide on it together, and it is never the only thing I offer.

Reaching out is the hardest part. If you have been putting this off, or you do not know yet what you need, that is okay. Most people feel that way when they first get here. There is no judgment here.

I see patients by video anywhere in New Jersey, including evenings and weekends, because most people cannot step away in the middle of a workday. I speak English and Igbo, and I welcome patients from every background.

You can start with a free 15-minute call and see how it feels.

I start by listening, and I do not rush it.

I work with adults 18 and over. Before we talk about medication, I want to know how you are sleeping, what your days look like, who is around you, and what has already been tried. Symptoms rarely sit by themselves. Sleep, stress, physical health, and the people in your life all pull on each other, and a plan that ignores that usually does not hold.

I use talk therapy methods with real evidence behind them: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for trauma. People are often surprised that a psychiatric nurse practitioner does therapy. I do, and it is the base of my practice rather than an add-on.

When medication is the right call, I manage it closely. I will tell you what it does, how long it takes to work, and what side effects to watch for. You should never be taking something you do not understand. I also make sure to give out my business line so you can call me at any time with adverse reactions or concerns and we can immediately schedule an emergency session.

You know your own life better than I do. I bring the clinical training.

The first session is mostly a conversation where we both get to know each other, and I learn more about how best to help you succeed!

I will ask what brought you here, what you have already tried, and what you want to be different. I will ask about your history, your family, your background, and your work, and I will complete a full psychiatric evaluation. You set the pace. You do not have to share more than you are ready to, and you can tell me if a question does not sit right.

You will also have time to ask me things. How I work, what a medication does, whether I have treated people in your situation before. Anything that helps you decide if this is a fit.

By the end we will have a plan you actually agree with, whether that is talk therapy, medication, or both.

You will be treated with warmth and respect, in the first session and every one after. There is no judgment here.