History

Behavioral Health Behavioral Health

In 1971, the Board of Trustees for The Medical Center at Princeton envisioned offering high-quality psychiatric services to the local community by adding the capacity to treat behavioral health conditions to its existing hospital-based medical services. The medical center acquired a new site just two miles away, which became Princeton House Behavioral Health. This 70-bed facility specialized in both behavioral health and addictions.

historic photo of PHBH Herrontown location

Since then, the affiliation of Princeton House Behavioral Health with a full-service healthcare provider – Princeton Health – has set it apart from other healthcare providers and ensures a continuum of care that is often integral to a patient’s recovery. 

Throughout its history, Princeton House Behavioral Health has been characterized by innovation and expansion. In 1991, it opened one of the state’s first partial hospitalization programs for older adults, along with a co-occurring/dual diagnosis program for those struggling with both mental health issues and substance abuse. Over time, an Inpatient Medical Detoxification Program was added. Princeton House Behavioral Health also helped establish the Princeton Center for Eating Disorders at Princeton Medical Center. 

Princeton House Behavioral Health has continued to expand its outpatient programs and locations, growing into one of the region’s largest behavioral healthcare providers. More recent programming additions include First Responder Treatment Services, specialized trauma treatment at all levels of care, and outpatient genetic testing that serves as a valuable tool in creating personalized treatment plans for certain patients. We offer telepsychiatry video-conferencing services to hospitals across the region, enabling them to remotely evaluate and direct the treatment of patients who might need behavioral health services.

Today – 50 years after its founding – Princeton House Behavioral Health provides a full spectrum of behavioral health and addiction services for people of all ages. In addition to focused inpatient services at our Princeton site, more than 40 outpatient programs are provided at five distinct sites that span the state from Moorestown to North Brunswick to Eatontown. Since 2020, extensive telehealth services for children, teens, and adults have been available.