Parents’ frequently asked questions about youth and teen mental health
Embark is here to help guide your youth, teen, or young adult on their mental health journey. Explore some of the most frequent questions we get from parents about our mental health services, and please contact us if you still have questions.
Getting started
What is the first step if I want to explore treatment options?
At Embark, we understand there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to helping adolescents with emotional and behavioral issues. If you’re ready to explore treatment options, our caring, empathetic staff is here to help your entire family grow and learn together.
Start by reaching out to us online or giving us a call at 888-451-9928.
So you know what to expect, an overview of our admissions process is reflected below:
Step 1) Contact Embark Admissions.
Step 2) Work with us to verify insurance.
Step 3) Complete a client screening.
Step 4) Secure insurance approval.
Step 5) Enroll in a program.
With locations across the U.S. and virtual counseling services, we are here to serve where and when it’s best for you.
Do you have any resources that can help me self-educate when it comes to mental health and treatment for my child?
Absolutely! It’s our priority to provide families with helpful resources and tools throughout their healing journey. Visit our blog where we post relevant, timely articles focused on preteen, teen, and young adult mental health every week. We also send a weekly newsletter, which you can sign up for at the bottom of this page.
Most of our community-based programs also offer a biweekly parent support group. You can reach out to our admission line at 888-451-9928 with questions and for event location and time details.
Learn more about behavioral health and mental health treatment options here.
How do I know when it's time to consider professional treatment for my child?
If you’re unsure when to consider professional treatment, you can reach out to us online or give us a call anytime at 888-451-9928.
We also have mental health resources that you can explore, including the Embark Behavioral Health blog and our free Parenting Guide.
*This article is for informational purposes only and not to be considered medical advice. If your child is having a mental health emergency, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support by calling, texting, or chatting 988. You can also text HOME to 741741 -the Crisis Text Line- from anywhere in the country to talk with a trained crisis counselor.
Do you have any resources that can help me talk to my child about mental health and challenges they may face?
Yes. Regardless of whether or not your child seeks treatment through Embark, we want you to feel supported with mental health resources for your child and family. A few resources that we have available to parents are:
- Expert blog: Features articles that cover timely topics on preteen, teen, and young adult mental health.
- Parenting guide: Includes information on the roles of safety, secure relationships, communication, and consequences, along with five essential tactics for parenting a child who is experiencing mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, suicide, substance abuse, and more.
- Weekly newsletter: Highlights announcements, updates, upcoming events, and the latest tools for parents.
About embark
What makes Embark different from other providers out there?
Embark Behavioral Health is the nation’s leading network of family behavioral health treatment centers, with 30 programs in 20 states, and growing.
We are recognized for many of our leading programs, and unlike any other organization, we offer a full continuum of care; a unique specialization and deep legacy of serving youth; an evidence-based treatment approach that focuses on relationships and family systems; the highest level of quality care and safety standards; and a set of validated outcomes, which help drive treatment in real time and can be measured two years post-discharge.
Embark’s programs use our signature CASA Developmental Framework, which creates a therapeutic relationship through Commitment, Acceptance, Security, and Attunement (CASA). This allows teenagers, young adults, and their families to developmentally heal.
Due to our standard of care, Embark recently became one of the first behavioral health organizations in the United States to undergo and be awarded the new system accreditation and The Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission.
What does your treatment process look like? What can I expect for my child while working with Embark?
Treatment needs are highly personal. However, every client and family member working with Embark can expect access to the country’s most robust continuum of premier services, which can be tailored to your family’s needs.
At Embark, we provide a Continuum of Care, with different levels of service and programming based on an individual’s changing needs. The continuum is used to step up or step down services and treatment intensity.
Treatment options and programs
What diagnosis and challenges do you work with?
As the world’s most respected family behavioral health provider, we provide mental health treatment for preteens, teens, and young adults and specialize in treating anxiety, depression, and other mental health and substance use issues. Learn more here.
Where are your treatment facilities located?
Our treatment facilities are located across the U.S. Depending on what type of treatment is right for your child and where you live, we can support you with virtual counseling, outpatient clinics, short-term residential treatment, long-term residential treatment, wilderness therapy, transitional living for teens and young adults, and more.
What sort of guidance do you offer to help me select the right treatment program?
We understand that seeking treatment can be overwhelming. To help demystify the process, you can speak with a member of our admissions team by contacting us online or giving us a call at 833-657-0993.
What are the different types of treatment options and programs that you offer?
Our Continuum of Care provides different levels of service and programming based on an individual’s changing needs.
Treatment options include:
- Outpatient clinics.
- Virtual counseling.
- Partial hospitalization programs.
- In-home support.
- Short-term residential treatment.
- Long-term residential treatment.
- Transitional living for teens and young adults.
- Therapeutic boarding schools.
Learn more about our treatment options here.
What age ranges do you work with?
We specialize in preteens, teens, and young adults. Our different programs are designed to support specific age ranges, so depending on your child’s needs, we’ll work with you to figure out the most appropriate treatment plan. Learn more about treatment options that can help. Please give us a call at 888-451-9928 or check with the individual program you’re interested in to learn more about the age range supported.
How do I know which type of treatment is right for my child?
In order to determine the most appropriate treatment for your child, you can start by learning more about the programs here. You can also contact us online or give us a call at 833-657-0993.
Once you contact us and are connected with our admissions team, they will complete a screening to help determine the appropriate level of care.
An overview of our admissions process is reflected below:
Step 1) Contact Embark admissions
Step 2) Work with us to verify insurance
Step 3) Complete a client screening
Step 4) Secure insurance approval
Step 5) Enroll in a program
What are the different types of therapy that you offer?
We offer a variety of therapy options for preteens, teens, young adults, and their families.
Therapies that we specialize in include:
- Attachment theory.
- CASA Developmental Framework.
- Dialectical behavior therapy.
- Experiential therapy.
- SMART Recovery.
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.
What to expect
Where can I see testimonials from Embark clients and families?
You can see video testimonials from our clients and their families here.
What does aftercare look like for my child? What should I expect once treatment ends?
Throughout treatment, your child may have changing needs based on the experience and their healing process. To ensure we meet clients where they are, we provide a Continuum of Care, with different levels of service and programming based on how your child’s treatment needs change over time.
From the very beginning, we are thinking about next steps. Our therapists understand that the treatment they provide includes continuing care. We will work with you, your educational consultant, and any others to ensure your child’s continuing care is planned well in advance.
Once a specific type of treatment or program ends, your child may need a different level of support to continue their healing journey, which could include continuing care.
What commitement is required during my child's treatment?
You play a critical role in your child’s treatment plan and healing journey. Whether attending family therapy, participating in parent coaching, or seeking your own therapy, you will have an active role in the process.
As you work with us to determine the right treatment plan for your child, we can decide the most appropriate way for you to be involved in healing.
What programs or treatment does Embark offer for the whole family?
We offer family therapy, parent coaching, family intensives, and more. While family involvement is essential to your child’s treatment, the specific type of involvement may vary depending on the program that best meets your needs.
Logistics
How long should I expect my child to be in treatment?
The length of treatment will depend on your child’s individual needs. You can learn more about our treatment options here, or reach out to us if you have specific questions.
Do you offer virtual treatment options?
Yes. At Embark, we believe that distance shouldn’t stand in the way of getting expert help. We offer virtual counseling services, our comprehensive, premier, private pay support system tailored to you and your child.
Read more about virtual counseling here.
How do I understand the cost associated with treatment?
Prior to your child beginning treatment, we’ll work with you to gather information regarding your insurance policy. Once this information is collected, we will verify your benefits by obtaining detailed coverage information.
During the verification of benefits process, we will consult with your insurance company and will obtain authorization requirements for different levels of care. After this consultation occurs, we will partner with you so you understand what to expect along the way.
You can learn more about how we work with families to demystify insurance here.
Do you offer payment plans?
When appropriate, we may consider payment options that align with your financial situation. Check with your admissions adviser to learn more.
What does your admissions process look like?
Once you contact us and connect with our admissions team, they will complete a screening to help determine the appropriate level of care. An overview of our admissions process is reflected below:
Step 1) Contact Embark admissions
Step 2) Work with us to verify insurance
Step 3) Complete a client screening
Step 4) Secure insurance approval
Step 5) Enroll in a program
Do you take insurance?
Overall, we strive to demystify insurance and billing for families seeking treatment. We will walk you through the steps of verification of benefits, determining if you have the proper coverage to bill the insurance and what the authorization process entails, as well as submitting claims to the insurance for coverage.
Embark is currently an out-of-network provider with insurance companies, but most major carriers work with us. If you do not have out-of-network benefits, we will seek a single case agreement, which is a patient-specific contract between an insurance company and an out-of-network provider, when permitted by your insurance company. We are working with many insurance carriers to become contracted as an in-network provider.
Medicaid is only accepted through a few payors at our Calo program. We are unable to accept Medicaid for our other programs.
Learn more about insurance options.
