Embark

What Embark does

Embark Behavioral Health is a private, US-based mental health treatment provider serving preteens, adolescents, teens, and young adults ages 9 through 35. The company operates a nationwide network of more than 30 outpatient centers and residential programs spanning roughly 20 states, anchored by sub-brands including Calo, Chrysalis, New Haven, OPI (Optimum Performance Institute), and Sunrise Treatment Center. Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, with reported headcount above 1,500, Embark completed over 3,000 admissions in 2025 and fielded over 39,000 admissions inquiries through a 24/7 call center.

The platform is organized as a seven-tier continuum of care ascending by intensity: Crisis Stabilization, Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (VIOP, telehealth), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Residential Treatment Center (RTC), Therapeutic Boarding School, and Transitional Living. These are supported by more than a dozen evidence-based therapy modalities including DBT, EMDR, TF-CBT, ACT, neurofeedback, Brainspotting, experiential therapy, and family systems therapy, with specialty VIOP tracks for OCD (via Exposure and Response Prevention) and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Embark's signature differentiator is the CASA Developmental Framework (Commitment, Acceptance, Security, Attunement), layered onto measurement-informed care that administers validated surveys (YOQ, PHQ-9, GAD-7, WHO-5) before, during, and after treatment, with outcomes reportedly tracked up to two years post-discharge.

Embark runs a sales-led go-to-market centered on direct admissions intake (phone and online), supported by clinical referral partnerships with therapists, educational consultants, and schools, and amplified by content marketing (blog, podcasts, community events). Revenue is generated primarily through out-of-network insurance billing with single-case agreements and self-pay, with Medicaid accepted only at the Calo program. The company completed its systemwide Joint Commission accreditation with Gold Seal of Approval in 2024 and holds Cognia accreditation for academic components; CCPA and GDPR privacy compliance is also maintained. Embark is backed by Housatonic Partners through private equity rounds in 2016 and 2018.

Name

Embark

Legal name

Embark Behavioral Health

Website

https://embarkbh.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Embark Behavioral Health provides mental health treatment for teens and young adults ages 9-35 through 30+ outpatient centers and residential programs across the US, offering a full continuum of care from crisis stabilization to transitional living via evidence-based therapies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mental Health Treatment Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists (621112)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC), Neurodevelopmental & Behavioral Therapy Platforms (ADHD/Autism/Behavioral Coaching) (HLALAEAJ)

Keywords

• Youth mental health treatment
• Residential treatment programs
• Intensive outpatient programs
• Adolescent behavioral health
• Therapeutic boarding schools

Headquarters

HQ city

Tempe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices30 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mental Health Treatment Services: Embark generates revenue through providing mental health treatment services across multiple levels of care including virtual IOP, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential treatment, therapeutic boarding schools, and transitional living programs. Services are billed primarily through insurance reimbursement and self-pay arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Embark Behavioral Health provides a full continuum of mental health treatment services for preteens, adolescents, teens, and young adults ages 9-35 across the United States. Its core offerings span seven program tiers — Crisis Stabilization, Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (VIOP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Residential Treatment Centers (RTC), Therapeutic Boarding Schools, and Transitional Living — delivered through 30+ outpatient centers and residential programs. Evidence-based therapy modalities (DBT, EMDR, TF-CBT, neurofeedback, family therapy) and measurement-informed care with validated outcome tracking are layered into each program.

Product overview

Embark Behavioral Health operates a multi-level mental health treatment platform offering a full continuum of care for preteens, teens, and young adults ages 9-35 through a nationwide network of over 30 outpatient centers and residential programs across the United States. The platform is organized into seven core program tiers arranged by intensity: Crisis Stabilization (24/7 acute intervention), Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (VIOP via secure telehealth), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP, in-person), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP, day treatment), Residential Treatment Centers (RTC, 24/7 live-in), Therapeutic Boarding Schools (combined therapy and academics), and Transitional Living (long-term independence preparation). These programs are supplemented by over a dozen evidence-based therapy modalities including DBT, EMDR, TF-CBT, neurofeedback, experiential therapy, and family systems therapy. Specialty tracks within VIOP address OCD (via ERP) and Autism Spectrum Disorder. The organization delivers measurement-informed care backed by outcome surveys and data collection, operating as an out-of-network provider with most major insurance carriers and accepting self-pay and limited government funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Calo: Residential treatment programs for adopted adolescents and teens focusing on experiential therapy
• Chrysalis
• New Haven
• OPI (Optimum Performance Institute)
• Sunrise Treatment Center

Products and services

• Crisis Stabilization Program A live-in crisis intervention program providing 24/7 support, intensive therapy, and family guidance for teens in acute emotional or behavioral crisis. Focused on rapid assessment, coping skills development, and transition planning to the appropriate level of care.
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) An in-person therapy program meeting 3-6 times per week for 2-3 hours per session, allowing teens and young adults to live at home while receiving individual, group, and family therapy for more intensive care than standard outpatient therapy.
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) A day treatment program offering intensive therapy 5 days per week for 4-8 hours daily, allowing teens and young adults to return home in the evenings while receiving a higher level of care than outpatient therapy without 24-hour supervision.
• Residential Treatment Center (RTC) A live-in program providing 24/7 clinical care on a structured campus where teens and young adults receive therapy, academics, and life skills coaching in a highly structured home-like environment for comprehensive stabilization and growth.
• Therapeutic Boarding School A live-in campus program where licensed therapists, certified teachers, and mentors provide on-site therapy alongside academic instruction, combining mental health treatment with educational support for teens needing structured academic progression.
• Transitional Living Program A long-term program providing 24/7 structured group living for young adults transitioning from intensive treatment to independent living, offering a safe environment to practice mental health skills in real-world settings and prevent relapse.
• Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (VIOP) A telehealth program providing intensive outpatient therapy via secure video sessions for preteens, teens, and young adults who cannot attend in-person therapy or prefer remote care, featuring flexible afternoon and evening scheduling with 12-hour weekly commitment across 4 days.
• Virtual IOP for OCD (Specialty Track) A specialized virtual IOP program built around Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard evidence-based treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, providing structured, supportive care for clients facing OCD.
• Virtual IOP for Autism Spectrum Disorder (Specialty Track) A neurodivergent-affirming virtual IOP track offering specialized care for clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder, focusing on building coping strategies, emotional regulation skills, and personalized accommodations in peer-supported groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Depression symptoms (PHQ-9) decreased by 41% at discharge
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Newport Academy: Newport Academy operates residential treatment centers and outpatient programs for teens and young adults struggling with mental health issues — overlapping directly with Embark's continuum-of-care model and youth population across multiple U.S. states.
• Sandstone Care: Sandstone Care provides residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient mental health and substance use treatment for adolescents and young adults — directly comparable to Embark's multi-level care model and youth-focused clinical offerings.
• Paradigm Treatment (Paradigm Malibu): Paradigm Treatment offers residential treatment, PHP, and IOP programs specifically for teens and young adults with anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues — a near-direct competitor in the youth mental health treatment space.
• Discovery Behavioral Health: Discovery Behavioral Health operates a network of residential treatment centers, IOPs, and PHPs primarily for adolescents and adults with mental health and substance use disorders, matching Embark's multi-state, multi-level-of-care strategy.
• Catalyst Behavioral Health (Catalyst Residential): Catalyst Behavioral Health provides therapeutic residential treatment for adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges — a direct competitor to Embark's residential and therapeutic boarding programs.
• Meadows Behavioral Healthcare: Meadows Behavioral Healthcare operates residential, IOP, and PHP programs for adolescents and adults with mental health and trauma issues — closely comparable to Embark's continuum-of-care offering.

Broad incumbents

• Acadia Healthcare: Acadia Healthcare is a publicly traded behavioral health operator with a large network of inpatient psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment facilities — a much larger incumbent that competes with Embark in the youth residential segment from a broader portfolio position.
• Springstone Behavioral Health (Universal Health Services): Springstone, owned by Universal Health Services, operates inpatient psychiatric and behavioral health facilities across the U.S., including youth programs — relevant broader incumbent competitor in the residential and higher-acuity behavioral health space.
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation (Hazelden): Hazelden Betty Ford is a large established nonprofit provider of behavioral health and addiction treatment with youth and adolescent programs — comparable to Embark on integrated mental health and substance use treatment positioning.

Emerging players

• Clementine Adolescent Treatment (Monte Nido): Clementine is a Monte Nido-affiliated provider of residential treatment for adolescent eating disorders and mental health — overlapping with Embark on youth residential services but with a more narrowly defined specialty focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/embarkbh

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Embark