What Skyland Trail does

Skyland Trail is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit mental health treatment organization founded in 1989 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with 251-500 employees. It operates a full continuum of psychiatric care for adults (18+) and adolescents (14-17), including residential treatment ($950/day), partial hospitalization / day treatment ($625/day), and intensive outpatient programming ($450/day), delivered across multiple Atlanta-area campuses (Brookhaven headquarters, the J. Rex Fuqua Campus in Chamblee, and a 13-unit North Transitional Living site). Clinical care is grounded in evidence-based modalities — primarily Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Behavioral Activation — and incorporates advanced interventions such as Theta Burst Stimulation TMS (5-18 minute sessions targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for treatment-resistant depression and OCD) plus an integrated Glenn Family Wellness Clinic for primary care.

Revenue is generated primarily through insurance reimbursement from six in-network commercial and military payers (Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, ComPsych, Optum/United Behavioral Health, Humana Military/TRICARE East) and private-pay daily program fees, supplemented by donations and annual fundraising events. More than 35 percent of client families receive need-based financial aid (10-75 percent reductions). The organization has held Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval since 1998 and maintains a referral-led go-to-market motion supported by dedicated referral relations staff, professional education and CEU programming, community webinars, and a speaker outreach program targeting Atlanta schools, employers, and civic organizations.

The service portfolio is extending beyond residential care into lower-acuity recurring offerings — DBT Next Steps (online adult group), Teen Wellness Academy, Parenting Is a Process, vocational services, transitional living, LEAP social programming, and a structured alumni program — with growing virtual delivery and a free community webinar series launched in 2026. Operational scale remains anchored to the Atlanta metropolitan area, with strategic partnerships (Emory University School of Medicine, NAMI, ADVANTAGES Digital Learning Solutions, SJ Health Insurance Advocates) supporting clinical training, advocacy, academic continuity, and out-of-network reimbursement respectively.

Name

Skyland Trail

Legal name

Skyland Trail

Website

https://skylandtrail.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Skyland Trail is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 in Atlanta, Georgia, delivering residential, day treatment, and intensive outpatient psychiatric care for adults and adolescents using evidence-based therapies such as DBT, CBT, and Theta Burst TMS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Mental Health Treatment

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Emotional & Behavioral Disorders (EBD) / Therapeutic Day Schools (EDAKAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Mental Health Therapy Platforms (Talk Therapy) (HLALAEAA)

Keywords

• Mental health treatment
• Residential treatment programs
• Psychiatric care services
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Reimbursement: Residential and day treatment programs are in-network with major private insurance providers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, ComPsych, Optum/United Behavioral Health, and Humana Military/TRICARE East. The organization seeks preauthorization for treatment and bills insurance directly.
2. Private Pay Program Fees: Private pay clients pay daily program fees: $950/day for residential, $625/day for day treatment, $450/day for intensive outpatient. A $2,500 admission fee is required at admission along with prepayment of first 30 days.
3. Donations and Charitable Giving: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Skyland Trail receives donations from friends and donors. The organization hosts fundraising events including an annual 5K Run/Walk to support evidence-based psychiatric treatment programs and remove financial barriers for families in need.
4. DBT Next Steps Program: Online weekly DBT skills group for adults at $65/session, billed monthly at $260. Private pay only, insurance not accepted.
5. Outpatient Skills Groups: Teen Wellness Academy at $550 per teen for a 5-week session; Parenting is a Process at $650 for one parent or $800 for two. Private pay only, insurance not accepted.
6. Health Plan Price Transparency: Skyland Trail offers health plans administered by Cigna through third-party administrator SisCo, with EIN 58-1489941. Provides Machine Readable Files for health plan price transparency compliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Skyland Trail is a nonprofit mental health treatment organization delivering evidence-based psychiatric treatment across a graduated continuum of care for adults (18+) and adolescents (14-17). The core offering is a multidisciplinary, holistic program that combines residential treatment, day treatment (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), transitional living, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) including Theta Burst Stimulation, integrated primary care, comprehensive psychiatric assessment, and family/voctional/alumni support.

Product overview

Skyland Trail is a nonprofit mental health treatment organization offering a comprehensive continuum of care for adolescents (ages 14-17) and adults (18+). The core treatment programs include Residential Treatment (24/7 inpatient care with private rooms), Day Treatment/Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP - intensive M-F therapy), and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP - step-down from PHP). The organization employs evidence-based therapies including DBT, CBT, and trauma-informed care. Additional services include Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for depression, Comprehensive Psychiatric Assessment, Vocational Services, LEAP social activities, Alumni Program, and Transitional Living apartments. Specialized outpatient programs for teens include Teen Wellness Academy and the Adolescent Family Program. A Wellness Clinic provides integrated primary care. The organization accepts private insurance and offers substantial financial aid (35%+ of families receive assistance).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Treatment 24/7 inpatient mental health treatment for adults (18+) and adolescents (14-17). Clients reside on campus in private rooms with private bathrooms and receive comprehensive psychiatric care, evidence-based therapy (DBT, CBT, trauma-informed), and structured daily therapeutic schedules.
• Day Treatment (Partial Hospitalization Program) Mental health day treatment (PHP) offering intensive Monday-Friday therapy (10AM-4PM). Clients live at home or in transitional housing and attend treatment on campus, serving as step-down from residential care or as direct admission. Length of stay typically 4-6 weeks for step-downs or 8-10 weeks for direct admits.
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Nonresidential step-down program from day treatment for adults, offering a shorter day (Monday-Friday, 11AM-3PM) for 1-2 weeks with continued therapeutic support as clients transition toward community reintegration.
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) FDA-approved non-invasive treatment using magnetic energy to stimulate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for adults with depression or OCD. Includes Theta Burst Stimulation enabling shorter 5-18 minute sessions. Typical course is about 36 sessions over roughly 6 weeks.
• Comprehensive Psychiatric Assessment Comprehensive psychiatric diagnostic service for adults providing detailed diagnosis and a consumer-friendly treatment roadmap. Includes pre-interview, history and physical, lab testing, psychological assessment, and psychiatric evaluation over 3-6 weeks with 3-5 days of in-person visits; private pay only.
• Glenn Family Wellness Clinic Integrated primary and preventive care clinic for adults with mental health diagnoses, staffed by medical professionals offering physical exams, lab screenings, chronic disease management, TMS treatment, medication management, and genetic testing. Accepts Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Health Care for TMS.
• Vocational Services Career support program helping adults pursue employment, education, and volunteer opportunities through career assessment, job-search coaching, academic support, and community engagement guidance. Available in residential, day treatment, and outpatient program settings.
• LEAP (Life Enrichment Adult Program) Social activities program offering evening and weekend opportunities for adult clients to form relationships, learn skills, and cultivate hobbies through cooking classes, art projects, fitness, and community outings.
• Alumni Program Post-graduation support program for alumni of residential and day treatment programs, including virtual support groups (Tuesdays), monthly activities, and a monthly newsletter to maintain community connections and healthy social engagement.
• Transitional Living Independent-living program with 13 two-bedroom apartments on the North Transitional Living campus. Clients have private bedrooms, share common areas, receive weekly independence coaching, and participate in day treatment or IOP, with access to a community dining room, kitchen, and gardens.
• Teen Wellness Academy Outpatient clinical group for teens ages 14-17 struggling with school, relationships, and life expectations. 5-week course of weekly 90-minute sessions via Zoom or in-person in Georgia teaching skills to handle challenges; $550 per teen, private pay only.
• Parenting Is a Process Educational group for parents/caregivers of adolescents (14-17) with mental health concerns. 5-week virtual course helping parents improve family dynamics, learn accountability strategies, and build confidence. $650 for one parent; $800 for two; private pay only.
• Adolescent Family Program Weekly family education and support program for parents and guardians of adolescent clients covering DBT skills, CBT skills, school support, social media, boundaries, validation, and family communication, offered at no cost via Zoom.
• DBT Next Steps Online weekly DBT skills group for adults who have completed foundational DBT skills, helping them apply skills to career, education, and personal-finance goals. $65/session, billed monthly at $260; private pay only, insurance not accepted.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 35 percent of client families receive financial aid awards that reduce private pay costs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SJ Health Insurance AdvocatescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSJ Health Insurance Advocates is a third-party insurance advocate referred by Skyland Trail to help families seek reimbursement for treatment through non-contracted (out-of-network) insurance companies. SJ Health coordinates pre-authorizations, utilization reviews, and claim submission to help maximize reimbursement for families.
• Emory University School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkyland Trail partners with Emory University School of Medicine to provide training in psychiatry for physicians in training (medical students). Contact: Molly Mercer-Deadman at [email protected].
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkyland Trail's Adult Alumni Coordinator, Tera Carter, led peer groups for several years with NAMI and is now a National Trainer for NAMI, supporting alumni in the Georgia community through mental health advocacy and peer support.
• ADVANTAGES Digital Learning SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADVANTAGES Digital Learning Solutions is an online school partnership for adolescent clients who need to remain enrolled in an accredited school or online learning program during day treatment. If a client's current school cannot meet partnership requirements, the client is enrolled in ADVANTAGES.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Charlie Health: Virtual intensive-outpatient and partial-hospitalization program for teens and young adults focused on DBT, CBT, and EMDR. Comparable in clinical modalities and adolescent focus, but competes by offering shorter, lower-cost virtual treatment rather than residential care.

Direct peers

• Foundations Atlanta: Atlanta-based residential mental-health and co-occurring treatment provider for adults with private-pay pricing similar to Skyland Trail. Direct local-market peer sharing the same Atlanta referral network and private-pay client base.
• Newport Healthcare: Residential and outpatient mental-health treatment provider for adolescents and young adults, integrating academic services during treatment. Direct comparable to Skyland Trail's adolescent residential program with academic-partnership model and combined DBT/CBT curriculum.
• Sierra Tucson: Residential mental-health and co-occurring disorder treatment facility using a holistic, multidisciplinary model including TMS and experiential therapies. Comparable in scope (residential plus integrated wellness) and target acuity to Skyland Trail's adult residential.
• Renfrew Center: Residential and day treatment for eating disorders and co-occurring mood/anxiety disorders, with private rooms, integrated wellness, and family programming. Comparable holistic residential model and pricing-tier structure ($/day) to Skyland Trail's adult and adolescent tracks.
• Caron Treatment Centers: Nonprofit residential treatment provider with mental-health and addiction programs for adolescents, young adults, and adults. Comparable as a nonprofit, residential, evidence-based behavioral-health provider with a defined length-of-stay continuum and family programming.
• Rogers Behavioral Health: Not-for-profit system specializing in residential and partial-hospitalization care for OCD, anxiety, depression, and BPD with a flagship DBT program. Direct peer in residential DBT-led mental-health treatment with similar multidisciplinary team structure and national referral base.
• Meadows Behavioral Health: Residential and outpatient trauma-informed mental-health treatment organization for adults; comparable as a residential, multidisciplinary, evidence-based provider serving a similar acuity tier with a private-pay and insurance-blended revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• Sheppard Pratt: Large nonprofit behavioral-health system operating residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient programs across Maryland with evidence-based DBT and CBT. Highly comparable continuum-of-care model and nonprofit mission aligned with Skyland Trail's integrated approach.
• McLean Hospital: Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital offering residential and inpatient mental-health treatment for mood, anxiety, psychotic, and personality disorders. Comparable to Skyland Trail as a nonprofit, academically anchored residential behavioral-health provider with multidisciplinary care and broad insurance participation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SkylandTrail
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@skylandtrail
• Facebookfacebook.com/skylandtrail
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skyland-trail
• Instagraminstagram.com/skylandtrail

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Skyland Trail