Embark Annual Report Digital FINAL Opt

MEASURING
LASTING CHANGE:
The Embark Behavioral Health
Annual Outcomes Report
2022 Edition
Measuring Lasting Change: The Embark Behavioral Health Annual Outcomes Report 1
© 2023 Embark Behavioral Health
Although the information found in this report has been produced and processed from
sources believed to be reliable, Embark Behavioral Health (“Embark”) makes no warranties,
expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any such
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to the information herein and these changes may or may not be incorporated in any new
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providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be
used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal
medical advice should consult with a licensed health care provider.
2 Measuring Lasting Change: The Embark Behavioral Health Annual Outcomes Report
Table of Contents
Letter From the Embark Chief Clinical Officer....................................................................................................... 4
Tackling the Youth Mental Health Crisis..................................................................................................................... 5
Mental Health and Adolescence: A Closer Look................................................................................................... 5
Creating and Measuring Lasting Change.................................................................................................................. 5
Data-Informed, Outcomes-Driven Treatment.......................................................................................................... 6
Data Collection and Methods.......................................................................................................................................... 6
Client Profile.............................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Presenting Problems........................................................................................................................................................... 9
Results........................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Suicide Risk.............................................................................................................................................................................. 10
Long-Term Residential Programs.................................................................................................................................. 11
Short-Term Residential Programs................................................................................................................................. 15
Outpatient Clinics................................................................................................................................................................. 20
Results Summary..................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Alignment Between Parents and Clients.................................................................................................................. 24
After-Treatment Progress................................................................................................................................................. 24
Improvements in Well-Being, Not Just Symptoms............................................................................................... 24
Embark Treatment Approach Drives Outcomes..................................................................................................... 25
The Therapeutic Alliance.................................................................................................................................................. 25
The Client Voice..................................................................................................................................................................... 25
The Embark Treatment Approach: A Closer Look................................................................................................ 26
The Developmental Lens.................................................................................................................................................. 26
The CASA Developmental Framework....................................................................................................................... 27
Systemic Approach.............................................................................................................................................................. 27
Experiential Therapy............................................................................................................................................................ 27
Future Research Directions............................................................................................................................................... 28
About Embark........................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Treatment Throughout Our Continuum of Care.................................................................................................... 30
References................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Letter From the Embark
Chief Clinical Officer
Embark Behavioral Health was founded upon an evidence-based

treatment approach, called the Embark treatment approach, that
informs how we generate therapeutic change through emotional,
behavioral, physiological, and relational healing. We regularly
collect and assess client outcomes through validated measurement
tools and surveys. This is essential for informing best therapeutic
practice during treatment and providing evidence for how effectively we are reducing teen
and young adult anxiety, depression, and suicide.
Embark’s commitment to proven, long-lasting therapeutic healing is the reason we have

dedicated time and resources to creating our annual outcomes report. Enjoy!
Rob Gent, Ph.D., LPC, Embark Behavioral Health Chief Clinical Officer
Tackling the Youth Mental Health Crisis
Embark Behavioral Health is a leading network of outpatient centers and residential
programs offering premier mental health treatment for preteens, teens, and young
adults. Our nationwide programs are part of a robust continuum of care that provides a
range of services built from over 25 years of specialization in serving youths. Embark’s
big hairy audacious goal is to lead the way in driving teen and young adult anxiety,
depression, and suicide from the all-time highs of today to all-time lows by 2028.
Adolescence is a time of transitions, opportunities, and exponential growth. From

ages 10-25, we experience physical and environmental changes, and at times, the
world responds in a way for which we’re not ready. Some of us struggle to deal with
those changes and the corresponding challenges. These difficulties can lead to family
distress, anxiety, depression, and poor coping strategies.
Mental Health and Adolescence: Creating and Measuring

A Closer Look Lasting Change
Mental illness often begins during adolescence, At Embark, our goal is to create lasting
and for children and adolescents, depression change, so we use outcomes surveys,
and anxiety have been estimated at 25% and also called outcomes measures, to better
20%, respectively . Also of note:
1,2
understand a client’s level of distress and
functioning throughout the treatment process
• The COVID-19 pandemic continues to
and beyond. We use outcomes to personalize
exacerbate mental health issues like
treatment for each client and family so we can
anxiety, depression, and thoughts of
best address their needs. Information obtained
suicide. From 2019 to 2020, adolescent
throughout their time with Embark informs
psychiatric emergency department visits
how we care for clients moving forward.
increased by 31%3.
Embark is one of the few behavioral health
• In October 2021, the American Academy
companies to collect outcomes data for up to
of Pediatrics declared a national state of
two years after treatment, informing clinicians
emergency in children’s mental health4.
and families of the lasting impact of our
The numbers are of significant concern. services.
The need for high-quality, outcomes-driven
This report provides a detailed description of
treatment has never been greater. This is why
how and why we use outcomes, a summary of
Embark exists.
our results, and our future research directions.
Data-Informed, Outcomes-Driven Treatment
Embark uses outcomes surveys to collect data in a process called feedback-informed treatment (FIT).
FIT, an evidence-based approach to behavioral health5, relies on objective measurement to assess
client perception of the therapeutic relationship, assess client and family growth, and provide data
to drive treatment planning in real time. Data are also aggregated to track program effectiveness
across our client population.
Data Collection and Methods

Our data collection approach follows an administration protocol using validated measurement tools
and surveys.
Embark data-collection methodology: We chose our outcomes measurement tools and surveys
based on their empirical reliability, validity, and brevity. Several tools reflect internationally validated
outcomes measures as well. Tools and surveys used are age appropriate. Table 1 provides a summary.
Note: This report contains results from Embark’s key clinical outcomes surveys. Information about
more surveys not mentioned in this report are online. Visit the Embark outcomes webpage at
embarkbh.com/outcomes.
Table 1: Measurement Tools and Surveys Administered During Treatment
WHAT IT MEASURES
Youth Outcome Questionnaire

Behavioral functioning and distress
(Y-OQ)/Outcome Questionnaire (OQ)
Youth Outcome Questionnaire,
Client and parent therapeutic relationship
Therapeutic Alliance (Y-OQ TA)
Youth Outcome Questionnaire 2.01 Parent perception of child’s behavioral
(Y-OQ 2.01) functioning and distress
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Depression severity and suicidality
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Anxiety severity
World Health Organization Wellbeing Index

Well-being
(WHO-5)
Family Assessment Device,
Family distress
General Functioning (FAD-GF)
Survey schedule: Using secure web links, clients and their caregivers complete measurement tools and
surveys at admission, twice a month during treatment, at discharge, and up to two years post-discharge.
For a summary of how often we administer tools and surveys, see Table 2.
Table 2: Embark Outcomes Data Collection Schedule
ADMINISTRATION FREQUENCY
Upon admission Once at admission
During treatment Twice a month, repeating until discharge
At discharge Once at discharge
Post-discharge At 90, 180, 365, 540, and 720 days post-discharge
Client Profile
The 1,908 clients admitted to Embark in 2022 ranged in age from 10-26. The mean (average) age was
16.1, and the standard deviation was 2.93. Table 3 summarizes gender identities and age distributions
for clients included in this outcomes analysis.
Table 3: Client Demographics
GENDER
AGE
IDENTITY
Female 65% 10-14 32%
Male 28% 15-19 63%
Transgender 4% 20-26 5%
Nonbinary 3%
Note: Four of Embark’s largest programs serve clients who identify as

female, nonbinary, and transgender.
Presenting Problems
During the first therapy session, a client, their parents, and their therapist identify up to three problems
that most interfere with the client’s mental health. Embark refers to these as master treatment plan
(MTP) problems. They can include diagnoses, but often don’t. Sometimes, diagnoses are seen as
symptoms of these core problem areas. At Embark, we want to treat the root cause of the issues, not
just the symptoms.
In 2022, the most frequent primary MTP problem was depression, followed by anxiety. Other common
MTP problems included dysregulated (poorly regulated) mood, trauma, and relational distress.
A visual display of the top 25 most common client MTP problems is below.
ANGER
IMPULSIVITY
AFFECT REGULATION
TRAUMA
DISTRESS TOLERANCE
IDENITITY CONCERNS LOW SELF-CONCEPT
SUBSTANCE USE SELF-ESTEEM
SOCIAL ANXIETY
DEPRESSION LIMITED
COPING
SKILLS
MOOD
EMOTIONAL REGULATION
ANXIETY
EXECUTIVE
SUICIDAL FUNCTIONING
IDEATION
HEALTHY
SELF-HARM PERSONALITY
ATTACHMENT
RELATIONAL DISORDERS
DISTRESS
RELATIONAL DISTRESS
NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS IMPULSE
DYSREGULATED FAMILY SYSTEM SUICIDE CONTROL
Everyone has a different mental health journey. Because of this, MTP problems can and do vary
greatly between individuals.
Results
The following results are derived The recommended length of stay for each level of care is:
from over 3,000 clients and families
served in 2022 — 1,908 of whom
Long-term Short-term
were admitted in 2022. Results are
residential residential
organized by measure and level of
care: long-term residential, short-
10 to 14 months Two to four months
term residential, and outpatient clinic
programs. Outpatient care includes
Partial
therapeutic day treatment programs Intensive
hospitalization
(also known as partial hospitalization
program outpatient program
programs, or PHPs) and intensive 15 weeks
Nine weeks
outpatient programs (IOPs).
For the results data that follows, we determined average percentage change based on reports
from clients and families who completed questionnaires upon admission and at discharge or upon
admission, at discharge, and post-discharge.
Suicide Risk
Upon admission in 2022, 52% of clients
reported some thoughts or feelings of
suicide. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
were measured through a score greater
than 0 on item No. 9 of the Patient Health
Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Clients were
asked to report how often, over the past
two weeks, they had thoughts they‘d be
better off dead or of hurting themselves.
Answer options included:
• Not at all.
• Several days.
Within two weeks of
admission, the average • More than half the days.
client experienced thoughts
• Nearly every day.
of suicide. At discharge, the
average client reported no Any response other than “Not at all”
thoughts of suicide. indicates suicidality.
Long-Term Residential Programs
Clients receiving care at an Embark long-term residential program reported a 19-point average
reduction in distress from admit through 180 days post-discharge, indicating a statistically significant
level of improvement, according to the reliable change index (RCI). The RCI is the amount of point
improvement required for the change to be “real” and probably not due to chance.6 Parent RCI is a
13-point change, while client RCI is an 18-point change. Note: The term “parent” is used to refer to all
caregivers, but not all caregivers are biological parents.
Long-term residential parents reported a 40-point decrease in child distress from admit through 180
days post-discharge. This 40-point decrease is more than triple the RCI needed to showcase statistical
significance.
Note: Clinical cutoffs are used in some assessments to denote average, “healthy” functioning. Scores
above the cutoff can indicate a need for treatment or assessment. We highlight the clinical cutoff on
the figures that follow with a horizontal line. Each figure represents the average of the raw score of the
tool used.
Long-Term Residential
Client Distress Parent Report of Client Distress
90
90
80
De De
cre
Average Y-OQ SR Scores
70 cre
Average Y-OQ 2.01 Scores

ase ase
dd dd
ist istr
67 res
s
ess
60
50
48 51 50
40
38
30
20
180 Days 180 Days

Admit Discharge Admit Discharge
Post-Discharge Post-Discharge
Most families
71%
of clients
& 86%
of parents
reported less distress

180 days post-discharge.
The average long-term residential client

experienced a 48% reduction in distress at
discharge. Parents reported a 40% reduction
in their child’s distress.
Long-Term Residential: Client Depression
10
Interpreting Depression Score

Dec
Average Client PHQ-9 Scores
reas
9 ed d
epr 0-4 Minimal depression
8 essi
on
5-9 Mild depression
7
6 10-14 Moderate depression
6
15+ Severe depression
4
Long-term residential clients

reported mild levels of depression
2
180 days post-discharge. The
180 Days average client experienced a 44%
Admit Discharge
Post-Discharge
decrease in depression symptoms
from admit to discharge.
Most clients (72%) reported

improved depression symptoms
at discharge.
Long-Term Residential: Client Anxiety
10
Interpreting Anxiety Scores
Average Client GAD-7 Scores
9 De
cre 0-4 Minimal anxiety
8 ase
da
nx
iet 5-9 Mild anxiety
y
6 10-14 Moderate anxiety

6 6
15+ Severe anxiety
4
Long-term residential clients

reported mild anxiety upon
2
admission. Anxiety continued to
180 Days decrease to the mild anxiety range
Admit Discharge
Post-Discharge
at 180 days post-discharge.
Long-Term Residential: Family Distress
2.3
Average Client FAD-GF Scores
2.2
89%
De
2.2 cr
ea
se
d
2.1 di
st
re
ss
2.0
of long-term residential clients

1.9 experienced improved family
1.9 1.9 functioning at discharge.
1.8
Clients discharged with, and

180 Days
Admit Discharge
Post-Discharge maintained, healthy family functioning
180 days after treatment.
Interpretation of Results
Clients participating in long-term residential
treatment experience a wide range of
services designed to support them,
regardless of the intensity or severity of their
distress, all within a single facility. Overall
distress scores varied from person to person.
However, a common trend was growth, as
parents and clients both reported a high
level of improvement in daily functioning
and lower distress. Similar progress occurred
when measuring anxiety and depression.
Improvements were largely maintained 180
days after treatment.
Short-Term Residential Programs

Clients receiving care at short-term residential
programs reported a 40-point average decrease
in distress at discharge. This decrease in distress is
statistically significant, according to the RCI. The RCI
is the amount of point improvement required for the
change to be “real” and probably not due to chance.6
Parent RCI is a 13-point change, while client RCI is
an 18-point change. Note: The term “parent” is used
to refer to all caregivers, but not all caregivers are
biological parents.
Short-term residential parents reported a 44-point

average decrease in child distress at discharge. The
decreases in distress are over double the RCI needed
to showcase statistical significance.
Note: Clinical cutoffs are used in some assessments

to denote average, “healthy” functioning. We
highlight the clinical cutoff on the figures that follow
with a horizontal line. Each figure represents the
average of the raw score of the tool used.
Short-Term Residential
100
De
cre
ase
dd
98
90 istr
ess De
91 cre
ase
dd
istr
80 ess

70
75
60
67
50 54
51
40
30
20
90 Days 90 Days
Post-Discharge Post-Discharge
Most families
83%
of clients
& 86%
of parents
reported less distress upon

discharging from Embark.
The average short-term residential Embark

client experienced a 39% reduction in
distress after treatment. Parents reported a
45% reduction in their child’s distress.
Short-Term Residential: Client Depression
15
Dec
reas
ed d Interpreting Depression Score
epr
essi
14 on
Average Client PHQ-9 Scores
12 0-4 Minimal depression
5-9 Mild depression

11
9
10-14 Moderate depression
15+ Severe depression

6 7
3 Most clients (80%)

experienced improved
90 Days
Admit Discharge
Post-Discharge depression symptoms
at discharge, with the
Short-term residential clients entered average client reporting
treatment above the clinical cutoff. a 49% decrease.
Short-Term Residential: Client Anxiety
14
De
cre
ase Interpreting Anxiety Scores
da
nx
Average Client GAD-7 Scores
iet
y 0-4 Minimal anxiety
11 12
5-9 Mild anxiety
8 10-14 Moderate anxiety

9
15+ Severe anxiety
5 6
Short-term residential clients entered
treatment above the clinical cutoff.
2
90 Days
Admit Discharge
Post-Discharge Most clients (74%)
experienced improved
anxiety symptoms at
discharge, with the
average client reporting
a 45% decrease.
75%
of short-term residential
clients experienced improved
family distress at discharge.
Short-Term Residential: Client Well-Being
65
Short-term residential clients reported a

60
24-point average increase in subjective
60
Average Client WHO-5 Scores
ng
well-being at discharge.
ei
55 el
l-b
w
d
se
50
ea
cr
84%
In
45
40
35
36 of short-term residential
clients experienced improved
30
well-being at discharge.
Admit Discharge
The data suggest that clients see an immediate
improvement in anxiety, depression, overall
functioning, and relationships from short-
term residential treatment. There is significant
improvement from when they were admitted
to a program. That said, they may benefit from
participating in outpatient care after returning
home, as some regression may occur after
completing short-term residential treatment.
More research is needed to determine how

PHP, IOP, and other outpatient treatment can
decrease depression and anxiety for clients after
they finish a short-term residential program.
Outpatient Clinics
Clients receiving outpatient care reported a 27-point average
decrease in distress at discharge. Outpatient parents reported
a 25-point average decrease in child distress at discharge. Both
decreases are statistically significant, according to the RCI.
The RCI is the amount of point improvement required for the
change to be “real” and probably not due to chance.6 Parent
RCI is a 13-point change, while client RCI is an 18-point change.
Note: The term “parent” is used to refer to all caregivers, but
not all caregivers are biological parents.
Note: Clinical cutoffs are used in some assessments to denote

average, “healthy” functioning. We highlight the clinical cutoff
on the figures that follow with a horizontal line. Each figure
represents the average of the raw score of the tool used.
Outpatient
D
ec
90 re
as The average Embark outpatient
ed
D client reported a 31% reduction
di ec
st
80 86 re
ss
re
ase in distress at discharge. Parents
d
di reported a 30% reduction in

70 75 st
re
ss their child’s distress.
60
Most families
50 59
40
50 73%
of clients
& 72%
of parents
30 reported less distress

after discharging
20 from Embark.
Outpatient: Client Depression
15
Dec
reas
ed d Interpreting Depression Score
epr
essi
on
12 13 0-4 Minimal depression
Average PHQ-9 Scores
5-9 Mild depression
9 10-14 Moderate depression

9
8 15+ Severe depression
6
Outpatient clients entered

3 treatment above the clinical
cutoff. They reported a 5-point
90 Days average decrease in depression
Admit Discharge
Post-Discharge
scores from admit through
90 days after treatment.
Most clients (77%)

reduced their depression
symptoms.
Outpatient: Client Anxiety
12 Dec
reas
ed a
nxie Interpreting Anxiety Scores
ty
11 0-4 Minimal anxiety
Average GAD-7 Scores
9
5-9 Mild anxiety
10-14 Moderate anxiety

8
6
15+ Severe anxiety
6
Outpatient clients entered treatment
3 above the clinical cutoff. The average
client reported a 37% decrease in
90 Days anxiety symptoms at discharge.
Admit Discharge
Post-Discharge
Outpatient: Client Well-Being 81%

60 ng
bei
ell-
n tw of outpatient clients
clie
55 ed
eas experienced a reduction
In c r 56
Average WHO-5 Scores
in anxiety at discharge.
50 53
45
40
40
35
30
90 Days
Admit Discharge
Post-Discharge
Outpatient clients reported a 13-point average

increase in well-being at discharge.
Data from outpatient clinics indicate strong improvements in behavioral functioning, distress, anxiety,
depression, and well-being. Embark therapists use this information to help families understand how
they might better engage with one another.
81% 82%
of clients reported of parents reported

experiencing less experiencing less
distress at discharge. adolescent distress
at discharge.
Results Summary
Clients at each level of care reported significant improvements in all areas. From admit to discharge,
parents and their children reported statistically significant reductions in client distress, according to
the RCI.
Alignment Between Parents and Clients
At every level of care, variability in distress scores between parents and clients decreased over time.
This indicates improvements in communication and attunement (putting empathy in action) between
child and parent, and that families are practicing crucial communication strategies after treatment,
such as vulnerability, empathy, and validation. Taken together, results suggest treatment helps parents
understand the severity and intensity of their children’s distress. They’re ultimately poised to better
attune to their preteens, teens, and young adults’ needs.
Importantly, parents reported communication as their most frequent MTP problem. Decreased
variability between their perception of their children’s distress and self-reported distress suggests that
they not only improved their communication skills with their preteens, teens, and young adults but
also have a greater awareness of their children’s overall social-emotional health after treatment.
After-Treatment Progress
Post-discharge results were especially compelling. Dramatic decreases in distress, anxiety, and
depression symptoms were reported at three and six months after treatment. Clients with high levels
of intense and frequent symptoms were included in these data sets. This suggests that those in need
of greater mental health support can and do benefit from the Embark treatment approach over time.
Improvements in Well-Being, Not Just Symptoms

Clients also reported improvements in well-being. Well-being is associated with optimism, life and
work satisfaction, and resilience7,8. Accordingly, Embark sees the purpose of therapy to be more than
symptom reduction. We aim to help preteens, teens, and young adults find meaning and purpose in
their lives and pursue that purpose with excitement. This helps clients build relapse resistance, engage
in healthy relationships, and create joy.
At every level of care, preteens, teens, and young adults reported double-digit percentage-point
increases in well-being scores to go along with the significant reduction in anxiety and depression.
These scores indicate improvement toward Embark’s big hairy audacious goal to lead the way in
driving teen and young adult anxiety, depression, and suicide to all-time lows by 2028.
Summary: We attribute our clients’ significant progress in symptom reduction and increased
well-being to the lasting impact of Embark’s clinical approach, our expert clinicians and
providers who guide clients through treatment, and, most importantly, our clients and
families’ dedication to the healing process.
Embark Treatment Approach Drives Outcomes
To provide the highest quality of care and meet the needs of clients and families, Embark administers
several tools and surveys that quantitatively and qualitatively measure each family’s experience at
our programs.
The Therapeutic Alliance

The therapeutic alliance is the beneficial relationship that forms between family and therapist.9
We measure this through the Youth Outcome Questionnaire, Therapeutic Alliance (Y-OQ TA)
outcomes survey. Scores range from 0-20, with higher scores indicating greater alliances. Even early
in treatment, a higher alliance significantly predicts better treatment outcomes.10,11 At midtreatment
(30 days at Embark) and discharge, the average Embark family reported very high therapeutic
alliance scores, with median scores of 17.9 at midtreatment and 18.1 at discharge.
The therapeutic alliance is the single best predictor of positive results that a treatment provider
directly influences. It’s also a catalyst for growth. When clients and parents feel a strong alliance
with their therapist, they’re more likely to get better. A strong alliance is based on agreement about
treatment goals, activities, and tasks and developing a trusting bond.12
Feedback-informed treatment is important to this alliance, as it promotes

alignment as clients, their families, and their therapist collaboratively use data to
make treatment plans. Independent research has validated using feedback-informed
principles in therapy to improve quality of life and accelerate treatment outcomes.13,14
To gather as much feedback as possible, in addition to the Y-OQ TA, Embark

administers the Therapeutic Alliance Self-Report every 15 days, alongside other mental health
outcomes surveys every 30 days, to measure the relationship between therapist and client.
If something needs to change, our team can quickly address it.
The Client Voice

Client insight is vital to our outcomes-driven
treatment approach. Alongside their parents,
clients were regularly asked to assess their
level of satisfaction, quantitatively and
qualitatively, with Embark services. For one
question, “How likely is it that you would
recommend Embark to a family or individual
with similar struggles?” on a scale of 1-10,
Over half of
77% of clients and 85% of caregivers
clients and parents
reported at least a 7 out of 10.
reported 9s and 10s.
The Embark Treatment Approach: A Closer Look
Most behavioral health programs lack a cohesive, unifying approach to treatment. In contrast, we
created and use the Embark treatment approach. From the developmental lens, a framework for
viewing child and adolescent development, the Embark approach is the generator through which
our therapists heal and repair shame.
The Embark treatment approach provides an evidenced-based therapeutic structure to create

effective growth, learning, and healing. It guides, informs, and provides quality control for clinical
best practices within and across all our programs.
The Developmental Lens

The developmental lens is the foundation of the Embark therapeutic process. Understanding and
being aware of where a client and their family are developmentally is the key to grasping how
growth throughout the lifespan relies on interpersonal relationships, which are essential for healthy
physical, emotional, and relational development. The developmental lens is based on research from
physiological, neurological, and psychological studies. Applying these study findings allows us to
influence healthy development and heal generations.
The CASA Developmental Framework
The CASA Developmental Framework is the neurobiological methodology for creating experiences
of secure attachment — the safe and reliable bond between a child and a nurturing and responsive
primary caregiver, usually a parent. Rooted in decades of evidence-based research15,16, CASA
emphasizes that mutually beneficial, secure attachment is essential for optimal development
(emotional, physical, and relational health) where resiliency, self-identity, and worth reside.
Commitment: Doing what’s

developmentally best for a child, even
when it takes extended time and effort.
Acceptance: Embracing children as

inherently valuable, independent of
their behavior.
Security: Setting and maintaining

consistent, safe, and nurturing boundaries.
Attunement: Demonstrating empathy in action. Attunement creates a co-regulated nervous

system between child and caregiver. Co-regulation, the reciprocal exchange of emotional,
neurological, and physical safety, is a constant process, not a steady state.
Systemic Approach
Embark believes healing is a joint process between a clinical treatment team and the entire family.
We therefore favor a systemic approach to treatment that honors the systems, patterns, rules,
and behaviors within a child, their family, and their environment. This approach provides the most
sophisticated tools for whole-family healing because it changes the experience and environment
that the negative behaviors and emotions needed to exist. It replaces current family interactions and
communication with healthier ones that foster connection and healing.
Experiential Therapy
To develop emotionally, psychologically, and even physically, we need reliable and repeated
experiences of safety and security from caregivers. We create these healthy experiences by using
therapeutic experiential methods that optimize emotional, physical, and relational development,
as informed by the CASA Developmental Framework. Our therapists take a creative approach to
treatment through experience-based, hands-on activities, such as going to a park or interacting with
animals, allowing them to provide treatment in a more relaxed environment that fosters healing.
Future Research Directions
As we move forward with evaluating client and family treatment, we’re continuing to research post-
discharge outcomes and the relationships between biological functions and health. We’re also building
a data repository.
• Post-discharge outcomes: To continue measuring treatment effectiveness, we’re focusing our

efforts on post-discharge data collection. We expanded the Embark collection of surveys so we
can more granularly analyze treatment success and satisfaction on an 11-point scale. Embark is one
of the only behavioral health companies that measures post-discharge outcomes up to 720 days —
almost two years — after treatment. Our new post-discharge surveys gather insights on psychiatric
hospitalization rates, medication compliance, and employment.
• The relationship between several biological functions and health: To improve

holistic health, we’re examining the relationship between several biological
functions (sleep, nutrition, exercise, and heart rate variability) and relational
and emotional health. Our goal is to contribute to the scientific understanding
of how these functions can improve overall well-being.
• Data repository: We’re building an enhanced data repository of treatment outcomes. Our goal is
to use this data to generate an algorithm that will predict outcomes for all Embark clients across
every level of care.
About Embark
At Embark, we exist to create joy and heal generations. Our big hairy audacious goal is to the way
in driving teen and young adult anxiety, depression, and suicide from the all-time highs of today to
all-time lows by 2028. Our ability to achieve this goal is dependent upon the strength of our culture,
which is the starting point for our impact and success.
Five key differentiators set Embark apart from other behavioral health care providers.
1. We offer a robust continuum of care that provides different levels of service and programming
based on an individual’s changing needs, from virtual counseling to residential services.
2. We have a deep legacy of over 25 years serving youths, focused on preteens, teens,
and young adults.
3. We collect thousands of data points and share feedback with families so we can adjust
treatment in real time to improve results.
4. We treat the entire family using an evidence-based and relationship-focused approach.
5. We offer the highest levels of quality care and safety standards, with all programs accredited
by The Joint Commission.
Treatment Throughout Our Continuum of Care
Our continuum of care allows us to meet families wherever they’re at and provide them with the level
of care they need throughout their healing journey. For example, clients can step up from a therapeutic
day treatment program (also known as a partial hospitalization program, or PHP) to a residential
treatment program if they require a more intensive level of care. They can step back down to a less
restrictive level of care when they’re ready.
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT
CENTER (RTC)
Continuum
OUTDOOR THERAPY
of Care THERAPEUTIC
BOARDING SCHOOL
PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION
PROGRAM (PHP)
Treatment While INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT

Living at a PROGRAM (IOP) + VIRTUAL
Program Facility
Treatment While OUTPATIENT TREATMENT

Living at Home
References
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Pablo, Jae Il Shin et al. 2022. “Age at Onset of Mental Disorders Worldwide: Large-Scale Meta-
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s41380-021-01161-7.
2. Racine, Nicole, Brae Anne McArthur, Jessica E. Cooke, Rachel Eirich, Jenney Zhu, and Sheri
Madigan. 2021. “Global Prevalence of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Children and
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jamapediatrics.2021.2482.
3. Yard, Ellen, Lakshmi Radhakrishnan, Michael F. Ballesteros, Michael Sheppard, Abigail Gates,
Zachary Stein, Kathleen Hartnett et al. 2021. “Emergency Department Visits for Suspected Suicide
Attempts Among Persons Aged 12–25 Years Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United
States, January 2019–May 2021.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 70, no. 24: 888-94.
http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7024e1.
4. American Academy of Pediatrics. 2021. “AAP-AACAP-CHA Declaration of a National Emergency

in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.” Last updated October 19, 2021. https://www.aap.org/en/
advocacy/child-and-adolescent-healthy-mental-development/aap-aacap-cha-declaration-of-a-
national-emergency-in-child-and-adolescent-mental-health/.
5. Lambert, Michael J., Nathan B. Hansen, and Arthur E. Finch. 2001. “Patient-Focused Research:
Using Patient Outcome Data to Enhance Treatment Effects.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical
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Meaningful Change in Psychotherapy Research.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 59,
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Conceptual Framework for Defining Well-Being.” Social Indicators Research 110: 837–61.
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McNeely. 2020. “Well-Being in Life and Well-Being at Work: Which Comes First? Evidence From
a Longitudinal Study.” Frontiers in Public Health 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00103.
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and Vincent M. Hendriks. 2020. “A Dual Perspective on First-Session Therapeutic Alliance:
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Riemer. 2011. “Effects of Routine Feedback to Clinicians on Mental Health Outcomes of Youths:
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MEASURING

Tackling the Youth Mental Health Crisis..................................................................................................................... 5

Mental Health and Adolescence: A Closer Look................................................................................................... 5

Creating and Measuring Lasting Change.................................................................................................................. 5

Data-Informed, Outcomes-Driven Treatment.......................................................................................................... 6

Data Collection and Methods.......................................................................................................................................... 6

Long-Term Residential Programs.................................................................................................................................. 11

Short-Term Residential Programs................................................................................................................................. 15

Alignment Between Parents and Clients.................................................................................................................. 24

Improvements in Well-Being, Not Just Symptoms............................................................................................... 24

Embark Treatment Approach Drives Outcomes..................................................................................................... 25

The Therapeutic Alliance.................................................................................................................................................. 25

The Client Voice..................................................................................................................................................................... 25

The Embark Treatment Approach: A Closer Look................................................................................................ 26

The Developmental Lens.................................................................................................................................................. 26

The CASA Developmental Framework....................................................................................................................... 27

Future Research Directions............................................................................................................................................... 28

Treatment Throughout Our Continuum of Care.................................................................................................... 30

Embark Behavioral Health was founded upon an evidence-based

Embark’s commitment to proven, long-lasting therapeutic healing is the reason we have

Adolescence is a time of transitions, opportunities, and exponential growth. From

Mental Health and Adolescence: Creating and Measuring

Data Collection and Methods

Table 1: Measurement Tools and Surveys Administered During Treatment

Youth Outcome Questionnaire

Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Depression severity and suicidality

Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Anxiety severity

World Health Organization Wellbeing Index

Table 2: Embark Outcomes Data Collection Schedule

Upon admission Once at admission

During treatment Twice a month, repeating until discharge

At discharge Once at discharge

Post-discharge At 90, 180, 365, 540, and 720 days post-discharge

Table 3: Client Demographics

Female 65% 10-14 32%

Male 28% 15-19 63%

Note: Four of Embark’s largest programs serve clients who identify as

Average Y-OQ 2.01 Scores

180 Days 180 Days

reported less distress

The average long-term residential client

Interpreting Depression Score

Long-term residential clients

Most clients (72%) reported

6 10-14 Moderate anxiety

Long-term residential clients

Long-Term Residential: Family Distress

of long-term residential clients

Clients discharged with, and

Short-Term Residential Programs

Short-term residential parents reported a 44-point

Note: Clinical cutoffs are used in some assessments

Client Distress Parent Report of Client Distress

Average Y-OQ 2.01 Scores

reported less distress upon

The average short-term residential Embark

12 0-4 Minimal depression

5-9 Mild depression

15+ Severe depression