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Our 16-year-old son stayed at Embark Behavioral Health for one month last year. Looking back, we have mixed emotions. One disturbing incident was the vandalism of his room - someone urinated on his towel. He felt unsafe due to a flimsy door hanger that offered no privacy or ...
About Embark Behavioral Health – Independence
Embark Behavioral Health in Independence, Missouri, is an inpatient rehabilitation treatment center for boys, girls, and LGBTQ+ youths ages 12 through 18. The secluded campus offers therapy, academics, and life skills education in an environment structured to be “home-like.” Most clients stay for an average of 90 days.
The center is accredited by The Joint Commission and Cognia. They treat ADHD, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and depression.
Behavioral issues treated include oppositional defiant disorder, out of control behavior, reactive attachment disorder, substance use, substance use co-occurring with mental health issues, and suicidal ideation. Your child’s therapist will be able to treat your child by gaining the child’s trust and cultivating empathy.
Residential Substance Use Treatment
Residential treatment is chosen for youth exhibiting serious emotional or behavioral issues. Youth who need intensive mental health services and cannot live safely at home should be admitted to a residential program.
Being in a residential treatment program will remove your teen from triggering stresses so that they can heal. Your child will be supervised 24/7 to ensure safety. It’s neat that the center resembles a log cabin so it’s not so clinical, with a stone fireplace and plenty of outdoor space.
Family Involvement During Treatment
We would never want to send our child into an environment where we have no contact with our kids and can’t visually see conditions and the wellbeing of our children. The center brings in family two to three hours per week for therapy and will call you with frequent updates and ask you to complete a survey about your opinion of the program.
Culturally sensitive services are offered for treatment. Your child will never be restrained, secluded, or confined. Removal of food, shelter, hygiene, or bedding is never used as disciplinary measures. Staff commit to never frighten, humiliate, or cause physical discomfort or pain.
Fact checked and written by:
Kimberly Hawkins, MSc
Edited by:
Peter Lee, PhD
Latest Reviews
My son has made huge progress in his daily living skills. He has had life coaches with whom he can talk to at any time. He is learning how to deal with a complex addiction. His therapist,Casey Kapple, is the absolute best at what he does. Not just for our son but also in leading the parents group. I could not ask for better results
Response from the owner1 month ago
We are thrilled to hear about the progress your son has made in his daily living skills and addiction journey. Thank you for recognizing the efforts of our life coaches and therapists. We are committed to providing the best support for your family.
Do not send your children here!!! They overbill insurance and you. While there I received hours of stick and poke tattoos on my hands(not once interrupted by staff), ran away and spent a night in woods, ran away again but never left campus(took hours to find me and then accused of assault by a staff member(later dismissed) but I was sent to JDC and then had to start over at a whole new facility where I successfully completed that program in 30 days. THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT THE MONEY.
Response from the owner1 month ago
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We take all concerns seriously and are committed to providing quality care. Our mission is to help every family we serve find real, lasting healing. That is why Embark programs are state-licensed, Joint Commission-accredited, and backed by outcome data we track for up to two years. Due to privacy regulations, we cannot discuss experiences here, but we welcome private conversations—just email our quality assurance team at qualityofcare@embarkbh.com. You deserve peace of mind, and we are here to help you find it. Z.D.
Reviewed on 07/15/2025
Our 16-year-old son stayed at Embark Behavioral Health for one month last year. Looking back, we have mixed emotions.
One disturbing incident was the vandalism of his room - someone urinated on his towel. He felt unsafe due to a flimsy door hanger that offered no privacy or security. Another major concern was the medical care. He was diagnosed with ADHD based on a two-page questionnaire and quickly prescribed medication, which caused visible tremors. Later, staff suggested he might have autism. This uncertainty prompted us to seek a full psychological evaluation at home, which ruled out both ADHD and ASD.
Our son’s core issue was his video game addiction. Although he abstained during his stay, he quickly relapsed upon returning home. We were advised to sign a behavioral contract, but it proved ineffective. It wasn’t until we started working with a psychologist, who conducted a full assessment and helped us create clear rules and consequences, that we began to see change.
The cost of that one-month stay was over $100,000, most of it paid by insurance. For that price, we expected high standards, especially in medical and therapeutic care. His therapist at Embark was kind and built rapport, but his approach was too liberal given our son’s needs. We followed all recommendations, yet saw no sustained progress once he came home.
If we could do it over, we’d be more cautious, question the medical advice given, and avoid relying solely on Embark’s guidance. We share our story so others can make more informed decisions when seeking help for their children.
Rehab Score
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5.5 / 10
Location
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Designed for individuals who don't require 24/7 monitoring, a partial hospitalization program (PHP) provides intensive-level treatment while allowing you to stay at home. PHP treatment typically requires a commitment of at least 20 hours of treatment per week for an average duration of 90 days. Services commonly offered in PHP include medication management and evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Insurance coverage for PHP treatment may vary depending on your provider.
Treatments
Specialized dual-diagnosis addiction treatment programs in Missouri include inpatient residential rehab, outpatient, intensive outpatient, detox, and partial hospitalization programs. Offering a full continuum of care, their clinicians have the expertise to treat individuals with co-occurring substance use disorder and mental health conditions at the same time. The benefits of dual-diagnosis treatment are enhanced recovery outcomes, improved overall health and well-being, and it equips individuals with the information and skills required to sustain long-term sobriety.
Inpatient treatment provides mental health services with residency in the rehab facility for the duration of treatment. During treatment, you'll likely participate in evidence-based therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), medication management, and skill development – all under the guidance of an expert mental health therapist. By focusing on both aspects of your mental health and treating your addiction, you'll gain vital skills to cope with cravings, manage stress, and prevent relapse. Family therapy or mindfulness training may also be available, which helps to improve mental health.
Clinical Services
The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy in Missouri is to help clients change their thinking and behavioral patterns. Strategies of treatment include role playing, facing fears, and calming techniques.
Accreditations
The Joint Commission, formerly known as JCAHO, is a nonprofit organization that accredits rehab organizations and programs. Founded in 1951, the Joint Commision's mission is to improve the quality of patient care and demonstrating the quality of patient care.
Joint Commission Accreditation: Yes
Contact Information
3205 N Twyman Rd
Independence, MO 64058
Get Help Now - 816-892-9904
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