Embark Behavioral Health

“Embarks moto is “creating joy, healing generations”, but it’s more like “creating trauma, torturing generations”, according to my sister and I. I was a past patient in 2024 and embark only made me worse. Things may seem well handled there but staff lack appropriate boundaries with patients. As someone healing from borderline personality disorder, I would often become attached to staff members and they would only instigate it further for example, promising me contact outside the facility. This was inappropriate and only enraged my BPD symptoms once that “promise” was broken after release. There were also many instances of staff being inappropriate with patients and many cases of grooming. At the time I felt cared for but it only hurt me in the end, as staff should not be having these kinds of relationships with patients already struggling. Embark white haven PA is not a place I would recommend for a vulnerable hurting teenage girl in need of therapeutic care.”

“Hi! As a past patient I can assure that putting your child in this facility will not only disrupt your child from getting better but also causing trauma that will never be forgotten. There motto is “ creating joy and healing generations” should actually be “ creating fear and killing generations”. If you are concerned that your child will be a runaway do not send them to 108 Country place Lane White Haven PA. I only say that because I never thought that would be me and yet I ran 6 times. A staff was forced to quit due to camera evidence of talking inappropriately in detail about his mental health to a patient that was in a bad state. That client he was talking to was me.”

“I was here when I was 14 in 2022. I was at a very low point in my life, not wanting to be alive anymore. Embark was a very nice place. 99% of the staff were very kind and caring. The facility was very nice, and the food was pretty good. I didn't like being there, but looking back it wasn't too bad. I was transferred to a long term facility after 2 months at Embark. That is where I entered the world of The Troubled Teen Industry in Utah. I was not placed at one of the embark facilities there, rather an ROP program. But, it's important to know every single facility in Utah is BAD. Embark at the Poconos or one of their other locations far away from Utah is the exception. Embark at the Poconos was like a vacation compared to the other places I was sent. While I don't think you should send your child ANYWHERE unless absolutely necessary, it should be here if needed. I have heard bad things from friends who went to the embark locations in Utah. But, this one was pretty good. That being said, I thank embark at the Poconos for always treating me with compassion. Almost 3 years later, I am accepted to college for nursing and on track to graduate.”

“I was lucky enough to attend Embark twice. Once in 2022 and again in 2023, about a year apart. Although I went for similar treatment, both experiences were so different. Embark is truly a great program through and through. It is one of the best out there but I wanted to highlight some flaws that I saw in my stay. It’s hard to base sending someone you love here based off other people’s experiences and reviews, because it mostly boils down to the group of kids that you will be surrounded by. My first experience I was very pleased with the social aspect and the kids I was around. It was truly a good healing environment. The second time I was met with more violence, drama and hostility by the other kids. Another thing I saw was kids becoming extremely codependent on each-other to the point where they weren’t focusing on their own treatment. Obviously, you can’t control other people but if you are more aggressive or have codependency issues this might not be the right place. Both times I was amazed at the individual treatment. The therapists and staff are absolutely amazing!! It’s like a family. They all really love what they do and care about the kids. Matt and Emily were my therapists and the connections I built with them were amazing. I’ve never had a therapist like them. Katie and Jayda are also such great people and I’m so glad to have met them! From the first to the second time I attended, there was significantly less group therapy. Some of it was replaced with activities or student groups. It was frustrating to me as someone who came for the therapy aspect, because things like coloring and making bracelets weren’t really helping me and my mental health. Alicia the school teacher is amazing! She was so helpful and knowledgeable. She tried her best to replicate a classroom environment to help kids learn and succeed. Most of the food is frozen and from what I saw, the chefs didn’t really have compassion for kids with dietary restrictions. I saw them giving kids the same meals over and over and getting annoyed when they asked for something else. I feel like this could be an easy fix which is why I chose to include it. Embark is a wonderful option for treatment but just take these things into consideration!”