Embark at Independence — Missouri

Embark at Independence offers short-term residential treatment in a peaceful and healing environment for male and female adolescents struggling with behavioral health and addiction. Specializing in dual-diagnosis, Embark combines evidence-based methods with experiential therapies and outdoor activities, taking a holistic approach to treatment. Their inpatient treatment services address and treat mental health and co-occurring disorders using dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), substance abuse counseling and education, and recovery groups. Embark at Independence provides a structured and supportive environment, with daily schedules consisting of activities that promote mental health and healthy daily living, individual and group therapy sessions, exercise, access to nature, and nutritional meals. In combination with their family therapy services, this approach is meant to build confidence, improve social-emotional functioning, and strengthen relationships. Adolescents struggling with school refusal, addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, borderline personality disorder (BPD), family conflict, and self harm or suicidal ideation are some of the most common mental and behavioral health conditions they specialize in treating.
The residential treatment program at Embark offers patients access to nature and a variety of therapeutic activities. Group service projects, talent shows, trivia night, game night, and movies are some of the social activities that are offered. Located on spacious land next to the Missouri River, patients can participate in a variety of physical activities and experiential therapies such as kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, camping, fishing, archery, frisbee golf, and swimming. Embark at Independence also offers intellectual activities like cultural events classes, and culinary, automotive, or trade-skills classes. Focusing on spiritual and emotional well-being, they offer music classes, arts and crafts, spiritual retreats, and meditation and mindfulness techniques. Embark at Independence also offers off-campus trips to nearby Kansas City for patients and their families, known as parent weekends. Some of the activities during parent weekends include a 5K color run, talent shows, and Kansas City Royals baseball games. These therapeutic trips are to practice applying the skills that are learned throughout the program in real-world environments and learn healthy ways to enjoy life while strengthening family relationships.