mental health therapist

therapist

life skills trainer

clinical director

mentor

Embark Behavioral Health

Embark Behavioral Health: My Experience Life Coach/Mentor (Former Employee) – Independence, MO – June 2024-January 2025

JUST DONT! 

In my experience, Embark Behavioral Health operates in a way that I found concerning. I felt the work environment lacked sufficient support and oversight, leading to challenges for both staff and residents. While some staff members had good intentions, I personally believe the training provided didn’t fully equip them for the demands of their roles. This created situations where staff felt unsupported and overwhelmed.

Furthermore, I observed safety concerns that affected both staff and youth. From my perspective, the current practices seemed to compromise the well-being of those involved, highlighting the need for changes to improve safety and overall conditions.

During my time there, I observed what I would describe as a challenging workplace culture. In my view, advocating for change or raising concerns was met with resistance, making it difficult to address important issues. Management, in my opinion, seemed to use company policies in ways that discouraged advocacy and constructive feedback. This approach appeared to prioritize maintaining the status quo over fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.

The management team, in my experience, functions as a well-oiled machine, with members who have cycled through various administrative positions and worked together for a long time. While they present themselves as persuasive and engaging during interviews, I felt that the dynamics shifted significantly once on the job. Additionally, many employees have personal connections—whether through family, romantic relationships, or even marriage—making it challenging for newcomers to integrate into the environment.

For parents considering this program, I recommend conducting thorough research and exploring all available options. Watching "The Program" on Netflix may provide valuable insights into the dynamics of similar programs. Based on my experience, I would encourage careful consideration before making any decisions.

For prospective employees, I suggest evaluating whether this work environment aligns with your values and expectations. In my opinion, it’s essential to carefully assess whether the organizational culture supports professional growth, collaboration, and advocacy for positive change. Exploring other opportunities that better support professional development and foster collaboration may be worthwhile.



Working as a Life Coach at Embark White Haven was a fulfilling experience in some ways, though it also came with its fair share of challenges. On the positive side, I had the privilege of working alongside a supportive and dependable team of life coaches. My colleagues were truly team players, and I could always count on them for support, which made the work environment enjoyable.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the role was the opportunity to serve as a role model for children and help them navigate their personal journeys. Building meaningful connections with both my coworkers and the clients was something I truly valued, and it's why I applied to this position in the first place. The relationships I built were one of the highlights of my time at Embark.
However, despite the positive aspects, there were several issues that ultimately made my experience difficult. Staffing shortages were a constant challenge, which led to difficulties with scheduling and expectations when it came to time off. Calling off when needed was often met with resistance, and there was a lack of flexibility in that area. Additionally, communication was often a struggle. Important updates and changes were sometimes not communicated to the entire team, which led to confusion and frustration.
Another challenge I encountered was with management. At times, it was difficult to communicate with those in charge, and this created issues both on the floor and in terms of general morale. The combination of disorganization, poor communication, and inconsistent scheduling made the work environment more stressful than it needed to be.
In conclusion, while the connections I made with my fellow life coaches and clients were incredibly rewarding, the organizational issues and communication breakdowns were too much to overlook. I would advise anyone considering a position here to carefully assess the company's structure, management, and so on before committing to a role like this.

Being a life coach means you are the company scapegoat. You spend the most time with the kids so if something goes wrong you are blamed for whatever is wrong. 

As a life coach you are expected to cook meals if there is no chef, clean the house, and help with academics. 

You are expected to get the kids to follow rules (dress code, chores, no cursing). But therapists override your life coach authority frequently. 

There is arms reach protocol which means you need to be within arms reach of a kid at all times on your shift. Safety is line of sight. Kids think this is a joke so you’ll be running after kids constantly. Sometimes you are locked in a room all day cause a kid won’t leave their bed. 

Kids aren’t allowed to walk around the pond anymore because they were sneaking critters into the house to dissect. 

Things get really bad at night and there are never any night shift workers. 

You cannot leave work until there is sufficient coverage. 

Calling off is impossible and they expect you to find coverage. You need to be there on holidays and snow days, no exceptions. 

Food is great and chef is nice. 

Kids are fun and it’s wonderful meeting all different people. 

It’s in the middle of the woods. When you come in at night or leave it can be scary. 

Company used to have “no dreadlocks” in the client welcome book. They removed it when kids complained about diversity. 

They hire literally anyone. Turn over rate is so high. 

Benefits are the actual worst.  

Kids make cool art that you get to take home. 

Sometimes they are so short staffed they have to fly people in from other facilities. 

Sometimes they put made up names on the schedule to make it look like they are full staffed. When asked they will say “they are new hires” but they never show up. Idk if it’s a coincidence or not. Decide for yourself. 

The pictures on the website are deceiving. The facility smells like old socks and has about a million holes punched in the walls from kids. When families and important Embark officials come they cover the holes with student artwork lol


I was so excited about this opportunity having gone to a residential treatment myself for 6 months when I was 16.  I loved working and being around the kids but soon after being there started to see how hard this facility was on the kids and the staff.
Numerous kids would tell us they felt worse and more anxious than before they arrived, many even started self harming that had never done it before and others were now doing it more often.  
There is also no real “lockdown system” to keep the children and staff safe when an escalation occurs.  The facility I was at was in a heavily wooded area and used to be a summer camp, numerous times a child would run leaving staff to chase them down while only a couple of staff were left to try and keep dozens of other children in their designated unit.  These are the times the children should be sent to their rooms and locked with alarms to alert you when a child is trying to leave their room.
Management also doesn’t call law enforcement when required by embark guidelines when a child has been missing for a duration of time, they also would not call when a staff member or peer was injured or assaulted by a resident.
Needless to say the work environment became dangerous but the worst part was the extreme emotional toll it takes on the staff that truly care for these children and are there for them, not the paycheck.  Leaving was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made as I wanted nothing more but to help and protect the youth there.

I have worked as a clinical director for a number of years at different locations and companies. I am happy to say that Embark Behavioral Health is the most supportive and productive company that I have ever worked for. I love the ambitious goals that the company has set for itself and their values strongly align with my own personal values. 
Embark's values are empathy, service, trusting relationships, growth and results. 
Our team shows empathy with the students and families we work with by showing understanding, support, and encouragement every day. 
Our team provides service by working hard every day to do the best we can for every student. 
Our team focuses on building trusting relationships with each other, with our students and with their families. 
It is amazing to watch our students and families grow and heal throughout their treatment journey. Another way that Embark Behavioral Health promotes growth is through extensive training opportunities for staff and encouraging staff to work towards qualifying for higher positions within the company. We are also growing in size as we open multiple facilities throughout the country.
Finally, this is the first company I have worked with that focuses so much time and energy on results. We have a robust treatment approach and we measure our students progress through a number of evaluative tools. 
This company is amazing. It outshines every other company I have ever known. 


Job environment was toxic due to management being siloed. Residential and clinical teams argue frequently, which hinders the treatment the children get (also makes the life coach job difficult). Residential director will gossip about employees to other employees, does not uphold NASW's code of ethics with her BSW degree. There is a group chat that you are mandated to be a part of, and it will go off at 3AM (one time I had 40 missed messages). They are never fully staffed here, and will always promise they will be. They recommend having a 4:1 ratio but this is not always followed. Sometimes 2-3 people will be responsible for 16 teenagers. Kids run away frequently and upper management tells you to document it as an "unsupervised walk". Calling 911 is frowned upon, even when kids are engaging is frequent and serious self-harm within the house. 

Working with the kids is the best part of the job, so if you do not like children definitely not worth it. The team of life coaches, while understaffed, was great to work with. Benefits are also horrible. They may promise you tuition reimbursement, and I would get that in writing. In fact, if they say anything to you, get it in writing because they frequently "forget" or change their story to fit their needs and narratives. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Teamwork between staff

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Lack of proper safety training, surrounding healthy boundaries with clients; they are more about the client liking them and giving good reviews, verses true personal growth needed for the client and families future 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Inadequate staffing, burn out of current staff, lack of support from management onsite and from corporate. 
Their mission is not being followed by all, and they indicate they  hire “A” players, and there is definitely not “A” players in management; it is more like “yes players “… just to please, and possibly elevate or promote themselves within the company, with no consideration of the consequences  of staff on the floor and the impact it has on staff and the clients and families we serve

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Safety is number1. Stressful, when the company and  management allows unsafe behavior from clients putting staff and other clients in unsafe environments, while being understaffed. Management allowing clients to strike staff, property damage without addressing the negative behavior, and even leveling them up , and graduating them from the program. As staff we know the client learned absolutely nothing, and Embark failed this client and their family

No one program or business is perfect, as it is run by and includes imperfect people. Embark at Independence is no different. Negative reviews will come and go from individuals that were not a good fit for what we do, and that is fine and well within their rights to express.  However, if you want to work for a facility that truly wants to make a difference in the lives of teens, then look no further. Working with teens who are struggling with depression, anxiety, traumatic backgrounds or are simply defiant, is not everyone's cup of tea. It is hard work both clinically and behaviorally, and every day is a different level of stress because we are working with developing children....but to see the light finally come on in a client's eyes is well worth the angst that it took to get there. We do not package widgets. If we did, life would be simpler, and there would possibly be less complaining. Our goal is to create joy and help to heal a generation that has been suffering enormously. That lofty, but incredibly rewarding goal is our true north and one we will be sailing towards whether we have 5-star reviews or negative comments...because helping just one child who has been suffering or getting one family to communicate their love for one another after only being able to argue, is so much more important and worth every amount of stress. 

At first I thought this was a wonderful job, but I should have known from the second they said “we’re a family” that things were going to go south. After being there not only are you dragged into work drama but if you don’t become friends with them then it’ll all go south. Everyone is this building is either related, sleeping with each other or close friends from high school. The nepotism in this place is ridiculous. Your job should be to be there and support the kids but in reality, you have to appease upper management. Anyone who is friends or relatives of upper management is basically invincible when if you’re seen as an outcast you’re excluded and then blamed for it.  They do not care if you have mental health issues going on, will overwork you for little pay and then when you say “I’m burnt out” you get told you’re taking things too personally. If you have a death in the family or major life crisis you better grieve fast because they will give you roughly 1-2 days off for it unpaid. They don’t care about anything besides pushing kids through the program and getting money. Understaffed is an understatement, it’s completely unfair to those kids that they aren’t getting the help and support they need. Overall thought this was going to be the best job that didn’t even feel like a job but I feel it’s more high school than anything. 

Embark is proud of their culture and should be!  The goal of the company is to reduce teen and young adult depression and anxiety from all time highs to all time lows. This really resonates with me. This is a core part of the organization on a daily basis and is truly part of the daily aspects of all of our roles.  The employee culture is one that is built on having the right people in the organization and supporting their growth and development. The care continuum is unique in that it is multiple levels of care nationally and thus able to serve clients and families in many locations or virtually. This is great to be able to offer our clients to meet their treatment needs. 
I feel supported by management and can continuously learn about the organization and focus on improvements. My colleagues are caring and support each other. One of my highlights is that I get to visit multiple care sites nationally to see the positive impact the clinicians and support teams make in the lives of those serve. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Mental health therapist 94 salaries reported	$76,888 per year
Therapist 7 salaries reported	$79,643 per year
Life skills trainer 12 salaries reported	$18.84 per hour
Clinical director 19 salaries reported	$98,868 per year
Mentor 16 salaries reported	$19.90 per hour

Working at Embark Behavioral Health: Company Overview and Reviews

Embark Behavioral Health

Embark Behavioral Health Ratings

Popular jobs at Embark Behavioral Health

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected