Outpatient Mental Health for Adolescents & Teens in Knoxville, TN

Choosing the right mental health treatment for your child can feel difficult and overwhelming. Embrace U’s intensive outpatient mental health programs in Knoxville, TN, provide life-changing treatment to adolescents and teens, including those living with learning differences.

We help adolescents (ages 10 to 18) who are experiencing:

  • Severe symptoms of anxiety or depression
  • Behavioral health challenges, including anger management issues, school avoidance, bipolar disorder, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts
  • Neurodivergent mental health challenges 

Our structured programs provide more support than a traditional therapist, but are less disruptive than a hospital stay or residential center. We also provide more parent support than other treatment centers.

Within our welcoming and safe environment, your child can develop the skills and coping mechanisms they need to manage symptoms, gain higher levels of function, and live a healthier life.

Call us at 833-733-4325 today to request a free mental health assessment!

How Embrace U Works

Reach out

Call our care team to learn more about Embrace U programs, insurance coverage, and answer any other questions you may have.

Get your free assessment

Come in for a free assessment. In a 60-minute session, we’ll review your child's unique needs and find the treatment program that’s right for them.

Life-changing treatment

Our evidence-based treatment programs set participants and their families up for long-term success. Learn more about our programs below.

What Is Embrace U?

Embrace U is an evidence-based, outpatient therapy provider designed to help people ages 10-18 gain control over the symptoms of a mental illness.

The Embrace U care team includes a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, licensed therapists, and registered nurses.

Our adolescent mental health clinics in Brentwood, Chattanooga, Collierville, Knoxville and Mt. Juliet offer life-changing treatment. Participants and their families gain the support they need through group experiences and structured individual and family therapy. Our therapy programs help adolescents develop coping skills, stronger self-esteem, and better ways to communicate.

Request Free Assessment


Embrace U’s therapy programs are designed for adolescents aged 10 to 18, and require a minimum of 10 hours of treatment per week.

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Embrace U 
9724 Kingston Pike STE 704-705
Knoxville, TN 37922
833-733-4325

Located on Kingston Pike, behind Franklin Square, Embrace U’s Knoxville location provides an oasis to families seeking help for children and teens with mental health challenges.

Our Knoxville mental health clinic has a clean, modern feel, with bright, open spaces for group therapy sessions, private rooms for individual meetings, and a snack area. Our neurodivergent group room accommodates different sensory needs, learning styles, and communication preferences. You’ll find participant artwork covering many walls, along with comfortable couches and chairs.

Our services include intensive outpatient programs for teens and adolescent partial hospitalization programs.

Our Programs: Intensive Outpatient & Partial Hospitalization

We offer two structured programs for children and teens ages 10 to 18: intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization.

Participants in our intensive outpatient program (IOP) typically come to the clinic three or four times a week for group and individual therapy sessions. Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) offers more support. Participants in PHP visit us four or five times a week for longer therapy and individual sessions.

While your child’s treatment time may vary based on their unique goals and needs, the majority of participants attend our programs for six to eight weeks. Most start feeling better within two weeks of treatment, and experience lasting recovery after completing a program.

Our intake process includes:

  • Determining your child’s diagnosis and treatment needs through a free psychiatric assessment.
  • Discussing treatment goals and developing a plan specific to your family’s needs.
  • Enrolling your child in one of our two programs (IOP or PHP) that combine group and individual therapy with medication management and family counseling. Our team includes psychiatric providers, licensed therapists, and a care coordinator.
  • Providing ongoing support after program completion.

At Embrace U, your child can develop the skills and confidence they need to manage their mental health. Call us at 833-733-4325 today to request a free mental health assessment!

Male teen smiling and sitting beside smiling male adult.

Mental Health Symptoms We Treat

Our outpatient mental health programs for teens and adolescents in Knoxville, TN, can help with:

Our neurodivergent program treats adolescents who experience the symptoms and conditions above, but also live with:

Our Programs

Embrace U offers two programs to help adolescents build coping and communication skills – Intensive Outpatient (IOP) or Partial Hospitalization (PHP), after an assessment by our psychiatric provider, your child will be admitted into one of our therapy programs based on their needs.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) 20+ Hours per Week

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) 10+ Hours per Week

Best for Adolescents Who:

Best for Adolescents Who:

What to Expect

What to Expect

Both programs are designed to help participants who are experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Our  Programs

Embrace U offers two programs to help adolescents build coping and communication skills – Intensive Outpatient (IOP) or Partial Hospitalization (PHP), after an assessment by our psychiatric provider, your child will be admitted into one of our therapy programs based on their needs.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) 20+ Hours per Week

Best for Adolescents Who:

  • Miss school or extracurricular activities due to symptoms
  • Experience physical symptoms such as stomach aches, nausea, headaches or unexplained pain
  • Recently visited an emergency room or completed inpatient treatment

What to Expect

  • 5 days per week M-F
  • 1-2 hours of education & therapeutic assignments
  • 3 hours of group therapy daily
  • Weekly individual or family therapy
  • Weekly psychiatric nurse check-ins

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) 10+ Hours per Week

Best for Adolescents Who:

  • Need more intensive treatment than one-on-one therapy
  • Haven’t seen symptom improvement in regular care
  • Were referred to IOP by a provider

What to Expect

  • 3 to 5 days per week (M-F)
  • Group therapy focused on coping skills
  • Bi-weekly individual or family therapy
  • Monthly psychiatric nurse check-ins
Both programs are designed to help participants who are experiencing suicidal thoughts.

FAQs

Embrace U is an adolescent mental health clinic specializing in compassionate, evidence-based care for ages 10 to 18, including therapy, medication management and skill training.

We help with mental health challenges like:

– Anxiety

– Depression

– Mood disorders

– Suicidal thoughts

– Trauma

 PTSD

– And more

We provide intensive outpatient therapy programs designed to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges quickly and effectively. Depending on your child’s needs, they can be admitted into our intensive outpatient program (IOP) or partial hospitalization program (PHP). Both programs are held during the day at our clinic.

Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) act as a short-term, intensive option for teens who:

  • Have severe mental health symptoms interfering with school and daily life
  • Need a higher level of support than a traditional outpatient program
  • Are ready to leave an inpatient facility
  • Need an alternative to hospitalization or lengthy hospital stays

PHPs for teens help ease the transition back to daily life by balancing mental health and school assignments. Upon completion, your child can continue to participate in outpatient treatment as they return to school. 

Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are for teens who need to develop coping skills as they work through mental health challenges. Adolescent IOPs are ideal for those who:

  • Need more intensive support than regular therapy, but less than a PHP or inpatient program 
  • Want to receive treatment after school and then return home every night to live life as normal

Costs range depending on the level of treatment your child needs, but most insurance plans cover mental health treatment.

We accept most major insurance plans. Call us at 865-874-6646 to verify coverage.

We offer self-pay options and can discuss sliding scale fees or other financial resources during your initial consultation.

No. Referrals aren’t required. Please contact us at 865-874-6646 to learn more about your specific needs.

If you’ve noticed major, long-lasting changes in your child’s mood, behavior or academic performance, getting professional help can make a big difference.

Some common symptoms include: 

  • Refusing to attend school 
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Changes in mood/behavior
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Changes in eating habits
  • Loss of interest in activities
  • Difficulty managing emotions
  • Isolation, withdrawing from relationships
  • Risky behaviors
  • Self-harm
  • Poor academic performance
  • Frequent headaches, stomach pain

It’s common for adolescents and teens to resist treatment at first, but our team is skilled in helping them feel comfortable and willing to participate.

There’s no set schedule for our adolescent mental health services. Instead, treatment is determined by your child’s diagnosis, their symptoms, their goals and how well they’re responding. Most Embrace U participants report significant symptom reduction within six weeks of starting our programs, but each child is unique and may require more or less treatment. 

We recommend you and your child complete the full program to learn all the skills we teach.

We check in with your child frequently to keep track of how they’re doing and their progress. We’ll also meet with you to discuss how treatment is going, and make adjustments as necessary. By working closely with you and other people involved in your child’s care, we make sure we’re considering all the best ways to help.

To help teens transition smoothly after treatment, Embrace U offers aftercare plans, check-in appointments, and referrals to additional resources as needed.

Our process begins with a free mental health assessment. You can schedule an appointment by calling our office at 865-874-6646 or completing our contact form.

MEET OUR KNOXVILLE TEAM
Alyssa Sebastian, MA, LPC-MHSP

Alyssa Sebastian, MA, LPC-MHSP

Regional Director
Advice To My Younger Self: “In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back...
Nicholas Shields, LPC-MHSP

Nicholas Shields, LPC-MHSP

Program Administrator
Education: East Tennessee State University- BS in Psychology; East Tennessee State University- MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Trust-Based Relational...
Trent Mutter, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Trent Mutter, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner
Education: University of Tennessee Southern: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Bachelor of Science in Forensic PsychologySouth College: Bachelor...
Olivia Dowling, LMSW

Olivia Dowling, LMSW

Therapist
Olivia Dowling is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Program Therapist at Embrace U’s Knoxville location. She earned her Master’s...
Amanda Pinckert, LM

Amanda Pinckert, LM

Therapist
Education: Master of Social Work through UT Knoxville, Certified in TF-CBTPrevious work experience: I’ve been providing trauma-informed therapy in the...
Courtney Steinorth, LPC-Temp

Courtney Steinorth, LPC-Temp

Therapist
Education: Missouri State University, Master of Science Clinical Psychology, DBT-informed, and TF-CBT pre-certification Previous work experience: Clinical therapist with foster...
Wendy Cano

Wendy Cano

Office & Patient Coordinator
Education: Associates degree, Community Health WorkerPrevious work experience: Neuropsychology Referral Coordinator at Trinity Health in Grand Rapids, MICommunity Health Worker...

Contact Us

You don’t have to go through this alone.
Every journey to healing starts with a conversation. If your teen is struggling, our care team is here to listen and guide you toward the right support. Fill out our contact form today and take the first step toward hope and healing with Embrace U.