Charlie Health

Why We Like It

Charlie Health occupies a unique and critically important position in teen mental health care: it provides Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) services virtually, making a level of structured care that previously required in-person attendance accessible from home. For teens struggling with depression, anxiety, self-harm, or trauma at a severity that weekly therapy alone isn't addressing, Charlie Health may be the most important resource on this list. The insurance acceptance — including Medicaid in some states — means this higher level of care is within reach for far more families than traditional IOPs.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) level of care fills the critical gap between weekly therapy and inpatient treatment
• Exceptionally strong teen and young adult specialization — all clinical staff trained in adolescent mental health
• Accepts most major insurance plans and Medicaid in several states, making high-acuity care accessible to more families

Cons

• Designed for teens with significant mental health needs — not the right fit for mild stress or general wellness support
• Availability varies by state; not yet nationwide

Score Breakdown

Platforms were evaluated on clinical quality and evidence-based methods, adolescent specialization and teen engagement, access speed and wait times, insurance coverage, and value.