Editorial rating:
Joon Care specializes in providing online mental health care for teens and young adults, ages 13-24 in California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington. Joon Care offers a free 15-minute consultation and costs $150 for an intake with two subscription options ranging from $500 – $1,100 monthly. During our independent review, Joon Care earned 4 out of 5 stars overall. Joon Care only accepts Highmark insurance for Pennsylvania residents but will provide superbills for clients.
Rating of Joon Care’s Online Therapy
Lena Suarez-Angelino is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) that specializes in self-esteem, stress management, and life transitions. She has been practicing for six years and is based in New Jersey. Lena has been writing for Choosing Therapy since 2020 and in the fall of 2022 began reviewing online therapy and mental health apps. During her independent review, Joon earned 4 out of 5 stars overall, performing best in the categories of online therapy for kids and teens, range of therapist specialists, and extra features. However, Joon underperformed in the categories of geographic location and insurance and out-of-network benefits compared to its competitors.
Pros & Cons of Joon Care
Joon Care offers a free 15-minute consultation for clients ages 13-24. There is an easy-to-use app available on Apple products and treatment plans last 16 weeks. However, services are only available in five states, there is no medication management available and only Highmark insurance in PA is accepted.
How to Sign Up for Joon Care
To sign up for a subscription, please visit the Joon Care website. Apple users can also download the Joon Teletherapy app.
What is Joon Care?
Joon Care is a subscription-based online therapy platform for teens and young adults, ages 13-24 in California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington. There are two subscription plans available, both with treatment plans intended to last 16 weeks. Joon Therapy costs $500 monthly for once-weekly sessions or Joon Therapy+ cost $1,100 monthly for twice-weekly sessions. Joon Care accepts Highmark insurance in Pennsylvania only.
There is a 15-minute consultation with a Joon Care Coordinator available for free and will help assess your needs and match you with a Joon therapist. During this call, you will be asked general health questions and help you understand your areas of concern. Therapists with Joon can help teens with social anxiety as well as help manage general anxiety, body image, disordered eating, depression, gender/sexual identity, and more. Due to these factors, Joon Care earned 4 stars in the “Range of Therapist Specialties & Treatment Approaches” category on our scoring criteria.
Treatment plans with Joon Care are developed with your therapist and are estimated to last approximately 16-weeks in order to allow enough time for evidence-based practice to have an adequate effect on presenting symptoms. In addition to the 50-minute therapy sessions, the Joon Care mobile app is available on Apple products and provides a resource therapists recommend for use between sessions. Your therapist can send you skills and techniques to practice as well as having access to additional wellness resources to explore.
According to Joon, if you’re under the age of 18, you will need a parent or guardian’s consent to receive treatment. There may be some exceptions to this that you can explore during your free consultation. It is important to also note that age of consent varies state to state. The role of a parent/guardian will include a brief check-in and provide a general overview of the skills you and your therapist have been working on without providing any specific details.
Joon for Organizations
Joon Care has partnered with schools and pediatricians in an effort to support students, patients, clients and families by providing high-quality and accessible mental health care for teens and young adults. This helps ensure that there is an appropriate level of support and coordination of care.
Who Is Joon Care Right For?
Joon Care is a great online therapy platform for teens and young adults seeking clearly outlined and specialized treatment. It would also be good for college students experiencing high-stress levels and students requiring more accountability in between therapy sessions to track their progress.
Teens and Young Adults Seeking Specialized Treatment
Joon Care offers 16-week treatment plans, allowing enough room to discuss concerns, while also being able to learn and implement coping skills taught throughout sessions. Joon Care utilized this roadmap as a way for teens and young adults to not feel overwhelmed about not having an end goal in mind.
College Students Experiencing High-Stress
Depression in college students, anxiety in college students, and college burnout may happen when young adults have a difficult time coping during these first years of full independence. This is a great time for young adults to seek professional help to manage high levels of stress and Joon Care makes it easy for college students to get the support they are looking for. Additionally, Joon Care promotes collaboration between additional healthcare therapists, including campus counseling centers.
Accountability Between Sessions
Remembering what your therapist tells you to work on outside of a therapy session can be difficult. Joon Care’s in-app mood tracker, journaling, and skills database help make everything easily accessible and help keep you accountable. Your therapist can assign one of the skills to work on in-between sessions and you have the option of sharing this with both your therapist and/or your parents/guardians. You will be able to easily see past and future appointments scheduled, cancel or reschedule as needed, and join the videoconferencing all in one place. Weekly depression and anxiety surveys are completed prior to sessions and used to help track improvement.
Who Might Want an Alternative to Joon Care?
Despite Joon Care providing almost everything you may look for when using an online therapy service, there are still those who may want to seek out an alternative. Those living outside of the covered geographic area, kids and teens under the age of 13, and those needing more care or medication management will need to seek out something different.
Outside the Covered Geographic Area
Joon Care’s services are currently limited to residents of California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington state. The limited number of states Joon Care is available in earned them 2 stars in the “Geographic Location” category on our scoring criteria. If you reside outside of these states, you would not be able to see a therapist via Joon Care due to licensing limitations. Those seeking online therapy and are ages 13 – 18 may want to try platforms like Teen Counseling or Brightline Mental Health. Both platforms have expanded geographic coverage and offer subscriptions or per-session therapy plans.
To learn about what is offered, you can read our in-depth review of Teen Counseling or our Brightline Mental Health review.
Younger Than 13 Years Old
Joon Care only provides services to ages 13 – 24 and children under the age of 13 would need to seek out a different platform. There are other platforms that focus solely on working with younger children, such as Manatee Health. When it comes to younger children, not all children respond well to online sessions and may do better with talking to someone local to your area.
To learn more about how Manatee can help your younger child, please read our comprehensive Manatee Health review. To find a great in-person therapist for your child, a great place to start would be an online therapist directory.
Needing More Care or Medication Management
Some teens and young adults may need a higher level of care, meaning seeing a therapist more than twice a week or needing medication prescribed. At this time, Joon Care does not offer psychiatric services or therapy more than twice a week. Teens and young adults requiring a virtual outpatient program that offers individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management will want to look into Charlie Health.
Joon Care User Reviews
The Joon Care app is only available in the Apple App Store and has a 4.6 out of 5-star rating from 10 reviews. There are additional reviews and testimonials available on Joon Care’s website, but generally, these are the most positive experiences and do not include the negatives.
Mental health treatment is such a vulnerable and personal experience. If you live in an area that Joon Care is able to provide teletherapy, it may be worth considering. Be sure to leave your review regarding your experience to let others know whether or not you found success in working with Joon Care.
Teletherapy Done Right
One user reported that Joon Care was able to really help them with their mental well-being and worked to develop skills that would be used for the rest of their life. This review is helpful, as it shows that the person felt supported and well-cared for by the clinical team at Joon Care.
A Positive Experience
Joon Care was a positive experience for two separate families, with both families loving the ease of use via the platform and getting started. One reviewer also spoke shared how wonderful it was that Joon Care was abile to engage their son who was hesitant and resistant to trying therapy.
How Much Does Joon Care Cost?
Joon Care costs $500 – $1,110 monthly depending on which subscription you choose. To get started, Joon Care offers a free 15-minute consultation, which is then followed by a $150 intake appointment where you will be matched with a therapist. Treatment with Joon Care lasts approximately 16 weeks and has a subscription option for existing clients. All upfront costs are readily available and easy to find on the website, which earned Joon Care 5 stars in the “Online Therapy Cost” category on our scoring criteria.
The following subscriptions are available with Joon Care:
- Joon Therapy: Costing $500 monthly, after completing the $150 intake appointment. This subscription includes weekly, 50-minute therapy sessions as well as access to skills practices and self-care resources, optional parent check-ins, a personalized roadmap that outlines your plan for therapy, and collaboration with your primary care therapist as needed.
- Joon Therapy+: Costing $1,100 monthly, after completing the $150 intake appointment. This subscription includes twice-weekly therapy sessions that last 50 minutes long plus everything from the basic therapy subscription plan.
- Existing Clients: Costing $300 monthly and only available to existing clients that have completed a previous 16-week treatment plan with Joon Care. Therapists will help their clients determine if this plan is a good fit for them and only if they show enough improvement to not need weekly sessions.
Does Joon Care Accept Insurance?
Joon Care only accepts Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield from clients in Pennsylvania. Due to this, Joon Care earned 2 stars in the “Insurance” category on our scoring criteria.
Out-Of-Network Benefits
Joon Care will provide you with an itemized statement, otherwise known as a superbill, you can submit to insurance for possible reimbursement. Keep in mind, reimbursement from your insurance therapist is not guaranteed by Joon Care.
How to Get Started With Joon Care
To begin your journey, visit the Joon Care website or by searching for Joon Teletherapy on the Apple App Store.
Here is the process to reach your first therapy session:
- Schedule your child’s free 15-minute consultation
- You and your teen briefly discuss your concerns and goals with Care Coordinator
- Schedule the intake appointment
- Complete the intake questionnaire prior to the appointment
- During the intake appointment, work with a therapist to identify treatment goals
- Receive your recommended treatment plan and review it within 24 hours
- Subscribe to the therapy plan best suited for your goals
- Schedule your first live session with your therapist
Joon Care Therapy: Detailed Review
Joon Care is a subscription-based online therapy platform for teens and young adults, ages 13-24 in California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington. There are two subscription plans available, both with treatment plans intended to last 16 weeks. Joon Therapy costs $500 monthly for once-weekly sessions or Joon Therapy+ cost $1,100 monthly for twice-weekly sessions. Joon Care accepts Highmark insurance in Pennsylvania only.
What is Therapy Like on Joon Care?
In comparing the subscription plans available, the main differences are cost and whether or not you meet with your therapist once or twice a week. Most clients will find the once-weekly therapy plan, which costs $500 monthly, to be a great starting place and helps treat mild to moderate symptoms. Clients experiencing more severe symptoms will benefit from meeting with their therapist twice weekly through the Joon Therapy+ plan, which costs $1,100 monthly. All therapy sessions last approximately 50 minutes.
Once you have completed an initial 16-week treatment plan, returning and existing clients that have shown progress throughout treatment and the ability to maintain progress, are available to renew their subscription at $300 monthly. This option will be discussed with your therapist as your original subscription is coming to an end and will come with decreased therapy sessions.
Therapist availability varies and best to let your Care Coordinator know during your free consultation and later discuss this during your intake where you will then be provided with a summarized treatment plan and recommendation where you will be invited to subscribe to either Joon therapy or Joon therapy+. Patients are also asked to complete a depression inventory, PHQ-9, and a generalized anxiety survey, GAD, prior to each appointment.
All of Joon Care’s subscriptions include access to skills and self-care practices on the Joon App, optional parental check-ins, a personalized roadmap outlining your plan, and collaboration with other medical professionals, such as a psychiatrist, a primary care therapist, or a campus counseling center. Therapists will assign homework via the app and you may be encouraged to work on activities such as body scans, progressive muscle relaxations, or journal and reflection prompts. All of these great extra features earned Joon Care 5 stars on our “Extra Features and Resources” category on our scoring criteria.
After learning more about Joon Care’s services, and the opportunity to meet with Joon Care’s co-founder, Amy Mezulis, PhD, I am impressed with how comprehensive and intuitive the platform is. From a really easy way to schedule your initial consultation and meeting for your Intake, all of the way to how easy it is for your clinician to plan for session and really make sure that you are meeting your treatment goals. I really enjoyed that the resources are carefully hand-picked and curated in a way that ensures they are evidence-based, meaning, research shows these methods have been previously proven to be effective to help manage and treat your presenting problems and symptoms. Lastly, Dr. Mezulis, was able to provide me a tour of what a clinician sees and there are so many different areas in which safety concerns can be quickly addressed and supported, resulting in me trusting Joon Care’s ability to provide quality care that much more!
Joon Care Vs Competitors
Joon Care offers a lot of support for teens and young adults but compared to its competitors, it may not be the most affordable or accessible option.
Joon Care Vs Teen Counseling
Joon Care and Teen Counseling are both subscription-based online therapy options for teens. While Joon Care is offered to teens and young adults ages 13 – 24, Teen Counseling is only available to teens ages 13- 18. Joon Care is also significantly more expensive than Teen Counseling, which costs $240 – $360 monthly (advertised at $60 – $90 weekly). However, if you live in Pennsylvania and have Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Joon Care may be the more cost-effective option.
To learn more about what Teen Counseling offers, you can read our comprehensive review of Teen Counseling.
Joon Care Vs In-Person Therapy
When comparing Joon Care’s services and traditional counseling, there are similarities and differences to consider. One of the major differences to consider is cost, the ability to use in-network insurance benefits, and the selection of therapists available to you. Due to Joon Care’s limited geographic coverage at this time, in-person therapy would be more accessible to more teens and young adults. Joon Care is strictly an online service, separating them from traditional teen counseling services that may offer both in-person and online therapy. Choosing to go with traditional teen counseling may be more beneficial to those looking to use their insurance, prefer in-person care, or live outside of the geographic location covered by Joon Care.
How Joon Care Has Evolved
Joon Care, founded in April 2020, by Amy Mezulis, PhD. and Josh Herst, has raised $3.5 million in fundraising to help navigate the rising mental health crisis in teens and young adults 1. Joon Care was one of the many telehealth services and digital solutions to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic 2. Joon Care has the goal of expanding its coverage to 75-80% of the US population within the next couple of years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joon Care
What Credentials do Joon Care Therapists Hold?
Joon Care does complete some type of verification process of therapist credentials, however, it is up to Joon Care’s therapists to maintain their accuracy and liability as a licensed therapist. It does not appear that special training is required or provided by Joon Care.
How Am I Matched with a Therapist on Joon?
Joon Care uses the information provided by you, such as, but not limited name, email address, phone number, and location to match you with a therapist. Due to the fact Joon Care helps so much with the matching process, they earned 4 stars in the “Therapist Matching or Selection” category on our scoring criteria.
Can I Change Therapists?
You may request a new therapist after talking with your current therapist and by emailing: [email protected].
Can I use my FSA or HSA Funds?
You may be able to use your hsa for mental health services with Joon Care. This will depend on your insurance plan and you are encouraged to reach out to them.
How Do I Cancel My Joon Care Subscription?
You can cancel your subscription by providing written notice via emailing [email protected]. Cancellations appear to be handled on a case-by-case basis depending on how long you have had your subscription and the nature of your participation.
Does Joon Care Offer Refunds?
Refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis and any questions related to payment, billing, or refunds can be done by sending an email to [email protected].
Is Joon Care HIPAA Compliant?
Upon reviewing Joon Care’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, all personal information, including health-related data, will be kept confidential and secured in accordance with applicable state and federal requirements, otherwise known as HIPAA compliant.
Final Verdict on Joon Care
If my child came to me and asked to begin therapy, I would begin treatment with Joon Care and feel confident in their 4 star rating. I feel that Joon Care’s way of supporting families really helps to leave no stone unturned and everything is kept all in one place, including resources and skills to practice in-between sessions. While Joon Care is still growing, it is a great platform to seek help for your teen or if you are a young adult. They stand by their model and mission to provide services to teens and young adults, no matter the crisis. With minimal reason to refer out, Joon Care is able to provide your family with quality care that is evidence-based and proven to help reduce symptoms in less than three months. Joon Care is worth your time and money if they are available in your area.
| Cost of Online Therapy | $500 monthly Or $1,100 monthly |
| Geographic Coverage | CA, OR, PA, TX, WA |
| Age Limitations | 13-24 |
| Therapist Choices | Matched via Care Coordinator |
| Can You Change Therapists? | Yes |
| Speed to First Appointment | After Intake, treatment recommendations provided within 24-hours |
| Frequency of Appointments | 1-2 times a week, subscription plan depending |
| Messaging with Therapist Between Appointments | No |
| Online Psychiatry Offered | No |
