Editorial rating:
Manatee Health is an online mental health platform geared toward kids and families. They offer therapy in select states and parent coaching services nationwide. Additionally, Manatee Health has an app called Manatee Village that is available for free and offers journaling, learning lessons and activities for the whole family. Manatee Health costs range from $99 – $175, depending on which service you choose and they currently accept select insurance plans.
Rating of Manatee’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, Manatee Mental Health earned 4 out of 5 stars overall, performing best in the categories of “Online Therapy for Kids & Teens”, “Range of Specialties & Treatments”, and “Online Therapy Cost” as well as several others. However, Manatee underperformed in the categories of “Geographic Location” and “Insurance & Out-of-Network Benefits” compared to its competitors.
Pros & Cons of Manatee Health
Manatee Health offers coaching, therapy, and parent support groups. The free app has multiple features, like journaling, rewards and activity tracking, and activities that families can work together with. However, therapy is available in limited states and teens 18+ cannot access services.
Where to Sign Up for Manatee Health
To sign up for your intake session, you can visit the Manatee website.
What is Manatee Health?
Manatee Health offers online therapy in select states and coaching nationwide to kids, teens, and their families. There are also parent support groups available in addition to coaching. Additionally, Manatee Health has an app called Manatee Village that is available for free and offers journaling, learning lessons and activities for the whole family. Manatee Health costs range from $99 – $175, depending on which service you choose and they currently accept select insurance plans.
Manatee Health asks that families start with a free initial screening call that can be scheduled through visiting the Manatee website. You will then be recommended for an initial intake session, which lasts 60 minutes and costs $175. During this intake session, your child will be recommended for coaching or therapy depending on their needs and the state you live in. At the time of this review, Manatee offers therapy in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The company plans to expand therapy services to Ohio, Illinois, Washington, Wisconsin, Kansas, and New York.
Manatee Health uses six-week treatment plans and believes 30-minute therapy and coaching sessions are most effective for younger children due to the limitations on their interests and attention. The younger the child is, the more parental supervision and involvement are expected. Depending on your child or teen’s ability to engage independently, parents do not have to be as involved and do not have to make themselves available for checking in prior to or at the end of a session.
Manatee also offers accountability and support in-between sessions by having homework assignments to be completed. Every six weeks progress toward goals is reviewed, allowing for any changes to be made. Availability is dependent on both the family and the therapist assigned and can be discussed during the initial assessment with the Care Coordinator.
When I used Manatee Health, I was impressed with how much they offered. I really liked how the resources provided within Manatee Health were evidence-based resources and easily accessible and digestible. When I used Manatee Health, the onboarding and support was easy to follow with so many exciting things to explore, including their learning, chatbot, and journaling features.
Manatee Village App
Manatee has their own designated app that offers everything needed for both children and parents/caregivers. Manatee Village refers to the idea that it takes a village to raise a child, and Manatee wants to remind parents they are not alone, especially when it comes to parenthood. Manatee encourages community through online parent support groups, a private Facebook group, and the ease of adding as many people to your children’s care team as you need. There is a monthly fee of $99 to join the parenting support groups, and an intake is strongly encouraged to ensure Manatee finds the right fit for you and your family’s needs.
Who Is Manatee Health Right For?
Manatee Health makes mental health care easy, fun, and accessible for kids, teens, and their families. Manatee would be ideal for families who may need support in-between sessions, co-parents who seek more convenient involvement, and parents who are in need of a village for community support.
Families Who Need Support In-Between Sessions
Manatee Health not only provides online therapy and coaching to kids and teens, but also offers support in-between sessions via their app and on-demand videos. It can be overwhelming for families to work on therapy goals in between sessions, however Manatee makes it super easy, convenient, and most importantly, fun, for families to work together.
Co-Parents for Convenient Involvement
It can be difficult to relay information back and forth between parents regarding the progress their child is making in therapy. Manatee Health allows you to add multiple children and another parent to a profile. Each child (with permission of their parent to download) and each parent or caregiver can download their own app.
Parents Who Need a Village
It’s no secret that parenting and caregiving is hard! If you are a parent or caregiver that is looking for support, Manatee Health is the right fit for you. Manatee Health not only offers parent groups for weekly support, they also offer parent coaching to help you understand ways to communicate and manage stressors related to parenting or caregiving.
Who Might Want an Alternative to Manatee Health ?
While Manatee Health can help with a variety of topics like challenging behaviors, worries, sadness, and relationships. However, those who really prefer to attend in-person sessions, kids and teens living in disruptive households, those needing medication management and therapy, or teens soon-to-be 18 years old will need to seek an alternative to Manatee.
In-Person Connection
Although in my professional experience as a licensed therapist, there is minimal difference in effectiveness when comparing online therapy vs. in-person therapy, some people still prefer going to an office for a session. Manatee does not have in-person locations at this time and is purely an online service. Some online therapy platforms, like Thriveworks, offer in-person therapy in select cities across the US for kids as young as 10 years old.
To learn more about what states they are available in, you can read our in-depth review of Thriveworks.
Your Home is Disruptive or Toxic
Kids and teens who are living in a toxic or disruptive environment may also be a reason why you would want to seek an alternative to Manatee. If you are a victim of abuse or witness to domestic violence, you want to consider your safety within your environment when choosing a provider. You may want to connect with local resources that specialize in victims of abuse and domestic violence or visit the Domestic Violence Support website.
Needing Medication Management + Therapy
Some kids and teens need medication in addition to attending regular therapy sessions to help manage their ongoing symptoms. A better fit to try is somewhere like Brightline Mental Health, which offers medication management from Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP).
You can learn more about how this platform works by reading our in-depth Brightline Mental Health review.
Turning 18 soon
If you are soon-to-be 18, then Manatee Health will not be the best fit for you. It can feel re-traumatizing having to find a new therapist simply because you aged out of a program. While growth and independence is welcomed, it is not easy to build trust and rapport with every therapist you meet. Talkspace or BetterHelp may be better alternatives for you in this instance. To learn more about their subscription options, please read our comprehensive Talkspace review or our BetterHelp review.
Additionally, if you are an adult and in need of a higher level of care than what Talkspace or BetterHelp offers, you may want to consider New Dimensions Day Treatment Centers which offers a variety of online adult programs.
Manatee Health User Reviews
Manatee has a 4.8-star rating from 100+ reviews in the Apple App Store and a 4.5-star rating from 27 reviews. Across both app stores, there were some positives and negative reviews when it came to the platform and the app.
Never Experienced Anything Like It
Many reviews celebrate the creative way that Manatee approaches mental health. Specifically highlighting the autonomy their child has on their mental health journey, which further supports progress made. Several users mentioned how fun the app is to use.
I Wish I Had This As a Kid
Several users mentioned the mental health app by Manatee is lighthearted and friendly when compared to adult-centered mental health apps. One user even mentioned they wished this was an app they had when they were younger.
Great For Clients
It is always nice to hear recommendations from other therapists, as there are so many resources available that it can be difficult to choose one. Reviews from therapists state they use Manatee Health’s app to help their clients stay consistent with goals while also providing additional resources to address behavioral problems, OCD, and depression.
How Much Does Manatee Health Cost?
Manatee Health costs $175 for a 60-minute initial intake, $135 for 30-minute therapy sessions, with parent coaching and parent groups costing $99. Select insurance plans are accepted in certain states, which could make the costs lower.
Manatee offers the following services:
- Initial Intake Session: For $175 you will have a 60-minute intake session that will allow you to discuss what your child’s symptoms are and you will be matched with a therapist or a coach.
- Therapy: For $135 per session your child can attend a live 30-minute video therapy session. Your child will most likely receive homework assignments to complete in-between sessions for continued reflection and growth.
- Parent Coaching: For $99 per session parents can attend a live 30-minute parent coaching video session.
- Parent Groups: For $99 monthly, parents can attend weekly 60-minute group sessions. Manatee Health does require that an initial intake session be completed in order to be matched with the group that is best fit for you. It is important to note that Manatee Health does not require you to have a child enrolled in Manatee Health services in order to participate in parent groups.
- Manatee App: The Manatee app is free to download and use, regardless of having a child enrolled in coaching or therapy services through Manatee Health. Manatee Health actually encourages families to take this first step in talking about mental health and behavioral related concerns.
Does Manatee Health Accept Insurance?
Yes, Manatee Health accepts a few insurance plans and is actively working on increasing its network coverage. At this time, Manatee accepts Optum, Florida Blue, and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. Coaching is not typically covered by insurance and can expect to be an out-of-pocket cost regardless of behavioral health coverage. With any medical service, it is important that you, as the patient, understand your insurance and plan-specific coverage. Contact your insurance company directly to find out more.
Out-of-Network Benefits
Manatee Health will not submit out-of-network claims on your behalf, however, they are more than happy to provide families with superbills so they can submit receipts of payment to their insurance companies for reimbursement. You are also welcome to contact support, your assigned Care Coordinator, or your insurance company directly for any help with out-of-network questions and concerns.
How Does Manatee Health Work?
To begin your family’s mental health journey, you can visit the Manatee website. You can then create your free account with Manatee and book your free consultation directly on their website.
Getting started with Manatee requires:
- Create your free account on the Manatee website.
- Add accounts for your child and/or other caregivers.
- Book a free consultation and complete the pre-screening assessment.
- Complete the free 20-30 minute call with a Care Coordinator to discuss goals and needs of your family.
- Schedule and attend your initial intake session with the therapist or coach you were matched with.
- Discuss what your child’s six-week treatment plan will look like and schedule your next therapy or coaching session
Manatee Health Mental Health Services: Detailed Reviews
Manatee Health offers online therapy and coaching services with costs depending on which service you select or is available in your state. There is also an app available for free in both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Manatee Health Therapy: Detailed Review
Manatee Health provides 30-minute therapy sessions that cost $135 and are available to children 0-18 years of age. Manatee Health believes that shorter sessions are beneficial for kids and teens due to their ability to maintain focus and enthusiasm throughout long sessions. Manatee Health also accepts some insurance plans and continues to work towards expanding its network.
We always advise that people sign up for services through the website prior to downloading any apps available. Once you sign up for a free account on the website, you will be able to book a free 20-30 minute consultation where you will complete an assessment. During this assessment with a care coordinator that has a background in child development or child psychology. You will then be provided with a handful of therapists and/or coaches to choose from, based on your family’s preferences and the level of expertise of the clinician.
After you have completed the initial assessment, you can download the Manatee app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. The sooner you complete the assessment and all necessary paperwork, the sooner you will be scheduled for an initial therapy intake. Intakes are usually 60 minutes long and help the clinician gain clarity on goals and objectives for treatment. The turn-around time to having an intake scheduled is usually between 24 and 48 hours.
Therapy with Manatee happens on a weekly basis and sessions are 30 minutes long to maximize efficacy. The younger your child is, the more parental/guardian/caregiver participation will be required. In-between sessions your child may have assignments or homework to complete in the free app, which encourages them to keep making progress. Every six weeks your therapist will review goals and overall progress with you and your child. This is a great opportunity to discuss frequency of sessions and make any changes to current goals, as well as introduce new goals for therapy.
When I used Manatee Health, I found it to be very user-friendly for both children and adults. I felt incredibly comfortable knowing how easy it was for both parents/caregivers and the Manatee team to monitor signs of suicidal ideation or self-harm. I find that most children and teens have a hard time saying things aloud to their parents, but can usually write them out. Manatee’s journaling feature allows you to share these entries with their parents/caregivers or therapist.
Manatee Health Coaching: Detailed Review
Manatee Health offers two types of coaching: coaching for children and coaching for parents/guardians/caregivers. Coaching is offered nationwide and has both self-paced and live lessons available. Prior to signing up for coaching, you will have to attend the initial intake session, which costs $175. One-on-one coaching costs $99 and usually lasts 30 minutes long. There are also weekly parent support groups that are 60-minutes long that cost $99 monthly. This is a great opportunity for you to expand your support network, regardless if you have a child receiving treatment with Manatee or not.
The cost of coaching is most likely not covered by your insurance company, therefore you would have to pay out of pocket for your child’s sessions or if you wished to participate in the weekly parent support groups that are available. However, coaching is a great way to resolve a stressful situation and learn coping skills along the way. Coaching focuses a lot more on the here and now, and cannot dive deep into family history or past patterns of behavior. Additionally, while a coach may have experience working with kids, teens, and their families, they cannot offer any formal diagnosis for your child’s symptoms.
Manatee Health App: Detailed Review
Manatee Health’s App is completely free and is designed with kids, teens, and families in mind. There are a variety of resources that can be read with your child, or for you or your child to read on your own. Aside from the resource library, there are also rewards and goal trackers, as well as password-protected journaling that can be shared with parents, caregivers, and the care team at Manatee Health. The app allows you to have more than one parent in the child’s account, making collaboration and communication easier.
A great perk to the Manatee Health app is the AI chatbot your child can use. With the chatbot, children can complete mood check-ins while learning new self-care and coping skills for their feelings. Manatee Health takes your child’s safety and confidentiality very seriously and has systems in place to flag certain words and phrases that alert their care team when a child journals that they want to harm themselves, they want to harm someone else, or someone is harming them. Manatee Health will contact both the child and parent/caregiver to inform them and make a plan for the next steps to take.
The app encourages your child to earn points in order to claim rewards, which in turn means they are enthusiastic and engaged in working towards their goals to build healthy habits. One of the self-guided lessons I would recommend checking out is “Make Manatee work for you” which consists of a total of 18 lessons to learn the ins and outs of Manatee. “The Manatee Village” comes from the concept of having a village to help raise our children and a reminder that you are never alone. There is a private Facebook group as well as parenting support groups available.
Manatee Health Vs. Competitors
Manatee Health is a newer online therapy platform that is dedicated to kids, teens, and their families. While this is a newer platform, Manatee does have a few competitors to be aware of.
Manatee Health Vs. Brightline Mental Health
Both Manatee Health and Brightline Health focus on providing mental health services to children and teens, up until 18 years of age. One thing that Brightline is able to offer that Manatee Health does not, is the ability to meet with a psychiatrist. This means you would also be able to get medication prescribed for your child if it was in their best interest. Additionally, Brightline services are available nationwide, including Alaska and Hawaii.
To learn more about what they offer, you can read our comprehensive review of Brightline Mental Health.
Manatee Health Vs. Bend Health
Both Manatee Health and Bend Health focus on providing online mental health for children 1-17, with the emphasis of including the entire family. Some of the key differences when comparing the two services is that Bend Health offers more coverage in terms of states where therapists are licensed and can provide therapy. Additionally, Bend Health provides psychiatry, so that your child can be prescribed medication if needed.
Bend Health offers monthly payment plans, while Manatee Health asks you to pay-per-session and only offers monthly payment plans for their parent support groups. The biggest difference between Manatee Health and Bend Health is Manatee’s resident app that keeps the whole family engaged and focused on improving the whole family’s mental health.
You can learn more about this platform by checking out our detailed review of Bend Health.
How Manatee Health Has Evolved
Manatee was founded by Damayanti Dipayana and Shawn Kuenzler as a digital platform to improve the family experience from larger health systems and Children’s hospitals. They especially want to help families engage with their therapist, practice their tools at home, and work together!
Over time Manatee started hiring the highest quality child therapists and evolved to become a comprehensive virtual mental health clinic for families. They understand modern families like no other and their care is focused on helping families come together and thrive. They are currently seeing families nationwide for evidence-based parent coaching and parent groups, and provide child and family therapy in CO, CA, ID, FL, PA and NJ.
Frequently Asked Questions About Manatee Health
What Credential do Manatee Health Therapists Hold?
Manatee Health therapists are fully licensed clinicians in a variety of specialties, including social work, professional counseling, or marriage and family therapy. Manatee Health also supports continuing education and further professional development for their clinicians.
How Do I Match with a Therapist or Coach on Manatee Health?
During your initial consultation with a Care Coordinator, you will be matched with a therapist or coach depending on any preferences you share. If you have preferences based on gender, awareness of issues related to LGBTQ+ or BIPOC communities, additional languages spoken, etc. your Care Coordinator will do their best to accommodate you.
How Do I Choose a New Therapist?
To change your therapist, you will need to speak to customer support first. While you are able to change your therapist at any time, it is always best to try to discuss your concerns directly with your therapist first, prior to changing therapists. It is beneficial to the therapeutic relationship to learn how to collaborate with your child’s therapist and learn what works best for all parties involved.
Can I use my FSA or HSA for Manatee Health?
Yes, Manatee Health does accept FSA and HSA for mental health as forms of payment. Additionally, they will provide you with a superbill that you can submit to insurance for potential reimbursement if they are not in-network with your insurance. A good rule of thumb is to contact your insurance directly to understand your specific plan’s coverage.
How Do I Cancel My Manatee Health Account?
Every six weeks Manatee Health provides families with an assessment to see how things are progressing. This would be a great time to discuss with your care team whether you would like to continue services or not. With any therapy service, you are encouraged to share that you want to terminate services, so that everyone is on the same page. You are welcomed to cancel at any time with Manatee Health as all services are provided on a voluntary basis. You can contact your Care Coordinator directly or email [email protected].
Does Manatee Health Offer Refunds?
While Manatee Health does not offer refunds on coaching or therapy services, as they are charged per session, you can use their online form to contact Manatee Health directly for any concerns or questions. Additionally, you can email them [email protected], or call or text (888) 788-0480.
Is Manatee Health HIPAA Compliant?
Manatee Health is HIPAA compliant for their app and video-conferencing. They inform children and families that their journal entries are kept private and confidential, with the exception of the desire to harm oneself, harm someone else, or someone is harming them. Manatee Health will contact parents and caregivers if there is a concern regarding one of those three risks. You can read more about Manatee’s terms of service.
Final Verdict on Manatee Health
Manatee was founded by Damayanti Dipayana and Shawn Kuenzler as a digital platform to improve the family experience from larger health systems and Children’s hospitals. It has since evolved into a comprehensive virtual mental health clinic for families. They are modern, family-centered, and make it easy and fun to take care of your mental health.
Manatee Health takes pride in actively updating their app with resources and improving user experience based on feedback from families. If your child responds well to using rewards and goal trackers the app is perfect. Additionally, if you are a parent/caregiver/guardian looking for additional support as you are supporting your child, Manatee Health has your back.
Summary of What Manatee Health Offers
| Cost of Online Therapy | All Intakes $175 (60 minutes) |
| Coaching $99 (30 minutes) | |
| Therapy $135 (30 minutes) | |
| Parent Groups $99/month (60 minutes each session) *discounts available for 6 or 12 sessions | |
| Is Insurance Accepted? | Yes – United Healthcare, Optum, Cigna and Aetna |
| Frequency of Appointments | Weekly |
| Messaging with Therapist Between Appointments | Yes |
| Provider Choices | Yes, usually discussed during pre-screening assessment |
| Can You Change Therapists? | Yes, contact your Care Coordinator |
| Speed to First Appointment | Within 24-hours depending on the availability (both provider and family) |
| Geographic Coverage | CA, CO, FL, ID, NJ, PA (soon: OH, IL, WA, WI, KS, NY) |
| Geographic Coverage for Parenting Coaching | Nationwide |
| Age Limitations | 0-18 years old |
| Online Psychiatry Offered | No |
For Further Reading
- Does My Teen Need Counseling? 15 Signs to Know
- How to Find a Great Therapist for Your Teen
- What to Expect When Sending Your Child or Teen to Counseling
- How to Tell If Your Teen Is Benefiting From Therapy
- How to Support Your Teen After Their Therapy Session
- Social Anxiety in Teens: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment
- How to Help a Child With Anxiety: 12 Tips From a Therapist
