The main programs for a struggling young adult are at-home mentoring and coaching, outpatient therapy, intensive outpatient programs, residential and wilderness programs, transitional living programs, and free job and college routes; the right one depends on safety, how much daily structure is needed and whether the young adult will take part. Blackburn Mentoring is one at-home option: one-on-one mentoring and coaching for young adults (and teens 13 and up) by video nationwide and in person in Los Angeles, since 2014, starting with a free 20 minute intro call and a mentor matched within 2 business days.
This guide describes each type fairly, including when something other than mentoring fits better. It does not rank individual programs, and no type is right for everyone.
Quick facts: where Blackburn Mentoring fits
| Type | At-home, one-on-one mentoring and coaching (not therapy, not residential) |
| Who | Young adults, college students and teens 13 and up |
| Where | By video anywhere in the United States; in person in Los Angeles |
| Intensity | One to five sessions a week, with text and phone check-ins between them |
| Start | Short assessment, free 20 minute intro call, mentor matched within 2 business days |
| Phone | (888) 305-5422 |
Start with three questions
- Is your young adult safe? Talk of self-harm, dangerous substance use or a crisis means clinical care comes first: call or text 988, or 911 in an emergency.
- How much structure is needed each day? A few hours a week, several hours a day, or around the clock. This narrows the field more than anything else.
- Will they take part? Every option works better with some buy-in. At-home options are easier to start with a reluctant young adult; residential options ask for more commitment.
The main types at a glance
| Type | What it is | Best when | Less suited when |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-on-one mentoring and coaching | A dedicated mentor, weekly goals and check-ins between sessions, at home by video or in person | Safe but stuck: needs routine, a work or school plan and accountability | In crisis, or using substances in a way that needs treatment |
| Outpatient therapy | A licensed clinician treats anxiety, depression, trauma and other concerns, in an office or by video, usually weekly | Mood, anxiety or past experiences are driving the problem | The main need is daily structure and practical follow-through |
| Intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization | Several hours of treatment a day, several days a week, while living at home | Symptoms need more than weekly therapy, or as a step down from residential care | Concerns are mild or mostly practical |
| Residential treatment or therapeutic young adult programs | Living on site with clinical staff and a daily program, for weeks or months | Safety concerns, substance use or repeated failed outpatient care | The young adult is stable and the problems are about daily life |
| Wilderness therapy | An outdoor program with clinical staff, away from home, for weeks | A full reset away from home is needed and the family supports it | Separation would do more harm than good, or the young adult refuses |
| Transitional or independent living programs | Supported housing with life skills, staff and house expectations | Ready to move out but not yet ready to manage alone | Not ready to live with others, or the main issue can be handled at home |
| Free and public routes | Community college, state vocational rehabilitation, American Job Centers, service programs | Ready to act and needs a door, training or a job | Needs someone to keep them going week to week |
Many families combine types: therapy plus a mentor, or a mentor as the step down after a residential or wilderness program. See coming home after a residential program.
How to choose
- Match intensity to need. Start with the least disruptive option that is safe, and step up if it is not enough.
- For anything that calls itself treatment, check state licensure and ask about clinical staff qualifications.
- Ask who will actually work with your young adult, how often, and what happens between sessions.
- Ask how progress is measured and how parents are kept informed, especially for adults over 18.
- Ask what happens at the end: a plan for coming home, a step down, or ongoing support.
- Get the full cost and what it includes in writing before you commit.
Red flags: promises of guaranteed results, pressure to decide the same day, and vague answers about who is qualified to do what.
What affects cost
Cost rises with intensity. Around-the-clock programs cost the most because they include housing, staff and clinical care; outpatient therapy and mentoring cost far less because the young adult lives at home. Clinical programs may be partly covered by health insurance; mentoring generally is not. More detail, without prices: how much does a mentor cost.
Where Blackburn Mentoring fits
Blackburn Mentoring is the at-home, one-on-one option. It fits a young adult who is safe but stuck: not working, not finishing school, sleeping late, or unsure of the next step. Mentors work alongside therapists and psychiatrists when a client has them, and often support young adults coming home from residential or wilderness programs. It is not treatment and is not the right first step in a crisis.
Clients meet their mentor weekly or several times a week, by video anywhere in the United States or in person in Los Angeles. How the at-home transition program works.
Related
- My adult son won’t leave the house: what can help?
- Mentoring programs for young adults: types and how to choose
- Wilderness therapy alternatives
- Mentoring vs transitional living
- Failure to launch: a parent guide
- How to choose a mentoring program
Common questions
What are the best programs for a struggling young adult?
There is no single best program. The main options are at-home mentoring and coaching, outpatient therapy, intensive outpatient programs, residential and wilderness programs, transitional living, and free job and college routes. Choose by safety first, then how much daily structure is needed. Blackburn Mentoring is an at-home option, by video nationwide and in person in Los Angeles.
What is the difference between a failure to launch program and mentoring?
Failure to launch programs are often residential: the young adult moves into a program with staff and a schedule. Mentoring keeps the young adult at home and builds the same skills (routine, work or school, money, independence) in real life, with one dedicated mentor and check-ins between sessions.
Is a residential program better than staying home?
Not automatically. Residential care is the right call when there are safety concerns, substance use that needs treatment or repeated failed outpatient care. For a young adult who is safe but stuck, an at-home option is less disruptive and builds skills where they will be used.
Are there online programs for struggling young adults?
Yes. Outpatient therapy and some intensive outpatient programs run by video, and Blackburn Mentoring offers one-on-one mentoring and coaching by video anywhere in the United States, starting with a free 20 minute intro call.
What affects the cost of programs for struggling young adults?
Mainly intensity: programs with housing and around-the-clock staff cost the most, intensive outpatient less, and weekly therapy or mentoring the least. Insurance may cover part of clinical care; mentoring is generally not covered.
Get started
Want to talk through which option fits your young adult? Call (888) 305-5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. Our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free 20 minute intro call, and new clients are matched with a mentor within 2 business days.
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Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.