Fort Health

What Fort Health Is

Fort Health delivers virtual therapy and psychiatry for children, teens, and young adults ages 4-24, plus separate therapy and coaching for parents and guardians. The company was built in partnership with the Child Mind Institute, an independent nonprofit dedicated to transforming mental health and learning outcomes for children and families. Their clinical leadership includes child psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers trained in evidence-based approaches to pediatric care.

How Care Works

A family starting with Fort Health begins by describing their child's challenges and insurance coverage through an online questionnaire, after which Fort Health matches them with a therapist or psychiatrist and verifies coverage. An evaluation session follows, typically 60 minutes, where the therapist meets with both parent and child to understand their needs and build a personalized care plan. Treatment then proceeds through structured sessions, typically running 12 to 16 weeks, during which children and teens attend regular sessions and complete skills-building exercises at home. Parents participate in parent coaching and therapy alongside their child's clinical work.

Sessions are scheduled through an online portal or by phone at (201) 208-2616, with Fort Health committed to maximizing after-school and evening appointments for school-age children and also offering daytime and weekend slots to fit working families. Appointments are available within three days when scheduled online; there is no wait list. The company's platform is a secure virtual space accessible from any web browser, allowing families to join from home or any private setting with internet access.

The care model emphasizes parent involvement: Fort Health provides therapy for parents separately from children's sessions, recognizing that parental stress and support directly shape outcomes. Parents can receive therapy for anxiety, depression, parenting stress, relationship challenges, interpersonal communication, and life transitions, whether or not their child is in care with Fort Health. The company coordinates care with pediatricians when families approve, building integration between behavioral health and primary medical care.

Clinical treatment for children and teens relies on evidence-based approaches, primarily Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based interventions. Fort Health treats a wide range of conditions including ADHD, depression and sadness, anxiety and worries, disruptive and defiant behaviors, sleep challenges, screen time challenges, grief and loss, and school or academic challenges, along with co-occurring conditions. The company also offers a dedicated parent coaching program focused on anxiety, structured as a ten-video course with lessons led by licensed clinical social workers trained in evidence-based practices for adults. Topics cover the difference between normal fear and clinical anxiety, how avoidance and accommodation maintain anxiety cycles, understanding how parenting responses either perpetuate or alleviate a child's anxiety, building gradual exposure plans using fear ladders, and practical cognitive behavioral tools parents can use during anxious moments.

Psychiatry is available when needed, integrated with therapy. Fort Health's model includes family-centered treatment: when appropriate, both parent and child attend sessions together; in other cases, the therapist meets with the child individually or the parent separately, coordinating messages across the care team. Families can switch providers if a match does not feel right. A free 15-minute consultation call is available to ask questions before committing to care, reachable at (201) 208-2616 or through the online portal.

Insurance, States, and Pricing

Fort Health accepts all commercial insurance plans in New Jersey. In New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Illinois, the company accepts most commercial insurance plans but recommends checking coverage individually. The company also accepts Medicaid through its Collaborative Care program (CoCM), a model where Fort Health partners with specific pediatric and primary care practices; families should ask which primary care physicians in their area have partnered with Fort Health for this option. The site does not publish individual session prices without an account or consultation.

Fort Health is licensed to operate in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Illinois, with more states coming soon. To receive care, you must reside in one of those states and be physically located in that state during appointments. College students studying out of state can use Fort Health's services if their college is located in one of these five states, provided their college is in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, or Illinois.

The company's clinical team includes licensed therapists, psychiatrists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners. The site lists over 70 providers available for matching. Fort Health was founded by healthcare and technology leaders including James Quarles (CEO and co-founder), Dr. Alyssa Kwon (child psychiatrist and medical director), and Dr. Lindsay Henderson (child psychologist and clinical director). The service is built with the Child Mind Institute; Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, founding president and medical director of the Child Mind Institute and a senior child and adolescent psychiatrist, serves as an advisor to Fort Health.

What Fort Health Does Not Say

Fort Health does not publish pricing on its website. The FAQ confirms it accepts insurance but does not list copays, session fees for uninsured families, or out-of-pocket costs. Families must contact the company or schedule a consultation to learn what a session costs. The company does not disclose data on wait times for therapy appointments beyond the statement that appointments are available within three days when scheduled online. Fort Health does not state whether therapists are employees or independent contractors, though the referral materials suggest partnerships with pediatric practices. The site does not specify which specific diagnoses are considered outside the service's scope or unsuitable for virtual care.

Who It Fits

Fort Health fits families with children ages 4-24 who have insurance in the five covered states and prefer virtual visits that integrate with busy schedules. It works well for parents who want their own therapy alongside their child's care and who value behavioral coaching approaches to anxiety. The company's partnership with pediatricians and primary care practices makes it a natural fit for families already engaged with a pediatrician who has referred them or is interested in coordinated behavioral health. It is a good match for families who want appointments outside traditional business hours and who can attend sessions from a private, internet-connected space.

Fort Health does not serve families in states outside New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Illinois, or those who rely on Medicaid outside of the Collaborative Care program partnerships. Families needing in-person therapy will not find it here. Families without commercial insurance and outside the CoCM network cannot access services. Anyone experiencing a psychiatric emergency should call 911; the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988, or call 1-800-273-8255; the Crisis Text Line is reachable by texting 741741.