Joon

What Joon Is

Joon is an online therapy service for teens and young adults ages 13-26, connecting users with licensed mental health professionals via video. The platform includes a mobile app with skills practices and self-care resources between sessions, and now operates as part of Handspring Health. The model assumes therapy works best when the therapist understands the specific challenges of this age group and when access is straightforward and affordable.

How the Service Works

Joon begins with an initial consultation process. A member provides information about their needs, preferences, and schedule through an intake process. Joon's care coordinators then match the person with a therapist who aligns with their individual needs, preferences, and schedule. The company emphasizes that this matching is personalized rather than algorithmic, aiming to create a connection between therapist and client that will support effective treatment.

The client meets their therapist for an initial 50-minute intake session over video, where the therapist and client identify therapy goals and create a treatment plan. Most clients then meet weekly with their therapist, with flexibility for twice-weekly or every-other-week schedules when clinically appropriate. Therapists use evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, and mindfulness techniques.

Between live sessions, clients have access to the Joon app, which includes skills practices and self-care resources. This allows teenagers and young adults to work on coping skills and manage their mental health in the moment between scheduled therapy sessions. Joon also offers optional monthly parent check-ins for clients under 18 whose guardians want to stay informed about progress and treatment goals.

The treatment timeline is typically structured around a 16-week course, which the company says provides "a solid and evidence-based amount of time for clients to show significant improvements." Many clients graduate from therapy in less than six months, and most show significant improvement within 12 weeks. However, Joon emphasizes that therapy is flexible: clients can stop at any time, and the company will work with clients who need more or less time to reach their therapy goals.

What the Pages Prove

Joon's therapists hold a range of mental health licenses. The website lists Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), Licensed Psychological Associates, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (and Associates), and therapists with PsyD and PhD degrees. A job posting page specifies that therapists must be licensed "to provide mental health counseling services (LMHC, LMFT, LCSW/LICSW, LPC, LPCC, PsyD, PhD, or similar)." All therapists are required to have professional liability insurance and demonstrated experience working with youth.

On pricing, Joon states: "An initial 50-minute intake session costs $200. After this session, your Joon therapist will create a customized treatment plan. Ongoing sessions cost $150 per session. This includes live video-therapy sessions, access to app-based skills, and an optional monthly parent check-in."

Insurance coverage is extensive in the states where Joon operates. The company is in-network with Aetna, Ambetter, AmeriHealth Pennsylvania, Apple Health (Washington Medicaid), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Carelon, ComPsych, Coordinated Care, and others. For families with insurance plans Joon is out-of-network with, the company "would be happy to provide you with an itemized statement for insurance reimbursement." The company notes that "many insurance plans will reimburse 40%-80% of the cost for Out-of-Network therapy."

Joon currently operates in seven states: California, Delaware, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, and Washington. The company states that "one of the benefits of teletherapy is that it doesn't matter where in these states you live," meaning that geographic location within a covered state is not a barrier.

Joon treats a broad range of adolescent mental health needs including anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, self-harm, substance use, ADHD, disordered eating, family conflict, gender identity, and life transitions. The company states it can treat teens "with varying needs from 'just having a hard time' to more complex histories and acute needs."

On outcomes, "most Joon clients show significant improvement in 12 weeks. Many graduate from therapy in less than 6 months." The company says outcomes "meet or exceed industry standards for outpatient therapy" for anxiety and depression recovery.

The service is available in both the United States and (through the Handspring partnership) in other regions, though the specific geographic reach beyond the seven listed states is not clearly detailed.

What Joon Does Not Say

Joon does not publish a full list of which insurance plans it is in-network with beyond the ones named on the FAQ page. A family with insurance coverage in one of Joon's service states but with a plan not listed would need to contact Joon directly to confirm coverage or learn about out-of-network reimbursement rates.

Wait times for appointments are not specified. The website says therapy can start "within 1 week" but does not clarify whether that is a guaranteed maximum or typical average, or how wait times vary by location or season.

The site does not detail what to do in a mental health crisis or emergency. There is a line stating "If you or a member of your family needs help right away, please call 911 or visit your local emergency room. You can also call or text the" but the number is truncated. For someone in crisis, the standard emergency protocols apply, but Joon's own crisis response process is not described.

Joon does not publish therapist profiles or a search function to see photos, credentials, or bios before or during the matching process. The matching is described as personalized, but exactly how a client can learn about their matched therapist before the first session is not specified.

The mobile app's features are mentioned in general terms (skills practices, self-care resources) but specific features, platforms it runs on (iOS, Android, web), or accessibility features are not detailed.

Sliding-scale pricing is mentioned as available "in certain cases" but the criteria for eligibility or the range of scaled fees is not published. A family interested in a sliding scale would need to reach out during the consultation.

Who It Fits and Who It Does Not

Joon is built for teens and young adults ages 13-26, so this age range is the core audience. If you are younger than 13 or older than 26, Joon is not the right fit.

For teens and young adults who prefer video therapy over in-person appointments, Joon's format removes travel time and geographic barriers. The company specifically markets to this age group because they grew up with technology and often find virtual communication natural and comfortable.

For families or young adults with insurance coverage through one of Joon's in-network plans and living in California, Delaware, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, or Washington, access is straightforward. Those living outside these seven states cannot use Joon. Those with insurance plans not yet in-network may still access Joon but would need to handle out-of-network reimbursement themselves.

For young people with anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, or common mental health challenges, Joon's therapists have relevant expertise. For crisis intervention or psychiatric hospitalization, Joon is not the primary resource.

For families who want ongoing parental involvement and check-ins, Joon's optional monthly parent check-in accommodates that. For 18-26 year olds who want to manage their own therapy without parental involvement, that privacy is also respected (though parental consent is still legally required for those under 18).

For young people seeking affordable therapy through a flexible sliding scale (if eligible), Joon offers that option. For those needing the very lowest out-of-pocket cost, Joon's $150 per session base rate plus the initial $200 intake fee is a significant expense and may exceed what low-income families can manage even with insurance.