Onward Transitions (OT), a leading program serving young adults, announced the successful implementation of its innovative, comprehensive service delivery model designed to meet the unique mental health needs of Generation Z (born 1997-2012). This approach effectively combines three established service models—Concierge Clinical Practice (CCP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and the Clubhouse Care Model—to offer a blend of flexibility, structure, and belonging for clients.
Recent publications indicate that Gen-Z prefers mental health services that are authentic, empathic, adaptable, and systemic. OT's model is built on this foundation, providing a collaborative environment that empowers young people toward improved mental wellness, individual resiliency, and social reciprocity with peers.
Clients at OT are simultaneously engaged in three distinct components:
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Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Provides a structured weekly schedule focused on mental health relapse prevention and skill-building through multiple hours of individual, group, and family therapy.
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Mental Health Clubhouse Model: Offers a morning-to-evening drop-in community center where peers congregate, share meals, and participate in social and wellness activities, fostering a sense of belonging and reciprocity.
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Concierge-Style Clinical Practice (CCP): Ensures therapists are more readily available and better integrated into holistic care, with a focus on individual therapy and symptom reduction.
This comprehensive combination helps address the significant stigma associated with mental illness—a challenge reported by nearly 40% of Gen-Z—by supporting young adults through the non-linear process of recovery.
“Setbacks and regression are part of therapy,” stated Co-Founder and Lead Clinician Dr. Darrell Fraize. “The instant-gratification, quick-fix world that Gen-Z grew up in leads them to believe that there’s something wrong with them if it doesn’t work the first time. Worse still, they tend to think that if they aren’t perfect and making grand gestures in their work, they are still failing.”
Dr. Fraize emphasized the importance of a non-linear approach, particularly when clients struggle to integrate work or school. “Normalizing and not pathologizing the struggle is the key here. Our folks need to see that they aren’t being shamed into thinking that ‘Oh no! I need a higher level of care.’ But rather, they might just need to be around the clubhouse more... We want our clients to know that it’s safe and expected to make mistakes in life and that they can get what they need from our staff and peers to get back on track.”
Research supports that fostering a sense of community and stability, combined with a more conversational, allied-professional approach, yields better outcomes for Gen Z. OT’s core weekly work. OT’s theoretical and practical approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and family systems work, with specialty areas like art therapy, harm reduction, trauma work through brainspotting, and executive functioning coaching targeting Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
References:
Cassera, L., Calabrò, A., & Filippo, A. (2025). Positive events in psychotherapy: What do adolescents and young adults say is helpful?. F1000Research, 13, 1025. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.152349.2
Dwidienawati, D., Pradipto, Y., Indrawati, L., & Gandasari, D. (2025). Internal and external factors influencing Gen Z wellbeing. BMC public health, 25(1), 1584. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22124-5
Fragala, M. S., Tong, C. H., Hunter, J. L., Jelovic, N. A., Hayward, J. I., Carr, S., Kim, P. M., Peters, M. E., & Birse, C. E. (2023). Facilitating Mental Health Treatment Through Proactive Screening and Concierge Services in the Workplace. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 65(2), 160–166. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002707
About Onward Transitions:
Onward Transitions is small, owner-operated, and in its 10th year of empowering kind, bright, motivated young adults to achieve their goals of greater autonomy, meaningful reciprocal relationships, and impactful contributions to the world.
CONTACT:
Dr. Darrell Fraize, LCPC, LADC, Co-Founder, CEO, & Lead Clinician
(207) 233-2401