In-Network With Most Commercial Insurers
*Please note that at this time, we are not in network with Medicaid/Medi-Cal
The Muir Wood Teen Treatment Philosophy
Supporting your teen through difficult times is hard—especially when you’re not sure what kind of help will actually make a difference. That’s where we come in.
At Muir Wood, our approach is built specifically for adolescents. We treat the whole person—not just symptoms or behaviors. Whether your teen is struggling with mental health challenges, maladaptive behaviors, or substance use, we address what’s driving the problem—not just what’s on the surface. Everything we do is trauma-informed, relationship-driven, and designed to help teens build the self-awareness, coping skills, and confidence they need for real, lasting progress.
Teens in our care:
- Gain emotional insight and process difficult feelings such as anxiety, trauma, or depression.
- Understand their behaviors and learn healthy alternatives to cope.
- Develop self-awareness, resilience, and confidence.
Multi-Disciplinary Clinical Assessment Guides Every Treatment Plan
Every teen who comes to Muir Wood has the capacity to grow, heal, and build a stronger future—even if it doesn’t feel that way right now. Our commitment is simple: your teen will be met with genuine warmth and respect, not judgment, no matter what they’ve been through or what choices they’ve made.
Why Our Treatment Philosophy Matters
Many teens arrive feeling anxious, guarded, or unsure about treatment. That’s normal. Our approach is designed to meet them where they are—with patience, consistency, and respect—so they can begin to let their guard down.
When teens feel safe and genuinely supported, everything else becomes possible. They open up in therapy, engage more in their daily lives, and start building the emotional skills they’ll carry with them long after treatment.
Effective treatment begins with a thorough, multi-disciplinary clinical assessment. From the first days of care, our team works to understand the full scope of what your teen and family are experiencing, so that the treatment plan we build is specific, purposeful, and grounded in clinical reality.
Comprehensive Clinical Intake and Ongoing Reassessment
Our clinical team evaluates each teen from every angle—mental health, trauma history, family dynamics, social functioning, self-identity, and developmental stage. When substance use is present, we assess the patterns and the role it may play as a coping mechanism.
Our goal is always to understand the full picture—not just the symptoms, but the story behind them. That’s how we ensure treatment is truly personalized and effective for each teen we serve.
Dr. Ian Wolds, PsyD — Chief Clinical Officer
This comprehensive picture allows us to build a treatment plan that targets immediate needs while working toward longer-term stability. Because adolescents are constantly growing and changing, treatment plans evolve too—our team reassesses regularly and adjusts as your teen progresses.
Our Trauma-Informed Approach
Trauma-informed care isn’t a program or technique—it’s the lens through which our entire team operates. Most teens who come to us have experienced some form of adversity that shapes how they see themselves, relate to others, and respond to stress. What gets labeled as “defiance” or “shutting down” is often a protective response rooted in past pain. We always ask “what happened to you?” before “what’s wrong with you?”
In practice, this means creating a sense of emotional safety through predictable routines, clear expectations, and consistent relationships. It means recognizing that resistance is often a form of self-protection. And it means every member of our team—not just therapists—understands how trauma shows up in daily interactions and responds in ways that support healing rather than escalate distress.
Holistic, Whole-Person Perspective
We consider the full context of each teen’s life:
Mental health and coping strategies
Identifying symptoms, underlying mental health concerns, and maladaptive coping patterns allows us to target interventions effectively.
Substance use and behavioral patterns
When present, substance use is addressed alongside emotional and mental health needs—not in isolation.
Social and identity development
We assess peer relationships, self-esteem, sense of self, and identity formation to guide interventions that support healthy individuation and personal growth.
Medical and psychiatric considerations
Medication needs, past traumas, and adverse experiences are integrated into a complete clinical picture to inform treatment decisions.
Family dynamics and system functioning
We explore how existing strengths, support, or challenges within the family shape the teen’s well-being. Sometimes the work leverages the love and resilience already present; other times, we address unresolved conflicts, generational trauma, or attachment disruptions.
Evolving, Personalized Plans
No two treatment plans are alike. By combining insights from psychiatry, therapy, recovery counseling, nursing, and education, we craft a plan that is uniquely tailored to your teen’s needs. As they develop, grow, and respond to treatment, their plan is updated to reflect progress, new challenges, and evolving goals.
What We Treat
Muir Wood provides specialized treatment for teens ages 12–17 experiencing mental health conditions, substance use challenges, or both. Some teens come to us with a primary mental health diagnosis; others are navigating substance use alongside underlying emotional struggles. In every case, each condition is treated intentionally—one does not automatically define the other, and we provide integrated care when clinically appropriate.
Mental Health and Trauma
We treat anxiety disorders, depression and mood dysregulation, trauma and PTSD, OCD-related symptoms, self-harm and suicidal ideation, school avoidance, social withdrawal, and emotional dysregulation. We also support teens with ADHD, autism spectrum traits, and executive functioning challenges when they can safely engage in a group-based setting.
Substance Use Disorders
Our approach treats substance use as an unhealthy coping mechanism closely tied to underlying mental health struggles. We work with teens experiencing challenges with alcohol, cannabis, nicotine and vaping, prescription medication misuse, opioids, stimulants, and other substances—always through a mental-health-first lens.
Co-Occurring/Dual-Diagnosis and Complex Presentations
Dual diagnosis—when mental health and substance use occur together—is where we have built our reputation. We’ve been at the forefront of treating co-occurring disorders in adolescents longer than most programs in California, and we remain one of the most respected dual diagnosis programs for teens in the country. Our integrated model ensures that psychiatric, therapeutic, academic, and family supports are aligned around the whole teen—not isolated symptoms. When both are present, both get treated. That’s always been who we are.
Suicide & Self-Harm
Neurodiversity & Neurodevelopmental Conditions
Other Mental & Behavioral Health Conditions
At Muir Wood Teen Treatment, our admissions specialists are available to answer your questions about the teen conditions we treat and explain how our specialized programs can help. Please call us at 877-786-0870 or contact us through this form anytime.
Families as Active Partners in the Treatment Process
When a teen is hurting, the whole family feels it. At Muir Wood, families aren’t on the sidelines—they’re active partners at every stage of treatment. Your love, insight, and involvement are essential to lasting change, and our program is built around that truth.
Family engagement begins before admission and continues through aftercare. Through weekly family therapy, parent education workshops, therapeutic check-ins, and a structured 16-week aftercare coaching program, we equip families with practical tools for stronger communication, clearer boundaries, and sustained stability at home.
This isn’t about assigning blame or fixing what’s “broken.” It’s about recognizing that healing happens in relationships. When families learn and grow alongside their teen, the emotional environment the teen returns to is stronger—and that’s where real, sustainable progress takes root.
Evidence-Based Treatment, Delivered with Intention
Our clinical team draws from a range of proven therapeutic approaches—selected not by protocol, but based on each teen’s needs, strengths, and developmental stage. These include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to address the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness; acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for values-based decision-making; trauma-informed and trauma-responsive care; motivational interviewing; and family systems therapy.
Individual Therapy
Each teen receives dedicated individual therapy to explore personal experiences, deepen self-awareness, and build the coping strategies that matter most for their specific challenges. Therapy is tailored to the individual—not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Group Therapy
Therapist-led group sessions allow teens to practice skills in real time, build trust through shared experiences, and learn from peers navigating similar challenges. Group work reinforces what teens learn in individual therapy and strengthens their ability to relate, communicate, and regulate in a social context.
Psychiatric Care
Our board-certified psychiatric team provides thorough evaluation and thoughtful medication management when clinically appropriate. We believe in using the least amount of medication necessary to support stability and functioning—including no medication when that’s the right course. Residential treatment is uniquely suited to safely review, adjust, and optimize medication in a closely monitored environment.
The Muir Wood Teen Difference
ur team partners closely with parents and caregivers from day one—providing clear communication, a personalized plan, and practical tools for life after treatment. While teens receive structured, therapeutic support in a peer environment, families are equipped alongside them to support continued progress and lasting change.
Some of our key differentiators include:
Specialists in Adolescent Care
Everything we do is built for teens ages 12–17, not adapted from adult models. Our team includes board-certified psychiatrists, highly trained therapists, nurses, educators, and recovery counselors who specialize exclusively in adolescent mental health and substance use treatment. Working as an integrated team, they deliver evidence-based, developmentally appropriate care tailored to each teen’s unique needs.
Community and Connection
Our program supports coordinated, therapist-led group therapy alongside meaningful peer interaction. Teens build trust, communication, and coping skills through shared therapeutic experiences and real-time practice. Individual therapy provides personalized support to deepen insight and help teens apply these skills beyond treatment, supporting lasting emotional growth and stability.
Expertise in Primary Mental Health + Substance Use
With expertise in treating both primary mental health and co-occurring substance use challenges, our trauma-informed approach helps teens heal deeply and build lasting change. We focus on the whole person—addressing both emotional well-being and underlying behavioral patterns—to support lifelong healing.
Support for the Whole Family
Healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens together. At Muir Wood, families stay actively involved through therapy, education, and a 16-week aftercare coaching program that builds trust, communication, and stability long after treatment ends. Our depth of experience working with adolescents and families allows us to anticipate challenges, guide meaningful change, and support progress well beyond discharge.
Accessible, High-Quality Care Covered by Insurance
Muir Wood is committed to removing financial barriers to care by partnering with most major insurance providers, ensuring families can access high-quality, evidence-based treatment when it matters most.
Maintain Academics While Getting Support
School stays the priority. Whether in residential treatment or IOP, teens can keep up to date with education. We help them map assignments, manage stress, and practice executive functioning skills such as planning, time management, and communication. When helpful, we coordinate with families and schools so gains in treatment carry into the classroom and daily routines.
Continuum of Care
We believe strong outcomes depend on continuity and collaboration. From admission through discharge, we coordinate closely with your teen’s existing providers and aftercare programs—whether that’s Muir Wood residential, our IOP, or another trusted outpatient partner. Shared clinical leadership and consistent therapeutic philosophy ensure each teen’s progress continues without interruption.
Speak With a Teen Treatment Specialist
Connect with our admissions team today to learn how Muir Wood can support your family.
Next Steps for Families
Taking the first step can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Muir Wood is here to guide your family with clarity, compassion, and expertise.
Learn What Treatment is Right for Your Teen
Our admissions team can help you understand the programs available and determine which approach best meets your teen’s unique needs.
Speak with an Admissions Specialist
Confidential, supportive conversations help answer questions, review clinical considerations, and outline next steps so you feel informed and confident.
Explore Our Locations
Muir Wood’s serene, nature-rich campuses across California are designed for safety, connection, and growth. Visiting a campus helps families see where teens will learn, heal, and thrive.
Immersive, Intentional Environments for Growth
The entire residential experience—from morning routines to evening wind-downs, from the classroom to the hiking trail—is designed to support healing, skill-building, and connection.
Our hub-and-spoke campus model mirrors healthy adolescent rhythms. During the day, teens come together in spacious, nature-rich community settings for therapy, school, and activities. In the evening, they return to warm, home-like residences where they can unwind in smaller groups with consistent, caring staff.
Structured, Supportive Treatment Environments
Daily interactions—navigating a disagreement with a peer, managing frustration during a group activity, practicing patience in the lunch line—become opportunities to apply new skills in real time. Staff are present throughout the day and night to offer coaching, encouragement, and co-regulation exactly when it’s needed most.
Our gender-specific programs foster peer connections among teens facing similar challenges, allowing them to learn from one another while feeling seen and supported.
Relationship-Building and Real-World Practice
Experiential outings and activities aren’t just recreation—they’re therapeutic. Whether it’s a team challenge, a creative project, or time spent in nature, these experiences help teens see how they respond under pressure, connect with others, and build confidence. The microcosm interactions of residential life are practice for the real world.
Matching Level of Care to Clinical Need
At Muir Wood, we match each teen’s treatment to their unique needs rather than a one-size-fits-all model.
Residential care is recommended when intensive, around-the-clock support is needed—such as for safety concerns, co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges, or significant functional decline at home or school.
Intensive Outpatient (IOP) may be appropriate for teens who benefit from structured therapy while maintaining more time at home and in their community.
Teens can move between levels of care as their progress and needs change. Our focus on continuity ensures that whether stepping up or stepping down, every transition is guided by the same integrated clinical team, maintaining stability, support, and momentum in their growth.
Measuring Progress & Supporting Long-Term Growth
Families often ask, “How will we know this is working?” At Muir Wood, progress isn’t measured by a single test or milestone—it’s observed over time through multiple lenses. Our clinicians observe and support teens each day, helping them practice strategies for emotional regulation, healthy communication, and self-awareness.
Ongoing clinical monitoring, combined with family feedback, ensures treatment adapts to each teen’s evolving needs. Skill development is tracked not just in sessions, but in real-world moments—ongoing clinical reassessment and treatment plan updates,,including relapse prevention planning and aftercare coordination.
Self-regulation is a skill we build intentionally. When teens learn to pause, reflect, and respond rather than react, they begin to trust themselves—and that’s a powerful turning point in treatment.
Dr. Ian Wolds, PsyD — Chief Clinical Officer
We can’t promise a specific outcome—but we will work with clarity, consistency, and deep commitment to give your teen the strongest possible foundation for the road ahead.
Inclusive, Affirming Care in Safe, Focused Settings
Adolescence is a time of identity formation—a period of self-exploration, growing independence, and figuring out who they are and how they want to move through the world. At Muir Wood, we honor that process. Our goal is for every teen to feel good about who they are and to explore their identity in safe, supportive, and pro-social ways.
At Muir Wood, every teen—regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or stage of self-discovery—receives individualized, affirming care in a safe and supportive environment. Our programs are gender-separate to create clarity, comfort, and focus, while every teen, including those who are transgender, nonbinary, or questioning, receives respectful, affirming support from a team trained in inclusive, trauma-informed care.