In-Network With Most Commercial Insurers
*Please note that at this time, we are not in network with Medicaid/Medi-Cal
Treatment for Teen Anxiety
Anxiety can deeply impact a teen’s daily life—making school, friendships, and family relationships feel overwhelming. At Muir Wood, our teen anxiety treatment program provides structured, evidence-based care for adolescents ages 12–17 who are struggling to manage fear, panic, and emotional stress. With both residential and intensive outpatient treatment options, we provide a level of support that goes beyond traditional weekly counseling. Our programs combine therapy, education, and family support to help teens build resilience, regulate emotions, and rediscover balance. Anxiety disorders are treatable, and with professional care, recovery is not only possible—it’s sustainable.
The Muir Wood Teen Difference
From the first conversation, our team works hand-in-hand with parents and caregivers—providing consistent updates, an individualized treatment plan, and practical strategies that support progress during treatment and beyond. While teens receive structured, therapeutic care alongside peers facing similar challenges, families gain the skills and understanding to sustain lasting change at home.
Some of our key differentiators include:
Specialists in Adolescent Care
Our programs are designed specifically for teens ages 12–17—not scaled down from adult treatment models. Board-certified psychiatrists, licensed therapists, nurses, educators, and recovery counselors work together as an integrated team, delivering developmentally appropriate, evidence-based care tailored to each teen’s needs.
Therapeutic Connection with Peers
Teens heal in community. Our program combines therapist-led group sessions with meaningful peer interaction, helping teens build trust, practice communication, and develop coping skills in real time. Individual therapy deepens personal insight and supports each teen in applying what they’ve learned beyond treatment.
Dual Expertise in Mental Health + Substance Use
We specialize in treating both primary mental health conditions and co-occurring substance use challenges. Our trauma-informed approach looks beyond surface behaviors to address the emotional pain and patterns driving them—helping teens heal at the root and build skills for lifelong wellness.
Families as Partners in Healing
Recovery is a family journey. At Muir Wood, parents and caregivers stay actively engaged through weekly therapy, educational resources, and a 16-week aftercare coaching program designed to strengthen communication, rebuild trust, and maintain stability long after treatment ends. Our experience with adolescents and families helps us anticipate challenges and support meaningful, lasting change.
Quality Care Within Reach
We believe finances shouldn’t stand in the way of getting help. Muir Wood partners with most major insurance providers to make high-quality, evidence-based treatment accessible when families need it most.
Education Stays on Track
School remains a priority throughout treatment. Whether in residential care or IOP, we help teens stay current with coursework, manage academic stress, and strengthen executive functioning skills like planning and time management. When helpful, we coordinate directly with families and schools to ensure progress carries into the classroom.
Seamless Transitions Across Levels of Care
Lasting recovery depends on continuity. From admission through discharge, we coordinate closely with your teen’s existing providers and aftercare supports—whether that’s Muir Wood residential, our IOP, or another trusted partner. Consistent clinical philosophy and ongoing communication ensure progress continues without disruption.
Speak With a Teen Treatment Specialist
Connect with our admissions team today to learn how Muir Wood can support your family.
Muir Wood Treatment Center Reviews
Read about Muir Wood experiences from a parent who has been through it. Read these and other reviews from real parents of Muir Wood alumni. If you would like to speak to an alumni parent, contact us and we’ll arrange it.
“Ruby had a very positive experience overall both times. Many programs make lots of promises and don’t deliver. Muir wood was a transformational experience for Ruby and I think the experience of being part of a community of peers was especially helpful. I’m a mental health professional myself and have already recommended Muir Wood to friends with teens who are struggling.”
Sasha A. Blum – September 2023
“From the moment we walked through the doors, we felt like part of a supportive com- munity dedicated to helping teens thrive. The staff here are compassionate, knowledgeable, and truly invested in the wellbeing of every teen in their care. The programs are tailored to address the needs of each individual, providing a safe space for growth and healing. I highly recommend this center to any parent seeking top-notch care.”
Krista Merlino – May 2024
“Our child had medication resistant severe depression. Muir Wood helped find the right medication and provided a supportive environment, over Covid, no less. My child is thriving and we both agree that even though it was a hard period, it was the best choice to get them treatment. The tutors worked with his teachers and he maintained a 4.0 while getting better.”
Tomasina Burgess – June 2024
“There really are other families that are struggling in more or less the same ways that we are,” she shares in the video below. “I think there’s a way that addiction can make people feel like it’s only happening to them, and it’s really not. It’s behind so many closed doors. And I only wish that more people would come out and get the help that they deserve and that is there to be had. I’m really grateful we found it.”
Katie F. – June 2024
“This program was really wonderful for our daughter and our family as a whole. We love the parent classes and the parent support group. L. loved most of the staff and made some great friends with other girls in the program. The communication between staff and parents is excellent.”
Ilene G. – Oct 2025
My daughter is at the Petaluma Site. She has been there for about 40 days and the therapist has been very communicative. I feel apart of her treatment and have been updated weekly as well as a fast response anytime I have had questions. The support has been great and I love the parent classes. I have learned a lot in this time.
Angela R. – Oct 2025
Signs of Anxiety in Teens
As a parent, it can be heartbreaking to watch your teen struggle with anxiety. You might notice them withdrawing, losing interest in things they once loved, or becoming easily overwhelmed by everyday situations. Anxiety can look different in every teen—sometimes showing up as irritability or perfectionism rather than fear or panic. At our teen anxiety treatment center, we help families understand these signs not as defiance or disinterest, but as distress signals from a teen who needs support.
Some of the most common signs of anxiety in teenagers include:
- Excessive worry or fear that interferes with daily activities
- Irritability, restlessness, or sleep disruption
- Avoidance of school or social situations
- Physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach pain
- Difficulty concentrating or managing emotions
- Sudden changes in grades or peer relationships
Recognizing the symptoms early and seeking professional care can make a powerful difference in your child’s recovery and long-term well-being.
Northern California — Sonoma County
Lohrman Campus for Girls
Mental health and substance use care for teen girls on a tranquil Petaluma property within Sonoma County, surrounded by vineyards and rolling hills.
Skillman Campus for Boys
Dual-diagnosis treatment for teen boys—mental health and substance use care on a serene Petaluma property in lovely Sonoma County.
Fresno/Clovis — Central California
Makena Campus for Girls
Teen girls receive dual-diagnosis care for mental health and substance use challenges in Clovis—a tranquil foothill setting at the gateway to California’s majestic Sierra Nevada.
Arlington Heights Area — Southern California
Call Us To Learn More
When to Seek Help for Your Teen’s Anxiety
Every teen experiences stress from time to time—tests, social pressures, and the challenges of growing up can all cause temporary worry or unease. But when anxiety becomes constant, intense, or begins to limit your teen’s ability to function, it may be a sign that they need more support than weekly therapy or family efforts alone can provide.
Most teens who arrive at Muir Wood have already been struggling for some time. Parents have often tried therapy, worked with school counselors, or made accommodations at home—yet their teen’s anxiety has continued to escalate or resist improvement. If your teen’s anxiety has persisted for weeks or months, is disrupting sleep, schoolwork, or relationships, or has led to panic attacks, isolation, or unhealthy coping behaviors like substance use, it may be time to consider a higher level of care.
When to Consider a Higher Level of Care
Anxiety in teens often doesn’t exist in isolation. It may be connected to underlying trauma, depression, family stress, or other challenges that need to be addressed together. Effective treatment looks beneath the surface to understand what’s driving the anxiety—not just manage the symptoms.
If your teen is showing a consistent pattern of anxiety-related struggles—especially if weekly therapy, IOP, or family support haven’t led to lasting improvement—a more intensive level of care may be needed. Residential treatment provides 24/7 structure and clinical support, giving teens space to stabilize away from daily pressures and triggers. IOP offers structured therapeutic support several times per week while allowing teens to remain at home, either as a step-up from therapy or step-down from residential care.
What Happens After Admission
Once your teen is admitted to Muir Wood, our integrated clinical team conducts a comprehensive, multidisciplinary assessment to understand the full picture—not just the symptoms, but the story behind them. This process informs a personalized treatment plan tailored to your teen’s unique needs.
Core assessment components include:
- Nursing Assessment – Evaluates physical health, sleep, medication history, and overall wellness
- Initial Psychiatric Evaluation – Conducted by our psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner to clarify diagnosis and determine whether medication support may be helpful
- Biopsychosocial Assessment – Completed by your teen’s assigned therapist, exploring emotional, behavioral, developmental, family, and social factors
Supplementary assessments available when clinically indicated:
- History and Physical Exam (H&P)
- Nutritional Assessment
- Psychological or Neuropsychological Testing for additional diagnostic clarity
Diagnoses draw on our team’s assessment data, records from previous providers, and parent input—and are reviewed throughout treatment based on our observations and ongoing work with your teen.
Why Timely Intervention Matters
The earlier teens receive the right level of support, the better their chances for lasting recovery. Anxiety that goes undertreated can escalate into panic disorders, depression, school avoidance, or reliance on substances to cope. Remaining in care that isn’t meeting their needs can allow patterns to become more entrenched. If you’re unsure whether your teen needs more support, our admissions team can help you understand your options.
Accreditations
Muir Wood Supports the Entire Family
At Muir Wood Teen, we recognize that healing from anxiety is not an individual journey—it happens within the context of family and relationships. Parents and caregivers are a critical part of treatment from the first phone call through aftercare. We provide guidance, education, and tools to help families create a stable, nurturing environment that supports recovery.
Family support at Muir Wood includes:
- Weekly Family Therapy: Licensed clinicians work with families to strengthen communication, set healthy boundaries, and practice strategies that help teens manage anxiety triggers at home.
- Parent Education & Coaching: Parents learn real-world techniques to reinforce coping skills, reduce stress, and foster independence in their teen. Our 16-week aftercare program extends support beyond residential or IOP treatment, ensuring families have guidance during reintegration.
- Alumni Check-Ins & Peer Networks: Teens remain connected to supportive peers and alumni programs after treatment, helping maintain motivation, reduce relapse risk, and reinforce healthy behaviors.
- Coordination with Schools & Outpatient Providers: We partner with local schools, therapists, and psychiatrists to ensure a smooth transition back to daily life. This holistic approach helps teens maintain progress while continuing their education and receiving ongoing mental health care.
- Trauma-Informed, Compassionate Guidance: Families receive empathetic support tailored to the challenges of adolescence, mental health conditions, and co-occurring behavioral concerns. Our team helps parents navigate stress, anxiety, and uncertainty while fostering a trusting, collaborative relationship with their teen.
By actively involving families, Muir Wood creates a supportive ecosystem that extends the benefits of treatment beyond the campus. Healing becomes a shared process that builds resilience, connection, and long-term well-being for the teen and their loved ones.
Levels of Care for Teen Anxiety Treatment
Our teen anxiety treatment centers offer a range of tailored programs to meet the unique needs of adolescents, providing both residential care and intensive outpatient options (IOP or partial hospitalization programs) depending on the severity of symptoms and level of support required.
At Muir Wood we offer:
- Residential Treatment Programs: Teens live on-campus in a structured, supportive environment, receiving 24/7 supervision and clinical care. Daily schedules include therapy sessions, experiential activities, academics, and mindfulness practices to help teens regulate emotions and build coping strategies. Average length of stay is 45+ days.
- Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP): For adolescents who require structured mental health treatment but can safely live at home, IOP provides daily therapy sessions, skill-building groups, and individualized support while allowing teens to continue attending school. These programs help bridge the gap between residential care and everyday life. IOP treatment lasts about 12 weeks, 3-4 days a week.
Our Approach to Care
Teen anxiety is more than occasional worry—it can affect daily functioning, relationships, and self-esteem. Our anxiety treatment model combines trauma-informed, evidence-based therapies with individualized care, helping each teen address the underlying causes of anxiety while building practical skills for lasting emotional wellness.
We provide a structured, supportive environment where teens can safely explore triggers, develop coping strategies, and strengthen confidence in handling stress and uncertainty. Treatment plans are tailored to each adolescent’s unique needs, incorporating residential or intensive outpatient care depending on the level of support required.
Our treatment includes:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Helps teens identify negative or unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with practical, constructive ways of thinking. CBT empowers adolescents to recognize triggers, reduce catastrophic thinking, and develop coping strategies that can be used in school, home, and social settings.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Teaches skills in emotional regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. Teens learn to tolerate distress without reacting impulsively, manage intense emotions, and communicate more effectively with peers and family members.
Exposure Therapy & ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention)
Gradually exposes teens to anxiety-provoking situations in a safe, structured manner. This allows adolescents to confront fears, reduce avoidance behaviors, and build confidence in their ability to manage challenging situations.
Family Therapy
Involves parents and caregivers to improve communication, rebuild trust, and create a stable, supportive home environment. Families learn strategies to support recovery, reduce conflict, and reinforce healthy coping behaviors outside of treatment.
Experiential & Mindfulness-Based Activities
Incorporates movement, art, journaling, and outdoor exercises to encourage self-expression, emotional grounding, and self-awareness. These practices help teens connect mind and body, reduce stress, and cultivate resilience in daily life.
Psychoeducation & Life Skills Groups
Provides education about anxiety disorders, stress management, and practical tools for coping with academic, social, and emotional challenges. Teens develop skills to navigate daily life, set goals, and maintain wellness long after treatment ends.
This integrative approach allows teens to not only understand their anxiety but also gain the confidence to manage challenges, re-engage in school and social activities, and strengthen relationships with family and peers.
Therapy Formats used for Anxiety
Both options include mental healthcare for phobias, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, and severe anxiety. We treat these mental health conditions with modalities such as:
Individual Therapy
One-on-one sessions with licensed clinicians allow teens to explore the root causes of their anxiety, practice coping strategies, and address co-occurring mental health concerns such as ADHD, depression, OCD, or trauma.
Group Therapy & Support Groups
Small, peer-focused groups provide a safe space for teens to share experiences, practice social skills, and learn from others facing similar challenges. Topics may include coping strategies, mindfulness, self-esteem, and stress management.
Experiential & Wellness Therapies
Creative arts, movement, outdoor activities, and mindfulness exercises complement clinical care. Teens practice coping skills, reduce stress, and develop a sense of control over their anxiety in a safe and structured environment.
Academic Support
Our WASC-accredited academic program ensures continuity of education during treatment, helping teens stay on track academically while reinforcing structure, confidence, and self-discipline.
By combining these treatment options, teens gain practical tools to manage anxiety, improve mental health, and rebuild confidence in social, academic, and family settings. Our multi-level care approach ensures that every adolescent receives the level of support that best meets their unique needs.