Muir Wood delivers residential treatment tailored to adolescents navigating serious mental health challenges—bringing together clinical depth, family engagement, and uninterrupted academics to support meaningful, lasting change.
Clinically reviewed by
Dr. Ian Wolds Psy.D.
Last reviewed on July 13, 2026
We treat primary mental health conditions as well as dual diagnosis presentations, working with teens regardless of whether substance use is involved. Each adolescent receives a comprehensive evaluation at intake, ensuring that treatment is shaped by his specific clinical picture rather than a standardized approach.
The Skillman program serves adolescent boys whose needs have outpaced what outpatient therapy, school counselors, or family support alone can manage,offering continuous clinical care in an environment built for focus and growth. Located in the heart of Sonoma County, the campus sits amid the region’s iconic landscape of vineyards, open pastures, and rolling hills. For many boys, this is their first experience of genuine quiet in months—space to think, room to move, and distance from the pressures that have been compounding at home and school. That breathing room is clinical, not incidental: a regulated environment helps dysregulated teens begin to settle, which is when real therapeutic work becomes possible. Our approach is trauma-informed, evidence-based, and oriented toward building the self-awareness and coping skills each teen will need long after he leaves.
Most teens remain in treatment for 45 to 60 days, with some staying up to 90 days depending on clinical progress and individual needs. Care is provided by a multidisciplinary team of licensed professionals who specialize in adolescent mental health. Programming and housing are gender-separate, giving boys a focused setting free from social distractions—while care itself remains individualized, inclusive, and responsive to each teen’s identity and background.
From the start, families are integral to the process. Parents and caregivers engage in weekly family therapy, receive consistent communication and guidance from clinicians, and take an active role in discharge planning, ensuring that progress made at Skillman translates into stability at home.
Daily structure at Skillman is designed to reinforce therapeutic gains in real time. The schedule balances clinical sessions, academics, and physical activity with downtime that allows for processing and peer connection. Evenings are spent in smaller, home-like residences where boys can decompress in a calmer setting. This rhythm—active days, restorative evenings—helps teens practice regulation skills in the context of everyday life, not just in a therapist’s office.
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.
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.
I saw the positive change in my son
SM
Jul 2026
Very caring staff. Well organized. Clean.
Caring, organized, and clean facility
Jul 2026
My son made great progress
DG
Jul 2026
This whole experience ha been so much easier with the coordinators from Muir woods. Lisa has been an absolute god send. I will mis her I wish she was my therapist lol.
Coordinators made the experience so much easier
Jul 2026
The staff at Muir supported our 15 year old son with professional expertise and with heart. We are very grateful for all the coping skills our son learned at Muir, and we observe him applying these skills to maintain his sobriety.
GH
Jul 2026
I highly recommend this treatment center for adolescent boys. My son did ask to go away for drug and mental health treatment at 17, which was an easier experience than if he hadn't wanted to go.
TB
Jul 2026
It's no easy decision to admit your child into a residential treatment program but the Muir Wood team and staff were an excellent choice for my son and his care.
SK
Jul 2026
We couldn't have asked for a better program to support my son with his mental health. Even after discharge they are continuing to support him through the transition to his new provider.
TB
Jul 2026
The Skillman campus was developed with a clear clinical purpose: to create a physical environment that actively supports stabilization and emotional growth. Situated on open land in Petaluma, the property offers expansive views, fresh air, and a tangible sense of removal from urban noise and digital overload. Boys have space to walk, move, and simply be outside—experiences that have often been missing from their lives in the lead-up to treatment.
The design of the campus reflects our treatment philosophy. Bright, open common areas encourage engagement; quiet corners and outdoor spaces offer room for reflection. Natural light, visual access to the outdoors, and a layout that allows easy movement between activities all contribute to a calmer baseline state. When the environment supports regulation, boys are better able to engage in therapy, connect with peers, and internalize the skills they’re learning. The setting doesn’t do the work for them but it makes the work more accessible.
Take a video tour of Muir Wood’s Skillman campus for boys in Petaluma, California.
Our clinical team is focused on helping teens develop the insight and skills needed for long-term success. Licensed clinicians and psychiatric providers work closely with families to reinforce progress, clarify expectations, and support transitions beyond residential care. This partnership helps ensure gains made in treatment carry forward into daily life at home.
Residential treatment gives teen boys the opportunity to step away from daily pressures and focus on healing in an environment built around consistency, accountability, and support. With continuous clinical oversight, teens are able to stabilize emotionally while learning practical skills they can carry forward.
At Muir Wood Teen, residential care helps boys develop emotional awareness, improve communication, and build healthier coping strategies. A structured routine, therapeutic peer community, academic support, and family involvement work together to create lasting progress both during treatment and beyond.
*Please note that at this time, we are not in network with Medicaid/Medi-Cal
Our Petaluma residential center for boys serves families throughout Sonoma County and the greater North Bay region. Set in a quieter area of Petaluma, the Skillman campus offers a structured, distraction-reduced environment where teen boys can focus on healing while families remain closely involved in care.
Being rooted in the local community allows for continuity of support, smoother transitions after treatment, and ongoing connection to outpatient and family resources across the region.
Skillman Residential Campus serves teen boys ages 12–17. Our program is designed specifically for adolescents, with therapy, academics, and daily routines tailored to their developmental needs.
The average stay is around 45 days, though length can vary depending on the teen’s clinical needs and progress. Our team works closely with families to determine the right duration for each teen.
Mental health is our primary focus. Substance use is treated as part of a teen’s overall emotional and behavioral challenges. Our trauma-informed, dual diagnosis approach ensures both mental health and co-occurring substance use are addressed simultaneously in a supportive, individualized plan.
Teens receive a mix of individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and holistic modalities such as mindfulness, art/music therapy, and trauma recovery techniques. Our goal is to provide evidence-based, developmentally appropriate interventions that meet each teen’s unique needs.
Families are partners in the healing process. Parents and caregivers receive regular updates, participate in family therapy sessions (virtual or in-person), and have access to our 16-week aftercare coaching program to support long-term success at home.
Our WASC-accredited academic program ensures teens continue their education during treatment. Students receive personalized support to address learning gaps, maintain progress, and rebuild confidence in a structured, supportive environment.
Skillman provides 24/7 supervision in a secure, home-like setting. Our campuses are designed to promote safety, structure, and therapeutic connection, allowing teens to focus on healing in a protected environment.
We accept most major insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente, Optum, United Healthcare, and more. Our admissions team helps families verify coverage and navigate the process.
Admissions begins with a confidential call to our team to discuss your teen’s needs, answer questions, and determine fit. A clinical assessment follows, and we guide families through paperwork, insurance coordination, and next steps for arrival at the campus.
Aftercare is a critical part of recovery. We create a personalized plan that may include outpatient therapy, IOP, academic reintegration, family support, relapse prevention, and access to private online alumni groups to maintain progress and connection.
Talk with our admissions team about how Muir Wood can help your family take the next step.
