Penngrove Campus: Specialized Girls Mental Health Treatment in Sonoma County
Penngrove is dedicated exclusively to adolescents girls 12-17 with high-acuity primary mental health needs centered on trauma, emotional development, and psychiatric stabilization, and who are best served in a quieter, lower-sensory therapeutic environment. While Muir Wood’s other residential campuses may serve teens with both primary mental health and co-occurring substance use needs, Penngrove does not admit for substance use treatment. Its group programming, psychoeducation, and day-to-day clinical environment are therefore fully centered on primary mental health care.
The teens who come to Penngrove present with clinical pictures that are often misunderstood or only partially addressed in other settings. These are girls whose needs go beyond a single diagnosis — and whose previous treatment experiences may have helped with one piece of the picture while leaving the rest untouched.
Common presentations at Penngrove include:
Significant trauma histories that shape how the teen relates to herself, to others, and to the daily demands of life
Psychiatric complexity involving depression, anxiety, mood dysregulation, self-harm, suicidal ideation, or combinations of conditions that require individualized clinical attention
Neurodivergence, including ADHD, higher-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD Level 1), or learning differences alongside mental health challenges
Emotional dysregulation that has made functioning at school, at home, or in peer relationships unsustainable
Prior treatment that didn’t hold — teens who have been through outpatient therapy, other residential programs, or hospitalizations without lasting progress
For families, Penngrove offers their child the chance to be fully understood. For referring clinicians, it is a placement built for the adolescent girl whose complexity requires both clinical precision and depth of relationship.
Focused Exclusively on Mental Health
Penngrove focuses exclusively on mental health treatment, it does not offer a substance use treatment component. This means Penngrove’s entire therapeutic structure — group programming, psychoeducation, and the clinical focus of daily life — is organized around mental health, trauma, and emotional development.
For teens whose clinical picture is purely mental health, Penngrove offers something powerful: a community of peers navigating similar challenges, in a therapeutic environment built specifically for those challenges. The groups are more relevant. The peer dynamics are better matched. The clinical energy is concentrated.
For families navigating both mental health and substance use concerns, Muir Wood’s dual-diagnosis campuses offer the same caliber of clinical care — with treatment that addresses both simultaneously. Our admissions team helps each family find the right campus match based on the teen’s specific clinical picture.
A Clinical Environment Built for Depth
Penngrove’s setting is part of the treatment. Tucked among the farmland and rolling hills of Sonoma County, the campus is intentionally quiet and removed from the overstimulation that many of these teens have been navigating in daily life. For teens whose nervous systems are already activated — by trauma, by sensory sensitivity, by the relentless social pressure of adolescence — the calm of the environment is itself part of the healing.
The structure of daily life — predictable routines, clear expectations, consistent relationships — supports the emotional safety required for real therapeutic work. Penngrove is designed so that teens feel safe, seen, and genuinely known by the people caring for them. That foundation is what makes deep therapeutic work possible.
Every aspect of our care is grounded in a trauma-informed lens, allowing us to truly understand the ‘why’ behind each adolescent’s experience rather than simply addressing surface behaviors. When adolescents feel genuinely safe and understood, they’re able to go beyond coping and begin real, transformative healing. Our approach is collaborative, never punitive. We meet each client where they are and partner with them in a way that builds trust, autonomy, and lasting change.
Treatment at Penngrove is built around evidence-based modalities adapted to the developmental needs of adolescents, with particular attention to the complexity of the clinical presentations this campus serves.
Trauma-Informed Care
Treatment at Penngrove is built around evidence-based modalities adapted to the developmental needs of adolescents, with particular attention to the complexity of the clinical presentations this campus serves.
Individual Therapy
Each teen receives at least two individual sessions per week, led by our team of therapists and recovery counselors. The primary therapist holds the full clinical picture, coordinates with the broader team, and guides the therapeutic work week by week. For the teens at Penngrove, individual therapy is where the most personal and complex material is processed — trauma, identity, family dynamics, and the emotional patterns that have brought them to treatment.
Family Therapy and Parent Support
Family therapy is conducted weekly by your teen’s primary therapist. Twice-weekly parent education classes and a weekly parent support group provide additional spaces for parents to learn, connect with peers, and process their own experience. As Joanna describes it, “We believe healing doesn’t happen in isolation, which is why we prioritize consistent, transparent communication and aren’t afraid to lean into even the most complex family dynamics. These moments, when handled with skill and care, often become the turning point for deeper connection and repair.” By the time your teen returns home, both you and your teen will have built on parallel tracks of growth — your teen through their individualized clinical work, and you through family therapy, education, and peer support.
Group Therapy
Penngrove’s groups are led by experienced adolescent clinicians and intentionally sized to be supportive rather than overwhelming. Because Penngrove serves only primary mental health clients, the group content is focused specifically on the challenges these teens share — trauma processing, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, communication, and building healthy peer relationships.
Psychiatric Evaluation & Medication Management
Many teens at Penngrove benefit from psychiatric medication as part of their treatment plan. Our adolescent psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) consider the full clinical picture before making recommendations. Our approach is non-ideological and least-necessary: medication is used only when clinically indicated, always in combination with therapy, and always in close collaboration with families.
Clinical Modalities
Our clinicians draw from multiple evidence-based approaches depending on each teen’s clinical picture and developmental readiness — including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), DBT-informed skills, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma-informed care modalities such as Internal Family Systems and nervous system regulation, Seeking Safety, and experiential therapies. The treatment meets the teen, not the other way around.
Mental Health Conditions We Treat
Our teen treatment programs are focused on more than just managing symptoms—they aim to build a strong foundation for lasting mental wellness. We provide integrated care that addresses both emotional and behavioral challenges, helping teens find stability and regain confidence. Our team collaborates closely to deliver personalized support tailored to each teen’s needs—focusing on mental health, emotional resilience, and strengthening family relationships to sustain long-term recovery.
We provide targeted care for teens struggling with:
Our team partners closely with parents from day one with clear updates, a personalized plan, and real-world tools you can use between sessions, so your teen can move toward stability and lasting wellness alongside peers facing similar challenges.
Specialists in Adolescent Care
Everything we do is built for teens ages 12 to 17. Board-certified clinicians who focus exclusively on adolescent mental health and substance use deliver evidence-based, developmentally appropriate care.
Community and Connection
Therapist-led groups and daily peer interaction help teens feel understood. Connection with others facing similar challenges becomes a core part of the recovery process.
Primary Mental Health Plus Substance Use
Our trauma-informed approach treats substance use and the mental health conditions underneath it together, so teens heal deeply rather than trading one struggle for another.
Support for the Whole Family
Healing happens together. Families stay involved through therapy, education, and a 16-week aftercare coaching program that builds trust and stability long after treatment ends.
Care Covered by Insurance
We partner with most major insurers to remove financial barriers, so families can access high-quality, evidence-based treatment when it matters most.
Stay in School While Getting Support
Through our WASC-accredited academic program, students keep learning with personalized support, so treatment does not mean falling behind.
Continuum of Care
When a program is complete, we coordinate a thoughtful transition, collaborating with outpatient therapists, schools, and community providers to sustain progress.
Speak With a Teen Treatment Specialist
Connect with our admissions team today to learn how Muir Wood can support your family.
Set among Sonoma County’s farmland and rolling hills, Penngrove’s serene setting is intentionally quiet and removed from daily overstimulation. With 24/7 care, teens spend their days in a therapeutic community and return to their residences to process, decompress, and connect with others. This balance of community and intimacy creates a healing environment where every moment supports the recovery process.
My suicidal teen spent 68 days at Muir Wood, and I could not have asked for anything more. Haley is the best therapist I’ve ever worked with — they lovingly challenged my teen to face what was hurting them and make peace with it. My child came home transformed into the best version of their true self — and as a non-binary teen, they found the program wonderfully LGBTQ-affirming.
JoshAlumni Parent
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.
We all had great experiences through the Muir Wood program. Liana really liked her Therapist, Travis. Her dad and I got so much out of the parenting classes and parenting support group and family therapy sessions. We think Liana learned some valuable coping skills at Muir Wood.
IG
Jul 2026
My child got the best care, It is safe,clean and flexable. Lilly was a very helpful and understanding. My child left feeling in control and ready to use the tools she learned.
AP
Jul 2026
Lily was great as therapist. Lots of good Group Sessions.
CR
Jul 2026
We felt this was a safe and very structured environment for our daughter. We felt comfortable with the staff and thought Lily did a fantastic job opening the lines of communication with Allison.
JM
Jul 2026
Very professional, safe and science based approach
UB
Jul 2026
We got great care, full family services. New perspective on Leah's dx and medication.
DM
Jul 2026
The reason I gave you a highly rated recommendation is because your facility has made my child feel safe, supported, and truly cared for. She has made great progress, and I can clearly see positive changes in her behavior and overall development.
PR
Jul 2026
It’s been a fantastic program for our daughter. Incredible staff and attention to her health. Excellent parenting classes and support groups and incredible guidance for her and us navigating her growth and health.
IG
Jul 2026
Meet Your Teen’s Mental Healthcare Team at Penngrove
At Muir Wood Teen, healing is driven by connection and expert care. Each adolescent’s residential treatment plan is overseen by a dedicated team of psychiatrists, licensed therapists, nurses, and educators who specialize in adolescent mental health and co-occurring substance use. By coordinating evidence-based therapies, group and individual sessions, and family support, our team addresses each teen’s unique needs—building coping skills, emotional resilience, and confidence that extend well beyond their time in treatment.
What to Expect: Daily Life for Your Teen in Residential Treatment
A predictable routine brings relief. Each day at Muir Wood Teen in Penngrove combines therapy, academics, and connection within a structured rhythm that helps teens manage mental health disorders, develop coping skills, and regain confidence.
Programming, offered 3–4 afternoons per week, includes:
Morning — Routine, Medication, and Academics
Wake up and breakfast in a small, home-like residence with 24/7 clinical supervision.
Short goal-setting group to center the day and build self-awareness.
Transportation to the central treatment hub.
~3 hours of accredited classroom instruction (WASC) with on-site teachers, coordinating with home schools or approved online coursework to ensure teens keep up academically.
Midday/Afternoon — Therapy, Skills, and Movement
Individual therapy sessions (1–2× per week) for adolescent-specific mental health needs.
Group therapy focused on emotion regulation, coping skills, social interaction, and peer connection.
Family therapy is provided weekly or biweekly to support home transitions and discharge planning.
Experiential therapies, including art, mindfulness, recreational therapy, and outdoor movement, support behavioral health services and overall wellness.
Evening — Reflection, Community, and Rest
Return to the residence for family-style dinner and downtime.
Evening reflection group to review goals, practice coping strategies, and plan for tomorrow.
Quiet time, hygiene, and lights-out—consistent routines promote sleep, stability, and mental health recovery.
Housing assigned by gender at birth ensures safety and privacy while maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment.
Weekends — Skill-Building and Peer Connection
Saturday: Clinical groups and recreational therapy, including structured outdoor and team activities.
Sunday: Longer experiential outings (hiking, rock climbing, or similar activities) to foster confidence, joy, and healthy peer relationships.
Tour the Penngrove Campus
Penngrove operates on a hub-and-spoke model. The main campus at Penngrove South serves as the clinical and programming center — where therapy, groups, academics, and experiential activities take place during the day. Teens live in one of several residences across the Penngrove area, each staffed by the same treatment team and following the same clinical model.
Current Penngrove residences include:
Penngrove South — the main campus and primary residence
Penngrove North — a residential house providing additional capacity
Sonoma Mountain — a residential house set in the surrounding hills
All residences offer the same level of clinical care, staffing, and daily structure. During the admissions process, our team will walk you through the specific residence your daughter would be placed in, and video tours of each location are available so you can see the environment before your teen arrives.
In addition to our main Penngrove South campus, Muir Wood operates two satellite houses — Penngrove North and Sonoma Mountain — which provide additional residential capacity for our teens.
Family Stories & Campus Tours
Hear directly from a Muir Wood alum, then take a video tour of the Penngrove campus and its residences among Sonoma County’s farmland and rolling hills.
“I Finally Understood Myself”
A Muir Wood Teen treatment alumni shares her journey from crisis to self-discovery and lasting recovery.
Muir Wood Penngrove Campus
A video tour of the Penngrove South campus and grounds in Sonoma County.
Muir Wood Penngrove
Walk through the Penngrove campus residences and outdoor spaces.
Experiential & Wellness Therapies
Healing at Penngrove extends beyond the therapy room. Creative expression, mindfulness, movement, and time in nature are integrated into daily life as core elements of treatment — not as optional extras.
Creative expression. Art and music therapy give teens ways to process and express experiences that are difficult to put into words.
Mindfulness and meditation. Guided practices reduce stress, build focus, and equip teens with tools for managing intense emotions during and after treatment.
Outdoor and nature-based activities. Penngrove’s serene Sonoma County setting supports daily outdoor time — hiking, campus gardens, experiential groups — in a treatment environment that doesn’t look or feel like a clinical institution.
Movement and wellness. Yoga, team activities, and structured recreation help teens rebuild the physical baseline that supports emotional healing.
Each experiential therapy complements traditional behavioral health services, providing a holistic approach that promotes emotional resilience, identity development, and lasting well-being for young people.
Types of Therapy
Every teen’s residential treatment plan at Muir Wood Teen in Penngrove is customized to their specific emotional, behavioral, and academic needs. Our licensed mental health professionals use a trauma-informed approach that addresses both underlying causes and presenting symptoms, while actively involving family members to strengthen home support. Programs are tailored for adolescents experiencing mental health disorders such as ADHD, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, trauma, disordered eating, or co-occurring substance use. This individualized approach helps young people build coping skills, confidence, and resilience that extend into daily life.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Guides teens to identify unhelpful thinking patterns, challenge negative self-beliefs, and develop healthier coping strategies.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Teaches emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and effective communication to manage intense feelings and prevent self-harm.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Encourages mindfulness and values-based choices, helping teens act in line with their goals even in stressful situations.
Trauma-Informed Therapy & Seeking Safety
Provides a safe, structured environment for processing trauma or emotional distress at an appropriate pace, promoting self-trust and stability.
Mindfulness & Experiential Therapies
Integrates art, movement, and outdoor activities to reduce anxiety, enhance self-awareness, and strengthen focus and expression.
Process & Psychoeducation Groups
Focuses on problem-solving, communication, and education about mental health, substance use, and healthy daily routines.
Family Therapy Sessions
Engage parents and caregivers directly, improving communication, rebuilding trust, and ensuring skills learned in residential care carry over to home life.
The typical residential stay at Penngrove ranges from 45 to 60 days, with some stays extending to 90 days depending on clinical progress and insurance authorization. During treatment, teens engage in daily therapy, academic instruction, experiential activities, and supervised peer interaction. Before discharge, our team develops a continuing care plan tailored to each teen’s needs.
Continuing care options include:
Stepping down to Muir Wood’s intensive outpatient program (IOP) in nearby Petaluma.
Transitioning to an outside IOP or PHP, or connecting with outpatient therapists and psychiatric providers.
Alumni check-ins and virtual teen support groups to maintain peer connection and accountability.
Our 16-week aftercare coaching program for parents — helping families apply what they’ve learned, navigate the first 90 days home, and maintain progress built during treatment.
This continuum of care ensures that teens and their families stay supported, continue skill-building, and maintain long-term wellness beyond residential treatment.
Learn more about the conditions we treat or call us at 866-705-0828 to speak with a staff member.
Serving Penngrove and the North Bay Region
Nestled at the foot of the western flank of Sonoma Mountain, Muir Wood Teen in Penngrove provides a safe, structured residential environment for adolescents across the North Bay—including Sonoma, Marin, and Napa counties. With 24/7 clinical supervision, on-site academics, and compassionate mental health services, our program supports teens in building resilience, managing anxiety disorders, behavioral issues, and co-occurring mental health conditions, and developing the skills needed for lasting growth. Families trust Muir Wood Teen to offer guidance, structure, and a nurturing space where young people can reflect, heal, and reconnect with themselves and those they love.
What is residential treatment for teen mental health?
Residential treatment provides 24/7 clinical care and structure for adolescents who need more support than outpatient therapy can offer. At Muir Wood Teen in Penngrove, teens live on campus and follow a consistent daily schedule that includes therapy sessions, academics, recreational therapy, and family involvement—all within a safe, supportive environment designed to promote emotional healing, coping skills, and overall wellness.
When is residential treatment the right choice for my teen?
Residential care may be appropriate if your teen's anxiety, depression, or emotional distress has intensified, or if weekly therapy is no longer helping. Signs may include significant mood changes, withdrawal from social interaction, self-harm, panic attacks, or difficulty functioning at school or home. Our admissions team can guide you through the admissions process and help determine whether residential care is the best level of support for your teen.
What conditions do you treat at Muir Wood Teen in Penngrove?
We treat a broad range of adolescent mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma and PTSD, OCD, ADHD, self-harm, and other co-occurring mental health or behavioral issues. Each teen receives a personalized treatment plan developed by licensed mental health professionals, addressing their emotional, academic, and family needs.
What happens after my teen completes the program?
Before discharge, our team creates a comprehensive continuing care plan, coordinating with outpatient therapists, psychiatrists, and schools. Many families transition to our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or other appropriate outpatient care. Ongoing alumni support and parent coaching help teens maintain progress and apply new coping skills in daily life.
Does Muir Wood Teen accept insurance?
Yes. We are in-network with most major insurance providers and can verify benefits quickly. Your coordinator will review coverage details, including co-pays, deductibles, and limits, to ensure transparency. While we do not currently accept Medicaid, we can assist with documentation for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
Is the program gender-specific and inclusive?
Yes. Muir Wood Teen provides gender-at-birth housing for safety and comfort while maintaining an affirming and inclusive environment for all identities. Our clinicians are trained to deliver trauma-informed, gender-sensitive care, ensuring every teen feels respected and supported.
What are my payment options?
We work with in-network insurance plans and can verify benefits before treatment begins. For out-of-network families, we explore single-case agreements and provide documentation to help with reimbursement. Our goal is to minimize financial stress so families can focus on their teen's mental health treatment and residential care.
Get Support for Your Teen Today
Talk with our admissions team about how Muir Wood can help your family take the next step.
