We are proud of the treatment we offer at Muir Wood and the impact it has on the teens in our care as well as their families. Doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, education consultants, and addiction specialists throughout the U.S. and Canada trust Muir Wood’s treatment program.
When their teens needed help, the families below chose Muir Wood. Listen to their stories in these Muir Wood adolescent and family services testimonials to understand the life-changing decision they made to seek treatment. Learn about the many teen conditions we treat.
Video Testimonials from Muir Wood Families
Janine M.
These real teen outcomes speak to the effectiveness of our programs best. In this video, Janine describes how her family found healing for their son William through Muir Wood’s residential treatment program.
“We weren’t sure what to do,” she shares. “We came to the meeting…and a [Muir Wood staff member] assured us that, based on our story of what was going on with William, this would be a good fit for him….We finally had some hope; we finally saw a ray of light that somebody could help us with this problem.”
Katie F.
Another parent, Katie, shares how her son became angry and distant, even from his friends. When she turned to Muir Wood for help, she finally felt like she wasn’t alone.
“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.”
Laci R.
Laci R. was a client at Muir Wood in 2022. Here she shares her story about mental health and substance use challenges, her time in treatment, and her life now that she is 2 years sober. She plans to either pursue a career in nursing or enter the mental health treatment field. We are very proud to have Laci as an Alum!
Wesley M.
Muir Wood Alum Wesley M. is confident that Muir Wood saved his life. He was a heavy substance user and struggled with many issues prior to coming to Muir Wood during the pandemic. Now, years later, Wes has rebuilt his relationship with his parents and is now working as a substance abuse counselor in South Dakota. As success stories go, this one is beyond great! Nice work Wes! We’re proud of you!
Chaylee B.
Chaylee B. talks about her substance use before coming to Muir Wood. She also shares that Muir Wood ended her Fentanyl addiction and put her on a solid road to recovery. She is now 2 years sober and pursuing a career as an artist. Way to go Chay!
These are only a few of the stories Muir Wood alums and families have to share. Hear more stories from families, former clients, and mental health professionals on the Muir Wood video podcast. You can also explore our other videos about program outcomes, locations, and academic support.
Enrolling Your Teen in a Muir Wood Treatment Program
Muir Wood is here to support you when you don’t know where else to turn. We offer mental health treatment (with or without co-occurring substance use) for teens ages 12 to 17. Fill out our Teen Treatment Pre-Assessment Form.
Frequently Asked Questions About Muir Wood’s Testimonials and Reviews
How are reviews and testimonials collected for Muir Wood?
Reviews and testimonials are collected through various channels, including post-treatment surveys, direct feedback from clients and their families, and independent review platforms like Google. We strive to gather honest and comprehensive feedback to continually improve our services. Learn how we measure treatment outcomes.
Are there other video testimonials available?
Yes, we have video testimonials from former clients and their families. You can view the ones we have on this page or look at our YouTube channel for more video reviews about Muir Wood. Each one shares personal and detailed accounts of the impact of our programs.
Can I speak to someone who has gone through your program?
While we respect the privacy of our former clients, we can arrange for you to speak with alumni or their families who have volunteered to share their experiences. Please contact our admissions team for more information.
What should I look for in treatment facility reviews to make an informed decision?
Look for detailed accounts of the treatment process, staff qualifications, therapies offered, level of family involvement, and overall outcomes. Learn more about what to look for in a treatment facility in our parents’ guide.
Can I read reviews from independent sources?
Absolutely. In addition to the testimonials on our website, you can find independent reviews on platforms like Google, and specialized healthcare review sites. These sources provide additional perspectives on our services.
More Reviews from Alumni and Families
“I can tell you from my personal experience the staff at Muir Wood saved my family. My son was battling addiction and that battle was destroying him and us. It is my most sincere belief that only due to the extraordinary skill of the staff at Muir Wood is my family intact today.” – D.B. (father of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“As a result of Muir Wood, our son graduated from high school (and received the highest semester grade point average from his school), applied to and was accepted to a University, was able to work as a youth counselor at a summer camp this past summer, and now has a chance for a productive and rewarding future, that we believe did not exist just a year ago.” – E.A. (father of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“My fifteen-year-old son was in a downward spiral of addiction and depression that almost annihilated him and devastated our family. Muir Wood saved my son’s life and began the healing process for our family. The entire staff at Muir Wood demonstrated incredible compassion, integrity and responsive expertise during his stay there and after discharge.” – E.G. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“The clinical program at Muir Wood is outstanding. Each member of our family benefited from the program and we left with a greater awareness of each other, our individual and familial issues, and the shift in behavior required to move forward.” – T.C. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“[Our family therapist at Muir Wood] had great insight and communication skills. I feel you gave us a good foundation to start our son’s adolescent years with a better future.” – S.P. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“I just wanted to touch base and yet again say how much we appreciate you and learned from you…and we hear your voice in our heads every day and [we] are especially utilizing your brilliant teachings with each other and it is truly making a difference. Thank you so much and keep up the awesome work.” – A.C. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“We have all learned and grown so much through this and I imagine our paths have been greatly changed because of it, especially with our new knowledge to help others, as so many of you helped us. We love you so much and can’t thank you enough for being there every minute of the way with us. We know the journey continues and will be up and down, but we are incredibly grateful to you all for your support.” – R.C. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“Arriving at Muir Wood I felt like we were swooped into the heart of a family, we were being held and taken care of in a way that I haven’t felt in a very long time. The day [my partner] and I came for a visit the first people we met were [other parents]. They were sitting in their car and got out after we pulled up. [The mother] came over to us and gave us both a big hug and started talking to us. It was the first time I spoke with another mom who knew exactly what I was going through.” – D.K. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“Muir Wood is a wonderful place, is kept up very well, and the staff is always polite, professional and approachable. One of the nice things about the facility is that it is nice and the teens can focus on their problems and not the environment. If it were not nice (e.g. an outdoor program), the focus can be lost and delay dealing with real issues. I believe the teens see how nice it is and they have one less thing to complain about or be distracted from.” – K.A. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“The clinical treatment program was amazing. There are so many levels of contact and interaction; all of which appear to be coordinated/communicated between the professional staff. The individual sessions (from three different people), combined with the group sessions, appear to break down barriers and allow the teens to deal with underlying issues, rather than just the obvious symptom (addictive behavior) that brought them to the facility. We were surprised at the amount of information they were able to get from our son in a short time and how well he was diagnosed. The family sessions were extremely helpful and added to the understanding of the healing process. Without those sessions, I do not believe our son (and family) would be as ready to deal with the challenges we face after discharge. The multi-family group sessions I felt were extremely helpful, useful and relevant. Interacting with other families (both the kids and parents) was another layer of learning and understanding that we could not get at home (or in a weekly one-hour group session).” – E.A. (father of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“The entire staff was awesome. Any time we needed something they were there immediately.” – D.G. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“There isn’t enough space to tell you how Muir Wood affected our family. We want to acknowledge everyone. You all did your job very and with a lot of care and patience!” – J.N. & K.N. (parents of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“By all accounts from his teachers & advisors, [our son] is more engaged and accountable & able to work through things with tempered emotions. I can’t say enough about your fantastic team at Muir Wood. Every single one of your people made a difference to [our son]. Everyone is all-star caliber. These are people I would trust my son’s life with. [Our son] learned so much under your care. I am deeply grateful.” – T.T. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“For so long I wished for [my son] to have a positive male role model that he could connect with. You all were the answer to my prayers. Never underestimate the importance of the work you do, it saves lives.” – H.K. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“I wish places like Muir Wood were available to all teens who struggle with addiction. I’ve seen the inside of treatment centers that are covered by Medi-Cal and insurance companies and it breaks my heart to think there are so many teens who don’t have the access to places like Muir Wood. All teens deserve a place where they can feel safe and embrace recovery.” – D.K. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“Each call was answered with a caring and professional style. We felt there was no sales pitch / just a deep caring and understanding for what we were going through. Much different than other programs. Scott and Jennifer provided a very customized approach. Sincerely appreciated.” – R.C. (father of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“Stellar team…that customized the program for our [son]. We are thankful for all of your efforts to help him. There were a lot of tough grinding that had to occur as we appreciate the professionalism/ that the team took on [our son’s] behalf. You really run and excellent program.” – Amy C. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“It felt like my son was living in a warm home with people who cared about him, not an institution. That atmosphere really allayed my fears about “sending away” a child who really was not disruptive at home and probably allayed his fears and made him more receptive to working on his issues.” – J.F. (father of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“I was impressed by the phone calls received prior to [our son’s] admission to Muir Wood. I spoke multiple times with Executive Director and Clinical Director. The conversations were comprehensive and I felt the program had a very good understanding of [our son’s] needs. Dr. Wachter, psychiatrist, called and was thorough in reviewing [our son’s] history with me and he also reviewed is previous reports, evaluations, and testing. I never felt rushed and I appreciated all the time they spent with me. This made me feel very comfortable sending him to this program.” – R.A. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“We interviewed many places before deciding on Muir Wood. One of the aspects of the phone call that greatly influenced our decision to send [our son] to Muir Wood was the level of sincere interest in [our son] and what was going on with him. You worked to get an understanding of him as a person and that made it personal for us. For any parent, having a level of confidence that the place you choose will be staffed with caring individuals who are committed to your child is imperative and that came across loud and clear in the initial phone calls. Every other place we called was able to give us a menu of what they did, but did not express the same kind of personal interest in [our son] that [the Muir Wood staff] did upon those initial calls.” – M.J. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“Accommodations and meals were great. It was obvious the care that your Executive Chef put into each meal. We appreciate his attention to providing [our son] with a healthy, nutritious diet.” – G.M. (father of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“After speaking with [the staff] during our review of Muir Wood, we came away with a high expectation that Muir Wood had the quality of care that we were looking for. That expectation was more than met based on our actual experience with the program.” – M.J. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“I like the personal, caring approach to care combined with knowing that the staff is extremely qualified to do what they do. This combination created for us a high level of confidence that [our son] would have the best possible shot at a successful long term recovery.” – T.J. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“The friendliness/knowledge/professional atmosphere were incredible! The cleanliness shocked me with the presence of 6 teens. I have 4 teens at home and the household never looks as well kept as Muir Wood!” – B.K. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“I never thought I would be taking my son to treatment for substance abuse at age 15. I was scared, and overwhelmed and knew he needed help and services here were lacking where I lived. From the moment I called Muir Wood, something inside of me told me this was the place to bring my son. I was impressed with the approach they took to dealing with teens with addiction issues. This treatment centre offers a wide range of approaches to treat the whole person and the family. The staff are amazing and the kids relate to them very well. Muir Wood is the gold standard, and I highly recommend them. If you’re struggling with your teen, I strongly encourage you to bring them here. My son has remarkably changed since his stay; he’s embracing a healthy lifestyle free of drugs, he’s easy to get along with, cleans up after himself, does chores willingly. I am so very pleased and relieved.” – L.L. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“Our experience has been wonderful. Thank you for all you have done for our family.” – P.V. (father of a Muir Wood alumnus)
“I can’t say enough about the academic component at Muir Wood. I really appreciated the individualized instruction, the thoroughness of the learning plan and communication with his home schoolteachers. I also felt connected receiving the weekly progress notes we received.” – T.T. (mother of a Muir Wood alumnus)