Teen Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment for Colorado Families
Specialized residential care in California — with compassionate support for families traveling from Colorado.
When the right level of adolescent treatment isn’t available locally, traveling for care can be the right decision and has tangible therapeutic benefits. Muir Wood has helped families from across the country access evidence-based, dual-diagnosis treatment at our California campuses — and our admissions team knows how to make the travel, coordination, and family involvement work for out-of-state families. Our clinical depth, family programming, and continuum of care make the distance worth it.
In-Network With Most Commercial Insurers
*At this time we do not accept Health First Colorado, CHP+, or Medicaid
What We Treat
Muir Wood treats the full range of adolescent mental health and substance use conditions at our California campuses, with integrated dual-diagnosis care and family programming that supports out-of-state families throughout treatment. Every teen receives an individualized treatment plan built around the full picture of what they’re experiencing.
Substance Use and Dual Diagnosis
For adolescents, substance use rarely exists in isolation. We treat substance use alongside the underlying mental health conditions driving it — because addressing only one limits how far recovery can go.
Depression and Mood Disorders
From persistent sadness and hopelessness to bipolar disorder and emotional dysregulation, our clinical team provides evidence-based treatment for the full spectrum of adolescent mood conditions.
Anxiety Disorders
Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and OCD often intensify during adolescence. We help teens understand what’s happening and build practical skills for managing it.
Trauma and PTSD
Our trauma-informed approach recognizes that behaviors adults sometimes label as defiance or withdrawal are often protective responses to past pain — and treats the teen, not just the symptom.
Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation
Self-harm and suicidal thoughts do not disqualify a teen from treatment — they are exactly what treatment is designed to address. Our clinical team has deep experience supporting teens through these challenges.
Behavioral and Family Challenges
From persistent sadness and hopelessness to bipolar disorder and emotional dysregulation, our clinical team provides evidence-based treatment for the full spectrum of adolescent mood conditions.
Substance Use and Dual Diagnosis
For adolescents, substance use rarely exists in isolation. We treat substance use alongside the underlying mental health conditions driving it — because addressing only one limits how far recovery can go.
Depression and Mood Disorders
From persistent sadness and hopelessness to bipolar disorder and emotional dysregulation, our clinical team provides evidence-based treatment for the full spectrum of adolescent mood conditions.
Anxiety Disorders
Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and OCD often intensify during adolescence. We help teens understand what’s happening and build practical skills for managing it.
Trauma and PTSD
Our trauma-informed approach recognizes that behaviors adults sometimes label as defiance or withdrawal are often protective responses to past pain — and treats the teen, not just the symptom.
Why Families Choose Muir Wood Teen Treatment
Choosing treatment for a teen is one of the hardest decisions a family can make. Here’s what sets Muir Wood apart.
Everything we do is built for teens ages 12–17 — not adapted from adult models. Our team of board-certified adolescent psychiatrists, licensed therapists, nurses, educators, and recovery counselors works exclusively with adolescents, every day.
Family involvement isn’t an optional add-on. From day one through our 16-week aftercare coaching program, parents are equipped with real skills, real communication tools, and real support for the transition home.
Family involvement isn’t an optional add-on. From day one through our 16-week aftercare coaching program, parents are equipped with real skills, real communication tools, and real support for the transition home.
Family involvement isn’t an optional add-on. From day one through our 16-week aftercare coaching program, parents are equipped with real skills, real communication tools, and real support for the transition home.
Everything we do is built for teens ages 12–17 — not adapted from adult models. Our team of board-certified adolescent psychiatrists, licensed therapists, nurses, educators, and recovery counselors works exclusively with adolescents, every day.
Family involvement isn’t an optional add-on. From day one through our 16-week aftercare coaching program, parents are equipped with real skills, real communication tools, and real support for the transition home.
Most teens arriving at Muir Wood are managing more than one challenge at once — mental health and substance use, trauma and anxiety, depression and behavioral issues. Our integrated clinical model treats the whole teen, not a single diagnosis.
We’re in-network with most major commercial insurance plans, and our admissions team walks families through verification, benefits, and authorization so you can focus on your teen instead of the paperwork.
Residential Care for Colorado Teens
Residential Treatment
For teens who need 24/7 clinical support in a structured, home-like environment. Our residential program combines individual therapy, group therapy, family programming, and WASC-accredited academics in serene, nature-rich campuses across California.
Support for Families Traveling From Colorado
We know deciding to send your teen to treatment out of state is an enormous decision. Our admissions team helps Colorado families coordinate travel logistics, understand insurance coverage for out-of-state care, and stay meaningfully involved throughout treatment — with weekly family therapy available via secure video, twice-weekly parent classes you can join from home, and regular huddle calls with your teen’s treatment team. Distance doesn’t have to mean disconnection.
Stories From Muir Wood
Every family that comes to Muir Wood arrives with a different story — and leaves
with a different one. Here, a teen alum and a parent share theirs.
Real Reviews from Real Parents
Nothing speaks to what a teen treatment center is like more than reviews from parents who have lived the experience.
“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
“My daughter is at the Petaluma site. She has been there for about 40 days and the therapist has been very communicative. I feel part of her treatment and have been updated weekly, as well as a fast response any time 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., October 2025
“From the moment we walked through the doors, we felt like part of a supportive community 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
“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
“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
Safe, Supportive Spaces for Teen Healing
Our Locations
Muir Wood operates residential and intensive outpatient programs across three regions of California.
What Happens When You Call
We know picking up the phone can feel like the hardest part. Here’s exactly what
to expect when you reach out.
Speak With an Admissions Coordinator
A real person answers — not a call center. You’ll have space to share what’s going on, ask questions, and get honest information. There’s no pressure and no obligation.
Brief Clinical Consultation
Our team helps you understand what level of care may be appropriate for your teen and whether Muir Wood is the right fit. If we’re not, we’ll tell you and help point you toward better options.
Insurance Verification and Next Steps
We handle the insurance verification process directly with your carrier and walk you through benefits, coverage, and what admission looks like from here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Muir Wood operates residential campuses in three California regions: Sonoma County (serviced by SFO airport, about 2 hours 55 minutes from Denver with a 50-minute drive to campus), the Central Valley (serviced by Fresno Yosemite International or FAT, about 2 hours 20 minutes from Denver with a 15-minute drive to campus), and Southern California (serviced by Ontario International or ONT, about 2 hours 25 minutes from Denver with a 25-minute drive to campus). In all cases, Colorado families can travel door-to-campus in well under five hours. Denver International Airport offers multiple daily nonstop flights to each of these destinations.
For most Colorado families with commercial insurance, yes. Muir Wood is in-network with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Colorado, Cigna, Aetna, United Healthcare and Optum, TRICARE, and many employer-sponsored plans administered by these carriers. Out-of-state treatment is a routine benefit category for commercial insurance; your carrier does not have to authorize out-of-state care as a special exception. Our admissions team verifies benefits directly with your insurer, usually during the first call. Muir Wood is not in-network with Medicaid, Medi-Cal, or Health First Colorado.
Family involvement at Muir Wood is built for out-of-state families. Weekly family therapy with your teen’s primary therapist is available via secure video. Twice-weekly parent education classes are available via video. A weekly parent support group connects you with other current families. Regular huddle calls with the treatment team provide progress updates. You will have direct contact with your teen’s clinical team throughout treatment, and a 16-week aftercare coaching program continues supporting families after discharge.
Adolescent residential treatment capacity in Colorado is limited, and families often encounter waitlists when they need help immediately. Muir Wood has capacity to help Colorado families now, and our admissions team can typically complete insurance verification, clinical screening, and admission coordination within days. When a teen is in crisis and a local program has a six-week waitlist, that delay is not always safe, and out-of-state treatment becomes the clearest path forward.
Our admissions team helps Colorado families coordinate flights, ground transportation from the airport, and arrival at campus. For most admissions, parents travel with their teen for the initial intake, stay for the first family meeting, and return home after a brief orientation. Subsequent family visits can be scheduled around the family therapy calendar, and many Colorado families find that the travel is actually the easiest part of the process once admission is underway.
Call our admissions team directly at 866-705-0828, or use our insurance verification form to begin the process online. A coordinator will reach out to walk you through next steps, answer your questions, and help you understand whether Muir Wood is the right fit for your teen and family.
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