Trauma can change how a teen feels, thinks, and connects with others. We work with adolescents to rebuild trust, confidence, and emotional safety after difficult experiences. Our trauma treatment programs—offering both residential and intensive outpatient care—provide structure, therapy, and support tailored to each teen’s needs. Every aspect of treatment is trauma-informed and focused on helping teens process what they’ve been through while learning healthy ways to cope and move forward. By integrating family involvement and academic support into care, teens strengthen resilience both at home and in school. Healing isn’t about erasing the past—it’s about helping teens feel safe, connected, and hopeful again.
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.
When a teen has experienced a traumatic event, the effects can show up in many different ways, and parents may not always recognize them right away. Some teens may seem withdrawn, irritable, or easily frustrated, while others might act out, struggle with behavior problems, or engage in risky behaviors. Changes in sleep, appetite, or academic performance can also be subtle indicators that a teen is struggling to cope. Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts about past events are common, as are strong emotional reactions to reminders of trauma.
For some adolescents, trauma can also lead to self-harm, heightened anxiety, and substance abuse as they try to manage overwhelming emotions. Teens may avoid situations, people, or places that remind them of the trauma, struggle to concentrate in school, or withdraw from friends and family members. These behaviors are not intentional—they are a reflection of how the brain and body respond to traumatic experiences, whether the trauma involves sexual abuse, domestic violence, natural disasters, or other traumatic events.
Parents and caregivers play a critical role in noticing these changes and seeking timely intervention. Early recognition and professional support can help teens learn coping skills, regain emotional regulation, and reduce the long-term impact of trauma on their mental health and well-being. At Muir Wood Teen, our programs provide evidence-based trauma treatment for adolescents, including TF-CBT, family therapy, and mindfulness practices, giving teens the tools and safe space they need to heal while keeping family members actively involved in the recovery process.
Northern California — Sonoma County
Residential Treatment — Petaluma, CA
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.
Penngrove is our most specialized adolescent mental health campus — a primary mental health residential program for girls ages 12–17 whose clinical picture involves significant trauma, psychiatric complexity, emotional dysregulation, or neurodivergence.
Our Petaluma Intensive Outpatient treatment for teens in Sonoma County — step-down or direct-admit care with the clinical depth and family focus that define Muir Wood treatment.
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.
Our Clovis Intensive Outpatient treatment for teens in the Fresno area — step-down or direct-admit care with the clinical depth and family focus that define Muir Wood treatment.
After a traumatic experience, it’s common for teens to have occasional nightmares, emotional ups and downs, or reluctance to revisit certain situations. These responses are a normal part of processing difficult events. But when trauma responses persist, intensify, or begin to interfere with daily life—school, friendships, family relationships, or your teen’s sense of safety—it may be a sign they need more support than time alone can provide.
Most teens who arrive at Muir Wood have already been struggling for some time. Parents have often tried therapy, made accommodations at home, or worked with school counselors—yet their teen’s trauma symptoms have continued to escalate or resist improvement. If your teen’s trauma response has persisted for weeks or months, is disrupting sleep, concentration, or relationships, or has led to withdrawal, self-harm, or unhealthy coping behaviors like substance use, it may be time to consider a higher level of care.
At Muir Wood, we understand that trauma doesn’t just affect what teens think—it shapes how they react, relate, and regulate. The patterns that bring teens into treatment—hypervigilance, emotional outbursts, avoidance, numbness, or self-destructive behavior—are often the brain’s attempts to cope with overwhelming experiences. Effective treatment addresses what’s driving these responses, helping teens process traumatic experiences safely while building healthier ways to manage thoughts, emotions, and triggers.
Signs Your Teen May Need More Support
Consider seeking a higher level of care if your teen is experiencing:
Frequent flashbacks, intrusive memories, or nightmares that don’t improve over time
Hypervigilance, extreme irritability, or sudden emotional outbursts
Withdrawal from friends, family, and activities they once enjoyed
Difficulty concentrating, declining academic performance, or school avoidance
Dramatic changes in sleep or appetite
Avoidance of people, places, or situations that remind them of the trauma
Risky behaviors or substance use as a way to cope or numb painful feelings
Self-harm, expressions of hopelessness, or suicidal thoughts
If your teen is showing a consistent pattern of these struggles—especially if weekly therapy, IOP, or family support haven’t led to lasting improvement—a more intensive level of care may be needed.
Understanding Levels of Care
Finding the right level of support can feel overwhelming. Here’s a brief overview of the treatment continuum—and where Muir Wood fits in:
Outpatient Therapy
Weekly individual or family therapy sessions, typically the first step when a teen begins struggling after a traumatic experience. Outpatient therapy provides ongoing support and skill-building but may not be enough when symptoms are severe, escalating, or deeply entrenched.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
Teens attend structured therapy sessions several afternoons per week while continuing daily life at home. IOP offers more support than weekly therapy—including group therapy, individual sessions, and family involvement—without requiring a full-time treatment setting. IOP works well as a step-up when weekly therapy isn’t providing lasting improvement, or as a step-down from residential care to maintain progress.
Muir Wood offers IOP in Petaluma and Clovis. Teens attend sessions 3–4 days per week for an average of 12 weeks, participating in therapist-led groups, individual therapy, and family sessions while continuing school and practicing skills in daily life.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)
Structured daytime programming (typically 5–6 hours daily) while teens return home in the evenings. PHP bridges the gap between residential treatment and IOP for teens who need more intensive daily support but don’t require 24/7 care.
Residential Treatment
24/7 immersive care in a supportive, structured environment. Residential treatment provides the clinical intensity needed when therapy, IOP, or family support aren’t enough. Teens step away from daily pressures and triggers to focus completely on healing—with round-the-clock support, daily therapy, and meaningful peer connection woven into every part of the day.
Muir Wood offers residential treatment at our California campuses in Sonoma County, the Central Valley, and Riverside, California. Teens live in small, home-like residences surrounded by nature, spending their days at our treatment campus engaged in therapy, accredited academics, and experiential activities. The safety and consistency of residential life create space for teens to process trauma, practice new skills, and rebuild a sense of stability. The average length of stay is 45–90 days, individualized based on each teen’s progress and clinical needs.
Inpatient/Hospital Care
Short-term, acute stabilization for teens in immediate crisis. Inpatient settings focus on safety and medical stabilization rather than therapeutic treatment. Once a teen is stable, they typically transition to a lower level of care—such as residential treatment—where deeper healing can begin.
Why Timely Intervention Matters
The earlier teens receive the right level of support, the better their chances for lasting recovery. Trauma responses that go untreated can become deeply entrenched, leading to chronic anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, academic failure, or reliance on substances to cope. The developing brain doesn’t just remember trauma—it’s shaped by it. Early, appropriate intervention can interrupt these patterns before they define your teen’s future.
Depression in adolescence isn’t just sadness—it’s a disruption in how a young person sees themselves, their relationships, and their future. The earlier we intervene with the right kind of care, the more we can protect against long-term suffering and help teens reclaim the life they deserve.
Dr. David E. SmithChair, Addiction Medicine & MQAC, Muir Wood
At Muir Wood, we partner closely with parents and caregivers from day one—providing clear communication, guidance on how to support your teen at home, and practical tools for navigating the challenges that arise after trauma. If you’re unsure whether your teen needs more support, our admissions team can help you understand your options and determine the right next step.
Recovery from trauma does not happen in isolation—it unfolds within the relationships and environments that matter most. Parents and caregivers are central to the healing process, engaged from the very first call through admissions and into aftercare. Our team provides guidance, education, and practical tools to help families create a nurturing, stable environment that supports their teen’s recovery from traumatic experiences.
Licensed clinicians lead structured family therapy sessions that focus on strengthening communication, rebuilding trust, and helping families respond effectively to trauma symptoms at home. Parents receive individualized coaching, learning strategies to reinforce coping skills, reduce household stress, and support emotional regulation, ensuring that the lessons of therapy extend beyond the treatment program. Through ongoing alumni and peer connections, teens maintain relationships with supportive peers and mentors, helping them sustain progress, motivation, and healthy coping behaviors after leaving the program.
We also collaborate closely with schools, outpatient providers, and psychiatry services to ensure a seamless transition back into daily life, protecting both academic progress and mental health well-being. Families benefit from trauma-informed guidance every step of the way, gaining insight into the effects of complex trauma and learning how to respond with empathy, consistency, and patience.
By actively involving families, Muir Wood Teen fosters a supportive ecosystem where healing is shared, resilience is strengthened, and lasting well-being is cultivated—not just for the teen, but for the entire family. Recovery becomes a collaborative journey, empowering both adolescents and their caregivers to rebuild trust, connection, and hope after trauma.
Our Approach to Treating Teen Trauma
Trauma doesn’t just affect what teens think—it shapes how they react, relate, and regulate. The patterns that bring teens into treatment—hypervigilance, emotional outbursts, withdrawal, numbness, or self-destructive behavior—are often the brain’s attempts to cope with overwhelming experiences it couldn’t process at the time. At Muir Wood, we understand that effective trauma treatment goes beneath the surface to address what’s driving these responses, not just manage the symptoms.
We believe all behaviors exist for a reason. A teen who shuts down, lashes out, or turns to substances isn’t broken—they’re trying to survive emotional pain in the only way they know how. Our role is to help teens develop healthier, more effective ways to manage thoughts, emotions, and triggers—building the capacity for self-regulation that supports lasting recovery.
Whether through our residential program or intensive outpatient program (IOP), each teen receives a personalized treatment plan tailored to their unique experiences and needs, ensuring the right level of care for meaningful, sustained healing.
Trauma responses often show up in the body, and disordered eating is one common pattern. For some teens, control over food provides a sense of safety when other parts of life feel unpredictable. Our trauma-informed approach addresses both together.
Evidence-Based Therapies for Teen Trauma
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps teens understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected—and how trauma may have distorted these patterns. Teens learn to identify and reframe negative thoughts related to their experiences, challenge beliefs that keep them stuck, and develop practical strategies for managing difficult emotions. CBT provides concrete skills for responding to triggers without spiraling into avoidance or self-destructive behavior.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills
DBT focuses on four core areas essential for trauma recovery:
Mindfulness: Developing awareness of thoughts, emotions, and body sensations as they arise, creating space to respond rather than react automatically
Emotion Regulation: Learning to manage intense feelings—like fear, anger, or numbness—without becoming overwhelmed
Distress Tolerance: Building the ability to get through painful moments, flashbacks, or triggering situations without reverting to harmful behaviors
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Strengthening communication and relationship skills to rebuild trust and reduce isolation
Together, these skills help teens notice moments of activation, pause before reacting, and choose more effective responses—gradually restoring a sense of control over their emotional lives.
Individual Therapy
One-on-one sessions provide a safe, confidential space where teens can process traumatic experiences at their own pace. Individual therapy builds trust and allows for personalized attention to each teen’s unique trauma history, triggers, and goals for healing. Therapists help teens make sense of what happened, work through unresolved pain, and apply therapeutic concepts to their specific experiences.
Group Therapy
Group sessions offer something individual therapy can’t: the power of shared experience. Many trauma survivors feel isolated, believing no one understands what they’ve been through. In group settings, they discover they’re not alone.
Some groups focus on teaching specific skills—like emotion regulation or distress tolerance—while others provide open space to share, process, and gain insight from peers and facilitators. Both help teens build the social connection and self-awareness essential for healing after trauma.
Family Therapy
Trauma affects the whole family—and lasting recovery requires the whole family’s involvement. At Muir Wood, family therapy is central to our approach, not an afterthought.
Weekly sessions help parents and caregivers understand how trauma has shaped their teen’s behavior, strengthen communication, rebuild trust, and create an environment at home that supports continued healing. Family therapy also addresses dynamics that may have contributed to past instability, helping everyone in the family contribute to a safer, more nurturing future.
Our family programming extends well beyond weekly therapy sessions:
New family orientation in the first week
Twice-weekly parent education classes
Weekly parent support group with current and alumni families
Weekly therapist-parent huddle calls to review progress and coordinate care
16-week post-treatment family coaching program
This depth of family involvement is one of the things that sets Muir Wood apart. We don’t just treat the teen—we equip the entire family with tools for lasting change.
Experiential Therapy & Mindfulness Activities
Trauma lives in the body as much as the mind. Art, journaling, yoga, movement, and outdoor activities allow teens to reconnect with their bodies, express emotions that are difficult to put into words, and experience moments of calm and safety. These activities build self-awareness, reduce stress, and offer healthy outlets that teens can continue using long after treatment.
Experiential therapy also uses structured challenges—like team-building activities or adventure outings—to help teens observe their automatic reactions in real time and practice new ways of responding. This live, in-the-moment learning reinforces what’s taught in traditional therapy settings and helps teens build confidence in their ability to handle difficult situations.
Academics Without Interruption
In residential treatment, teens continue their education through our WASC-accredited on-campus program. Our academic team coordinates with each student’s home school to keep coursework current, help teens rebuild confidence, and strengthen executive functioning skills like planning and time management. For many teens, small academic successes become powerful turning points in recovery. IOP is designed for after-school hours, allowing teens to remain in their regular school environment while receiving structured therapeutic support.
A Foundation for Lasting Change
By combining evidence-based therapies with a safe, supportive environment and deep family involvement, Muir Wood helps teens process traumatic experiences, develop real skills for managing triggers and emotions, and rebuild trust in themselves and others.
“The developing brain doesn’t just remember trauma—it’s shaped by it. When adolescents turn to drugs or alcohol, they’re often trying to self-regulate in the only way they know how.”
Dr. David E. SmithChair, Addiction Medicine & MQAC, Muir Wood
Treatment at Muir Wood helps teens move beyond survival mode—addressing their pain directly and building the self-regulation skills that support lasting recovery. Teens leave with greater self-awareness, healthier coping strategies, and the confidence to face life’s challenges—supported by a family that’s been equipped to sustain progress long after treatment ends.
Teen Trauma Treatment FAQs
What is trauma therapy for teens?
Trauma therapy for teens is a specialized form of mental health services and health care designed to help adolescents process and heal from childhood trauma or other experiences of trauma. Our evidence-based approach addresses the effects of childhood trauma and other mental health conditions through individual therapy, family therapy, mindfulness practices, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). Teens receive structured support to build coping skills, manage flashbacks or negative thoughts, and strengthen emotional regulation.
How to help a traumatized teenager?
Supporting a teen who has experienced trauma starts with creating a safe, stable environment at home and seeking professional guidance. Caregivers play a central role in recovery, participating in family therapy sessions, learning strategies to reinforce coping skills, and collaborating with clinicians to ensure consistent support. Encouraging open communication, validating feelings, and understanding the type of trauma your teen has experienced can make a meaningful difference in their healing journey.
Can untreated PTSD in teens lead to substance abuse?
Yes. Teens with untreated PTSD or unresolved trauma may turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to cope with intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or other effects of trauma. Muir Wood Teen Treatment addresses both trauma and co-occurring mental health conditions through modalities like TF-CBT, psychotherapy, and family therapy, helping teens learn healthier coping skills and avoid harmful behaviors before patterns develop.
How long is Muir Wood’s trauma treatment program?
The average residential stay for teens at Muir Wood is approximately 45 days. For adolescents who can safely remain at home, the intensive outpatient program (IOP) offers structured daily therapy and skill-building over roughly 12 weeks. Treatment plans are tailored to each teen’s needs, type of trauma, and overall mental health, ensuring the right level of care and support.
Does Muir Wood accept insurance?
Yes, Muir Wood Teen Treatment accepts a wide range of commercial insurance plans. Our admissions team can assist families with insurance verification and coordination to make care accessible.
Is the program gender-specific and inclusive?
Muir Wood provides gender-specific residential environments based on birth assignment, while maintaining an inclusive culture that supports non-binary and transitioning teens. Each campus is designed to be safe, nurturing, and welcoming, with clinicians trained to respect and support each adolescent’s unique identity.
What payment options are available?
Families may use in-network commercial insurance for coverage, or arrange self-pay options if needed. Our admissions team helps guide parents through financial planning, insurance coordination, and any questions about making trauma treatment accessible.
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.
I feel like the program is comprehensive and my son got good care while he was here, especially compared to other facilities.
JP
Jul 2026
All staff are kind and genuinely concerned for the wellbeing of our son. We felt our son was safe and in a place that would facilitate his growth. We are eternally grateful for you. Thank you.
Kind staff kept our son safe and growing
Jul 2026
Muirwoodteen is a nice, clean place where your son would get personal attention, since they take only 6 boys at a time. I chose Muirwoodteen for my troubled teen because I could sense that the Founder and Executive Director at Muirwoodteen had a passion for the cause of this program.
AS
Jul 2026
Muirwood has been our family’s saving grace. The staff is professional and committed to helping teen boys with not only life skills and sobriety but also understanding themselves. We will be forever thankful.
CV
Jul 2026
Kyla is doing so much better.
AM
Jul 2026
While our son was at Muir Woofs, the staff was very attentive and kept us parents updated regarding our son.
MM
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
Everyone has been so helpful and communication with staff was top notch.
LH
Jul 2026
Accreditations
*Please note that at this time, we are not in network with Medicaid/Medi-Cal
Get Support for Your Teen Today
Talk with our admissions team about how Muir Wood can help your family take the next step.
