Residential Mental Health & Substance Abuse Treatment
When your teen is struggling with mental health issues or behavioral challenges, every day can feel uncertain and hopeless—but help is closer than you think. Our residential treatment center (RTC) provides comprehensive care for teens ages 12–17 in a safe, home-like environment built for healing and personal growth. Each treatment plan and level of care is individualized, with an average stay of about 45 days. Our programs combine evidence-based modalities such as individual therapy sessions, experiential therapies, and art therapy with holistic support that promotes overall wellness.


As one of California’s leading teen treatment programs, we specialize exclusively in behavioral health for teens. Small, gender-separate homes and campus-style spaces foster comfort, connection, and belonging. Families and family members are active participants throughout care and continuing support after discharge, helping teens sustain long-term recovery and well-being. With 24/7 supervision, academics, medication management, nutritious meals, and engaging activities, teens gain the tools to rebuild confidence, healthy relationships, and move forward with hope.
In-Network With Most Commercial Insurers
Explore Our Campuses Located Across Northern, Central, and Southern California
Our gender-specific residential campuses are intentionally located throughout Northern, Central, and Southern California to provide families with accessible, high-quality care in safe, natural settings designed for healing and connection.
The Muir Wood Teen Difference
Specialists in Adolescent Care
Our multidisciplinary team specializes exclusively in adolescent mental health and substance use, providing evidence-based, developmentally appropriate care for teens ages 12–17.
High-Quality Care Covered by Insurance
Muir Wood is committed to removing financial barriers to care by partnering with most major insurance providers, ensuring families can access high-quality, evidence-based treatment when it matters most.
Support for the Whole Family
Healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens together. At Muir Wood, families stay actively involved through therapy, education, and a 16-week aftercare coaching program that builds trust, communication, and stability long after treatment ends.
Small Group Sizes
Our IOP cohorts are intentionally small, so teens get focused attention in therapist-led groups while still benefiting from peer support. A consistent peer group builds safety and trust, and we incorporate individual sessions for continued personal growth.
Expertise in Primary Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders
We treat both primary mental health and substance use disorders, building on our dual-diagnosis expertise with a trauma-informed approach that promotes genuine, lasting change. We believe that treating the whole person—both their behavioral health and underlying mental state—leads to better outcomes for lifelong healing.
Stay in School While Getting Support
School stays the priority. Because IOP meets outside the school day, teens can keep attending classes while we help them map assignments, manage stress, and practice executive functioning skills such as planning, time management, and communication. When helpful, we coordinate with families and schools so gains in treatment carry into the classroom and daily routines.
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Program Highlights
Nature-Rich Surroundings
Our spacious, lovely homes and their rustic environments contribute to healing away from triggers and distractions.
Strong Community
We foster a caring and inclusive community where teens build trusting friendships and feel a sense of belonging, reminding them that they are not alone in their recovery.
Small Home Groups
After a day of learning, healing, and growth, our clients return to a small, tranquil, home-like environment, ensuring each teen feels truly seen, heard, and supported on their unique healing journey.
Family Support
Our spacious, lovely homes and their rustic environments contribute to healing away from triggers and distractions.
What to Expect: Daily Life at Muir Wood
Daytime
Mornings begin with meditation and intention-setting, helping teens start the day with focus and calm. They then take part in our accredited academic program, where teachers provide individualized support to keep learning on track. Afternoons are dedicated to group therapy, recreation, and life-skill activities that build confidence, self-awareness, and connection with peers.
Evenings
After dinner, the pace slows. Teens participate in an evening group before returning to their residences for downtime and reflection. Evenings are designed to feel safe and restorative—encouraging healthy routines, rest, and a sense of home.
Weekends
Weekends bring opportunities for adventure and community. Teens take part in experiential outings like hiking or other outdoor activities that encourage teamwork, self-discovery, and joy in recovery.
Every part of the day is intentional—helping teens rebuild structure, rediscover motivation, and experience what healthy, balanced living feels like.
Take the First Step Toward Healing
If your teen is struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Our admissions team can answer questions, verify insurance, and help you understand the best next step for your family.
See What Parents Are Saying About Muir Wood
Jeanine’s son had been through several addiction treatment and mental health residential programs before finding the help he needed at Muir Wood.
Mental Health & Substance Use Treatment Options
With an integrated therapeutic approach, we help teens address the roots of mental health and substance use challenges so they can break from harmful cycles.
We specialize in helping teens navigate challenges related to:
Please call us at 866-705-0828 to speak with an admissions specialist who will listen patiently and answer all your questions.
When to Seek Help
It’s not always easy to know when typical teenage struggles become something more. But if your child’s mood, behavior, or motivation has changed in ways that worry you, it may be time to reach out for support.
Don’t wait for things to get worse. Many families come to Muir Wood when they notice signs such as:
- Persistent sadness, anxiety, or emotional outbursts
- Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they once enjoyed
- Sudden changes in sleep, appetite, or school performance
- Experimentation with substances or risky behavior
- Trouble managing emotions, anger, or stress
- A history of trauma or recent crisis
Early intervention can make all the difference. Our team specializes in helping teens ages 12–17 navigate emotional, behavioral, and substance use challenges before they escalate. With the right care, healing is possible.

Academics Without Interruption
Healing and learning go hand in hand. At Muir Wood, academics remain an essential part of each teen’s day through our WASC-accredited educational program. Certified teachers coordinate directly with each student’s home school to ensure continuity and keep them on track. Our academic team also supports students with learning or developmental disabilities, helping them manage coursework alongside therapeutic programming and clinical care.
Individualized learning plans rebuild confidence, strengthen focus, and remind teens that recovery doesn’t mean falling behind—it means finding their rhythm again. Academic progress is integrated into each teen’s treatment goals, reinforcing the connection between education, mental health support, and long-term wellness.
Clinical Approach
Every teen’s path to healing is different, which is why no two treatment plans are the same. Muir Wood’s multidisciplinary healthcare team provides compassionate, integrated mental health care for adolescents with behavioral issues, co-occurring disorders, and personality disorders, as well as those coping with disordered eating.
Our clinicians use evidence-based therapies and trauma-informed methods—including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT), family systems therapy, and experiential approaches—to meet each teen where they are. Individual and group therapeutic programs focus on emotional regulation, communication, and resilience.
Therapists, psychiatrists, nurses, and educators collaborate daily to deliver cohesive, personalized care that addresses the whole person—not just symptoms—while promoting sustainable growth and personal wellness.


Family Involvement
At Muir Wood, families are not just part of treatment—they’re partners in healing. From the first call through continuing care, parents and caregivers stay closely involved through weekly family therapy sessions, educational workshops, and a 16-week aftercare coaching program. These touchpoints help strengthen communication, rebuild trust, and give families practical tools to support lasting recovery together.
Continuing Care & Ongoing Support
Recovery doesn’t end when a teen leaves our care—it evolves. Each family receives a personalized transition plan designed to maintain momentum and stability at home. Our team coordinates with intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), therapists, and community resources to ensure continuity of care. Families also have access to ongoing aftercare coaching and alumni engagement, creating a lasting network of support that helps teens and parents move forward with confidence.
An Inclusive, Supportive Environment for Healing & Growth
Our program emphasizes a strong, inclusive community, with daytime therapeutic activities and evening small-group housing designed to foster trust, connection, and ongoing support.
We prioritize creating safe therapeutic environments through gender-specific programs that nurture peer support and understanding. Every teen, including those who are transgender, nonbinary, or exploring their gender identity, receives individualized, affirming care in a safe and supportive environment.
Each of our locations integrates community activities into the residential experience, offering opportunities for teens to connect with local events, outdoor recreation, and community resources. This approach helps build a sense of belonging and encourages healthy engagement beyond our campus.
Real Reviews from Real Parents
Nothing says more about a teen treatment center than reviews—good or bad—from a parent who has lived the experience. 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 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
“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 B
“I can’t say enough positive details of how Muir Wood is their for your child and also there to keep the families informed along the way. It is very emotional at times, but there is always someone you can call if questions arise and you are supported by attending online parenting classes while your child is in residential. They help give you as much information as possible to help for a healthy amd successful road in the future. I would recommend 110%. Penngrove, CA was #1.”
Malinda C
























