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Teen Mental Health Treatment in Arizona

Counselors online nowJoint Commission accredited · AZDHS licensedScottsdale & Cave Creek, AZ

Residential treatment for teen bipolar disorder serving Glendale, AZ.

When a Glendale teen’s mood runs in long, hard-to-explain swings that reshape their sleep and behavior, a mood disorder deserves a closer look. Nexus Teen Academy stabilizes teen bipolar disorder in full-time care for West Valley families, two accredited homes across the Valley, ages 12 to 17, awake staff overnight.

Talk with a licensed counselor

From anywhere in Glendale, leave a number and a licensed admissions counselor calls back, usually within minutes, to talk through the mood pattern, program fit, and coverage.

Licensed in Arizona. Accredited nationally. Independently verified.
The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for Nexus Teen Academy
Arizona Department of Health Services licensed residential treatment facility seal
LegitScript certified seal for Nexus Teen Academy
Verified by Psychology Today badge
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Every credential is independently verifiable. Joint Commission · AZDHS registry · LegitScript.

Home-like living area at a Nexus Teen Academy residence in Arizona
Backyard and mountain views at a Nexus Teen Academy Arizona center
The Joint Commission National Quality Approval Gold SealJoint Commission accreditedAZDHS-licensed · LegitScript certified
Both centers sit in the Phoenix metroNorth Scottsdale & Cave Creek, accepting families from Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma and Prescott.

About Nexus Teen Academy

Nexus Teen Academy: teen bipolar disorder treatment for Glendale and the West Valley.

Nexus Teen Academy is a licensed, Joint Commission-accredited residential program for teen bipolar disorder, serving Glendale and the West Valley in Maricopa County. We treat ages 12 to 17 across bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymia, steadying mood episodes and what rides with them. A psychiatric evaluation opens every stay, and continuous observation reads the mood and sleep pattern an office visit misses. Boys stay at our North Scottsdale home and girls at Cave Creek, a cross-Valley drive from Glendale.

The two homes sit across the Valley from Glendale, North Scottsdale for boys and Cave Creek for girls, reachable on the Loop 101. Each is AZDHS-licensed, Joint Commission accredited, and LegitScript certified, with a psychiatric prescriber and awake staff on site.

In short

Nexus Teen Academy provides residential treatment for teen bipolar disorder for families from Glendale, Arizona, for ages 12 to 17. Teens live in a licensed home in North Scottsdale (boys) or Cave Creek (girls) with daily therapy, accredited school on site, and weekly family therapy. Most stay 30 to 60 days, and the team works with AHCCCS and most private insurance.

North Scottsdale

Boys, 12-17 · Phoenix metro

Cave Creek

Girls, 12-17 · Phoenix metro

2

Accredited Arizona centers

12-17

Ages we treat, gender-separate

24/7

Awake clinical staff, every hour

1:1

A primary therapist, by name

Where residential care fits: IOP, PHP or residential

The subacute level between weekly therapy and a hospital bed.

Step downOutpatient & IOP

Therapy once or a few times a week. Your teen stays home and at school.

Nexus Teen AcademyResidential treatment

Live-in clinical care with 24/7 awake staff, daily therapy, and accredited school, in a real home.

You are here
Step upInpatient hospitalization

Short-term acute stabilization for immediate medical or safety crisis.

IOP vs PHP vs residential care, compared
QuestionIntensive outpatient (IOP)Partial hospitalization (PHP)Residential (RTC)
Best forA step down from PHP, or a starting point for teens who need more than weekly therapyA step down from residential care, or a starting point for teens who need structure without 24/7 careTeens who need 24/7 care in a safe, immersive setting
Where your teen sleepsAt homeAt home each eveningA licensed, home-like residence with 24/7 awake staff
Weekly scheduleAbout 4 hours a day (10:30 to 2:30 or 1:00 to 5:00), 3 to 4 days a weekSeveral days a week, multiple hours a dayDaily therapy, with care around the clock
Typical length30 to 90+ days30 to 90 days30 to 60 days
SchoolStays in school; IOP is therapy-focused, with no academic supportDaily schoolwork time in a classroom, with educators on staffAccredited, credit-bearing classes on site
FamilyWeekly individual therapy and family counseling every other weekFamily therapy sessions includedWeekly family therapy, in person or by secure video

IOP and PHP run at NexStep Teen Academy, the Nexus outpatient program in Scottsdale for teens ages 12 to 17.

Not sure which level your teen needs? A licensed counselor will walk through it with you on the phone, free, and tell you honestly if a lower level of care is the better fit.

Speak with our admissions team

The program

What teen bipolar disorder treatment covers for Glendale teens.

For students in the Glendale Union, Deer Valley, and Peoria Unified districts, care runs in one order: psychiatric evaluation and mood-and-sleep baseline, prescriber-led stabilization, then the daily therapy and family training that keep the gains.

Diagnostic evaluation

The stay opens with a DSM-5 psychiatric evaluation that separates bipolar I and II from ADHD, depression, and DMDD before the plan is set.

Mood stabilization & medication

Prescriber-led medication management with adolescent-approved options, explained to Glendale parents in full and adjusted on daily observed response.

Daily mood & sleep charting

Mood, energy, and sleep charted around the clock, the longitudinal record accurate diagnosis and dosing depend on.

CBT, individual & group

Individual and group CBT building episode awareness, trigger management, and early-warning-sign response.

Family-focused therapy & psychoeducation

Family-focused therapy and psychoeducation train West Valley families in symptom recognition, communication, and relapse response.

Sleep & routine regulation

Fixed sleep, wake, meal, and activity times each day, protecting the circadian rhythm mood stability relies on.

Accredited academics

Accredited weekday classes with credit transfer keep a Glendale-area student on pace to graduate.

Relapse-prevention & discharge plan

A family-authored early-warning plan, an outpatient psychiatrist near home, and medication continuity mapped before discharge.

Dual-diagnosis care

What bipolar disorder travels with in the teens we treat.

Bipolar disorder in a Glendale teen rarely stands alone. ADHD, anxiety, substance use, and self-harm ride along or mask it, so one Nexus Teen Academy team treats the mood disorder and its companions under a single plan.

Antidepressants that made things worse are often the first real clue that a teen’s depression is bipolar.Nexus Teen Academy puts diagnosis before prescribing, using weeks of observed mood and sleep to get the medication right.

The setting

See inside our Arizona teen residential home.

Two gender-separate homes across the Valley from Glendale, the boys home in North Scottsdale and the girls home in Cave Creek, both reachable on the 101.

Home-like living room inside a Nexus Teen Academy residence in Arizona
Teen bedroom with natural sunlight at a Nexus Teen Academy residence
Kitchen and dining room where Nexus Teen Academy residents share meals
Backyard with mountain views at a Nexus Teen Academy home in Arizona
Game room with a ping-pong table at a Nexus Teen Academy residence

Take a self-guided 3D walkthrough of the home

Life inside

A day in bipolar residential treatment.

Steady routine steadies mood. Both homes hold one predictable shape each day, fixed wake and sleep, meals, groups, school, and movement, so a teen prone to cycling has solid ground under them.

MorningAfternoonEvening
  1. A teen bedroom filled with natural morning light at a Nexus Teen Academy Arizona residence -
    Morning

    Hygiene, meds & breakfast

    Hygiene and meds from 6:30 to 7:30, then breakfast from 7:30 to 8:00.

  2. The on-site accredited classroom at a Nexus Teen Academy Arizona center -
    Morning

    Gratitude journal & education

    A gratitude journal from 8:00 to 8:20, then education from 8:30 to 10:45 and a snack at 10:45.

  3. Teens in a group therapy session with a clinician at Nexus Teen Academy -
    Morning

    Group therapy & lunch

    Group therapy from 11:00 to 12:00, then lunch and mindfulness from 12:00 to 1:00.

  4. The recreation room with a ping-pong table at a Nexus Teen Academy Arizona residence -
    Afternoon

    Group therapy

    Group therapy from 2:00 to 3:00, a snack at 3:00, then group therapy again from 3:15 to 4:00.

  5. The shared kitchen and dining room where residents eat together -
    Afternoon

    Movement, dinner & evening activity

    Movement with nursing from 4:15 to 5:00, dinner at 5:00, then evening activity and meds from 6:00 to 7:00.

  6. The backyard and mountain view at a Nexus Teen Academy Arizona residence in the evening -
    Evening

    Free time & lights out

    Free time from 7:00 to 8:30, evening hygiene from 8:30 to 9:00, gratitude journal at 9:00 and lights out at 9:30.

Weekends run differently

Family phone calls 4:00 - 6:00 pm, every day

Saturday and Sunday follow a lighter routine than the weekday schedule above.

Click here for a free consultationTap to call (480) 485-3424 and our admissions team will walk you through a full weekend. Someone answers any time.

Awake clinical staff are on-site every hour, including overnight, at both Arizona centers.

How healing happens

Our therapies: medication, CBT, and family-focused therapy.

Nexus Teen Academy coordinates prescriber-led medication management with CBT, family-focused therapy, and psychoeducation as one plan, reviewed weekly against the mood and sleep record.

One treatment planOne clinical teamReviewed weeklyTracked with daily mood & sleep charting

Core therapies

  • A teen in a one-on-one therapy session with a Nexus Teen Academy clinician1

    Medication & mood stabilization

    Prescriber-led mood stabilization with adolescent-approved options, dosed on observed daily response and explained to you in full.

    Helps withmood episodessleep
  • Teens supporting each other in a group therapy session2

    Group therapy & coping skills

    Distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and mindfulness, practiced in peer groups.

    Helps withmanic & depressive swingsmood swings
  • A weekly family therapy session with parents and a clinician3

    Family-focused therapy, weekly

    Weekly family therapy that repairs communication and prepares the home your teen returns to.

    Helps withthe home they return to

Supporting care, running alongside

  • Holistic & experiential

    Art, movement, and mindfulness that rebuild motivation and self-worth.

    energy & sleepself-worth
  • Psychiatric & medication support

    Prescriber-led evaluation; medication weighed case-by-case, explained in full, monitored closely.

    treatment-resistant depression
  • Accredited academics

    Accredited classes each weekday with credit coordination, so recovery and graduation progress together.

    staying on track to graduate
None of these run separately, they sit in one plan, owned by one clinical team.

Your teen's clinical team

Meet our licensed clinical team.

Each teen has a named, licensed clinician, whose role and credentials you see before day one.

Hannah Carr-Unquera, Executive Director at Nexus Teen AcademyLPC, BC-TMH

Hannah Carr-Unquera

Executive Director

Leads the clinical program across both homes, licensed in Arizona and board certified in telemental health.

Dr. Tyler White, Director of Adolescent Clinical Services at Nexus Teen AcademyLCSW, DSW

Dr. Tyler White

Director of Adolescent Clinical Services

Sets the treatment plan each resident’s team works to, and supervises the clinicians who deliver it.

Alexandria Penner, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Nexus Teen AcademyDNP, PMHNP-BC

Alexandria Penner

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Runs psychiatric evaluation and medication management on-site, so prescribing stays inside the house.

Ashley Daniels, Director of Family Services & Education at Nexus Teen AcademyHouse team

Ashley Daniels

Director of Family Services & Education

Runs family services and education across both homes, after directing theatre and teen programs and building liberal-arts residential summer camps for Mount Holyoke College and Bryn Mawr College.

Jennifer Inderberg, Education Supervisor at Nexus Teen AcademyHouse team

Jennifer Inderberg

Education Supervisor

Twenty-five years in education, supervising the accredited school that runs inside each house and the credit transfers back to your district.

Melissa Stockmar, Director of Food Operations at Nexus Teen AcademyHouse team

Melissa Stockmar

Director of Food Operations

Leads the kitchen team behind the chef-prepared meals, and runs the cooking group where residents learn to feed themselves.

Arizona-licensed clinical team.Every Nexus Teen Academy clinician is licensed in Arizona. Verify any license on the AZ Board of Behavioral Health Examiners directory.

What families say

What Arizona families say about Nexus Teen Academy.

Google
Carol Trombino profile picture
Carol Trombino
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Nexus Academy was a wonderful place for my daughter. The staff were amazing and so supportive. They worked with our entire family. Highly recommend Nexus.
Google
Hemella Sweatt profile picture
Hemella Sweatt
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Sending your child or teen to a residential treatment facility is a difficult and heart-wrenching decision. The team at Nexus Teen Academy was exceptional. Our daughter's therapist was a great fit for her and played a significant role in helping us grow as a family. Family therapy is a crucial part of your child's recovery, and Nexus does an excellent job of involving the family in the healing process. We are grateful for their support in guiding our daughter toward a path of recovery.
Google
S H profile picture
S H
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The program at Nexus was a lifesaver for my 15-year-old daughter. After a tough year in and out of different levels of care, my husband and I had truly hit a breaking point and knew a residential facility was needed, but we were adamant about finding a place that was safe, respectful, and loving for our daughter. The entire team at Nexus was caring and engaged from day one, despite my daughter NOT making that easy for the first couple of weeks. There were definitely days in the beginning where we wondered if this was even working, but the team encouraged my husband and me to stay the course, and thank goodness we did. After completing Nexus residential and PHP programs, our daughter has done a complete 180. Her mental health struggles aren't 'magically gone' - but she has learned not to let them control her and our family dynamic is leagues better than where we started. Maybe the craziest part of this whole experience was when she recently acknowledged that she was really struggling before and thanked me for sending her to the program - I almost fainted. All this to say, I can't recommend the team at Nexus enough to any family with a teen who is going through a hard time.
Google
Amanda Hayes profile picture
Amanda Hayes
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Our 12 year old attended Nexus in summer of 2025. I opted for this location due to the reviews from other parents regarding similarly aged children. It's a whole different ballgame when a parent is trying to figure out what is best for their tween, knowing they will have exposure to older teenagers and older problems. That sad, Nexus is such a cohesive program. Our experience has been nothing short of wonderful, given the impossible circumstanes. All staff seems to be personally invested in each child's recovery and wellbeing. Our child left Nexus in a much more healed state than when they went in. I was so nervous about taking this huge step after poor hospital experiences and previous PHP's not being as helpful as we hoped. The staff is on top of relational dynamics in the house, and there is some separation between the younger residents and older ones, while still promoting overall cohesiveness. I feel they did a tremendous job supporting our 12 year old developmentally, bringing out a sense of childhood again. They also masterfully navigated our complicated family dynamic, going above and beyond to ensure our child's needs were met, the program requirements were met, in alignment with our family's needs. In a way, our child's time away at Nexus brought them back to us in a way we hadn't seen in a long time. I am so grateful. The PHP program, as well, is top notch and operates from heart. I would recommend both Nexus RTC and their PHP program to any parent in a similar situation. I have offered to connect with any parent in a similar place, so feel free to inquire about connecting with the staff. I know how terrifying this all is, and while we're not totally out of the woods, our child is currently attending school full time again with 2 evening therapy sessions each week. I attribute this assimilation into developmentally typical structure entirely to the care and support we all received from Nexus staff, from intake to therapy to medical and everyone else involved. Thank you, nexus, for helping our child- and our family- in our healing. I am forever grateful.
Google
Alisha profile picture
Alisha
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When we realized we needed a place for our teen to go longer term it was one of the hardest, scariest things I have been through as a mother. Nexus really made it easier and not quite so scary. They have a really caring staff, the kids love the staff. They truly care about your child, it’s not just another kid in and out of their house. I felt like our family was important and they were focused on what my child needed to help her through this difficult time. There was a lot of ups and downs with this process and we had some really hard times and conversations but the staff was always there to help guide us. I would truly say if you are struggling and your teen needs residential Nexus is an amazing place for treatment. The house is beautiful and it is truly comfortable for the kids. I would definitely recommend Nexus.
Google
Vanessa Anaya profile picture
Vanessa Anaya
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I would like to share that we had a great experience at Nexus Teen Academy. All of the staff is great with communication and assisted us through the process. I am very grateful for all of the resources, help and treatment for my teen throughout their stay. The have an amazing team and would recommend to anyone who needs the help.
Google
Sean Hayes profile picture
Sean Hayes
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I highly recommend Nexus Teen Academy. The structure, support, and care they provided made a significant impact on my child, and it was also maintainable post-residency. During the residency, I attended a parent group led by the therapists who worked with the kids; where we learned critical skills and distinctions which helped with life afterward. It was also great to be in contact with other parents during this time, and the parenting group was great for this.
Google
Zane Bedford profile picture
Zane Bedford
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Four years ago at the age of 13 my daughter completely stopped participating in school and started to display symptoms of major depression anxiety and an unknown mood disorder.Her attendance at school was greatly impacted in such a way that attending once or twice a week became standard until the age of 16.Alcohol addiction and juvenile legal troubles followed and became common issues up until the moment my daughter entered into Nexus Teen Academy.To be completely honest as a completely broken single parent,after trying many attempts at therapy/medications I had lost hope and had given up on expecting anything could fix the crisis we had been living in for the last for years. Nexus Academy changed my perspective, my daughter completed 33 days and for the first time in years I saw the spark and light come back to her eyes and soul.She left Nexus displaying insight and a desire to get back on track with her education. With all professions , one will find flaws and opportunities for improvement .I believe Nexus understands this and showed an openess to suggestions and constructive criticism.
Google
lily henderson profile picture
lily henderson
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Nexus was a life changing experience. I went in at 17 and experienced my 18th in there, to which the staff and residents all made sure I felt special. My goals were formed around gaining a better sense of self identity, self respect, and healing myself from the inside out. All of which happened in ways I never expected. I was shown how healthy communication, empathy in your home life, and phone-free relationships, all shape you as a person. Each and every one of the staff and administrators at Nexus are solely devoted to the children’s lives and well being. If there was ever an issue, i felt confident to go to them about it and it was swiftly handled. It was one of the most difficult goodbyes I have ever experienced in my life, as I grew family-life bonds with every person there. Thank you all!!!!! I appreciate every way you showed up for me and how you supported me in my stay. I will carry this experience with me forever.
Google
Jasmine Carter profile picture
Jasmine Carter
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My daughter was referred here after her various visits to psychiatric hospitals.I was so scared to be apart from my child but Nexus made me feel better about my decision because of their loving and welcoming environment. I love everything about this place, they really love the kids and support parents along the way. I appreciate everyone that loved and supported my child while she was at her lowest. I recommend this place to anyone that may feel like they have tried all they can and they do not know what to do next because Nexus will help you with the next steps in your journey.

4.7/ 5

★★★★★34 verified Google reviews · Scottsdale & Cave Creek centers
Read them all on Google
“Nexus Academy was a wonderful place for my daughter. The staff were amazing and so supportive. They worked with our entire family. Highly recommend Nexus.”
CCarol TrombinoVerified Google review
“Sending your child or teen to a residential treatment facility is a difficult and heart-wrenching decision. The team at Nexus Teen Academy was exceptional. Our daughter’s therapist was a great fit for her and played a significant role in helping us grow as a family.”
Read the full review →
HHemella SweattVerified Google review
“The program at Nexus was a lifesaver for my 15-year-old daughter. After a tough year in and out of different levels of care, my husband and I had truly hit a breaking point and knew a residential facility was needed.”
Read the full review →
SS. H.Verified Google review
31 more reviews on GoogleUnedited, public, and open for any family to add their own.Read every review →

These come straight from our public Google Business Profile, anyone can read all 34 and add their own.

Getting started

How admission works, with the diagnosis decided first.

Teen in a one-on-one therapy session with a Nexus Teen Academy clinician
Our promise while you decide

1

One calm call

A licensed Nexus Teen Academy admissions counselor hears the episode pattern, the diagnoses already suggested, and the medication trials so far, then says plainly whether residential care is the indicated level. Free and confidential; the call creates no commitment.

2

Coverage check

With your okay, we confirm your benefits straight with your private insurance plan, and translate the result into plain numbers: what is covered, what is not, and a realistic out-of-pocket, before any decision.

3

Clinical assessment

A licensed clinician reviews the mood history, prior diagnoses, and family history, screens safety, and recommends the level of care the findings support. Your mood and sleep log, plus every prior evaluation, belongs in this step.

4

Plan the arrival

One coordinator manages logistics with you: the packing list, travel into Phoenix, school records for credit transfer, and how the first day will go.

5

A gentle, planned arrival

Your teen meets the clinical team, settles into a prepared room, and begins medication reconciliation with the prescriber on day one, with the first family update scheduled before you leave the driveway.

Coverage & cost

Does insurance cover teen residential treatment in Arizona?

Most major private plans treat residential bipolar care as a covered behavioral-health benefit. Nexus Teen Academy verifies your exact Glendale-area benefits, in and out of network, before you commit.

  1. 1You send your plan detailsTwo required fields. Member ID optional. Takes about a minute.
  2. 2We verify with your insurer directlyIn-network or out-of-network, free and confidential, usually the same day.
  3. 3You get the number in plain EnglishYour exact out-of-pocket cost, explained before you commit to anything.
Aetna insurance logo
Cigna insurance logo
GEHA insurance logo
Beacon Health Options insurance logo

Out-of-network or unsure about your plan? Call anyway, cost should never be the reason a teen doesn't get help.

Verify your insurance in 2 minutes

See exactly what your plan covers for residential bipolar disorder treatment, free and confidential.

HIPAA-protectedNo obligationNever sold or shared

After discharge

Relapse prevention and aftercare that hold once your teen is home in Glendale.

Before discharge, your case manager sets the aftercare plan: early-warning signs and family responses, an outpatient psychiatrist and therapist near home, medication continuity, and school re-entry staged with your West Valley district.

Four teen girls making heart shapes with their hands in a sunny field

Answers

Glendale teen bipolar disorder FAQs

The questions families ask us most, answered plainly, centers, distance, insurance, licensing, and privacy.

Your question isn’t here?

A licensed admissions counselor can answer it on the phone right now, no script, no pressure, and no obligation to enroll.

Talk to a counselorAnswered 24/7 at (480) 485-3424

Deciding on residential care

Nexus Teen Academy runs two licensed homes across the Valley from Glendale, a boys residence in North Scottsdale and a girls residence in Cave Creek, reachable on the Loop 101 and licensed for ages 12 to 17.

When mood episodes keep breaking through outpatient care, when medication trials fail without observation, or when school and family life are destabilizing. An admissions counselor can help you judge whether residential is the indicated level.

Ordinary moods last hours and track events; bipolar episodes hold for days to weeks, change sleep and energy, and swing between elevated and depressed. Needing far less sleep without tiring is the clearest manic sign.

Yes. About two-thirds of adults with bipolar disorder trace onset to before age 19, and DSM-5 criteria apply in adolescence. Diagnosis needs a longitudinal mood record, family history, and psychiatric evaluation.

Diagnosis & treatment

All three, with a DMDD screen at intake, since DSM-5 separates chronic irritability from episodic bipolar disorder and that decides the medication path.

Often enough that every arriving diagnosis is re-evaluated. Manic energy reads as ADHD, depressive episodes present alone, and an antidepressant that backfired is a clue. Observation supplies the record an office visit cannot.

The prescriber uses options FDA-approved for adolescents, explains each choice to you, and adjusts on daily response. Nothing changes without your consent, and nursing monitors administration daily.

Prescriber-led medication management leads, with family-focused therapy, CBT, psychoeducation, and fixed sleep routines reinforcing it, all tracked with daily mood and sleep charting.

Cost, logistics & getting here

On most major commercial plans it is a covered behavioral-health benefit. Nexus Teen Academy verifies your exact Glendale-area benefits and out-of-pocket, free and usually the same day.

Long enough to reach stable mood on a settled medication plan; the date is clinical, set by episode stability, medication response, and family readiness, with discharge criteria shared from week one.

Both homes are across the Valley from Glendale, generally 40 to 55 minutes on the 101. Family visits and weekly family-focused therapy are part of the program.

Awake staff catch the early signs, the prescriber responds the same day, and the home tightens around sleep and stimulation. If hospital-level care is needed, we arrange the transfer and resume treatment afterward.

Admission & daily life

Often within a few days. Admissions calls are returned within 24 hours, usually within minutes. A counselor checks your insurance benefits and licensed clinicians complete an assessment, and if everything moves smoothly your teen can move in shortly after. A coordinator walks you through travel, paperwork, and the first day.

Yes. Nexus Teen Academy offers tours of the home by appointment, so you can see where your teen would live and ask the team your questions in person before you decide anything. Call admissions to schedule a tour at a time that suits your family.

Yes. Family therapy happens once a week and is typically followed by about an hour of visitation, and parents are expected to take part. After orientation, teens can call home during designated hours most days, and families can also join a weekly virtual Family Empowerment group with other parents.

No. Personal phones and other devices stay at home for the length of the stay. Teens use tablets for video calls with approved contacts and computers for schoolwork, so contact with family continues through approved channels while the focus stays on treatment.

School continues during treatment. Teens attend accredited, credit-bearing classes on site, and education supervisors help with coursework and stay in touch with families. Bring a copy of any 504 plan or IEP at admission, and before discharge the team plans a staged return to your teen's home school.

Pack about two weeks of clothes without laces or drawstrings, alcohol-free toiletries, and any prescribed medication in its original packaging with a current medication list. Bring a guardian ID, a copy of any 504 plan or IEP, and school books. Personal phones and school-issued tablets stay at home.

The clinical picture

Teen bipolar disorder, by the numbers.

Bipolar disorder is rarer than teen depression and carries a specific, well-tested treatment path. Each figure below carries its source.

Aerial view of a Nexus Teen Academy residential center in Arizona

2.9%

of U.S. teens 13 to 18 have had bipolar disorder, 2.6% with severe impairment (NIMH, NCS-A).

2 in 3

of adults with bipolar disorder trace onset to before age 19 (STEP-BD).

3.3%

prevalence in adolescent girls versus 2.6% in boys (NIMH).

Well-established

rating for family psychoeducation plus skill building in pediatric bipolar disorder (Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 2022).

Arizona’s 988 and Teen Lifeline lines meet the emergency, but a crisis call is stabilization, not ongoing treatment.

Residential care is the step between outpatient therapy and the hospital, the middle is what has been missing.

Sources: NIMH, bipolar disorder statistics (National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement); STEP-BD early-onset analysis (Perlis et al.); Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, psychosocial treatments for pediatric bipolar disorder (Brickman & Fristad, 2022); American Psychiatric Association, DSM-5.

Talk to an Arizona counselor, 24/7

Teen group home care for Arizona families

A teen group home in Arizona, with treatment inside the house.

Searching for a teen group home in Arizona? Teens from across the state live at one of our two gender-separate homes in North Scottsdale and Cave Creek, each licensed by AZDHS as a behavioral-health residential facility, so the treatment happens inside the house, not somewhere else.

A typical group home

Nexus homes

Families from the Phoenix metro 9 cities

Families from Greater Arizona 6 cities

Teens from each of these cities are treated at our two homes in North Scottsdale and Cave Creek. We help with the drive or flight, and families join weekly therapy in person or by secure video.

Serving Glendale

Teen bipolar disorder treatment for Glendale and West Valley families.

Both Nexus Teen Academy homes sit across the metro from Glendale in the northeast Valley, close enough for admission and weekly family work. Admissions answered 24/7.

A drive across the metro

From Glendale, the North Scottsdale center is about 35 to 45 minutes along the Loop 101 Agua Fria, with the Cave Creek residence toward the northeast corner of the metro.

Telehealth & travel, handled

In-person family sessions work for West Valley families, with secure telehealth as a backup, so a drive along the Loop 101 Agua Fria never means dropping out of treatment.

Aftercare mapped to your community

A skills-trained outpatient therapist and step-down care arranged near home before discharge, with school re-entry coordinated with Glendale Union or your own district.

Nexus Teen Academy, Scottsdale · boys’ residence

8611 E Cholla St, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Admissions 24/7

Nexus Teen Academy, Cave Creek · girls’ residence

2695 E Saddle Mountain Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331

Admissions 24/7

See a center on the map

Tap Cave Creek or Scottsdale below to load its interactive map right here.

Google Maps loads only when you choose, so nothing is shared with Google before you opt in.

Explore each Nexus Teen Academy location

North Scottsdale, 85260 · off Loop 101

Saddle Mountain Rd, 85331 · 20 min north

Served from both centers

Travel, telehealth & aftercare

From the Nexus library

What parents read before they call us.

The newest articles from Nexus Teen Academy for parents weighing what comes next. This list updates itself every time a new article goes live.

5 Best Self-Help Books for Teens

Adolescents often face significant academic, emotional, and social challenges. As you support them through the ups and downs

Reading because something changed at home? Call (480) 485-3424 and talk it through with an Arizona admissions counselor. It is free, confidential and there is no obligation.

Every Nexus program, statewide

Find your teen’s program, wherever you live in Arizona.

Eleven conditions, one clinical team, and families from fifteen Arizona cities. Choose what your teen is struggling with, then see how care works for families from your area.

Conditions treated, ages 12 to 17
11
Arizona cities our families come from
15
Residences, boys and girls
2
Admissions line, every day
24 /7

Nexus Teen Academy provides licensed residential treatment for teens aged 12 to 17 across eleven conditions: anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, self-harm, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, substance use, ADHD, behavioral issues, oppositional defiant disorder and anger issues. Boys live at the North Scottsdale residence and girls at the Cave Creek residence. Teens from 15 Arizona cities and the rest of the state are treated at these two residences, with drive-time guidance, travel help and family therapy by secure video for families outside the metro.

Bipolar disorder care, statewide

Teen bipolar disorder treatment for families across Arizona

Teens from each city below are treated at our Scottsdale and Cave Creek residences. We walk families through the drive, school re-entry with your home district, and the questions parents from that area ask most.

Other conditions we treat, for families statewide

Each condition leads to its Arizona guide, and the cities beside it show how care works for families from there.

Talk it through with a counselor

Tell an admissions counselor what you are seeing at home, and they will say plainly which program fits.

Your city is not listed? We admit teens from anywhere in Arizona and from out of state. Call (480) 485-3424 and we will tell you which residence is closer and how the drive works.