- Joint Commission accredited
- Two AZ centers
- Ages 12-17
- Admissions 24/7
Residential treatment for teen bipolar disorder near Tucson, AZ.
Tucson has few live-in options built for adolescent mood disorders, so many Pima County families look north to the Phoenix area for full-time bipolar care. Nexus Teen Academy treats ages 12 to 17 across bipolar I, II, and cyclothymia, with prescriber-led medication and awake overnight staff.
- Free & confidential · No obligation · (480) 485-3424
- 4.7 Google · 37 reviews
- AZDHS-licensed residential facility
- Most major private insurance accepted
- Free consultation
- Counselor online now
Calling from Tucson or anywhere in Pima County, leave a number and a licensed admissions counselor rings back, usually within minutes, to cover the mood pattern, fit, coverage, and travel.
- It's now where you are · typical callback under 10 minutes.
- Secure, private, and HIPAA-protected. By submitting you agree to be contacted about care; message/data rates may apply.
- 4.7 Google · 37 reviews
- Joint Commission accredited
Every credential is independently verifiable. Joint Commission · AZDHS registry · LegitScript.


Joint Commission accreditedAZDHS-licensed · LegitScript certifiedAbout Nexus Teen Academy
Nexus Teen Academy: teen bipolar disorder treatment within reach of Tucson.
Nexus Teen Academy is a licensed, Joint Commission-accredited residential program for teen bipolar disorder, serving Tucson and Pima County from the Phoenix area. 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 weeks of observation build the mood and sleep record a Tucson office visit cannot. Boys stay at our North Scottsdale home and girls at Cave Creek, about two hours north up I-10.
Both homes are in the Phoenix metro, North Scottsdale for boys and Cave Creek for girls, roughly a two-hour drive from Tucson. Each is AZDHS-licensed, Joint Commission accredited, and LegitScript certified, with a psychiatric prescriber and awake staff on site.
Nexus Teen Academy provides residential treatment for teen bipolar disorder for families from Tucson, 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
Accredited Arizona centers
Ages we treat, gender-separate
Awake clinical staff, every hour
A primary therapist, by name
Secure form · About 2 minutes · Free, no obligation
Our admissions team will reach out to you soon. Here’s what happens next:
- An admissions counselor contacts you, free and confidential
- If you asked about coverage, we check your benefits with your insurer
- You get honest answers and clear next steps, with no obligation
Where residential care fits: IOP, PHP or residential
The subacute level between weekly therapy and a hospital bed.
Therapy once or a few times a week. Your teen stays home and at school.
Live-in clinical care with 24/7 awake staff, daily therapy, and accredited school, in a real home.
You are hereShort-term acute stabilization for immediate medical or safety crisis.
| Question | Intensive outpatient (IOP) | Partial hospitalization (PHP) | Residential (RTC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | A step down from PHP, or a starting point for teens who need more than weekly therapy | A step down from residential care, or a starting point for teens who need structure without 24/7 care | Teens who need 24/7 care in a safe, immersive setting |
| Where your teen sleeps | At home | At home each evening | A licensed, home-like residence with 24/7 awake staff |
| Weekly schedule | About 4 hours a day (10:30 to 2:30 or 1:00 to 5:00), 3 to 4 days a week | Several days a week, multiple hours a day | Daily therapy, with care around the clock |
| Typical length | 30 to 90+ days | 30 to 90 days | 30 to 60 days |
| School | Stays in school; IOP is therapy-focused, with no academic support | Daily schoolwork time in a classroom, with educators on staff | Accredited, credit-bearing classes on site |
| Family | Weekly individual therapy and family counseling every other week | Family therapy sessions included | Weekly 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 teamThe program
What teen bipolar disorder treatment offers Tucson families.
For families traveling from Tucson Unified, Amphitheater, and across Pima County, 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
A DSM-5 psychiatric evaluation opens the stay and 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 Tucson 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, in person and by secure telehealth, keep Tucson families fully involved across the distance.
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 Tucson-area student on track to graduate while away.
Relapse-prevention & discharge plan
A family-authored early-warning plan, an outpatient psychiatrist booked back in Tucson, and medication continuity mapped before discharge.
- Dual-diagnosis care, depression, anxiety, trauma, self-harm & substance use, together
Dual-diagnosis care
What bipolar disorder travels with in the teens we treat.
Bipolar disorder in a Tucson teen rarely comes 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.
For many Tucson families, the drive north buys the one thing an office cannot: weeks of continuous mood observation.Nexus Teen Academy turns that time into an accurate diagnosis and a medication plan that fits.
Primary conditionBipolar disorder
Everything below is treated in the same plan, by the same team.
Teen anxiety treatment
The alarm that never switches off.
Teen substance abuse treatment
Self-medication that took over.
Teen self-harm treatment
Safety-planned and monitored.
Safety firstTeen ADHD treatment
Focus, impulse control, school.
Teen suicidal ideation treatment
Assessed daily, never left alone.
Safety firstTeen depression treatment
Withdrawal and mood collapse.
Teen behavioral issues treatment
Defiance, aggression, running.
Teen trauma & PTSD treatment
Flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance.
Teen ODD treatment
Arguing, defiance, constant conflict.
Teen anger issues treatment
Blow-ups that frighten the family.
- Whatever your teen is facing, care stays coordinated in one integrated plan, one clinical team, and one residential setting.
The setting
See inside our Arizona teen residential home.
Two gender-separate homes in the Phoenix metro, the boys home in North Scottsdale and the girls home in Cave Creek, about two hours north of Tucson up I-10.
Take a self-guided 3D walkthrough of the home
Life inside
A day in bipolar residential treatment.
Routine itself steadies mood. Each day at both Phoenix-metro homes keeps the same dependable shape, fixed wake and sleep, meals, groups, school, and movement, so distance from Tucson never means a gap in structure.
-
MorningHygiene, meds & breakfast
Hygiene and meds from 6:30 to 7:30, then breakfast from 7:30 to 8:00.
-
MorningGratitude 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.
-
MorningGroup therapy & lunch
Group therapy from 11:00 to 12:00, then lunch and mindfulness from 12:00 to 1:00.
-
AfternoonGroup therapy
Group therapy from 2:00 to 3:00, a snack at 3:00, then group therapy again from 3:15 to 4:00.
-
AfternoonMovement, 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.
-
EveningFree 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
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
The therapy mix: medication, CBT, and family-focused therapy.
Nexus Teen Academy runs prescriber-led medication management with CBT, family-focused therapy, and psychoeducation, including secure telehealth for Tucson families, reviewed weekly against the mood and sleep record.
Core therapies
1
Medication & mood stabilization
Prescriber-led mood stabilization with adolescent-approved options, dosed on observed daily response and explained to you in full.
Helps withmood episodessleep2
Group therapy & coping skills
Distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and mindfulness, practiced in peer groups.
Helps withmanic & depressive swingsmood swings3
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-worthPsychiatric & medication support
Prescriber-led evaluation; medication weighed case-by-case, explained in full, monitored closely.
treatment-resistant depressionAccredited academics
Accredited classes each weekday with credit coordination, so recovery and graduation progress together.
staying on track to graduate
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.
LPC, BC-TMHHannah Carr-Unquera
Executive Director
Leads the clinical program across both homes, licensed in Arizona and board certified in telemental health.
LCSW, DSWDr. Tyler White
Director of Adolescent Clinical Services
Sets the treatment plan each resident’s team works to, and supervises the clinicians who deliver it.
DNP, PMHNP-BCAlexandria Penner
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Runs psychiatric evaluation and medication management on-site, so prescribing stays inside the house.
House teamAshley 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.
House teamJennifer 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.
House teamMelissa 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.
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Carol TrombinoTrustindex 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.![]()
Hemella SweattTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
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.![]()
S HTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
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.![]()
Amanda HayesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
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.![]()
AlishaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
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.![]()
Vanessa AnayaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
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.![]()
Sean HayesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
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.![]()
Zane BedfordTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
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.![]()
lily hendersonTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
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.![]()
Jasmine CarterTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
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.Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 23 reviews
★★★★★
“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.”
★★★★★
“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 →
★★★★★
“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 →
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.
- You set the pace, with no pressure to decide
- Clear answers to every clinical and financial question
- An honest recommendation, even if another program is the better fit
1
- Today · 24/7
- ~15 minutes
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.
- What to have ready: nothing. Just call, questions are welcome, and there is no obligation.
2
- Same day
- Free & confidential
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.
- What you get: your coverage answer, usually the same day, every option mapped, including in-network and out-of-network paths.
3
- Within 24-48 hrs
- Licensed clinicians
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.
- Your input matters: what you have seen at home is a key part of the clinical assessment.
4
- Within days
- Named coordinator
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.
- No surprises: you will have the packing list, schedule, and your coordinator's direct line in writing.
5
- Welcome day
- Never out of the loop
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.
- From here: predictable days, weekly updates, and a team your teen knows by name.
Coverage & cost
Does insurance cover teen residential treatment in Arizona?
On most major private plans, residential bipolar care is a covered behavioral-health benefit. Nexus Teen Academy verifies your exact Tucson-area benefits, in and out of network, before you travel.
- 1You send your plan detailsTwo required fields. Member ID optional. Takes about a minute.
- 2We verify with your insurer directlyIn-network or out-of-network, free and confidential, usually the same day.
- 3You get the number in plain EnglishYour exact out-of-pocket cost, explained before you commit to anything.
- Meritain
- UMR
- + more
Out-of-network or unsure about your plan? Call anyway, cost should never be the reason a teen doesn't get help.
- Free benefits check
See exactly what your plan covers for residential bipolar disorder treatment, free and confidential.
After discharge
Relapse prevention and aftercare that follow your teen back to Tucson.
Before discharge, your case manager finalizes the aftercare plan: early-warning signs, an outpatient psychiatrist and therapist booked in Tucson, medication continuity, and school re-entry staged with your Pima County district.
Answers
Tucson teen bipolar disorder FAQs
The questions families ask us most, answered plainly, centers, distance, insurance, licensing, and privacy.
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) 485-3424Knowing when residential care fits
Nexus Teen Academy runs its residential program on a center in the greater Scottsdale/Cave Creek area, roughly two hours north of Tucson up I-10. Most Pima County families tell us there is no dedicated teen bipolar residential option close to home, so they make the short drive to the Valley for round-the-clock, prescriber-led care that a weekly Tucson appointment cannot match.
Consider residential care when mood episodes keep returning, sleep collapses for days at a time, school attendance falls apart, or safety becomes a worry despite outpatient support. When a Tucson family is managing crisis after crisis at home, a structured 24/7 setting lets us stabilize mood before the next episode takes hold.
Everyday teenage ups and downs shift within hours and usually track with events. Bipolar mood episodes last days or weeks, come with changes in sleep, energy, judgment, and speed of thought, and often show up whether or not anything triggered them. We spend the first days distinguishing true episodes from normal adolescence before settling on a treatment plan.
Yes. We work with the full spectrum, from bipolar I with clear manic episodes to bipolar II with hypomania and heavy depression, as well as cyclothymia and mood presentations that have not yet been fully classified. Tucson teens are often mislabeled with depression alone, so accurate re-assessment is part of what we do on arrival.
Diagnosis, medication & the daily program
A licensed clinician completes a full diagnostic evaluation, reviews prior Tucson-area records, and rules out conditions that can imitate bipolar disorder. Because roughly two-thirds of adults with bipolar disorder first had symptoms before nineteen, getting the diagnosis right in adolescence changes the entire trajectory of care.
A psychiatric nurse practitioner leads prescribing, starting and adjusting mood stabilizers deliberately while nursing staff watch for side effects each day. Rather than the trial-and-error many Tucson families experience between spaced-out outpatient visits, medication changes here are observed continuously and paced to how your teen actually responds.
Every resident logs mood, energy, and sleep each day so patterns become visible instead of guessed at. These charts show whether a mood stabilizer is working, flag an episode building days early, and give your Tucson teen a lifelong self-monitoring habit they can keep using at home.
Irregular sleep is one of the strongest triggers for bipolar mood episodes, so a predictable daily rhythm is treatment, not just structure. Consistent wake times, wind-down routines, daytime activity, and academics all work together to steady the body clock that mood so heavily depends on.
Family involvement, cost & the drive from Tucson
Family-focused therapy and psychoeducation are built into the program through scheduled video sessions and in-person weekends, so distance from Tucson does not sideline you. You learn to read early warning signs, respond to episodes calmly, and support the routines that keep mood stable once your teen is back home.
In most cases, yes. Our admissions team verifies your benefits before anything begins and walks Tucson families through coverage, expected costs, and options in plain language, so you can make the decision without financial surprises partway through treatment.
The center sits about two hours north of Tucson, an easy drive up I-10 into the Valley. Admissions begins with one phone call: we complete a clinical screen, verify insurance, and coordinate a start date, and many families searching for teen bipolar treatment near me are able to move quickly once that first conversation is done.
Before discharge we build a relapse-prevention plan that names each teen’s personal warning signs, a medication routine, sleep targets, and coping steps, then help connect your family with Tucson-area prescribers and therapists for follow-up. The goal is a stable handoff, not a hard stop at the center gate.
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.

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, 24/7Teen 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
- Licensed for shelter and supervision
- Daily living and structure
- Supervision, not clinical treatment
Nexus homes
- AZDHS behavioral-health residential licence
- Daily therapy and psychiatric care
- Accredited school on site
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 Tucson
Teen bipolar disorder treatment within reach of Tucson, about two hours north.
Both Nexus Teen Academy homes sit in the Phoenix metro, about two hours north of Tucson up I-10, close enough for admission and family work, with secure video in between. Admissions answered 24/7.
About two hours north
From Tucson, the North Scottsdale and Cave Creek homes are about a two-hour drive north on I-10, and our admissions team helps families plan the trip and intake in one day.
Telehealth & travel, handled
Secure weekly family telehealth keeps Tucson families involved from two hours away, plus help planning the drive up I-10 or a flight into Phoenix Sky Harbor, so distance never means dropping out of treatment.
Aftercare mapped to your community
A skills-trained outpatient therapist and step-down care lined up near home before discharge, plus school re-entry coordinated with Tucson Unified or your own district.
Nexus Teen Academy, Scottsdale · boys’ residence
Admissions 24/7
Nexus Teen Academy, Cave Creek · girls’ residence
Admissions 24/7

See a center on the map
Tap Cave Creek or Scottsdale below to load its interactive map right here.
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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.

Teen Xanax Addiction: Xanax Abuse in Teen Boys & Girls
The misuse of prescription drugs among teens continues to grow. According to recent statistics, 2.5% of 12- to 17-year-olds abuse prescriptions annually, while 7.1% of high
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
What to Do When Your Teen Refuses to Go to Treatment or Therapy
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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.
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.
Each condition leads to its Arizona guide, and the cities beside it show how care works for families from there.
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.


