- Joint Commission accredited
- Girls-only home
- Ages 12 to 17
- Admissions 24/7
Eating disorder treatment for teen girls near New River, AZ.
Out here, the nearest specialist who works with teenage girls and food can be a long haul away. Nexus Teen Academy takes girls 12 to 17 whose trouble has a name, whether that is ARFID or bulimia, binge eating disorder or anorexia, into a licensed Cave Creek house kept for girls, some 35 to 45 minutes south and east of New River by way of I-17.
- 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
Put your number in and one of our licensed admissions counselors rings back, most times within minutes. Expect honest talk about what she is going through, what your plan pays, and what would happen next.
- 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
About Nexus Teen Academy's eating disorder program for girls.
Nexus Teen Academy is an accredited residential home in Cave Creek, where a single clinical team cares for teenage girls, 12 through 17, with eating disorders. Open desert surrounds it, not so different from the lots up in New River, and the days keep a steady routine. Restricting, bingeing or purging usually starts as a way to handle something heavier: anxiety, needing everything just right, a loss, or a body changing too fast. We work on the eating and the cause side by side.
Plainly put, this is no hospital. If her pulse runs very slow, she has fainting spells, or labs come back wrong, hospital doctors get her stable first, and admissions picks her arrival date around their say-so. Our credentials: AZDHS licensed, Joint Commission accredited, LegitScript certified.
Nexus Teen Academy provides residential treatment for teen eating disorders for families from New River, Arizona, for ages 12 to 17. Girls live in a licensed home in Cave Creek 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.
Cave Creek
Girls, 12 to 17 · Phoenix metro
Cave Creek
Girls, 12 to 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
Inside our eating disorder treatment program for teen girls.
Here is what every girl gets, all of it, not a pick-and-choose menu. It runs from one plan in one house on the same daily schedule, and once a week her team sizes the plan up against her medical and emotional footing, not the calendar.
Starting with the full story
Food intake, weight over time, labs, mental-health background, school: all of it gets laid out together before the plan is written.
Stable before she arrives
When vitals or labs are unsafe, a hospital gets her steady first, and she comes to Cave Creek the day she is cleared.
Daily sessions with her therapist
Every weekday she sits down with a named licensed clinician to dig into fears, food rules and the feelings under them.
Every meal supported
Staff sit down to three meals and scheduled snacks with her, the meal plan climbs as she heals, and someone stays close after each meal.
Family work, near or far
Once a week the family meets with her therapist, in Cave Creek or by secure video, and Saturdays bring a parents' group on meal support.
Medication when it helps
Our psychiatric prescriber, right there on site, can treat anxiety, low mood or OCD symptoms, and asks your consent every time a dose or drug changes.
Weekday school for credit
Class meets every weekday under a certified teacher, and her credit transfers when she goes home.
Ready for the trip home
Warning signs and meals written down, outpatient care set up near New River, and school eased back in a bit at a time.
- Steady meals, honest work, and help for what lies underneath
Whole-girl care
Conditions we treat alongside eating disorders.
Girls seldom bring just one problem. A national study of adolescents run through NIMH counted 3.8% of teenage girls with an eating disorder at some point, and bulimic or binge-eating teens in that study mostly met the bar for another psychiatric condition too, anxiety and mood trouble out in front.
So the Cave Creek team takes on the whole load at once. Nobody sends her across town to a second provider, which counts for a lot when home is New River and every extra appointment means another long drive.
Spotting an eating disorder in a daughter
Primary focus
Binge eating disorder, bulimia, anorexia and ARFID in adolescent girls
Depression
Depression that settles in as meals get smaller.
Anxiety & perfectionism
Anxiety and a need for control that food rules feed.
Trauma & PTSD
Trauma the eating is trying to keep quiet.
ADHD
ADHD impulsivity that can drive a binge.
Substance use
Alcohol, vapes or pills taken to dull hunger.
Dual diagnosis
A substance problem sitting on top of a mental-health diagnosis.
Self-harm
Self-harm urges are screened at intake and watched.
Safety firstSuicidal ideation
Checked first, ahead of anything else.
Safety first- No matter what sits under the eating disorder, it gets treated by the same team, in the same house, on the same plan.
The setting
A licensed residential setting for teen girls.
The girls live in an honest-to-goodness house on open ground in Cave Creek, a half-hour or so north of the middle of Phoenix. Meals and snacks run on the clock and get eaten together; school and therapy fill the gaps; one of the staff is up and awake every night; and AZDHS holds the license.
Take a self-guided 3D walkthrough of the home
Life inside
A typical day in residential eating disorder treatment.
In the first weeks, the table is the hard part, and staff pull their chairs up to it. Every bargain and every food rule gets the same steady answer, and bit by bit the disorder runs out of arguments.
-
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
How we treat eating disorders in teen girls.
For teenagers, family treatment that keeps its eye on the eating disorder is what the American Psychiatric Association recommended in 2023, and CBT-E holds up for teens too. For a family far from specialists, living in means that support shows up at every meal, not for an hour a week in town.
Core therapies
1
Family-based treatment
For a stretch, parents run her meals; then control is handed back to her in steps as she mends. You learn it in session and carry it home to New River.
Helps withparents run mealscontrol returned2
CBT-E
Works on the food rules, the constant body checking, and how much weight and shape decide what she thinks of herself.
Helps withfood rulesself-worth3
Emotion-regulation and distress-tolerance skills
Every day she practices ways to ride out strong feelings and bad moments, so the pull to restrict or binge gets a different answer.
Helps withdaily skillshard moments
Supporting care, running alongside
Exposure and body-image work
When she is medically steady, feared foods and avoided places come back slowly, her therapist alongside, with body-image work in the mix.
one food at a timebody imageFamily therapy and parent group
Weekly family therapy, in person when the drive works and on secure video when it does not, plus a parents' group every Saturday.
video or in personSaturday parentsEquine, art and experiential
Fridays are for horses. A girl raised around them often steadies in that familiar work, and art and music add more ways to feel strong.
equine Fridaysfamiliar ground
Your teen's clinical team
Meet our licensed clinical team.
You will know her people by name. She gets a licensed primary therapist and a psychiatric prescriber, and the folks who staff the house introduce themselves too. Every license and accreditation we hold in Arizona sits below, open to your own checking.
LPC, BC-TMHHannah Carr-Unquera
Executive Director
Leads the clinical program, 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, 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
The admission process, step by step.
- 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
Expect plain questions from a licensed counselor. What does she eat in a day now? Has her weight dropped or swung? Any purging or bingeing? Has she fainted or come close? What diagnoses or treatment came before? Is she safe? At the end, you get a straight answer on whether living in is what she needs.
- What to have ready: nothing. Just call, questions are welcome, and there is no obligation.
2
- Same day
- Free & confidential
Coverage check
Say the word and we call your insurance carrier, then report back: what it covers when a teen lives in for behavioral-health treatment, in-network or not, and a fair guess at what lands on you. Eating disorder care is billed on your plan's mental-health side, and we explain in plain terms what that changes for you.
- What you get: your coverage answer, usually the same day, every option mapped, including in-network and out-of-network paths.
3
- Within 24 to 48 hrs
- Licensed clinicians
Clinical assessment
A licensed clinician goes through her eating history, which way her weight is trending, her mental-health history, earlier treatment and any safety worries, and from that recommends how much care fits. If her pediatrician's latest vitals and labs look off, a hospital has to come first.
- 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 handles the drive, prescriptions, medical clearance, her school file and a packing list checked over for safety, so arrival day runs smooth.
- 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
She meets the people on her team and sits down to her first meal with the girls. Before you head back up I-17, your first family session already has a date.
- From here: predictable days, weekly updates, and a team your teen knows by name.
Coverage & cost
Insurance coverage for eating disorder treatment
Most big private health plans put residential eating disorder care in the behavioral-health column, and Nexus Teen Academy is in business with most of the major commercial carriers. Out in New River or anywhere else, we look at your daughter's actual policy for free and in private, network status included, generally within a day, and you learn your cost before signing a thing.
- 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
Find out, free and privately, how far your plan goes toward her stay in Cave Creek. Nothing to sign.
After discharge
Step-down care and aftercare near New River.
Well before discharge, you and her team work out the next stretch: PHP or IOP if she needs it, an outpatient counselor, dietitian and pediatrician located as near New River as we can find, meals and warning signs written down on paper, and an unhurried return to school with Deer Valley.
Answers
Frequently asked questions about eating disorder treatment
What parents from New River and up the I-17 corridor ask us about the drive, horses, meals, cost 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) 485-3424Centers & getting there
Yes. For New River parents who typed eating disorder treatment near me and came up short, Nexus Teen Academy runs a girls-only house down in Cave Creek for ages 12 to 17, roughly 35 to 45 minutes by I-17. Phone (480) 485-3424 whenever you need; admissions picks up at all hours.
Plan on 35 to 45 minutes each way. Coming down once a week for family therapy and again for a weekend visit is doable, and on weeks when chores, animals or work pin you at home, you log in by secure video.
Only girls, ages 12 to 17, stay in the Cave Creek house. Eating disorder work keeps circling back to periods, a changing body, comparing herself online and sometimes sexual trauma, and a girl talks more freely when every face in the room is another girl's.
Yes, equine sessions happen every Friday. For a girl who grew up around horses, time with them can be where she feels most like herself, and her clinicians use that ease to work on calm, trust and strength.
Care & cost
Every one of them. The list runs anorexia nervosa (atypical too), OSFED, ARFID, binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa. Her plan is built on the job the eating is doing for her, rather than the name printed on a chart.
Then a hospital comes first. That is the call when her heart rate is very slow, she faints, her blood pressure drops, electrolytes are off or weight is falling fast. Admissions keeps in touch and brings her to Cave Creek once doctors clear her.
Three meals and set snacks a day, and staff eat them with her. The meal plan goes up as her body mends. After-meal support gets her through the roughest stretch, and her weight and vitals get checked on a set schedule, with results sent to her physician.
If medical necessity is met, most major private plans help pay, since eating disorder care counts under mental-health benefits. Checking yours costs nothing and stays private; it is usually done the same day, and you hear your share before anything else.
Figure on 30 days or more to start, with the length set by how she is doing clinically. By discharge, a step-down program, a local counselor, dietitian and pediatrician, and a school plan with Deer Valley are all lined up.
Licensing & privacy
It is. AZDHS licenses the Cave Creek house for behavioral-health residential treatment, The Joint Commission accredits it, and LegitScript certifies it. You can look up all three yourself.
Her records are protected by HIPAA and go only to people you sign off on, such as her doctor or a school contact. Nothing about her stay is shared with neighbors or anyone else unless you say so.
Yes. The call is confidential, nothing gets decided on it, and what you tell us stays private. Some parents call first just to understand the options before they talk with their daughter.
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.
Facts and sources
Teen eating disorder statistics parents should know
Over half the high school girls in the CDC's 2023 national survey said they felt persistently sad or hopeless, and eating disorders often start in that same place. Sources ride along with every number.

3.8%
of girls nationwide between 13 and 18 have gone through an eating disorder, while the rate across every adolescent is 2.7% (NIMH, NCS-A).
3.0%
lifetime rate among the oldest teens surveyed, 17 and 18, climbing from 2.4% at 13 or 14; risk grows year by year (NIMH, NCS-A).
49%
was the rate of full remission after 12 months for adolescents with anorexia whose treatment was family-based, versus 23% with individual therapy (Lock et al., 2010).
1 in 4
adolescents across Arizona with a need for mental-health care rated getting it as very difficult or impossible (AZDHS, 2026).
Rates rise across the teen years and land mostly on girls, so a change in how she eats is worth a real look now, not a wait.
New River families already know long drives for care. With 1 in 4 Arizona adolescents struggling to get needed mental-health care, calling sooner beats sitting on a waitlist.
Residential care vs. a teen group home
Lived in like a home, staffed like a treatment center.
Families out in New River sometimes start by hunting for a group home. What we run in Cave Creek is a house for girls with real clinical care inside it, licensed by the state through AZDHS for behavioral-health residential treatment, so meals, lessons and therapy all happen under one roof.
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
Girls from all of these towns have come through Cave Creek. Tell us where you are coming from and we will help with the drive, or a flight, and parents stay part of it weekly, whether in the room or on secure video.
Across Arizona
From New River to Cave Creek: travel and visits.
From New River, go south on I-17 and then east; Cave Creek is 35 to 45 minutes off. That is a real drive, but an afternoon covers a family session, and weekends leave room for a visit. Somebody at admissions answers day or night.
35 to 45 minutes, I-17 then east
From New River, take I-17 south toward Anthem, then swing east to Cave Creek; figure 35 to 45 minutes all told. A family session and a visit fit in one trip, and you sleep in your own bed.
Close enough, with video backup
Coming down for family therapy in person each week is doable from New River. When weather, a sick animal or a long workday says no, a secure video call keeps your seat.
Support waiting when she's home
Discharge comes with PHP or IOP when she needs that bridge, an outpatient team (counseling, a dietitian, a pediatrician) as near New River as we can manage, and a school return worked out with Deer Valley Unified.
Nexus Teen Academy, Cave Creek · girls’ residence
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Directions from New River to Cave Creek
35 to 45 min south, then east
Saddle Mountain Rd, 85331 · 20 min north
Black Canyon City, Desert Hills, Anthem
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Find the right program for your daughter.
Pick what your girl is up against, then read how things work for families from your corner of Arizona. One clinical team stands behind every program.
Licensed residential treatment at Nexus Teen Academy is open to adolescents 12 to 17 for eating disorders, trauma and PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, suicidal ideation, depression, ADHD, substance use and self-harm. Our girls in eating disorder treatment live at the Cave Creek house, and only girls live there. Families from New River, the rest of the I-17 corridor and far corners of the state get a hand with the drive and travel, and a secure video line for family sessions when the trip is out of reach.
Depression care, statewide
Nearby cities we serve for eating disorder care
Each town below has girls who came to Cave Creek for care. Every page walks through that drive, holding meals steady back home, her return to class, and what parents from those parts want to know.
Related teen treatment programs
Open a condition for the Arizona-wide write-up, and use the town links next to it to see how treatment works from each place.
Talk it through with a counselor
Tell an admissions counselor what you are seeing at home, and they will say plainly which program fits.
Girls-only programs
Treated only at the Cave Creek girls residence
Five programs for teen girls, each with an Arizona guide and a page for families from each nearby city.
Co-occurring mental health and substance use
Eating disorders in teen girls
Sexual trauma in teen girls
Severe mood swings in teen girls
Don't spot your town? We take girls from every part of Arizona and beyond it. Ring (480) 485-3424; we will sort out the miles to Cave Creek and the admission steps with you.


