Skip to main content

Teen Mental Health Treatment in Arizona

Counselors online nowJoint Commission accredited · AZDHS licensedCave Creek, AZ

Emotional dysregulation treatment for teen girls near Peoria, AZ.

An attendance-office voicemail, a suspension letter, a desk shoved over mid-lesson, a Monday she refuses to leave the car: for many Peoria parents, school is where the storms surface first. Nexus Teen Academy treats ages 12 to 17 in Cave Creek, 35-45 minutes east, at a licensed residence housing girls alone, pairing CBT, EMDR and skills drills with credit-earning weekday lessons.

Talk with a licensed counselor

Send us your contact details, and a licensed intake counselor phones back soon to talk about what is unfolding at school and at home, go over coverage and sketch the path forward from Peoria.

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
Care Solace verified provider badge

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
A girls' home with a classroom35-45 minutes from Peoria, with credits that follow her back to school.

About Nexus Teen Academy

About Nexus Teen Academy's emotional dysregulation program for girls.

Nexus Teen Academy, an AZDHS-licensed and Joint Commission-accredited residence in Cave Creek, serves girls ages 12 to 17 whose emotions erupt faster than they can steer them, frequently in a classroom before anywhere else. Peoria families usually call after a string of detentions, suspensions or skipped weeks. Since emotional dysregulation tends to arrive knotted together with anxiety, ADHD, depression or old trauma, the stay opens by working out what is actually driving the reactions at school and at home.

Staff write down what sparks each reaction, maybe a pop quiz, a hallway comment or a teacher's correction, how hot it runs and how many minutes she needs to recover, and that log becomes the backbone of her plan. AZDHS-licensed, Joint Commission-accredited, LegitScript certified.

In short

Nexus Teen Academy provides residential treatment for teen emotional dysregulation for families from Peoria, 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

2

Accredited Arizona centers

12 to 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

Inside our emotional dysregulation treatment program for teen girls.

Therapy, coaching, schoolwork and family sessions follow one written roadmap in a home where girls are the sole residents and the timetable barely changes. Each week the team lays classroom notes beside house notes and judges progress by what staff watched her actually do.

Assessment beyond the classroom

Screening spans ADHD, anxiety, low mood, trauma history, substance use and broader mood conditions, so her plan aims at whatever fuels incidents at school and home.

Tracking flare-ups

Staff log each trigger, how far the reaction climbed and how long she took to settle, exposing patterns behind the school incidents.

Weekday therapy sessions

Monday to Friday her named licensed clinician uses CBT on trigger-reaction chains and brings in EMDR when past trauma is fueling them.

Skills for the hard moment

Labeling emotions, paced breathing and grounding get drilled each day and coached as frustration flares, including during class.

Family sessions, Saturday group

Family therapy weekly, with you seated beside her or on screen, plus Saturday group for parents on keeping calm, validating and holding clear limits.

Psychiatric care when needed

The prescriber in the building treats co-occurring ADHD, anxiety, depression or mood conditions if indicated, with your approval at each change.

Credit-bearing classes

Her transcript keeps growing through weekday coursework under a certified teacher, which makes a return to Peoria Unified far easier to plan.

A steady school-day rhythm

Rising, meals, class and bed follow the same clock daily, with quiet rooms nearby, so fewer transitions turn into flashpoints.

School and therapy

What can fuel intense emotional outbursts.

A classroom meltdown seldom comes from nowhere. Among teen girls answering the CDC's 2023 survey, 53% reported weeks of hopelessness or sadness, while a meta-analysis of community samples finds 17.2% of adolescents have injured themselves intentionally, which many girls describe as a way to switch a feeling off.

At the house, one clinical team handles the outbursts along with their roots, whether grade anxiety, ADHD that makes stillness torture, trauma or a low mood, so she is not shuttled from a school counselor to a clinic to yet another program.

When outbursts start at school

The setting

A licensed residential setting for teen girls.

The residence is a lived-in home on desert acreage north of Phoenix's downtown by about thirty minutes and 35-45 minutes from most Peoria driveways. Girls make up the whole household, a school-day rhythm anchors every weekday, quiet spaces open whenever tempers rise, overnight staff work fully awake, and the entire home carries AZDHS licensure.

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 typical day in residential emotional dysregulation treatment.

Weekdays at the house run like a bell schedule. Class, dinner, therapy and bedtime ring in at set times, so fewer transitions blindside her, and someone is nearby to prompt a skill the minute frustration with a worksheet starts climbing.

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

Evidence-based therapies for teen emotional dysregulation.

CBT hands her a way to take apart a classroom blowup: what set it off, which thought jumped in and how she reacted, then a plan for next period. EMDR gets added if old trauma keeps feeding those reactions. Living on site, she practices during real frustrations, sometimes mid-lesson.

One treatment planOne clinical teamReviewed weeklyTracked against her goals

Core therapies

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

    Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

    Breaks a classroom blowup into trigger, thought and reaction, and builds a plan she can use the next time a lesson goes sideways.

    Helps withcore CBTclassroom plans
  • Teens supporting each other in a group therapy session2

    EMDR

    When older trauma keeps provoking big reactions, EMDR helps those memories lose their charge. It begins once her days are stable.

    Helps withfor traumaonce stable
  • A weekly family therapy session with parents and a clinician3

    Emotion-regulation and distress-tolerance skills

    Naming feelings, pacing each breath and grounding herself, practiced daily so she can use them at a desk, not only in therapy.

    Helps withdaily drillsusable at school

Supporting care, running alongside

  • Psychiatric evaluation and medication

    The prescriber checks whether ADHD, a mood condition, depression or anxiety sits behind the outbursts and treats it only when indicated.

    co-occurringconsent first
  • Family therapy and parent group

    Family therapy weekly, in Cave Creek or via encrypted link, and a Saturday parent circle focused on calm replies and firm, clear limits.

    weeklyparent group
  • Equine, art and experiential

    Friday horse sessions, art projects and music build focus and body awareness she can carry back into the classroom.

    Friday equineart and music
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.

Around her: her own named therapist, fully licensed; a prescriber working on the property for any co-occurring psychiatric condition; a certified teacher; and house staff you will greet by first name within a week. Arizona keeps clinician licenses public, and a registry link farther down this page lets you confirm any of them.

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

Hannah Carr-Unquera

Executive Director

Leads the clinical program, 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, 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
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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.
Google
S H profile picture
S H
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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.
Google
Amanda Hayes profile picture
Amanda Hayes
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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.
Google
Alisha profile picture
Alisha
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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.
Google
Vanessa Anaya profile picture
Vanessa Anaya
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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.
Google
Sean Hayes profile picture
Sean Hayes
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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.
Google
Zane Bedford profile picture
Zane Bedford
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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.
Google
lily henderson profile picture
lily henderson
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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.
Google
Jasmine Carter profile picture
Jasmine Carter
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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.

4.7/ 5

★★★★★34 verified Google reviews · Nexus Teen Academy
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

The admission process, step by step.

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

1

One calm call

Expect our licensed counselor to ask how her outbursts look in class versus at the dinner table, how long they drag on, what usually lights the fuse, whether self-injury has happened, and what diagnoses or prescriptions she has had, then shares, frankly, whether living at the house would serve her.

2

Coverage check

Once you approve, we ring the insurer and come back with straight figures: residential behavioral-health benefits, whether Nexus Teen Academy is in network and a frank projection of your share, often by end of day. Emotional dysregulation treatment is covered by behavioral-health benefits if medical necessity is supported, and school discipline records can supply that support.

3

Clinical assessment

After that, a licensed clinician weighs report cards, the discipline file, past treatment, emotional and family history, plus current safety, and proposes a level of intensity. Emails from teachers or the front office about recent incidents, with dates, are gold here.

4

Plan the arrival

A single coordinator collects transcripts and other school paperwork, a list of current medications and travel details, sends a packing list cleared for safety, and confirms everything in an email that lists a personal phone line.

5

A gentle, planned arrival

She meets her therapist, her teacher and the girls whose rooms are down the hall, slides into that night's routine; before you leave, the opening family check-in already has a date.

Coverage & cost

Insurance coverage for emotional dysregulation treatment

Most major private insurers classify residential care for conditions behind serious emotional dysregulation under behavioral health, and Nexus Teen Academy accepts most commercial plans. Your daughter's benefits get confirmed, whether or not we are in network, without charge and privately, typically within the day, and any costs are reviewed with you before admission.

  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

Ask what your insurer would put toward a residential emotional dysregulation stay, free and without commitment.

HIPAA-protectedNo obligationNever sold or shared

After discharge

Step-down care and aftercare near Peoria.

Discharge planning kicks off weeks early with your input: her warning signs and go-to coping steps written out, a counselor and prescriber arranged in the Peoria area, a script for rough evenings, and re-entry mapped out alongside Peoria Unified so she is not walking back into first period cold.

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

Answers

Frequently asked questions about emotional dysregulation treatment

Peoria parents' common questions about residential emotional dysregulation care, school credits included, along with the drive, safety, cost 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

Centers & getting there

Yes. Peoria families searching emotional dysregulation treatment near me can look to Nexus Teen Academy: a licensed residence for girls ages 12 to 17, located about 35-45 minutes east in Cave Creek via Loop 101. Admissions takes calls any hour at (480) 485-3424.

Usually 35-45 minutes via the 101. Lots of parents come for the family session each week and for weekend visits, and secure video takes over whenever a work shift or a sibling's practice gets in the way.

With only girls around, many girls speak more freely about embarrassment, anger, social media fights, grades or self-harm. Every bedroom, group and routine at the residence exists for girls ages 12 to 17.

Pushback happens a lot. Admissions can help with timing and wording, and the team is used to girls who arrive unsure. Families can tour the house beforehand, which sometimes takes the edge off the first step.

Care & cost

Yes. Classes carrying credit meet each weekday; a certified teacher runs them, lining coursework up so the stay does not sink her semester. With your permission, her transcript and records travel back to her school.

Ahead of discharge, we sit down with you and the district on a paced re-entry: the steps she takes when a surge hits in class, a named contact at school, and attendance rebuilt a step at a time.

Staff stay with her, coach a skill such as paced breathing or grounding, and offer a quiet space. Later her therapist uses CBT to walk back through the trigger, the thought and the reaction, then plans for next time.

Yes. Self-harm is part of intake screening, and suicidal thinking is the first topic raised. For immediate danger, 988 answers calls and texts, or take her to the closest emergency department.

Most major private plans pay from their behavioral-health benefit after a clinician demonstrates medical necessity. Checking your policy is free, confidential and usually takes only hours. Stays are planned at 30 days or more, flexed as she progresses.

Licensing & privacy

AZDHS licenses the home for behavioral-health residential treatment; it is also Joint Commission-accredited and LegitScript certified, and whichever body issued a credential can verify it for you.

Only what you approve. HIPAA shields her records; details like credits or a return plan go to a school contact strictly with your written consent.

Very. You attend family therapy weekly, are welcome at Saturday's parent group, hear often from her primary therapist, and help draft the home plan for blowups before she comes back.

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.

What the data show

Teen emotional dysregulation statistics parents should know

Big feelings come with adolescence, yet for many girls they lead to self-harm, suicidal thoughts or long stretches of hopelessness that follow them into school. Sources follow every figure.

Aerial view of a Nexus Teen Academy residential center in Arizona

53%

of teenage girls in American classrooms told surveyors that sadness or hopelessness hung on for weeks during the year (CDC YRBS, 2023).

27%

of U.S. teen girls in high school said they had seriously weighed suicide in the twelve months before being surveyed (CDC YRBS, 2023).

17.2%

of adolescents across community-based samples say they have intentionally harmed themselves, if only once (Swannell et al., 2014).

1 in 4

Arizona adolescents with mental-health needs judged finding care very difficult, or else impossible (AZDHS, 2026).

Classroom outbursts often mean a feeling is outrunning her skills, and skills like these respond to teaching.

Because 1 in 4 adolescents across Arizona hit serious barriers to care, Peoria families can lose a semester waiting on an outpatient slot while school problems stack up.

Sources: CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report, 2013-2023; Swannell et al., Prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury in nonclinical samples, Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 2014; Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Adolescent Mental Health Report, 2026.

Residential care vs. a teen group home

A real home, with lessons woven into each weekday.

Looking at group homes after one suspension too many? Our Cave Creek residence, a 35-45 minute trip from Peoria and for girls alone, holds state licensure from AZDHS covering behavioral-health treatment, putting therapy, credit-bearing school and routine at one address.

A typical group home

Nexus homes

Families from the Phoenix metro 9 cities

Families from Greater Arizona 6 cities

Families from every city below can reach Cave Creek by car. Admissions helps with logistics, and every week parents join family therapy, either seated at the house or logged in by encrypted video.

Across Arizona

From Peoria to Cave Creek: travel and visits.

From most Peoria neighborhoods it is 35-45 minutes to Cave Creek, cutting east along Loop 101 above the Valley's core. That fits a family session squeezed in after the school run or a weekend visit, and admissions answers whether it is noon or the middle of the night.

Loop 101, eastbound

Leaving Peoria, the eastbound 101 brings Cave Creek within roughly 35-45 minutes, a manageable trip for a weekly session after the afternoon carpool or a weekend visit.

Family therapy, your way

Parents sit in on the weekly family session, in person at the residence or connected by encrypted video, so a sibling's game, a late shift or freeway traffic never costs you a session.

Back to Peoria Unified, gradually

PHP or IOP where useful, outpatient counseling and a prescriber near Peoria, and her classroom return paced together with Peoria Unified.

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 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.

Directions from Peoria to Cave Creek

Cave Creek: roughly 35-45 min east

Saddle Mountain Rd, 85331 · 20 min north

Lake Pleasant, P83, Glendale area

Travel, telehealth & aftercare

Every Nexus program, statewide

Find the right program for your daughter.

Find the concern closest to your daughter's; each page describes how treatment works for Peoria families and households elsewhere in the state. A single clinical team runs every program.

Conditions treated, ages 12 to 17
8
Arizona cities our families come from
15
Residences, girls
2
Admissions line, every day
24 /7

Licensed residential treatment for ages 12 to 17 is the core of Nexus Teen Academy, covering anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, emotional dysregulation, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, depression, substance use, self-harm, trauma and PTSD, plus mood swings. Peoria girls receiving emotional dysregulation care stay in Cave Creek and attend weekday classes there, while families receive help planning drives, visits and secure video calls.

Depression care, statewide

Nearby cities we serve for emotional dysregulation care

Every city below is a reasonable drive from our residence. Admissions can map the route, draft a home plan for blowups after discharge, coordinate the return with your district and answer what parents most often ask.

Related teen treatment programs

Every condition link leads to a guide covering all of Arizona; each nearby city explains how parents there have set things up.

City missing? Girls arrive from all fifteen Arizona counties, and a few cross state lines. Call (480) 485-3424, and admissions will walk you through directions and how intake unfolds.