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Teen Mental Health Treatment in Arizona

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

Residential treatment for teen oppositional defiant disorder serving Scottsdale, AZ.

When a Scottsdale household runs on tension and slammed doors, that cycle can be broken. Our boys' home sits right here in North Scottsdale, so care is close and the routine starts fast.

Talk with a licensed counselor

Calling from North Scottsdale, Old Town, McCormick Ranch or anywhere nearby? Leave a number and a licensed admissions counselor will call you back, usually within minutes, to talk through whether residential care fits, what your insurance covers, and how the first step works. No pressure.

The credentials behind the care, right where Scottsdale parents can verify them.
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
Both centers sit in the Phoenix metroNorth Scottsdale & Cave Creek, accepting families from Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma and Prescott.

About Nexus Teen Academy

Nexus Teen Academy: accredited teen ODD treatment close to home in Scottsdale.

Nexus Teen Academy is a licensed, Joint Commission-accredited residential program treating teen oppositional defiant disorder for Scottsdale families across Maricopa County. Residential care is the live-in step between weekly therapy and hospitalization, meant for defiance that outpatient sessions keep losing ground to. We treat the anger, the arguing, and the refusal of every rule, along with any ADHD, anxiety, or trauma beneath it, for ages 12 to 17. The boys' home is in North Scottsdale and the girls' home a short drive north in Cave Creek.

Two separate homes, boys in North Scottsdale and girls in Cave Creek, keep groups small and the setting calm. Care is clinician-led, AZDHS-licensed, Joint Commission accredited, and LegitScript certified, with awake staff around the clock.

In short

Nexus Teen Academy provides residential treatment for teen oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) for families from Scottsdale, 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 to 17 · Phoenix metro

Cave Creek

Girls, 12 to 17 · Phoenix metro

2

Accredited Phoenix-area 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

What teen ODD treatment includes for Scottsdale families.

Every teen follows the same framework: find what drives the defiance, do the individual and family work, and leave with a written plan the home can hold. Each element is reviewed weekly against what actually happened, not a fixed timeline.

Driver-first clinical evaluation

Psychiatric and psychosocial assessment, school and any legal history, and a screen for ADHD, anxiety, trauma, or substance use before the plan is set.

A written behavior plan

Built from what happens before and after each blow-up, so the plan shifts the triggers and the responses, not just the consequences.

Individual therapy for anger

CBT, ACT, and motivational interviewing matched to what fuels the defiance, from a short fuse to the shame that follows it.

Group skills work

Distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and problem-solving practiced daily with peers, so cool-downs become a habit rather than a lecture.

Parent training and family therapy

Functional Family Therapy and parent coaching change how the household handles conflict, because ODD lives in the pattern between teen and parent.

Medication management

The psychiatric nurse practitioner treats underlying ADHD, anxiety, or depression when present, with your consent at every change.

Accredited on-site school

School continues on-site with transferable credit, which matters for a teen whose attendance or grades slipped during the conflict at home.

Discharge and re-entry plan

Early warning signs, the family response to each, an outpatient therapist booked near home, and a staged return to school.

Dual-diagnosis care

Treated alongside ODD: ADHD, anxiety, trauma, and mood.

Oppositional defiant disorder rarely stands alone. Many Scottsdale teens who need residential care also carry ADHD or an anxiety or mood condition that keeps the arguments lit.

Chasing the behavior while ignoring its driver is why families repeat programs. One team here treats ODD and its cause together, under a single plan, in one home.

The setting

A look inside the North Scottsdale and Cave Creek homes.

Two real houses rather than a clinical ward, with steady routines, open sightlines, and awake overnight staff. The structure settles the household without the confrontation-first model many Scottsdale parents want to avoid.

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

Take a self-guided 3D walkthrough of the home

Life inside

A day inside ODD residential treatment.

The routine is the therapy. When every adult holds the day the same way, the standoffs that used to define a Scottsdale evening lose their fuel.

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

Parent training, family therapy, and skills work: what the ODD evidence supports.

Defiance shifts fastest with family-based treatment, because it lives in the back-and-forth between teen and parent. Living on-site adds practice a weekly Scottsdale therapy hour cannot match.

One treatment planOne clinical teamReviewed weeklyTracked against real incidents

Core therapies

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

    Functional Family Therapy and parent training

    FFT and parent coaching change how the household handles conflict, so the rules hold without the daily battle.

    Helps withthe family cyclepower struggles
  • Teens supporting each other in a group therapy session2

    Individual therapy for anger

    CBT, ACT, and motivational interviewing help your teen catch the trigger, cool down, and choose a different response.

    Helps withanger attacksdefiance
  • A weekly family therapy session with parents and a clinician3

    Group skills and coping work

    Emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and problem-solving, practiced daily with peers instead of once a week.

    Helps withemotion regulationimpulse control

Supporting care, running alongside

  • Holistic and experiential

    Equine sessions, movement, and outdoor time give the energy that used to fuel conflict a structured outlet.

    equine Fridayshealthy outlets
  • Psychiatric and medication support

    When ADHD, anxiety, or a mood problem sits under the defiance, the psychiatric nurse practitioner treats it, with your consent at every change.

    co-occurring ADHDonly when needed
  • Accredited academics

    School continues on-site with transferable credit, so a teen whose attendance slipped during the conflict stays on track.

    transferable creditback on track
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.

Every teen has a named, licensed clinician, and the prescriber and house team are named too. Any Arizona license below is open to your check.

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

Hannah Carr-Unquera

Executive Director

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

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

Dr. Tyler White

Director of Adolescent Clinical Services

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

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

Alexandria Penner

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

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

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

Ashley Daniels

Director of Family Services & Education

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

Jennifer Inderberg, Education Supervisor at Nexus Teen AcademyHouse team

Jennifer Inderberg

Education Supervisor

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

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

Melissa Stockmar

Director of Food Operations

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

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

What families say

What Arizona families say about their experience with 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
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Our 12 year old attended Nexus in summer of 2025. I opted for this location due to the reviews from other parents regarding similarly aged children. It's a whole different ballgame when a parent is trying to figure out what is best for their tween, knowing they will have exposure to older teenagers and older problems. That sad, Nexus is such a cohesive program. Our experience has been nothing short of wonderful, given the impossible circumstanes. All staff seems to be personally invested in each child's recovery and wellbeing. Our child left Nexus in a much more healed state than when they went in. I was so nervous about taking this huge step after poor hospital experiences and previous PHP's not being as helpful as we hoped. The staff is on top of relational dynamics in the house, and there is some separation between the younger residents and older ones, while still promoting overall cohesiveness. I feel they did a tremendous job supporting our 12 year old developmentally, bringing out a sense of childhood again. They also masterfully navigated our complicated family dynamic, going above and beyond to ensure our child's needs were met, the program requirements were met, in alignment with our family's needs. In a way, our child's time away at Nexus brought them back to us in a way we hadn't seen in a long time. I am so grateful. The PHP program, as well, is top notch and operates from heart. I would recommend both Nexus RTC and their PHP program to any parent in a similar situation. I have offered to connect with any parent in a similar place, so feel free to inquire about connecting with the staff. I know how terrifying this all is, and while we're not totally out of the woods, our child is currently attending school full time again with 2 evening therapy sessions each week. I attribute this assimilation into developmentally typical structure entirely to the care and support we all received from Nexus staff, from intake to therapy to medical and everyone else involved. Thank you, nexus, for helping our child- and our family- in our healing. I am forever grateful.
Google
Alisha profile picture
Alisha
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
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Four years ago at the age of 13 my daughter completely stopped participating in school and started to display symptoms of major depression anxiety and an unknown mood disorder.Her attendance at school was greatly impacted in such a way that attending once or twice a week became standard until the age of 16.Alcohol addiction and juvenile legal troubles followed and became common issues up until the moment my daughter entered into Nexus Teen Academy.To be completely honest as a completely broken single parent,after trying many attempts at therapy/medications I had lost hope and had given up on expecting anything could fix the crisis we had been living in for the last for years. Nexus Academy changed my perspective, my daughter completed 33 days and for the first time in years I saw the spark and light come back to her eyes and soul.She left Nexus displaying insight and a desire to get back on track with her education. With all professions , one will find flaws and opportunities for improvement .I believe Nexus understands this and showed an openess to suggestions and constructive criticism.
Google
lily henderson profile picture
lily henderson
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 · Scottsdale & Cave Creek centers
Read them all on Google
“Nexus Academy was a wonderful place for my daughter. The staff were amazing and so supportive. They worked with our entire family. Highly recommend Nexus.”
CCarol TrombinoVerified Google review
“Sending your child or teen to a residential treatment facility is a difficult and heart-wrenching decision. The team at Nexus Teen Academy was exceptional. Our daughter’s therapist was a great fit for her and played a significant role in helping us grow as a family.”
Read the full review →
HHemella SweattVerified Google review
“The program at Nexus was a lifesaver for my 15-year-old daughter. After a tough year in and out of different levels of care, my husband and I had truly hit a breaking point and knew a residential facility was needed.”
Read the full review →
SS. H.Verified Google review
31 more reviews on GoogleUnedited, public, and open for any family to add their own.Read every review →

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

Getting started

How admission works, from first call to first day.

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

1

One calm call

A licensed Nexus Teen Academy counselor hears what the defiance looks like at home and school, how long it has run, and whether the law is involved, then says plainly whether residential care is the right level.

2

Coverage check

With your okay, we check your benefits directly with the insurer and return the numbers in plain figures for residential behavioral-health care.

3

Clinical assessment

A licensed clinician reviews the behavior history, past diagnoses, and school records, screens for safety, and recommends the level of care the findings support.

4

Plan the arrival

One named coordinator handles the short logistics from Scottsdale: records, current medications, and a packing list, so day one holds no surprises.

5

A gentle, planned arrival

Your teen meets the clinical team and settles into the routine, with your first family update scheduled before you head home.

Coverage & cost

Does insurance cover teen residential treatment for Scottsdale families?

On most major private plans, residential mental-health care is a covered behavioral-health benefit, not an extra you have to argue for. Nexus Teen Academy checks your specific plan with the insurer and gives Scottsdale families the answer in real numbers before deciding.

  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 what your plan covers? Call anyway. Cost should never decide whether a struggling teen gets help.

Verify your insurance in 2 minutes

See exactly what your plan covers for residential ODD treatment, in about two minutes.

HIPAA-protectedNo obligationNever sold or shared

After discharge

Aftercare that keeps the calm going once home.

Before discharge, your case manager builds the home plan with you: the first signs the pattern is returning, the family's response to each, an outpatient therapist near your Scottsdale home, and a staged return to school.

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

Answers

Teen ODD treatment FAQs FAQs

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

Your question isn’t here?

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

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

Centers & getting there

Yes. For Scottsdale families searching for residential treatment for teen oppositional defiant disorder near me, Nexus Teen Academy's boys' home is right in North Scottsdale and the girls' home is minutes north in Cave Creek, both AZDHS-licensed. Admissions answers 24/7 at (480) 485-3424.

The boys' residence is within North Scottsdale itself, and the girls' residence in Cave Creek is about 20 to 30 minutes north up Scottsdale Road or Pima Road. That closeness makes in-person family sessions simple to keep.

Yes. Everything is HIPAA-protected, the homes are ordinary residential houses rather than a signposted facility, and nothing is shared without your written consent, which matters to families weighing care close to home.

Closely. With the boys' home in town, parents attend weekly family therapy and parent-training in person, get regular updates, and rehearse new approaches at home, because ODD only eases when the household changes alongside the teen.

Care & cost

Most commercial plans cover residential behavioral-health care when medical necessity is met, and what you pay depends on your plan. We verify your exact benefits in writing, network status and expected out-of-pocket, before you commit to anything. The check is free.

Many private and commercial plans do when criteria are met. Approval turns on the diagnosis behind the behavior and on medical necessity, such as safety risk or outpatient care that has not worked. Authorize the check and we query your insurer directly, usually the same day.

When the defiance runs weekly or more, shows up at home and school, has lasted months, and outpatient therapy has not held it, or when anger has turned into aggression, running away, or someone getting hurt. One call gives you a clinical read on the right level of care.

Family-based work leads: Functional Family Therapy and parent training, alongside individual CBT and ACT for anger and emotion regulation, motivational interviewing, group skills practice, and equine and experiential sessions. Any co-occurring ADHD, anxiety, or trauma is treated at the same time.

Long enough for fewer and milder blow-ups, skills your teen uses without prompting, and a home plan the family can run. The length is set clinically, and before discharge we book an outpatient therapist near home and stage the return to school.

Licensing & privacy

Yes. Nexus Teen Academy is licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services, accredited by The Joint Commission, and LegitScript certified. Every clinician is named with credentials you can confirm in the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners registry.

Neither. It is not a boot camp or wilderness program, and it is not a locked hospital. It is licensed residential treatment in home-like Arizona residences, with awake staff, an accredited on-site school, and therapy built on established methods rather than confrontation.

That resistance is part of oppositional defiant disorder, and our counselors talk it through on the first call. Motivational interviewing meets a teen who sees no problem where they are, and the parent work gives you a calm way to hold the decision.

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 statewide picture

Arizona teen mental health, by the numbers.

Even in a resource-rich community like Scottsdale, oppositional defiant disorder is one of the most common reasons families seek help for a teenager, and it usually starts young and goes undertreated.

Aerial view of a Nexus Teen Academy residential center in Arizona

1 in 10

U.S. teens meet criteria for oppositional defiant disorder at some point (Nock et al., NCS-A, 2007).

92%

of teens with ODD also meet criteria for another disorder such as ADHD or anxiety (Nock et al., 2007).

Age 11

the median age by which behavior disorders begin, earlier than mood disorders (NIMH, NCS-A).

1 in 4

Arizona adolescents who needed mental-health care found it very difficult or impossible to get (AZDHS, 2026).

Arizona crisis lines, 988 and Teen Lifeline at 602-248-8336, cover an emergency; steady defiance and anger need treatment, not a hotline.

Residential care is the step between outpatient therapy and hospitalization, for defiance outpatient work has not been able to hold.

Sources: Nock et al., Lifetime prevalence, correlates, and persistence of oppositional defiant disorder in the NCS-A, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2007; NIMH, National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement; Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Adolescent Mental Health Report, 2026.

Teen group home care for Arizona families

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

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

A typical group home

Nexus homes

Families from the Phoenix metro 9 cities

Families from Greater Arizona 6 cities

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

Across Arizona

Teen ODD treatment minutes from Scottsdale.

The boys' home is inside North Scottsdale and the girls' home a short drive north in Cave Creek, so Scottsdale families keep visits and family therapy easy. Admissions answers 24/7.

Within a half-day of most of the state

About two hours from Tucson on I-10, 2½ hours from Flagstaff on I-17, 1½ hours from Prescott, and three hours from Yuma on I-8, with Sierra Vista and Lake Havasu City a similar reach.

Telehealth & travel, handled

Weekly family sessions can be in person, easy for nearby Scottsdale families, or by secure video when schedules are tight, so involvement stays constant.

Aftercare mapped to your community

Before discharge we arrange step-down and outpatient care near home and coordinate school re-entry, so progress made in treatment carries back into everyday life in Scottsdale.

Nexus Teen Academy, Scottsdale · boys’ residence

8611 E Cholla St, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Admissions 24/7

Nexus Teen Academy, Cave Creek · girls’ residence

2695 E Saddle Mountain Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331

Admissions 24/7

See a center on the map

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

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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.

5 Best Self-Help Books for Teens

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

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

Every Nexus program, statewide

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

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

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

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

ODD care, statewide

Teen ODD treatment for families across Arizona

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

Other conditions we treat, for families statewide

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

Talk it through with a counselor

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

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