- Joint Commission accredited
- Two AZ centers
- Ages 12 to 17
- Admissions 24/7
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.
- Free & confidential · No obligation · (480) 485-3424
- 4.7 Google · 37 reviews
- AZDHS-licensed residential facility
- Most major private insurance accepted
- Free consultation
- Counselor online now
Calling from 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.
- It's now where you are · typical callback under 10 minutes.
- Secure, private, and HIPAA-protected. By submitting you agree to be contacted about care; message/data rates may apply.
- 4.7 Google · 37 reviews
- Joint Commission accredited
Every credential is independently verifiable. Joint Commission · AZDHS registry · LegitScript.


Joint Commission accreditedAZDHS-licensed · LegitScript certifiedAbout Nexus Teen Academy
Nexus Teen Academy: 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.
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
Accredited Phoenix-area centers
Ages we treat, gender-separate
Awake clinical staff, every hour
A primary therapist, by name
Secure form · About 2 minutes · Free, no obligation
Our admissions team will reach out to you soon. Here’s what happens next:
- An admissions counselor contacts you, free and confidential
- If you asked about coverage, we check your benefits with your insurer
- You get honest answers and clear next steps, with no obligation
Where residential care fits: IOP, PHP or residential
The subacute level between weekly therapy and a hospital bed.
Therapy once or a few times a week. Your teen stays home and at school.
Live-in clinical care with 24/7 awake staff, daily therapy, and accredited school, in a real home.
You are hereShort-term acute stabilization for immediate medical or safety crisis.
| Question | Intensive outpatient (IOP) | Partial hospitalization (PHP) | Residential (RTC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | A step down from PHP, or a starting point for teens who need more than weekly therapy | A step down from residential care, or a starting point for teens who need structure without 24/7 care | Teens who need 24/7 care in a safe, immersive setting |
| Where your teen sleeps | At home | At home each evening | A licensed, home-like residence with 24/7 awake staff |
| Weekly schedule | About 4 hours a day (10:30 to 2:30 or 1:00 to 5:00), 3 to 4 days a week | Several days a week, multiple hours a day | Daily therapy, with care around the clock |
| Typical length | 30 to 90+ days | 30 to 90 days | 30 to 60 days |
| School | Stays in school; IOP is therapy-focused, with no academic support | Daily schoolwork time in a classroom, with educators on staff | Accredited, credit-bearing classes on site |
| Family | Weekly individual therapy and family counseling every other week | Family therapy sessions included | Weekly family therapy, in person or by secure video |
IOP and PHP run at NexStep Teen Academy, the Nexus outpatient program in Scottsdale for teens ages 12 to 17.
Not sure which level your teen needs? A licensed counselor will walk through it with you on the phone, free, and tell you honestly if a lower level of care is the better fit.
Speak with our admissions teamThe program
What teen 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, ADHD, anxiety, trauma, self-harm & substance use, together
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.
Primary condition
Oppositional defiant disorder
Teen anxiety treatment
The alarm that never switches off.
Teen substance abuse treatment
Self-medication that took over.
Teen self-harm treatment
Safety-planned and monitored.
Safety firstTeen ADHD treatment
Focus, impulse control, school.
Teen suicidal ideation treatment
Assessed daily, never left alone.
Safety firstTeen depression treatment
Withdrawal and mood collapse.
Teen bipolar disorder treatment
Mood swings that need a diagnosis.
Teen behavioral issues treatment
Defiance, aggression, running.
Teen trauma & PTSD treatment
Flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance.
Teen anger issues treatment
Blow-ups that frighten the family.
- Whatever your teen is facing, care stays coordinated in one integrated plan, one clinical team, and one residential setting.
The setting
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.
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.
-
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
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.
Core therapies
1
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 struggles2
Individual therapy for anger
CBT, ACT, and motivational interviewing help your teen catch the trigger, cool down, and choose a different response.
Helps withanger attacksdefiance3
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 outletsPsychiatric 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 neededAccredited academics
School continues on-site with transferable credit, so a teen whose attendance slipped during the conflict stays on track.
transferable creditback on track
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.
LPC, BC-TMHHannah Carr-Unquera
Executive Director
Leads the clinical program across both homes, licensed in Arizona and board certified in telemental health.
LCSW, DSWDr. Tyler White
Director of Adolescent Clinical Services
Sets the treatment plan each resident’s team works to, and supervises the clinicians who deliver it.
DNP, PMHNP-BCAlexandria Penner
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Runs psychiatric evaluation and medication management on-site, so prescribing stays inside the house.
House teamAshley Daniels
Director of Family Services & Education
Runs family services and education across both homes, after directing theatre and teen programs and building liberal-arts residential summer camps for Mount Holyoke College and Bryn Mawr College.
House teamJennifer Inderberg
Education Supervisor
Twenty-five years in education, supervising the accredited school that runs inside each house and the credit transfers back to your district.
House teamMelissa Stockmar
Director of Food Operations
Leads the kitchen team behind the chef-prepared meals, and runs the cooking group where residents learn to feed themselves.
Arizona-licensed clinical team.Every Nexus Teen Academy clinician is licensed in Arizona. Verify any license on the AZ Board of Behavioral Health Examiners directory.
What families say
What Arizona families say about their experience with Nexus Teen Academy
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Carol TrombinoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Nexus Academy was a wonderful place for my daughter. The staff were amazing and so supportive. They worked with our entire family. Highly recommend Nexus.![]()
Hemella SweattTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Sending your child or teen to a residential treatment facility is a difficult and heart-wrenching decision. The team at Nexus Teen Academy was exceptional. Our daughter's therapist was a great fit for her and played a significant role in helping us grow as a family. Family therapy is a crucial part of your child's recovery, and Nexus does an excellent job of involving the family in the healing process. We are grateful for their support in guiding our daughter toward a path of recovery.![]()
S HTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The program at Nexus was a lifesaver for my 15-year-old daughter. After a tough year in and out of different levels of care, my husband and I had truly hit a breaking point and knew a residential facility was needed, but we were adamant about finding a place that was safe, respectful, and loving for our daughter. The entire team at Nexus was caring and engaged from day one, despite my daughter NOT making that easy for the first couple of weeks. There were definitely days in the beginning where we wondered if this was even working, but the team encouraged my husband and me to stay the course, and thank goodness we did. After completing Nexus residential and PHP programs, our daughter has done a complete 180. Her mental health struggles aren't 'magically gone' - but she has learned not to let them control her and our family dynamic is leagues better than where we started. Maybe the craziest part of this whole experience was when she recently acknowledged that she was really struggling before and thanked me for sending her to the program - I almost fainted. All this to say, I can't recommend the team at Nexus enough to any family with a teen who is going through a hard time.![]()
Amanda HayesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Our 12 year old attended Nexus in summer of 2025. I opted for this location due to the reviews from other parents regarding similarly aged children. It's a whole different ballgame when a parent is trying to figure out what is best for their tween, knowing they will have exposure to older teenagers and older problems. That sad, Nexus is such a cohesive program. Our experience has been nothing short of wonderful, given the impossible circumstanes. All staff seems to be personally invested in each child's recovery and wellbeing. Our child left Nexus in a much more healed state than when they went in. I was so nervous about taking this huge step after poor hospital experiences and previous PHP's not being as helpful as we hoped. The staff is on top of relational dynamics in the house, and there is some separation between the younger residents and older ones, while still promoting overall cohesiveness. I feel they did a tremendous job supporting our 12 year old developmentally, bringing out a sense of childhood again. They also masterfully navigated our complicated family dynamic, going above and beyond to ensure our child's needs were met, the program requirements were met, in alignment with our family's needs. In a way, our child's time away at Nexus brought them back to us in a way we hadn't seen in a long time. I am so grateful. The PHP program, as well, is top notch and operates from heart. I would recommend both Nexus RTC and their PHP program to any parent in a similar situation. I have offered to connect with any parent in a similar place, so feel free to inquire about connecting with the staff. I know how terrifying this all is, and while we're not totally out of the woods, our child is currently attending school full time again with 2 evening therapy sessions each week. I attribute this assimilation into developmentally typical structure entirely to the care and support we all received from Nexus staff, from intake to therapy to medical and everyone else involved. Thank you, nexus, for helping our child- and our family- in our healing. I am forever grateful.![]()
AlishaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
When we realized we needed a place for our teen to go longer term it was one of the hardest, scariest things I have been through as a mother. Nexus really made it easier and not quite so scary. They have a really caring staff, the kids love the staff. They truly care about your child, it’s not just another kid in and out of their house. I felt like our family was important and they were focused on what my child needed to help her through this difficult time. There was a lot of ups and downs with this process and we had some really hard times and conversations but the staff was always there to help guide us. I would truly say if you are struggling and your teen needs residential Nexus is an amazing place for treatment. The house is beautiful and it is truly comfortable for the kids. I would definitely recommend Nexus.![]()
Vanessa AnayaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I would like to share that we had a great experience at Nexus Teen Academy. All of the staff is great with communication and assisted us through the process. I am very grateful for all of the resources, help and treatment for my teen throughout their stay. The have an amazing team and would recommend to anyone who needs the help.![]()
Sean HayesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I highly recommend Nexus Teen Academy. The structure, support, and care they provided made a significant impact on my child, and it was also maintainable post-residency. During the residency, I attended a parent group led by the therapists who worked with the kids; where we learned critical skills and distinctions which helped with life afterward. It was also great to be in contact with other parents during this time, and the parenting group was great for this.![]()
Zane BedfordTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Four years ago at the age of 13 my daughter completely stopped participating in school and started to display symptoms of major depression anxiety and an unknown mood disorder.Her attendance at school was greatly impacted in such a way that attending once or twice a week became standard until the age of 16.Alcohol addiction and juvenile legal troubles followed and became common issues up until the moment my daughter entered into Nexus Teen Academy.To be completely honest as a completely broken single parent,after trying many attempts at therapy/medications I had lost hope and had given up on expecting anything could fix the crisis we had been living in for the last for years. Nexus Academy changed my perspective, my daughter completed 33 days and for the first time in years I saw the spark and light come back to her eyes and soul.She left Nexus displaying insight and a desire to get back on track with her education. With all professions , one will find flaws and opportunities for improvement .I believe Nexus understands this and showed an openess to suggestions and constructive criticism.![]()
lily hendersonTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Nexus was a life changing experience. I went in at 17 and experienced my 18th in there, to which the staff and residents all made sure I felt special. My goals were formed around gaining a better sense of self identity, self respect, and healing myself from the inside out. All of which happened in ways I never expected. I was shown how healthy communication, empathy in your home life, and phone-free relationships, all shape you as a person. Each and every one of the staff and administrators at Nexus are solely devoted to the children’s lives and well being. If there was ever an issue, i felt confident to go to them about it and it was swiftly handled. It was one of the most difficult goodbyes I have ever experienced in my life, as I grew family-life bonds with every person there. Thank you all!!!!! I appreciate every way you showed up for me and how you supported me in my stay. I will carry this experience with me forever.![]()
Jasmine CarterTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
My daughter was referred here after her various visits to psychiatric hospitals.I was so scared to be apart from my child but Nexus made me feel better about my decision because of their loving and welcoming environment. I love everything about this place, they really love the kids and support parents along the way. I appreciate everyone that loved and supported my child while she was at her lowest. I recommend this place to anyone that may feel like they have tried all they can and they do not know what to do next because Nexus will help you with the next steps in your journey.Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 23 reviews
★★★★★
“Nexus Academy was a wonderful place for my daughter. The staff were amazing and so supportive. They worked with our entire family. Highly recommend Nexus.”
★★★★★
“Sending your child or teen to a residential treatment facility is a difficult and heart-wrenching decision. The team at Nexus Teen Academy was exceptional. Our daughter’s therapist was a great fit for her and played a significant role in helping us grow as a family.”Read the full review →
★★★★★
“The program at Nexus was a lifesaver for my 15-year-old daughter. After a tough year in and out of different levels of care, my husband and I had truly hit a breaking point and knew a residential facility was needed.”Read the full review →
These come straight from our public Google Business Profile, anyone can read all 34 and add their own.
Getting started
How admission works, from first call to first day.
- You set the pace, with no pressure to decide
- Clear answers to every clinical and financial question
- An honest recommendation, even if another program is the better fit
1
- Today · 24/7
- ~15 minutes
One calm call
A licensed Nexus Teen Academy 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.
- What to have ready: nothing. Just call, questions are welcome, and there is no obligation.
2
- Same day
- Free & confidential
Coverage check
With your okay, we check your benefits directly with the insurer and return the numbers in plain figures for residential behavioral-health care.
- 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 reviews the behavior history, past diagnoses, and school records, screens for safety, and recommends the level of care the findings support.
- 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 named coordinator handles the short logistics from Scottsdale: records, current medications, and a packing list, so day one holds no surprises.
- No surprises: you will have the packing list, schedule, and your coordinator's direct line in writing.
5
- Welcome day
- Never out of the loop
A gentle, planned arrival
Your teen meets the clinical team and settles into the routine, with your first family update scheduled before you head home.
- From here: predictable days, weekly updates, and a team your teen knows by name.
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.
- 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 what your plan covers? Call anyway. Cost should never decide whether a struggling teen gets help.
- Free benefits check
See exactly what your plan covers for residential ODD treatment, in about two minutes.
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.
Answers
Teen ODD treatment FAQs FAQs
The questions families ask us most, answered plainly, centers, distance, insurance, licensing, and privacy.
A licensed admissions counselor can answer it on the phone right now, no script, no pressure, and no obligation to enroll.
Talk to a counselorAnswered 24/7 at (480) 485-3424Centers & 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.

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.
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
- Licensed for shelter and supervision
- Daily living and structure
- Supervision, not clinical treatment
Nexus homes
- AZDHS behavioral-health residential licence
- Daily therapy and psychiatric care
- Accredited school on site
Families from the Phoenix metro 9 cities
Families from Greater Arizona 6 cities
Teens from each of these cities are treated at our two homes in North Scottsdale and Cave Creek. We help with the drive or flight, and families join weekly therapy in person or by secure video.
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
Admissions 24/7
Nexus Teen Academy, Cave Creek · girls’ residence
Admissions 24/7

See a center on the map
Tap Cave Creek or Scottsdale below to load its interactive map right here.
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Explore each Nexus Teen Academy location
North Scottsdale, 85260 · off Loop 101
Saddle Mountain Rd, 85331 · 20 min north
Served from both centers
Travel, telehealth & aftercare
From the Nexus library
What parents read before they call us.
The newest articles from Nexus Teen Academy for parents weighing what comes next. This list updates itself every time a new article goes live.

Teen Xanax Addiction: Xanax Abuse in Teen Boys & Girls
The misuse of prescription drugs among teens continues to grow. According to recent statistics, 2.5% of 12- to 17-year-olds abuse prescriptions annually, while 7.1% of high
5 Best Self-Help Books for Teens
Adolescents often face significant academic, emotional, and social challenges. As you support them through the ups and downs
What to Do When Your Teen Refuses to Go to Treatment or Therapy
One of the most heartbreaking experiences a parent can undergo is watching their teenager struggle. It is even
Signs Your Teen Needs a Higher Level of Care Than Weekly Therapy
Teen mental health statistics can be worrying. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that roughly 49.5% of

How Caffeine Impacts Brain Development
Teens need roughly 8-10 hours of sleep for healthy brain development, which doesn’t always happen. For

Why Teen Boys With Trauma Often Target the Parent Who’s Trying Hardest to Help
Trauma and adverse childhood experiences can affect a child’s attachment, emotional regulation, and behavior toward caregivers.
Reading because something changed at home? Call (480) 485-3424 and talk it through with an Arizona admissions counselor. It is free, confidential and there is no obligation.
Every Nexus program, statewide
Find your teen’s program, wherever you live in Arizona.
Eleven conditions, one clinical team, and families from fifteen Arizona cities. Choose what your teen is struggling with, then see how care works for families from your area.
Nexus Teen Academy provides licensed residential treatment for teens aged 12 to 17 across eleven conditions: anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, self-harm, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, substance use, ADHD, behavioral issues, oppositional defiant disorder and anger issues. Boys live at the North Scottsdale residence and girls at the Cave Creek residence. Teens from 15 Arizona cities and the rest of the state are treated at these two residences, with drive-time guidance, travel help and family therapy by secure video for families outside the metro.
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.
Each condition leads to its Arizona guide, and the cities beside it show how care works for families from there.
Tell an admissions counselor what you are seeing at home, and they will say plainly which program fits.
Your city is not listed? We admit teens from anywhere in Arizona and from out of state. Call (480) 485-3424 and we will tell you which residence is closer and how the drive works.


