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Teen Mental Health Treatment in Arizona

Counselors online nowJoint Commission accredited · AZDHS licensedCave Creek, AZ

Sexual trauma treatment for teen girls near Sun City, AZ.

Plenty of girls in treatment are being raised by a grandmother, a grandfather, or both, and that household is every bit her family. Nexus Teen Academy helps girls ages 12 to 17 recover after sexual abuse or assault at a Cave Creek residence reserved for girls, and for families tied to Sun City, Peoria, Surprise or Youngtown, we shape her care around whoever is raising her.

Talk with a licensed counselor

Share your number and someone on our licensed admissions team will ring back, usually quite quickly, to hear about your granddaughter, go over insurance and plan next steps at whatever pace suits you.

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
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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
Girls-only care, east in Cave CreekA day trip for grandparents from Sun City, with video on in-between weeks.

About Nexus Teen Academy

About Nexus Teen Academy's sexual trauma program for girls.

Nexus Teen Academy, which holds an AZDHS residential license along with Joint Commission accreditation, cares for girls in the 12 to 17 range whose lives have been shaken by sexual abuse or assault. Many grandparents come to us after taking a granddaughter in because home with a parent was not safe. You may be relearning school portals and teen slang while carrying grief of your own. We move slowly, explain every step, and make sure she feels secure before any trauma work begins.

If the harm happened only days ago, a medical exam and any police report take priority, and only then do we set a move-in date. Everyone on our clinical staff must report abuse by law, and grandparents hear that at the outset. The program is AZDHS-licensed, Joint Commission accredited and LegitScript certified.

In short

Nexus Teen Academy provides residential treatment for teen sexual trauma for families from Sun City, Arizona, for ages 12 to 17. Girls live in a licensed home in Cave Creek with daily trauma-focused 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 sexual trauma treatment program for teen girls.

Therapy, coping practice, class time and family work sit in one written plan that her team checks each week. Grandparents see that plan too, and nothing speeds up simply because a calendar says it should; she moves ahead when she is steady enough.

Assessment at her speed

Her team reviews mood, sleep, school, safety and past care, never pressing her to relive the abuse before she feels ready.

Exams and reports handled first

Grandparents need not sort out exams alone: the hospital, advocacy center or police finish any required steps, and her arrival day comes after.

One therapist, every weekday

Her own licensed therapist meets with her every weekday, beginning with steadying skills and adding TF-CBT, or EMDR, after she is grounded.

Calming skills, practiced daily

Slow breathing and grounding exercises happen daily, so a sudden reminder has a routine ready to meet it.

Family work for grandparents

Weekly family sessions, plus a Saturday group for caregivers, welcome grandparents and other kin raising a girl, not only parents.

Medication with guardian consent

The on-site prescriber can address restless nights, PTSD symptoms, worry or sadness, and her legal guardian approves each change.

Classes that count

Her certified teacher runs weekday lessons that carry real credit, keeping schoolwork current until she goes home.

Aftercare around Peoria and Surprise

Outpatient trauma care close to your household, a written coping guide, and an unhurried return to her classroom.

Other concerns

Conditions we treat alongside sexual trauma.

Girls raised by relatives after abuse often arrive with more than one struggle: nightmares, panic in crowds, sadness that will not lift, sometimes cutting or skipping meals. According to NIMH's adolescent survey, PTSD has reached 8.0% of American girls aged 13 through 18, and it seldom shows up by itself.

Her care stays in one pair of hands. A single clinical group up in Cave Creek handles the PTSD and whatever grew up beside it, so you are not driving from Sun City to three different offices and repeating her history at each one.

When grandparents step in to raise her

The setting

A licensed residential setting for teen girls.

The house sits on quiet saguaro-dotted land in Cave Creek, reached by crossing the Valley eastward from Sun City. It is home only to girls, and sleeping and bathroom areas are shared solely with other girls. Each day keeps the same gentle order, and staff remain awake and alert through every night.

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 sexual trauma treatment.

After sunset, memories can press harder, so evenings are quiet and well staffed. Every adult in the house responds to a bad dream or a rush of fear in the same patient way, which slowly teaches her body that it can finally settle.

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

How we treat sexual trauma in teen girls.

For children and teenagers who have lived through sexual abuse, no approach has been researched as thoroughly as trauma-focused CBT, and WHO guidance names both it and EMDR as treatments for PTSD. Living on site, she gets help in the late hours, which a once-a-week office visit simply cannot reach.

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

    Trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT)

    She learns coping tools first, then shapes her story in small steps, so remembering slowly becomes bearable.

    Helps withtools, then storyresearch-backed
  • Teens supporting each other in a group therapy session2

    EMDR

    After she is settled, eye movements or taps help frozen memories soften and lose their sharp edges.

    Helps withWHO-listedwhen steady
  • A weekly family therapy session with parents and a clinician3

    Emotion-regulation and distress-tolerance skills

    Short daily practice of breathing and grounding, so a trigger at dinner or at night has a routine answer.

    Helps withevery daycalming tools

Supporting care, running alongside

  • Healthy relationships and body safety

    Girls-only small groups explore boundaries, consent and who deserves trust, at a pace that feels respectful.

    small groupsboundaries
  • Family therapy and parent group

    Weekly sessions centered on the grandparent or relative raising her, at the residence or by video, and a Saturday caregiver group.

    kin includedSaturday group
  • Equine, art and experiential

    Horses on Fridays, art and music the rest of the week, giving her calm she can feel before she can explain it.

    equine Fridayscreative work
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.

Grandparents often ask who, exactly, will be with her. You will know by name her lead therapist, a licensed clinician with trauma training, the prescriber overseeing any medication, and each staff member on her unit, and every state license we hold can be looked up.

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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

Your first call can be as long as you need. A licensed counselor will ask how she came to live with you, what she has shared, whether the person who hurt her can still get in touch, what you are seeing day to day and any past counseling, then say honestly whether a residential level of care suits her.

2

Coverage check

If she is on your insurance or a parent's plan, we ask the carrier how it covers a residential behavioral-health stay, check the network question and estimate the amount your household would actually carry. Trauma treatment falls under mental-health benefits; we explain whose policy applies and what it pays, in unhurried plain language.

3

Clinical assessment

A licensed clinician then reviews her background, earlier counseling and safety needs, asking only what she is willing to say. This is also when we confirm who holds legal authority to consent, so please keep guardianship or custody papers close at hand.

4

Plan the arrival

Your coordinator gathers the doctor's sign-off, school transcripts, prescriptions and consent forms signed by her legal guardian, plans the trip east, and keeps her new address from reaching any person you have not put on her list.

5

A gentle, planned arrival

When you arrive together, she meets her team, her room and the girls she will live beside. A first family session with you, as the adults raising her, is booked before you leave.

Coverage & cost

Insurance coverage for sexual trauma treatment

Nearly all large private insurers class a residential program for sexual trauma as behavioral-health care, and Nexus Teen Academy accepts most big commercial plans. Whether she is covered on your policy or a parent's, we look up her real benefits and our network status, for free and privately, generally within the day, and then go over your share of costs before anything is decided.

  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

Find out what her plan pays for residential trauma treatment, with a free and confidential check.

HIPAA-protectedNo obligationNever sold or shared

After discharge

Step-down care and aftercare near Sun City.

Well before discharge, her team sits down with you to map the return: PHP or IOP if suitable, trauma-savvy outpatient clinicians around Peoria or Surprise, a written safety and coping guide your household keeps, and a gentle return to class with Peoria Unified, Dysart or her current district.

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

Answers

Frequently asked questions about sexual trauma treatment

Answers for grandparents and other relatives in and around Sun City, Peoria, Surprise and Youngtown who are raising a granddaughter after abuse.

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. If you live around Sun City and typed near me hoping to find help, Nexus Teen Academy treats girls ages 12 to 17 at a state-licensed residence up in Cave Creek, about 40 to 50 minutes' drive east. Call (480) 485-3424 at any hour.

Most families from Sun City, Youngtown and nearby Peoria or Surprise reach Cave Creek in under an hour, typically 40 to 50 minutes. Visits are usually planned for weekends, and grandparents who would rather not drive every week can join sessions on video.

Yes. Only girls ages 12 to 17 stay there; no one else sleeps, bathes or joins group in that house. For a granddaughter who has been hurt, that can make the difference between staying silent and slowly finding her voice.

Not at all. Many girls find it hardest to talk with the people they love most. She sets the pace with her therapist, beginning with calm and coping tools, and no one presses her to share.

Care & cost

Bring whatever shows you can legally consent to her care, such as a guardianship order or custody papers, plus her insurance card and medical records. If a parent still holds legal rights, admissions will explain who needs to sign.

Treatment works around it. Hospitals, advocacy centers and police carry out exams, reports and forensic interviews, not us, and our clinicians, bound by law as mandated reporters, keep you informed about what they must share.

Yes. Only the people her legal guardian names may visit or phone, and staff follow that list closely. Where she is staying stays confidential, which matters a great deal when the person who caused harm is part of the family.

Usually the policy she is covered under, whether yours or a parent's. When a residential stay is medically necessary, most large private insurers pay for it from the mental-health portion of her plan, and a free check of her benefits sorts out the details, often the same day.

Plans start near 30 days or longer and shift with her progress, such as calmer nights, fewer flashbacks and coping on her own. Before she leaves, her team books a step-down program and an outpatient clinician with trauma training close to your home.

Licensing & privacy

Three credentials stand behind the house in Cave Creek: a state behavioral-health license from AZDHS, The Joint Commission's seal, and LegitScript's certification. Every one can be looked up openly, and we encourage grandparents to check.

HIPAA protects her information, and it is released only to people her guardian authorizes. Staff explain the single exception up front: a legally required report when a child's safety is at stake.

Yes. The Saturday group and each week's family therapy are for whoever is raising her. You will learn how to handle triggers at home, talk about hard days, and rebuild trust at a pace that suits your household.

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 research

Teen sexual trauma statistics parents should know

The CDC estimates that one girl in four across America experiences childhood sexual abuse, and the adults raising her may be the first to see the signs. Sources appear with each number.

Aerial view of a Nexus Teen Academy residential center in Arizona

18%

Within a single year, 18% of teenage girls in U.S. high schools went through sexual violence (CDC YRBS, 2021).

14%

Some 14% of American girls in grades 9 to 12 said that at least once someone physically forced them into sex (CDC YRBS, 2021).

8.0%

Nationwide, PTSD has touched 8.0% of teenage girls, 13 up through 18, at one point or another in their young lives (NIMH, NCS-A).

1 in 4

Among Arizona adolescents with a mental-health need, 1 in 4 could reach care only with real hardship, or never (AZDHS, 2026).

Because abuse is common and often hidden, a granddaughter's sudden change in sleep, mood or grades is worth a gentle, unhurried conversation.

When outpatient trauma care is this scarce, northwest Valley grandparents need not wait months on a list; phoning admissions early can move things sooner.

Sources: CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report, 2011-2021; CDC, Fast Facts: Preventing Child Sexual Abuse; National Institute of Mental Health, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder statistics (National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement); Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Adolescent Mental Health Report, 2026.

Residential care vs. a teen group home

A real house, with licensed care inside.

Grandparents comparing group homes for a granddaughter after sexual trauma can look at our Cave Creek property, a house for girls alone. Arizona licenses it for residential behavioral-health treatment, which means therapy, classes and home life share one setting.

A typical group home

Nexus homes

Families from the Phoenix metro 9 cities

Families from Greater Arizona 6 cities

Families from Sun City and each community below have daughters and granddaughters in our Cave Creek program. We help with travel plans, and family sessions happen face to face or over video.

Across Arizona

From Sun City to Cave Creek: travel and visits.

From Sun City and neighboring Youngtown, Peoria or Surprise, allow about 40 to 50 minutes heading east to Cave Creek. Plenty of grandparents treat it as a morning outing, sit in on a session and are back before supper. Admissions is reachable around the clock.

East across the Valley

Sun City to the residence runs 40 to 50 minutes east, a manageable morning drive for a grandparent who wants to attend a session and be back before supper.

Sessions built around kin

Weekly family therapy centers on whoever is raising her, sitting together in Cave Creek or joining from home on secure video, with help setting it up if the technology is unfamiliar.

Aftercare close to Peoria and Surprise

Discharge includes step-down care when suitable, an outpatient clinician with trauma training around Peoria or Surprise, and a slow return to classes with Peoria Unified, Dysart or her own district.

Nexus Teen Academy, Cave Creek · girls’ residence

2695 E Saddle Mountain Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331

Admissions 24/7

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Directions from Sun City to Cave Creek

Around 40-50 minutes east to Cave Creek

Saddle Mountain Rd, 85331 · 20 min north

Serving Youngtown, Peoria and Surprise

Travel, telehealth & aftercare

Every Nexus program, statewide

Find the right program for your daughter.

Our team treats many teen conditions. Pick whichever sounds most like your granddaughter's struggles right now, then read how families in your area arrange care.

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

Nexus Teen Academy offers licensed round-the-clock care to adolescents between 12 and 17, covering anxiety, bipolar disorder, sexual trauma, depression, ADHD, eating disorders, trauma and PTSD, substance use, self-harm and suicidal ideation. Girls healing from sexual trauma live together in the Cave Creek house, which admits no one else, and grandparents and other relatives near Sun City receive travel guidance and family sessions by secure video.

Depression care, statewide

Nearby cities we serve for sexual trauma care

Each city listed here has girls treated with us north of Phoenix. For every one we plan the drive, a safe home plan, school return through that district, and whatever else families from there worry about.

Related teen treatment programs

Every condition opens a statewide page, and city pages describe how nearby families set up care.

Can't find your community? Any Arizona town is welcome here, and so are families from out of state. Call (480) 485-3424 and an admissions counselor will explain the trip to our residence and how admission unfolds.