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Teen Mental Health Treatment in Arizona

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

Residential treatment for teen suicidal ideation in Arizona.

When a teen's suicidal thoughts keep returning, the level of care between a weekly therapist and a hospital bed is residential treatment. Nexus Teen Academy treats persistent suicidal ideation in adolescents 12 to 17 across Arizona, with C-SSRS risk assessment, a written safety plan, daily therapy, and awake supervision every hour. If your teen is in immediate danger, call or text 988 first.

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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
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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
Both centers sit in the Phoenix metroNorth Scottsdale & Cave Creek, accepting families from Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma and Prescott.

About Nexus Teen Academy

Arizona teen suicidal ideation treatment center.

Nexus Teen Academy is a licensed, Joint Commission-accredited residential provider treating teens with persistent suicidal ideation across Arizona. Our live-in program is the subacute level between weekly outpatient therapy and a psychiatric hospital, for adolescents 12 to 17 whose suicidal thoughts continue despite outpatient care or a recent discharge. Every admission includes C-SSRS risk assessment at intake and through the stay, a safety plan each teen helps author, daily skills-based and cognitive therapy, and staff awake in the home overnight. Boys are treated in North Scottsdale and girls in Cave Creek. In immediate danger, call or text 988.

Two gender-separate residences in the Phoenix metro, North Scottsdale for boys and Cave Creek for girls, deliver clinician-led care with C-SSRS screening at intake and awake staff through every night. This is not a locked psychiatric unit and not a crisis line; it is a licensed Arizona home built for safety, with secured medications and clear sightlines, at the level after or instead of a hospital stay. AZDHS-licensed, Joint Commission accredited, and LegitScript certified.

In short

Nexus Teen Academy provides residential treatment for teen suicidal ideation in 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 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

What our teen suicidal ideation program includes

Every teen admitted for suicidal ideation follows the same safety-first plan at both Arizona centers: C-SSRS risk assessment at intake and on a re-screening cadence, a written safety plan the teen co-authors rather than receives, daily therapy in place of a single weekly hour, and awake supervision that removes the unsupervised nights where risk concentrates.

C-SSRS risk assessment

The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale at intake, then on a set re-screening cadence, so any change in a teen's risk is measured rather than guessed.

Collaborative safety plan

A written, stepwise plan the teen helps author: personal warning signs, coping steps, and the people and professionals to reach, updated as treatment moves forward.

Daily skills-based therapy

Individual sessions and skills groups every day, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and the coping tools that can answer a suicidal thought in the moment it arrives.

Group skills & connection

Small groups where teens practice coping skills and rebuild connection, so the isolation that feeds suicidal thinking is treated directly alongside the individual work.

Family therapy & means safety

Weekly sessions, in person or by secure video, that rebuild communication and send parents home with a concrete plan for securing medications, firearms, and other lethal means.

Psychiatric & medication care

The depression, trauma, or anxiety driving the ideation is treated directly; if medication is worth considering, the reasoning is explained and monitored, never rushed.

Accredited academics

Daily accredited classes with transferable credit continue on-site, at a workload matched to each teen's clinical status, so recovery does not cost the school year.

Discharge & 90-day safety plan

The highest-risk weeks come right after intensive care ends, so discharge is planned as treatment: the safety plan travels home, follow-ups are booked, and the first 90 days are staged before the last day.

Dual-diagnosis care

Conditions that drive suicidal thoughts: depression, trauma, anxiety, and self-harm.

Suicidal thoughts are rarely the whole picture; an underlying condition is almost always driving them. Treated in isolation, the thoughts return. Nexus Teen Academy treats the ideation and its driver together, so the safety a teen builds actually holds.

Treating the suicidal thoughts without treating what drives them is why the crisis keeps coming back.Nexus Teen Academy treats the ideation and its underlying condition, depression, trauma, anxiety, or self-harm, under one integrated plan, dual-diagnosis care with a single clinical team in one Arizona residence.

The setting

See inside our Arizona teen residential home.

Two gender-separate residences in the Phoenix metro, boys in North Scottsdale and girls in Cave Creek, are licensed Arizona homes engineered for safety without the institutional feel: clear sightlines, secured medications and personal items, and staff awake through every night. Comfort and constant supervision, in the same house.

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 supervised day in suicidal ideation treatment.

Structure is part of keeping a teen safe. Every weekday at both Arizona centers follows the same rhythm, wake and safety check-in, school, therapy, movement, shared meals, and a fixed wind-down, with staff awake through the night. Predictability removes the unstructured moments where suicidal thoughts gain ground.

MorningAfternoonEvening
  1. A teen bedroom filled with natural morning light at a Nexus Teen Academy Arizona residence -
    Morning

    Hygiene, meds & breakfast

    Hygiene and meds from 6:30 to 7:30, then breakfast from 7:30 to 8:00.

  2. The on-site accredited classroom at a Nexus Teen Academy Arizona center -
    Morning

    Gratitude journal & education

    A gratitude journal from 8:00 to 8:20, then education from 8:30 to 10:45 and a snack at 10:45.

  3. Teens in a group therapy session with a clinician at Nexus Teen Academy -
    Morning

    Group therapy & lunch

    Group therapy from 11:00 to 12:00, then lunch and mindfulness from 12:00 to 1:00.

  4. The recreation room with a ping-pong table at a Nexus Teen Academy Arizona residence -
    Afternoon

    Group therapy

    Group therapy from 2:00 to 3:00, a snack at 3:00, then group therapy again from 3:15 to 4:00.

  5. The shared kitchen and dining room where residents eat together -
    Afternoon

    Movement, dinner & evening activity

    Movement with nursing from 4:15 to 5:00, dinner at 5:00, then evening activity and meds from 6:00 to 7:00.

  6. The backyard and mountain view at a Nexus Teen Academy Arizona residence in the evening -
    Evening

    Free time & lights out

    Free time from 7:00 to 8:30, evening hygiene from 8:30 to 9:00, gratitude journal at 9:00 and lights out at 9:30.

Weekends run differently

Family phone calls 4:00 - 6:00 pm, every day

Saturday and Sunday follow a lighter routine than the weekday schedule above.

Click here for a free consultationTap to call (480) 485-3424 and our admissions team will walk you through a full weekend. Someone answers any time.

Awake clinical staff are on-site every hour, including overnight, at both Arizona centers.

How healing happens

Evidence-based therapies for teen suicidal ideation.

Nexus Teen Academy coordinates every evidence-based therapy into a single plan. Skills-based behavioral therapy carries the strongest randomized evidence for adolescents at high risk of suicide, and here it runs daily, alongside cognitive work on hopelessness, family therapy, and psychiatric care for the condition underneath.

One treatment planOne clinical teamReviewed weeklyMeasured with the PHQ-9

Core therapies

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

    Individual therapy. CBT & TF-CBT

    Individual CBT and TF-CBT targeting negative thought patterns, low energy, and any underlying trauma.

    Helps withthought spiralstrauma
  • Teens supporting each other in a group therapy session2

    Group therapy & coping skills

    Distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and mindfulness, practiced in peer groups.

    Helps withself-harm urgesmood swings
  • A weekly family therapy session with parents and a clinician3

    Family therapy, every week

    Weekly family therapy that repairs communication and prepares the home your teen returns to.

    Helps withthe home they return to

Supporting care, running alongside

  • Holistic & experiential

    Art, movement, and mindfulness that rebuild motivation and self-worth.

    energy & sleepself-worth
  • Psychiatric & medication support

    Prescriber-led evaluation; medication weighed case-by-case, explained in full, monitored closely.

    treatment-resistant depression
  • Accredited academics

    Accredited classes each weekday with credit coordination, so recovery and graduation progress together.

    staying on track to graduate
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 works with a named, credentialed clinician. Faces, roles, and licenses are shared before day one.

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 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
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Four years ago at the age of 13 my daughter completely stopped participating in school and started to display symptoms of major depression anxiety and an unknown mood disorder.Her attendance at school was greatly impacted in such a way that attending once or twice a week became standard until the age of 16.Alcohol addiction and juvenile legal troubles followed and became common issues up until the moment my daughter entered into Nexus Teen Academy.To be completely honest as a completely broken single parent,after trying many attempts at therapy/medications I had lost hope and had given up on expecting anything could fix the crisis we had been living in for the last for years. Nexus Academy changed my perspective, my daughter completed 33 days and for the first time in years I saw the spark and light come back to her eyes and soul.She left Nexus displaying insight and a desire to get back on track with her education. With all professions , one will find flaws and opportunities for improvement .I believe Nexus understands this and showed an openess to suggestions and constructive criticism.
Google
lily henderson profile picture
lily henderson
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Nexus was a life changing experience. I went in at 17 and experienced my 18th in there, to which the staff and residents all made sure I felt special. My goals were formed around gaining a better sense of self identity, self respect, and healing myself from the inside out. All of which happened in ways I never expected. I was shown how healthy communication, empathy in your home life, and phone-free relationships, all shape you as a person. Each and every one of the staff and administrators at Nexus are solely devoted to the children’s lives and well being. If there was ever an issue, i felt confident to go to them about it and it was swiftly handled. It was one of the most difficult goodbyes I have ever experienced in my life, as I grew family-life bonds with every person there. Thank you all!!!!! I appreciate every way you showed up for me and how you supported me in my stay. I will carry this experience with me forever.
Google
Jasmine Carter profile picture
Jasmine Carter
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
My daughter was referred here after her various visits to psychiatric hospitals.I was so scared to be apart from my child but Nexus made me feel better about my decision because of their loving and welcoming environment. I love everything about this place, they really love the kids and support parents along the way. I appreciate everyone that loved and supported my child while she was at her lowest. I recommend this place to anyone that may feel like they have tried all they can and they do not know what to do next because Nexus will help you with the next steps in your journey.

4.7/ 5

★★★★★34 verified Google reviews · 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, with safety decided first.

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 admissions counselor asks about intent, plan, and access to means first. Acute risk is routed straight to crisis care with our help; when the situation is subacute, the call continues to a structured evaluation. Free, confidential, and the safety triage happens on this call, not after it.

2

Coverage check

With your okay, we confirm your benefits straight with your private insurance plan, and translate the result into plain numbers: what is covered, what is not, and a realistic out-of-pocket, before any decision.

3

Clinical assessment

A licensed clinician administers the C-SSRS, maps ideation severity, its drivers, and protective factors, and states the indicated level of care, residential here, or acute care first if that is what the findings show.

4

Plan the arrival

One coordinator manages logistics with you: the packing list, travel into Phoenix, school records for credit transfer, and how the first day will go.

5

A gentle, planned arrival

Your teen meets the clinical team, settles into a prepared room, and begins their safety plan on the first day, with your first family update scheduled before you leave the driveway.

Coverage & cost

Does insurance cover residential care for suicidal ideation?

Residential behavioral-health treatment for suicidal ideation and the conditions driving it is a covered benefit under most major commercial plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and more. Nexus Teen Academy accepts most private insurance and returns your plan's specific answer, covered services, network status, and projected out-of-pocket, in writing before any decision. Free, confidential, and usually same-day.

  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

See exactly what your plan covers for residential treatment, free, confidential, no obligation.

HIPAA-protectedNo obligationNever sold or shared

After discharge

Aftercare built for the highest-risk 90 days.

Because suicide risk concentrates in the weeks after intensive treatment ends, discharge is planned as a clinical event. The safety plan travels home in writing, follow-up appointments are booked before the last day, an outpatient provider near home takes a warm handoff, means safety is confirmed with parents, and school re-entry is staged with the district, whether home is the Valley, Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, or Yuma.

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

Answers

Teen suicidal ideation treatment 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

Safety & urgency

No, not first. A plan, stated intent, or an attempt is an emergency: call or text 988, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room now. Call us once your teen is stable, because coordinating the step-down from a hospital into residential care is exactly what we do.

Passive ideation is wishing to be gone without intent to act: wanting to sleep and not wake, feeling like a burden. Active ideation includes a method, plan, or intent. Both deserve a professional evaluation, and active ideation with plan or intent needs emergency care right away. Clinicians grade the difference with the C-SSRS.

No. Research consistently finds that asking directly about suicide does not raise risk and usually lowers distress, because it replaces secrecy with support. Ask plainly, listen without panic, and let the answer guide how urgently you act.

Staff stay awake in the home through the night, every night. Medications and personal items are secured, room checks follow each teen's clinical protocol, and common areas keep clear sightlines. That constant supervision is the structural difference between this level of care and home.

When residential care fits

When the thoughts persist or return despite weekly therapy, when a psychiatric hospitalization has just ended and an hour a week is not enough, or when supervision at home cannot realistically match the risk. Residential care supplies daily treatment and around-the-clock supervision at the level between outpatient and hospital.

No. These are licensed residential homes, not locked units: ordinary Arizona houses with clinical safety design, secured medications, clear sightlines, and awake staff around the clock. A teen in acute crisis belongs in hospital care first; we serve the subacute level after or instead of it, as the C-SSRS findings direct.

Yes, and that hand-off is a core use of this program. With your consent we coordinate with the discharging hospital, transfer records, and time the admission so the step-down is continuous rather than a gap. The months right after discharge carry the highest risk, which is exactly what structured step-down care is built for.

Skills-based behavioral therapy carries the strongest evidence: the largest randomized trial in high-risk adolescents found it outperformed supportive therapy, and a meta-analysis across 21 studies confirms it reduces suicidal ideation. Here it runs daily, alongside cognitive work on hopelessness, family therapy, and psychiatric care for the condition underneath.

Cost, logistics & privacy

Under most major commercial plans, yes: residential behavioral-health care is a covered benefit. Nexus Teen Academy accepts most private insurance and returns your plan's exact answer in writing, free and confidentially, and usually the same day.

Nexus Teen Academy runs two licensed homes in the Phoenix metro, boys in North Scottsdale (85260) and girls in Cave Creek (85331), within a day's drive of nearly every Arizona family. Both run the same clinical model for ages 12 to 17, admissions answers (480) 485-3424 around the clock, and family therapy continues by secure video when the drive is long.

Length of stay is set clinically, by the C-SSRS trajectory, skill progress, and family readiness, not by a fixed calendar. Discharge happens when the safety plan is rehearsed, the drivers are in active treatment, and the 90-day aftercare plan is booked.

No. Everything you share is protected health information under HIPAA, kept within the treating team, never sold, and never used for advertising.

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.

Suicidal thinking among Arizona teens is more common than most families realize, and for a growing number weekly outpatient therapy is not enough to keep a teen safe. The state’s own data shows why a middle level of care, residential treatment, exists.

Aerial view of a Nexus Teen Academy residential center in Arizona

4 in 10

Arizona high-schoolers reported their mental health was not good most or all of the time.

3 in 10

Seriously considered suicide, and about 1 in 10 attempted.

97%

Rise in adolescent depression diagnoses in Arizona, 2016–17 to 2020–21.

55%

Rise in anxiety diagnoses over the same period.

Arizona’s 988 and Teen Lifeline lines meet the emergency, but a crisis call is stabilization, not ongoing treatment.

Residential care is the step between outpatient therapy and the hospital, the middle is what has been missing.

Sources: Arizona Department of Health Services, Adolescent Mental Health Report; Arizona Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2021); National Survey of Children’s Health.

Talk to an Arizona counselor, 24/7

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

Two Arizona centers, serving families statewide.

Both Nexus Teen Academy residences sit in the Phoenix metro (Maricopa County), so families from every corner of Arizona can reach accredited residential care and stay close to the process. Admissions are answered 24/7.

Two Phoenix-metro centers, statewide reach

Our boys center is in North Scottsdale and our girls center in Cave Creek, both in Maricopa County and within a day's reach of every Arizona family via I-10, I-17, and I-8.

Telehealth & travel, handled

Secure weekly family telehealth for families outside the metro, plus help coordinating travel into Phoenix Sky Harbor. Distance does not interrupt treatment.

Aftercare mapped to your community

Step-down and outpatient care lined up near home before discharge, plus a graded return to class with your own school district.

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.

Suicidal ideation care, statewide

Teen suicidal ideation 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.