Arizona's Premier Teen Residential Treatment Center Near Forest Lakes, AZ
Licensed & Accredited By
Helping Forest Lakes Families Find Teen Residential Treatment
Forest Lakes rests along AZ-260 on the edge of the Mogollon Rim in Coconino County, a small forested community set between Payson to the west and Heber-Overgaard to the east. Surrounded by tall ponderosa pines, quiet lakes, and some of Arizona’s most beautiful high country, it is a place where families value peace, privacy, and connection to the outdoors. But for parents of a struggling teen, the same remoteness that makes Forest Lakes special can make specialized adolescent care feel very far away, often requiring long drives to reach the right level of support. Nexus Teen Academy offers Rim-country families a trusted, professional path forward, based in the greater Scottsdale area, where teens can focus fully on healing away from everyday triggers and distractions. Distance from home can feel like a hurdle at first, but many families find that a dedicated, structured setting gives their teen the space and support to make real progress.
Our residential program is designed for teens ages 13 to 17 who may be showing signs of struggles that outpatient support has not been able to fully address. Stays generally last 30 to 60 days, providing the time a teen needs to stabilize, learn healthier coping skills, and take meaningful steps toward lasting change within a safe, structured, and encouraging community. Every treatment plan is individualized, shaped around the specific young person in front of us rather than a generic template, so care fits the teen instead of asking the teen to fit the program.
A great many teens arrive facing more than one issue at the same time, such as depression alongside substance use, or unresolved trauma paired with intense anxiety. Through dual-diagnosis care, our clinical team treats mental health and substance use conditions together, recognizing how deeply the two can be intertwined and how treating one alone often leaves the door open for setbacks. This integrated, coordinated approach gives teens a fuller, more durable foundation for recovery that can hold up once they head home. Licensed clinicians, medical staff, and therapists collaborate closely on each case, sharing observations so the whole young person is understood rather than reduced to a single symptom or behavior.
Healing continues well beyond a teen’s stay with us. From early in the program, our team helps families prepare for aftercare, planning for the return to Forest Lakes, to school, and to daily routines on the Rim so that the momentum built in treatment can keep going at home. We view discharge not as an ending but as a carefully supported transition into the next chapter of a teen’s recovery.
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Get Your Teen the Help They Need
Sunday ( 8am - 1pm )
Conditions We Treat
Substance Addiction
- Alcohol
- Nicotine / Vaping
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Meth (Methamphetamine, Stimulant)
- Heroin / Fentanyl
- Prescription Pills
- Opioids
- MDMA (Ecstasy / Molly)
- Hallucinogens (Psilocybin Mushrooms, LSD)
- Inhalants
- Cough Syrup (DXM)
- PCP (Phencyclidine)
Mental Health Conditions
- OCD
- PTSD
- Trauma
- Anxiety
- Self-Harm
- Social Anxiety
- Psychotic Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- LGBTQ+ Mental Health
- Suicidal Thoughts
- Low Self-Esteem
- Eating Disorders
- Impulse Control
- Mood Disorders
- Bipolar 1 & 2
- Depression
- ADHD
- Anger
Therapies We Employ
Evidence-Based Therapies
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Guides teens to identify and shift distorted thinking
Links thoughts, emotions, and actions in everyday situations
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Builds skills for managing intense emotions
Strengthens distress tolerance and mindfulness
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Helps teens accept difficult thoughts without avoidance
Guides action rooted in personal values
Interpersonal Narrative Therapy
Supports teens in reshaping the stories they carry about themselves
Nurtures healthier relationships and identity
Mindfulness Practices
Cultivates awareness to calm the mind and body Provides grounding tools for stressful moments
Functional Family Therapy (FFT)
Involves the family in creating lasting, positive change Reduces conflict and improves connection at home
Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Helps teens process trauma safely and at their own pace
Pairs coping skills with gentle, structured healing
What Happens Next? Get Started in 5 Simple Steps
Taking the first step can feel daunting, and we honor how much it takes to make that call. Our team makes the path clear for Forest Lakes families, guiding you with warmth and honesty at every stage so you never feel lost in the process.
Receive the Details
A compassionate admissions counselor listens to your concerns and explains how our program can help, without pressure or obligation.
Pre-Admission Stage
A confidential assessment helps us understand your teen and confirm that our care is the right match for their needs.
Parents Input
Parents and caregivers are essential partners, and your insight helps shape the plan from the very start.
Individualized Plan
Our clinicians craft a personalized treatment plan built around your teen's unique needs, goals, and strengths.
Start Your Treatment
Your teen settles into a supportive, structured environment where meaningful healing can begin.
What a Typical Day Looks Like in Our Program
Consistent routine helps teens feel grounded and ready to grow. Predictable rhythms help teens feel secure, lower anxiety, and free up energy for the work of healing. Although each schedule is personalized and thoughtfully balanced between therapy, learning, rest, and connection, a typical day in our residential program may include the following:
A gentle morning start and a nourishing breakfast
A community meeting to set goals for the day ahead
Individual therapy or supervised academic time
A healthy lunch followed by a short break
Group therapy centered on skills and peer support
Recreation or holistic activities in the afternoon
A shared dinner and time for reflection or journaling
A calming evening routine to encourage restful sleep
Take a Tour of Our Facility
Our Teen Male Treatment
Facility
A Virtual Tour of Nexus Teen Academy: Oak
Our Teen Female Treatment
Facility
A Virtual Tour of Nexus Teen Academy: Mesquite
Our Teen Outpatient Treatment Facility
A Virtual Tour of Nexus Teen Academy: Willow
Why Nexus Teen Academy Stands Out for Arizona Families
Families throughout Arizona turn to Nexus Teen Academy for care that treats the whole teen with dignity, compassion, and clinical excellence. The pillars below reflect the kind of environment your teen will find with us.
When needed, our medical team manages medication thoughtfully and safely within the larger care plan.
We nurture the mind, body, and spirit through a blend of therapy, movement, and creativity.
Wholesome, balanced meals fuel recovery and help teens feel their very best.
A warm, encouraging community helps every teen feel seen, valued, and supported.
We focus on each teen’s strengths to build genuine confidence and resilience.
Gender-specific care creates a comfortable, understanding space for growth.
Our Staff
Our team unites licensed therapists, nurses, and clinical leaders with deep experience in adolescent mental health and substance use care. Together, they support each teen and family with knowledge, patience, and heart, and they keep parents informed and involved throughout the entire journey. Every member of our team shares a commitment to meeting teens where they are, treating each young person as an individual worthy of respect and hope.
Parent Reviews
Aftercare
Real recovery is measured over months and years, not just days. As your teen prepares to head back to Forest Lakes and the surrounding Rim communities, our team helps build an aftercare plan that fits the realities of home, including school, family life, healthy daily structure, and continued connection to support. The goal is for the progress made in treatment to keep growing once your teen returns. A thoughtful aftercare plan can include continued therapy, school coordination, healthy routines, and clear steps for the whole family to follow, so the transition home feels steady rather than sudden.
Because ongoing services can be spread across Coconino County and beyond, we help families map out the resources and support connections that keep progress moving forward. We also help parents recognize early warning signs and understand how to reach out if a difficult day arises, so no family feels alone after discharge. Aftercare serves as a steady bridge from residential treatment back into everyday life on the Mogollon Rim.
Reach Out and Begin the Journey Today
Fill out the form, or call, and one of our admissions specialists will get back to you. No pressure, and every conversation is private.
Need Recovery Help? Contact Us
Directions to Nexus Teen Academy from Forest Lakes, AZ
From Forest Lakes, the drive to our Scottsdale-area campus is approximately 115 miles and generally takes about two and a half hours. Most families travel west on AZ-260 down off the Mogollon Rim into Payson, a stretch of roughly 37 miles, then continue south on AZ-87 (the Beeline Highway) for about 79 miles toward the greater Scottsdale area. High-country weather and Rim road conditions can shift quickly, especially in the colder months, so we recommend using Google Maps for current, turn-by-turn directions and up-to-date drive times before you leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with families from Forest Lakes, AZ?
Yes, we welcome families from Forest Lakes and communities across the Mogollon Rim, and our team is ready to guide you through admissions from your very first call, answering your questions along the way.
Which age group do you serve?
Our residential program is designed for teens between the ages of 13 and 17, with care tailored to the developmental needs of adolescents.
How long will my teen stay?
Stays typically range from 30 to 60 days and are always tailored to each teen’s needs and progress, so the timeline reflects the individual rather than a fixed rule.
What does dual-diagnosis care mean?
It means we address mental health and substance use conditions at the same time, supporting more complete and lasting recovery.
Will our information stay private?
Yes. Confidentiality is a priority, and we handle every family’s details with great care, in keeping with applicable privacy laws and professional standards.
How far is your campus from Forest Lakes?
Our Scottsdale-area campus is about 115 miles away, roughly a two-and-a-half hour drive down the Rim and along the Beeline Highway.
Which insurance plans do you accept?
We coordinate with major providers like Beacon, Aetna, Cigna, and GEHA, and may pursue single-case agreements for out-of-network plans.
What kinds of conditions can you help with?
We treat a broad range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance addiction, and we address co-occurring conditions together.
Is your program accredited?
Yes. We are Joint Commission accredited and licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
How involved can parents be?
Very involved. Family participation, including family therapy and ongoing communication, is central to our approach.
What types of therapy do you provide?
We offer evidence-based therapies like CBT, DBT, and ACT, together with individual, group, family, and holistic care.
What is the first step to enroll?
Just contact our team by phone or through our website. We will share the details, complete a confidential assessment, verify your insurance, and help you plan what comes next at a comfortable pace, with guidance and support at every stage.