Nexus Teen Academy – Cave Creek

We had a great experience with them, it was a tough road but I know the impact on this will be a life time of learning for my daughter as she continues on her healing journey. Great people who care, we love Trish so… much! Thank you Nexus for everything.

Nexus Teen Academy is truly one of the best things to ever happen to our family. We had three years of struggles with our daughter--in and out of inpatient BH hospitals, many psychiatrists, many therapists, etc. and we… felt like we were never getting to a healthy baseline, all the while our daughter was struggling. Residential treatment felt like a last resort, but it saved our daughter. The staff is all incredible-professional, kind and thorough, and the kiddos all speak fondly of them even after leaving residential treatment. The staff helped us get to a correct diagnosis, the right medications, and work on the skills to help our daughter maintain stability when she returned home. We stayed in Nexus programming through PHP, IOP and are now paying out of pocket for our daughter to stick with her individual therapist there--that's how GREAT they are. Truly, if you are a parent struggling with the idea of sending your kiddo to residential treatment, from one parent to another--this place is the best thing to happen to our teenage daughter.

It was with a heavy heart and ultimate mom guilt, that I made the tough decision to place my daughter in residential treatment June of 2026. My daughter was experiencing self-harm and suicidal thoughts that escalated… quickly into a plan. I no longer felt that she was responding to therapy and I could not keep her safe in our home. Instead of forcing her into a center that had a very institutionalized feel, I engaged my daughter in the search for a facility and gave her some autonomy into her own care. She stumbled upon Nexus Teen Academy via Google and was instantly put at ease with the location, vibe of the house and the amenities provided. I was impressed with the various modalities of therapy in her treatment program. Not living anywhere near Arizona (18 hours away), I started down the path of engaging with the staff on what would care look like with me at a severe distance from my kid. The staff held my hand through all the numerous calls, emails and texts while I gathered all the information to make the best possible decision on care for my daughter. My kiddo entered their facility on 7/2026 for a 30-day program. While at times it was rocky as she was facing her own discomfort and accepting treatment, the staff was constantly on hand to guide her and myself through it, whether it be via my own emails and calls or during our family therapy sessions. We reached a tremendous breakthrough two weeks in when she learned how to use her voice, advocate for herself and leaned into her therapy. I would have preferred continuing another 30 days at Nexus, but insurance…blah blah blah 😊 She is closer to home now and finishing her care at a center nearby. I do know that without the first 30 days at Nexus, we would not be here, in a better place and she would not be engaging in her full treatment plan. I cannot impress upon you the help and hope that they provided us in those 30 days and I will forever be grateful for the entire staff

As a mom, sending my daughter away for treatment was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. When she arrived at Nexus Teen Academy, I was scared, overwhelmed, and unsure what the future would hold. From day… one, the staff treated my daughter with compassion, respect, and genuine care. The therapists, clinical team, and support staff were professional, knowledgeable, and truly invested in helping her heal. I always felt informed, included, and supported throughout the process. What stood out most to me was how much the staff cared about the kids beyond just their treatment plans. They took the time to build trust, teach coping skills, encourage healthy communication, and help the teens prepare for life after treatment. My daughter spent 57 days in treatment, and during that time I saw growth, self-awareness, and progress that I will always be grateful for. Recovery is a journey, and I know there will still be challenges ahead, but Nexus helped give my daughter tools, hope, and a foundation to continue that journey. What has impressed me most since she came home is that she continues to use many of the coping skills she learned at Nexus. She journals, creates art, practices the techniques she was taught, and often references things she learned during treatment. That tells me the program wasn’t just helping her while she was there—it was helping prepare her for life after discharge. What I didn’t expect was how much this process would help me as a parent. Nexus didn’t just help my daughter heal; it helped strengthen our relationship and brought us closer together. I learned how to communicate differently, support her in healthier ways, and better understand what she was going through. We have both grown tremendously through this process, and I truly believe our bond is stronger because of it. I have already recommended Nexus Teen Academy to another family because I genuinely believe in the work they do. If you are a parent facing the terrifying reality of needing mental health treatment for your child, I can honestly say that Nexus provided exceptional care, valuable tools, and hope during one of the most difficult times in our lives. Thank you to every staff member who played a role in helping my daughter and supporting me as a parent. I will always be grateful.

So incredibly grateful to have found Nexus Teen Academy. From the initial call with intake through to the day of discharge, my experience with Nexus has been excellent and exceeded my expectations. The staff, the… communication, the family sessions, the programming, outings, equine, and the size are aspects that stood out. Thank-you to the Nexus team for all the support and care. It has made all the difference.

Awful experience with an understaffed and unprofessional facility. Hard to get ahold of staff when dropping things off , doorbell never worked. Our therapist had no real life experience and was not equipped with healthy… skills to help our teen/us. A huge unnecessary wedge was put between us and our teen by the therapist that hindered everything and caused a snowball effect that resulted in him running away from facility. I feel more care during sensitive family sessions could’ve made a difference. Instead , we had a cussing aggressive teen ( he has never used cuss words at us ) in front of us. Therapist response to our concern regarding all the cussing was that she allows the teens to have language which we were not ok with. It was like sitting in front of a different child. A warning to parents , the boys facility isn’t secured how they claim , our teen along with another resident escaped easily. They haven’t checked in once since. If you have a runner , this isn’t the place. Much better options exist. Save yourself the stress and do more research.

We had our child at this facility for about 4 weeks. It is very hard to go through this, and to say that everything went smoothly would not be accurate or expected. What I will say is the staff and her therapist Reagan… made this about as positive of an experience as you could hope for. Even in the most hightened periods, they were able to help and support us, but also advocate for our child. Throughout most importantly we never felt as though our child was not safe, which is half the battle when you give them over to someone else.

My daughter attended Nexus Teen Academy and this was really the best thing for her. The staff were really good with her and she got alot out of her experiences that continues to support her.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

When I realized I needed to find a residential treatment center (RTC) for my daughter, I was scared and completely unsure of what to look for. The whole process felt overwhelming, but discovering Nexus and reading their… reviews gave me a little bit of hope. Speaking with Nadine and scheduling a tour eased my nerves. Ashley, who gave the tour, answered all 30 of my questions without hesitation. I never felt rushed or dismissed while trying to make this incredibly important decision. From start to finish, the experience at Nexus was handled with genuine care and understanding. If you’re reading this, I’m so sorry you’re going through this difficult time. But I want to reassure you that Nexus is a place where your child—and you—will receive the support you need to navigate it

Our 16-year old daughter has been suffering from mental health issues for a while and we've tried several programs and in-patient treatments, but while all got her a little further on the path of healing, none did so… like Nexus did. She went through a complete transformation while she was there! She also had substance abuse issues and because the team treated the underlying issues, she now feels much stronger and more confident in her newfound sobriety. The staff is very knowledgeable and incredibly caring. I never worried about my daughter while she was there because I knew she was in the best hands possible. I love who my daughter has become while in their care and am excited about what the future holds for her. Thank you team Nexus!

This is a long post but please read through as I know many families have our same struggles and hesitations when it comes to residential. My 15 yo daughter has been struggling with anxiety, severe mood dysregulation,… self-harm, suicidal ideation and attempts, and substance abuse since the age of 12. We have been on a multitude of meds, been through continuous intensive therapy with no breaks for 2 yrs! We were feeling terrorized in our house by a shell of our daughter who was filled with rage and hate. We needed something different as we were at a breaking point watching our daughter self destruct. We needed a miracle or we were going to lose our little girl. We admitted her to Nexus out of desperation as we were trying to avoid RTC’s due to all the horrible stories we have heard about them. It was a rough couple of weeks of adjustment for her and we wanted to pull her out. But we persisted with the encouragement of the staff. It was difficult for us to leave her there but we could see the staff at Nexus truly cared for her well being. Everyone from the techs, the various therapists, the nurse, the psychiatrist, the chef (yes, a personal chef!), and the director were so involved and gave updates through a convenient portal and I got weekly phone calls from Ashley, Lisa, and Dr Valbuena which is rare in healthcare. Everything and everyone was transparent and we had free open communication to the staff. I recall one incident at night my daughter was having an emotional breakdown (one that if at home probably would have escalated to us calling the police), I was getting ready to having to pick her up. I was in sheer panic mode, but Hannah, her therapist, who was out on a personal engagement, called me at 10pm to discuss the issue and gave us the validation we needed to feel better about the situation. We had weekly visitations and family therapy that were more effective than months of the outpt therapy we had in the past. They even had special days to celebrate holidays with families. After two months, our daughter emerged from Nexus a different person. She’s engaged, communicates with us, no more hate and anger, she’s funny again, she laughs. Most importantly, she has gained insight into how she has improved and changed. And we both thank the Nexus family for helping us! We know the work isn’t over but Nexus got us to a point where we can actually see a light and even after discharge are staying in touch. My daughter actually misses being there! Even if you don’t choose Nexus, believe me, there is hope for your teen and family if you don’t give up.

Just wanted to say how much I miss the staff here and Russ I really thought I was gonna change my life after this and fricked it all up again and even worse i love this place and really wish I took it more seriously now… I’m in a group home and my dad is scared of me but this place can really help kids I’ve seen it I love Emily and Jim and Adrian all of them-Lincoln Gray

Our 12-year-old was hospitalized twice for suicide attempts and has been in multiple other programs, for their mental health, nothing seemed to be working. We were referred to Nexus from a previous program and from the… very beginning they were helpful. The staff told us about the single-case agreement they could file with the insurance company to see if they would approve to treat them as in-network. We really felt like Nexus cared about our child and provided services to us as well. Our child came out of Nexus in a much better place. We continued to get help after discharge when there were issues with the aftercare PHP. Ashley is amazing and helped us in finding the support our child needed and helping with all aspects of their transition home. There are not words to express our appreciation for all that Nexus has done for us. We would highly recommend Nexus to any parent with an adolescent that is struggling.

I would highly recommend Nexus to any parent struggling with their teen. She came out of Nexus in a much better place and I feel they gave her the tools she needs to continue on a healthier path. We are very thankful… for their help.

As having a child who desperately needed help, nexus far exceeded any expectation that we had. From my first phone call, to her discharge I couldn’t be any more pleased with our experience with Nexus. Our child spent 67… days in Nexus’s care. In the beginning it was a rough transition for our child. She came home with some amazing coping skills, communication and outlook on life. The weekly parenting calls with the other parents, weekly family sessions and visits definitely helped bridge the gap in our family dynamic. For education, they offer education and they also accommodated to her school being online. Helped her through all her courses and ensured she was logged in and doing the work. Helping her whenever she needed. My child loved the weekly outings (odyssey aquarium, pig farms, cat cafes, water slides were her favorite), weekly equine therapy, activities (such a nail painting, face masks) and visits. She learned she loves legos and diamond art which were a big hit! Thank you to Nexus and all staff!

I cannot say enough about our daughter’s journey from the beginning initial call, to the discharge date, all due to the Nexus team. Our daughter was not seeing a future for herself. While at Nexus through the support… she was given, she came to realize she is has a future, even completing a college application during her time at Nexus. All staff from administration, therapists, behavioral health technicians to the chef, took the time to personally get to know our daughter, all which helped her grow, see self value and set the foundation for recovery. I am thankful I made that initial call!

As parents of a 12 year old who has been hospitalized twice for suicide attempt with no warning and her not even knowing why we were stressed trying to find a residential facility before her release from a short term… hospital. My frustration grew when everything in-network to our insurance would not take a 12 year old or wouldn’t respond to my calls to check if they had availability. I finally started calling facilities out-of-network and Jessica from Nexus call me right away and put me at ease. She told me about the single-case agreement they could file with the insurance company to see if they would approve to treat them as in-network (since there is a lack of in-network facilities for adolescents) and she scheduled a tour the next day. From the start we LOVED Nexus!! The staff is AMAZING!! Our 12 year old daughter loved the facility and program. She was here for 52 days and got the help she needed while not feeling like she was locked up in mental facility. She went on weekly outings, had weekly cooking classes with the chef, did equine weekly, and learned many skills to maintain her mental health. She was able to open up and learn about herself with therapy, group therapy, and family therapy. Nexus made us feel comfortable and always communicate with us through the portal, email, and phone/text. We continued getting help after discharge when there was an issue with the new place where she would continue aftercare. Nexus went above and beyond and we can’t thank them enough! I wish there were more facilities like this for adolescents around the valley especially the west valley(it’s 54 miles away from us). There is a lack of residential care, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient mental health care for our children that are easily accessible around the valley. I hope that changes in the future to make it easier on other families. If your daughter needs residential care Nexus Teen Academy is the place to go.

They helped me through my darkest time, taught me so much, and I love then for that, I wouldn't be where I am now without all the help I git, and staff is amazing, they treat you like family, it's a place that makes you… feel like you belong somewhere, so I thank them so much for that!! I always miss them so much there for everything they did for me and my family, it's amazing how much they care for you there!

I can't say enough good things about Nexus. They were our last resort and honestly saved my loved one's life. They are a group of folks that have come together with the singular vision of getting kids the help that they… need and making sure they get it right. They listen to families and are able to tailor their approach according to your families needs. They care deeply about getting diagnoses correct to ensure the best outcome for your loved one. Mine has been home for 3 months as of the writing of this and is the most stable they have ever been. There are not words to express my gratitude and appreciation for all that the staff has done for me and my family, and I am pretty certain that we would be a family of one less if not for their tireless efforts and relentless determination to see my loved one be successful. My person even wants to come back and be on staff so that they can make a difference in the lives of others who are struggling. The staff at Nexus are some of our favorite people, and if your adolescent is struggling with mental health issues, let Nexus be the last call you make, becasue they will do everything they can to make sure they get it right for you and your family.

I feel this review needs to have two parts: one from my child and one for us as parents. My daughter gave it 5/5. She felt her experience was overall positive and felt supported and uplifted by staff. She built on the… skills we believe she already possessed and came home with a heart warming abundance of self-worth and optimism for her future. I attribute this to the encouragement she received from staff, there is no doubt they invested in her as an individual. She did report she got little from family therapy and felt uncomfortable at times with a male in the nursing staff. As parents we felt everyone was well intended and kind from the start. We appreciate that our daughter was loved and nurtured while there because, as any parent reading this knows, it’s a horrible feeling when you have to entrust others with your child because you aren’t equipped and feeling like a failure as a parent while they are away will rob you of sleep. It helps to know they are stafe and genuinely supported. The other side of the coin was pretty frustrating. The communication and family involvement needs to be improved. When your child has to go to a residential treatment facility you are likely coming in with a bag of “would’ve, could’ve, should have’s”, expect to leave feeling the same way. They did not support the family unit. While they say they have family therapy, we received one 30minute session the day before our daughter discharged. She didn’t receive family therapy with her dad which we specifically asked early on be a priority. We made several attempts to schedule in advance and still were left with no family therapy. Our daughter, without prompting, expressed frustration over this as well. They have family support groups but there is no guidance from the family therapist- it’s more like a family led meeting and I think all of us agreed we were eager to gain insight and learn something and were frustrated with the lack of involvement. This is not personal and only from a professional stance as the therapist herself is abundantly kind but I don’t think she heard the parents cry for more engagement. My concern is your child comes home to the same family with the same problems so to me this is where 50% of the focus should be. To add, our discharge was rushed and pushy. They should be planning and having discussions about discharge from day one so as to not overwhelm families and to create cohesiveness between their team, the teen and parents. We took on a lot of this responsibility and we were also working full time jobs. Expect to double check resources for step-down facilities when your kid leaves. Examples of resources given: one place was 18+, the other in Montana, another with 2.1 reviews for safety concerns. They say that male and female clients will stay out of each others common rooms and be watched by staff closely for engagement-not true and disappointed that the breach of clients boundaries was not made aware to all parents and we had to learn details from our child. The above is for the parents as I wish I’d had more reviews so I knew what to expect and could have advocated for myself and the family bond better. Uncomfortable experiences aside I would absolutely recommend Nexus. I do believe they care deeply about the work and if they are open to feedback will grow and these kinks will be worked out. Most important words for me to leave here is for the parents who have lost hope, believe in your child and believe in yourself. You are likely looking at Nexus not because it’s the easier choice or you have money to blow but because you love your child. Find outside resources for support and show your child that you are willing to do the work with them and heal your own inner child. This helped me my daughter and I believe we are closer for this very reason. Whatever comes next I know we can weather the storm because we have compassion for one another.