Turning Winds – Troy

Exceptional Care, Structure, and Support When We Needed It Most Sending our 14-year-old son across the country for specialized support was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make as parents. After… struggling to find effective care locally for his behavioral and academic needs, turning to Turning Winds made all the difference. From the very beginning, their team provided clear, consistent communication that helped put our minds at ease while he was away from home. The program structure and high standards of conduct create a safe, supportive environment where real growth and academic progress can happen. Beyond their strong framework, what truly sets Turning Winds apart is their genuine willingness to be flexible and considerate of our family’s specific needs throughout the process. We are deeply grateful for the dedication, professionalism, and care the staff has shown our family. Turning Winds has provided our son with the therapy to address his underlying issues and have provided him the tools to help him find the desire to make things better. We highly recommend their program to any family navigating a similar journey.

“Turning Winds changed the lives of our teen daughter and of our family. It has changed a day to day life of survival and existence to a thriving life of opportunity and hope for our daughter and for our family. We look… forward to each day and to a future that was not even to be considered before Turning Winds. First, Turning Winds offers a home and community in the mountains of beautiful and scenic rural Montana. Surrounded by all that nature, Turning Winds can provide time and space away from all the distractions of modern life that keeps a struggling teen from being able focus on self, to start healing, do different and try something new. The staff at Turning Winds provides support for the whole child and whole family. The support staff, from clinical, academic and residential advisors look to support our children wholistically. The best thing that Turning Winds does is that each child is seen as a unique person, with potential, and gives them time to explore that potential. Turning Winds also allows, encourages, and requires families to be part of the healing, learning and support process. It is not a place you send your child to “get help” but is a resource to allow your child and family to heal, to learn, to grow. Our teen arrived at turning winds with no hope, given up on herself and on life in general. Now she is returning home as a young woman with new self-confidence, a new outlook on life, and an eye on the future. Most of all a belief in herself and all the potential and opportunity available. That is a gift that would not be possible without the support Turning Wind Academic Institute.”

As someone who has been to turning winds and stayed for 12 months. I can only give thanks to all of the staff and people that made my treatment there as supportive as possible. All of the staff that are at turning winds… are there to support and take care of you, nothing less. It is not a hostile environment and this is the only treatment center I would recommend to anyone wanting to send their kid somewhere to get the help they need. When I first got to turning winds, I was 16 years old, incredibly depressed, socially anxious, closed off, and addicted to multiple substances. Now I am 21, live in an apartment, full time student in college, and am living the best life I have ever lived, whilst being completely sober. Without Turning Winds being there to guide me in the right direction during those harsh times, I would not be where I am today. I have even gone back to visit Turning Winds multiple times, and was just recently there last month! Do not be afraid to reach out and communicate with the people at Turning Winds, they will help you get the treatment your child deserves. and ease your mind through the entire process.

OUR SONS & FAMILY EXPERIENCE WAS GREAT!!!! I read the reviews before we committed to sending our son, who was 15 at the time and I was looking for his third treatment center. The reviews weren’t good (most of those… reviews we read aren’t real) but we touched base with Turning Winds who gave me several contacts of former parents to call and ask for their personal experiences, which were all raving reviews. Our son was dealing with anger, depression, ODD, drugs and alcohol and several instances with suicidal thoughts. Trust me when I say he may have been one of the hardest projects taken on by Turning Winds. The patience given by the staff was incredible. My son thought he would just show his anger and scare everyone to get kicked out of the program, but little did he know he was dealing with the pros. Thankfully, he was given a second chance and the whole team committed to helping our son, fully understanding the huge undertaking it would be. Our experience with working with all of the staff was great! Our son graduated after a year in the program, and when he started to turn the corner and show he could respond consistently, he started to create bonds with the staff and still reaches out to check in on them and update them with how he’s doing at home. The location played is big roll for our decision. The mountains, rivers and lakes are truly incredible! Our son loves to fish and was able to do so on the property and taken out several times by the staff to fish some of the amazing lakes and rivers in Montana! There’s a ski resort about an hour away that the staff will take the kids to during the winter, which we were really excited for him to experience skiing in the real mountains. We also spent time visiting our son and taking him to some awesome locations like Glacier National Park to hike and fish. The reason I’m spending as much time as I am writing this review is because of how much we loved the program and staff at Turning Winds. The work to be put in was all our son’s choice, and that’s when he started to progress. This process continues outside of the program and in his life going forward, but the internal growth and maturation he experienced came with the work he put in and allows him to be proud of himself. We realize that there isn’t a switch they help to flip for our son, he’s not 100% better when he graduates and the work needs to continue. He now has the confidence and tools to be able to process mentally now issues he couldn’t handle. This change in our son is only due to Turning Winds and the dedication they gave our son and family to help and we will be forever grateful to the program!!!

Deciding to send our son to a residential therapeutic program was one of the most difficult decisions we have ever made, but sending him to Turning Winds ended up one of the best things we have ever done. Turning Winds… was truly transformative for our son and us, and I highly recommend it to other families who have children who are struggling. Our son, and our family, have gone from crisis and hopelessness to a sense of hope and calm, and we can now openly discuss problems and feelings and we have tools to overcome any obstacles that arise. We decided to “swing for the fences” to help our son, and we are so glad we did! It hasn’t just been a home run - it has been a grand slam. Our son and our entire family are so much better off than we could have dared to hope! Our son has suffered from extreme anxiety, ADHD, and depression his entire life. He had low self-esteem and struggled with a sense of failure. He often would prefer to fail because he didn’t try than to try and find out he couldn’t actually succeed. In high school, he went from all A’s as a freshman to failing every class because he didn’t do any of the work as a junior. He had extreme oppositional defiance disorder and had conflict with school administrators weekly. He skipped school frequently, and when he did attend classes, he didn’t participate or do any of the assignments. He was lying and disrespectful at home, and he turned to alcohol and marijuana to help soothe himself. It felt like he had given up on himself - he wanted to drop out of high school and was heading for a life of crime and alcohol and drug abuse. We were walking on eggshells all the time, afraid to upset him while feeling powerless to help him. Finally, he ran away from home, leading us to decide that we were no longer able to help him and we needed help. Turning Winds was fantastic and helped our son find hope for a positive future. All of the staff from residential advisors to nurses, therapists, and administrative leaders care deeply about helping both kids and families. They create a supportive structure that holds kids accountable and helps them to reset when they make mistakes. The group and individual therapy sessions, combined with the all-encompassing accountability and behavior modification activities, helped our son gain insight into himself and his behaviors and learn to make better decisions. They also helped him learn to communicate his feelings and concerns in a positive and productive manner. The academic staff helped him catch up on the work he had missed and helped him realize that he can be a good student if he only tries! The staff communicated regularly with us so we felt like we always knew what was going on with our son. One pleasant surprise was the focus on helping us to become better parents, and to realize that our home situation needed to change so that our son could come home and continue to thrive. The family therapy sessions and the Parent Workshop were deeply impactful, and my wife and I learned to look at how we had parented in the past and to begin to change to how we will parent in the future. If you feel overwhelmed and hopeless about helping your struggling child, we suggest that you also swing for the fences and enroll your child at Turning Winds!

Ok, so it’s taken me over a decade to write this. For some of it I thought I was the biggest problem. This program makes a lot of promises, or at least did when I attended many years ago. They use social isolation to… consequence which short term could work but weeks on end facing a wall all day every day is opposite of beneficial. I had my child face the wall for 10 mins and I cried due to feeling so terrible I made her do that. That consequence itself for the amount of time you were forced to due that was damaging to many of us that went. And yes we do have a literal Facebook support group. As an attendee you really do have to play the program to escape. You think you have changed and the moment your out you do not know who you are because you are told who you must be when you are there. You must apologize for everything you do, even if you aren’t in the wrong. You do not get support from your peers nor can you support your peers who are hurting. I had bronchitis for over a month before they had me brought to the doctors because they didn’t believe me. A girl I went with had a blood clot in her ankle and wasn’t taken until she literally almost died. She was forced to do physical conditioning the entire time. Some staff were great and empathetic, others you dreaded the days they were there.

If I could give zero stars, I would. My family entrusted Turning Winds with someone we love during one of the most vulnerable periods of his life. What followed was a months-long effort to obtain answers regarding… treatment, insurance coverage, billing, and records. With the express authorization of my nephew's mother, I requested complete insurance and billing records on May 13, 2026. I was told that my request would be reviewed and that I would hopefully receive answers and the requested documentation by the middle of the following week. On May 29, 2026, after I had not heard anything back or received the requested documentation, I sent a follow-up email. I was then informed that Turning Winds would not release the requested records, despite the fact that written authorization from my nephew's mother had already been provided authorizing me to seek information on her behalf. Later that same day, Turning Winds CFO John Baisden instructed me to cease all communication with the organization. To this day, I have not received the records I requested, nor have I received substantive answers to the questions I raised. What I found particularly troubling, and what is confirmed in writing by Turning Winds' own attorney, is that as part of the scholarship application process, my nephew's mother was asked to provide a written or video testimonial regarding how treatment had benefited her son, to indicate whether Turning Winds could publish or distribute that testimonial, to indicate whether she would be willing to provide a Yelp or Google review regarding her experience, and to provide individual letters to various departments within the organization. Turning Winds has stated that these requests were voluntary and not a condition of receiving the scholarship. While I acknowledge that position, I personally do not believe families seeking financial assistance should be asked to participate in testimonials, online reviews, publication permissions, or departmental endorsement letters as part of that process. The most disappointing aspect of this experience was not the insurance denial. It was the lack of transparency. Families navigating a crisis deserve direct answers, complete information, and accountability. For any family considering this program, my recommendation is simple: trust documentation, not assurances. Request every record in writing. Preserve every email. Maintain a complete timeline of communications. Verify all insurance and billing representations independently. When questions arise, insist on documentation rather than explanations.

Our son was struggling with some addiction issues in the fall of 2024. We sent him to a wilderness program, but once completed we knew he wasn't ready to come home. We did a ton of research and interviewed numerous… therapeutic boarding schools and made the decision to have him go to Turning Winds. The decision wasn't made lightly, and we honestly weren't sure what to expect. We read all of the online reviews, and to be honest were concerned about whether he would receive the treatment he needed. And it took a while, but TWI was able to properly diagnose his issues and get him on the road to recovery. The staff is incredibly supportive, and we were treated like family. It wasn't easy for our son or us in so many ways- from the distance apart, to the tough therapy sessions we had going through difficult topics, to the cost. But we are so thankful for the people there who poured into him, and now he has moved on to a young adult transition program. We've seen a marked change in his life, and much of that is because he's learned about what has caused his problems, but more importantly how he can work through them. We couldn't fix him- we had tried everything (years of therapy, in-patient hospital stays etc.) before he went to the wilderness program. We didn't expect perfection but just seeing him begin to thrive as he's begun his transition program has been a huge blessing in our lives. And we're thankful to Turning Winds for helping our family. Life isn't easy, and when you see your own child struggling it's hard to know where to turn. We're thankful that we ran across Turning Winds, and we're thankful for how they helped turn our family around. We don't know what the future holds for our son, but we're thankful that TWI has at least given him a chance to succeed and learn more about his problems and given him the tools to manage them. I would encourage you to give Turning Winds a call and talk with them. It could help keep your family together.

Our family found Turning Winds to be a center of integrity and honesty. They function with a compassionate yet firm, family-like atmosphere that creates a sense of stability and confidence for the clients and families.

We thank the TWI team from the bottom of our parent hearts. The team helped our family, saved our child's life. When you are considering Turning Winds, you are likely going through a very rough time in your life. We… were looking for options to find help and struggling to navigate mental health care in the US. You want your child to be safe and well! When we visited Turning Winds site, they opened the doors and let us see everything. We have friends there for life. Our worries disappeared and we knew were in good hands. Our problems didn't magically disappear, but we got the help we desperately needed. I encourage to make a visit, talk with the team, see for yourself. Thank you TW team!

Turning Winds helped my son understand his behaviors and truly helped drive his growth and self worth. They consistently were a resource for him and his family and always made sure both him, and his family, were taken… care of. Would definitely recommend.

Turning Winds was instrumental in saving my son’s life and our family is forever blessed by Turning Winds. He was on a self-destructive path marked by violence, crime, and substance abuse. Through their care, he was not… only able to return to the kind, funny person I always knew, but he also developed a completely new perspective on his life. With a combination of individual, family and group therapy, behavior modification tools, strong accountability, building character and leadership, and a deeply dedicated staff—from teachers and RAs to therapists, nurses, and administrators—Turning Winds creates an environment where real transformation can happen. It’s clear that everyone there has a genuine passion for helping teens succeed. Before attending Turning Winds, my son struggled significantly both in school and in life due to his ADHD and mental health challenges. He often felt overwhelmed and discouraged, and he began to believe he wouldn’t be able to succeed academically or live without relying on drugs. Watching him carry that weight was incredibly difficult, especially as it eroded his confidence and sense of self-worth. Since attending Turning Winds, the individualized support, patience, and understanding he has received from both therapists and teachers has completely changed his outlook. They’ve created a space where he feels capable, supported, and understood. That shift has allowed him to grow not only academically, but personally as well. It’s evident that the team takes the time to recognize each child’s unique strengths and challenges, and that level of care has made all the difference for my son. I also want to emphasize how impactful their family-centered approach has been. By involving the entire family through therapy sessions and parent workshops, Turning Winds helped me gain valuable insight into my own parenting style and gave me tools to grow and improve. The experience was not only supportive for my son, but also deeply educational for me. The transition planning process, which included our whole family, gave me confidence that we were truly prepared for his return home. That sense of preparation made a meaningful difference during a very challenging time transitioning home. Also equally important is the continued support offered after students leave the program. When my son returned home and began struggling, Carl and Enoch were consistently available to provide guidance and encouragement. They also host a weekly alumni support group every Wednesday, where teens can openly share their experiences and receive support from both staff and peers. That ongoing connection has been invaluable.

The staff at turning winds did a wonderful job caring for my son during his time there. The attention to detail and consistent communication were great. Although my sons time was cut short due to his own actions, I… believe they did a great job helping him.

★★★★★ Our experience with Turning Winds has truly been life-changing for our son and our entire family. Before coming here, he struggled daily just to get through the simplest routines. Communication was difficult,… emotions were overwhelming, and relationships with family and friends were strained. Today, we see a completely different young man. He has learned how to communicate effectively, express himself in healthy ways, and build meaningful, positive relationships. The growth in his confidence and emotional awareness has been incredible to witness. The staff at Turning Winds are compassionate, dedicated, and genuinely invested in each child’s success. They create an environment where kids feel supported but also challenged to grow in the best ways possible. We are beyond grateful for the tools and progress our son has gained here. Turning Winds didn’t just help him cope—they helped him transform. If you’re searching for a program that truly makes a difference, this is it. PS- E said to give a shout out to Kacey and Bobby

Our daughter went through a long battle with mental health and addiction before we found Turning Winds. We were out of options and knew she needed more help than we could give her close to home. When we first spoke with… Eric and shared our story, he truly understood what our daughter was going through. For the first time in a long time, we felt hope. From intake to arriving in Montana, the process moved quickly and communication was great. We always knew what to expect. The steady communication with our daughter and the staff has made this a positive experience not just for her, but for us as parents too. As we’ve gotten to know Bekah, Carl, Cliff, Tara, and the rest of the team, it’s been clear how much they care about these kids. They’ve helped our daughter learn accountability, communicate better, and understand her emotions in a healthier way. The growth we’ve seen in her has been amazing. The education piece has been an added bonus. The teachers are amazing and really take the time to make sure our daughter understands the work and concepts. Honestly, the best parent-teacher conferences we’ve had in a long time. It hasn’t been easy, but we finally feel like she’s on the right path with an incredible staff behind her. We’re so grateful for Turning Winds.

It was a very difficult decision to commit our son to long-term care, and then again to choose a treatment center. We are very glad we chose Turning Winds. We felt like the therapeutic staff quickly arrived at a… treatment approach that proved effective for our son; they were consistent throughout his treatment in that approach; and we felt like what was represented to us--online and in conversations--was what we actually got. As it was described to us, most of the 'work' had to do with our kid's interaction with the entire staff and treatment team, not just his lead therapist or one or two people; so it was vital that there was a continuity of culture from top to bottom at TW. And we are so grateful that people throughout the organization--therapists, nurses, day staff--genuinely cared for our kid. And there were several rough patches along the road where we felt they hung in there with him and us and got him over those humps. They really stressed from the beginning how important it was that we plan for his transition home, how important that would be, and they have been true to their word in working with us and continuing to be available to consult and talk to us as we are in that transition period. Also, though it was not the primary factor in choosing TW, we are extremely grateful that their financial staff seemed to care about us, too and worked hard to advocate for us with our insurance company and minimize our costs to the extent they could. So overall we are very pleased with and grateful to Turning Winds for helping us and our son. If I had any criticism, I would say that there is a fair amount of derogatory and insulting behavior among the kids--which is to be expected, but I wish there were less tolerance of racist and anti-semitic comments that seemed common.

There is so much to say, I do not think that words alone will convey what the people with Turning Winds have given our family. First of all, we have gotten our son back, alive and aware of how addiction can destroy… lives. Secondly, the people have taken our worst fear and helplessness, and turned that into hope and understanding. Every day I know that these people work hard to get through uncontrollable challenges with grace, respect, and compassion. We are forever grateful! Thank you

DONT SEND UR KID HERE PLEASE

Our family is incredibly grateful for the care and support our son has received at Turning Winds. When he first arrived, he was struggling with impulse control and behavioral challenges that were affecting every part of… his life—and our family’s life as well. The team at Turning Winds approached him with patience, structure, and genuine compassion. Over time, we’ve seen meaningful growth in his ability to manage his impulses, take responsibility for his actions, and communicate more effectively. The therapeutic support, consistent guidance, and individualized attention have made a real difference. What has meant just as much to us as parents is the sense of hope we’ve gained throughout this process. The staff has worked with us as a family, helping us better understand our son and giving us tools to support him moving forward. We know the work isn’t finished, but Turning Winds has helped put our son—and our family—on a much healthier path. We’re thankful for the dedication of the therapists, mentors, and staff who truly care about the kids they serve.

This place is horrible

My son went to TW for treatment. He has been home a few months now and I can' think the team enough for their commitment and guidance. This was probably one of the hardest decisions I ever made in my life and I was… scared every step of the way. There was more than one person who was involved in my son's treatment and each person was always available, spoke to me, guided me and ultimately worked with him to establish a relationship that allowed him to come home. No place is perfect, especially in this scenario, but safety I know is one the biggest concerns parents have. My son was safe, he was treated more than well and he grew as a person.

Turning Winds will hold a special place in my life after my 16 year old child spent approximately 8 months in their program. Going through the types of struggles that makes places like Turning Winds necessary is hard… enough, but finding a treatment facility/program while going through those difficult times can feel impossible. Turning Winds offered support, information, and understanding during that difficult time and helped equip us with the needed information to make an informed decision. Turning Winds made a difficult time in our lives far more palatable. All parts of Turning Winds (counseling/clinical/medical/education/financial/etc.) employ professional people who genuinely care about not only our child, but also the family unit. The empathy and patience required is significant and the staff at Turning Winds treated us with kindness, transparency, respect, and directness. Turning Winds isn't perfect...no place is, however, they were always open to feedback, our self-advocacy, and questions. Their responsiveness was appreciated and helped us navigate this difficult time in our lives. Our child left a different person than they were upon arrival and I would genuinely and honestly recommend Turning Winds to anyone whose child is struggling with mental health. Thank you Owen, Enoch, Kim, Traci, Carl, Tara, and so many others for investing in our child and for doing what you do to help so many kids and their families.

We were happy with our time at TW. Our son is a much healthier, happier version of himself since attending. He was able to catch up on a year's worth of missed/failed school in 9 months. The staff is wonderful, and… everyone was really invested in a good outcome for our son. They have continued to be involved post-discharge, and are always available if we ever need it.

The professionals at Turning Winds have managed to deliver an unparalleled experience for my family. They have been perfectly communicative, very understanding to our unique needs and have never left us guessing about… anything having to do with our daughter’s journey there. Special thanks to Traci Cason in the finance office. She kept one of the most stressful aspects of this experience from being any type of unmanageable situation! I would highly recommend their services, should you be in need of this type of assistance for your family.

Best decision I could have made to help my kid! Staff were communicative and helped every step of the way. The personal connections from counsellors to weekend staff were so valueable in helping my kid grow and learn… skills that will serve him well for the rest of his life. The financial team, Traci, in particular, is a gem. Great communicator and help in knowing what to expect.

bad abusive people make you face the wall for no reason