Effective Residential Treatment Centers for Mental Health & Fully-Accredited School for Teens

Located on the Pine Tree state's beautiful mid-coast, Ironwood Maine is a licensed residential mental health treatment center and fully licensed and accredited school designed specifically for adolescents, ages 13-17. Our residential treatment facility offers intensive individual therapy along with customized and accredited academics via two interconnected programs. Ironwood Maine is a specialized therapeutic program that offers a broad structure and individualized treatment modalities, which include equine therapy, outdoor experiential learning, family therapy, group therapy, and more. We pride ourselves in meeting the needs of teens that require treatment for emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges. Our 400-acre campus provides the ideal setting for our residential treatment program featuring 9 beautiful horses with daily student participation. Ironwood is now able to work with most commercial insurance plans, giving families increased access to the right treatment program.

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Our Unique Two-Program Continuum

Ironwood Maine features two interconnected residential treatment centers; The Frye and Farmhouse. The Frye campus establishes acceptance and reinforces respect for one's self and others. Farmhouse focuses on developing the internal character traits of honesty, integrity, and motivational values. Both treatment centers for teens also focus on therapeutic interventions like individual therapy and family therapy sessions to improve mental and emotional health.

Overview of Adolescent Treatment

Ironwood's Intensive therapy forms the foundation of working with struggling teens 13-17. Therapy is conducted in many forms and various locations: walking or hiking along the campus, on a trail ride, next to our pond, around a campfire, with animals, and yes, in a therapist’s office. Wherever the greatest result can be achieved is the right place for treatment.

Overview of Academic Programming

Our academic program, accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and Maine's Department of Education. We work with home schools to identify an educational plan that includes goals, strengths, and learning challenges that might be in play. Students focus on fundamentals in a distraction-free environment.

Equine Therapy Sets Us Apart

In equine therapy, teens take responsibility for the care, feeding, grooming, exercising, and riding of our nine beautiful and well-mannered horses. Equine therapy has emerged as a therapeutic intervention beneficial to the mental health and healing of teens undergoing treatment for mental health issues and disorders.

50%

50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by the age of 14, and 75% by the age of 24.

14%

Depression and bipolar disorder affect approximately 14% of teens aged 13-17.

400%

Youth struggling with sexual identity issues are 4x more likely to attempt suicide.

31%

The suicide rate for boys 15–19 increased 31% from 2007 to 2015. The rate for teen girls doubled during that time.

Our Enrichment Programs at Our Treatment Center for Youth

We offer several supporting evidence-based and experiential therapy programs in a safe and structured environment to help youth overcome symptoms related to mental health disorders. Our treatment centers are specifically designed to provide young adults with the right individualized care to repair broken relationships, negative outlooks, and self-confidence. We provide young people with a bright future and the confidence necessary to succeed!

Our enrichment programs offered by our residential treatment centers include:

Horticulture and Environmental Science

At our teen treatment centers, individuals start each day with the sun on their faces and a mission – caring for horses, dogs, cats, goats, and chickens. Teaching responsibilities like timeliness to go hand-in-hand with compassion is an integral part of this program. Young people help maintain gardens on property that eventually becomes as much home to them as it does nature’s animals. In those first few months, participants gain appreciation through outdoor exploration while building meaningful bonds with certain special creatures along the way!

Art Programs

Every week, within our residential treatment programs residents have a chance to tap into their creative side and explore art in all its forms. Not only do they learn traditional practices of drawing, painting, and printmaking but, also more novel methods like scratchboard or mosaic! With inspiration from nature around them as well as experiences unique to each individual person, teens are able to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces with mixed media.

Culinary Program

Through the Ironwood Maine culinary program, teens learn to build strong and healthy relationships with food. Professional chefs collaborate with residents teaching them how to shop for quality ingredients from local sources, create delicious recipes and serve meals family-style, that’s what makes it truly special. In our residential treatment centers, teens will discover nutrition facts while having fun designing creative menus and discovering new flavors each day!

Music Program

Residents of Ironwood living staying at either of our residential treatment center locations have been able to explore their love for music through two unique offerings – one focused on appreciation and another that involves actively performing. Joining these groups enables them to discover, enjoy, and refine the art form together with other passionate individuals in an enriched atmosphere during music therapy.

Fitness Program

Ironwood Maine provides an unparalleled approach to physical fitness, ensuring its residents maintain a healthy body and mind. Every morning starts with thirty minutes of invigorating activity such as jogging or performing strength-based calisthenics. From Tai Chi techniques to yoga classes taught by certified instructors, these well-rounded exercises keep residents on track for ultimate physical fitness at our treatment centers.

Off-Campus Activities

Teens staying in our residential treatment center are given the unique opportunity to explore Maine’s gorgeous outdoor scenery through a variety of off-campus activities. From embarking on adventures in Acadia National Park and kayaking at waterfronts, to cross-country skiing and hiking up mountains, these teens make full use of their time out in nature! Plus they have plenty more chances for fun – volunteering service within the local community or taking trips downtown Portland for Seadogs games and theatrical performances.

A Mental Health Treatment Program Carefully Designed to Assist Families in Crisis

If you are considering residential treatment, therapeutic boarding school, or wilderness program for your teen, we invite you to consider the many unique benefits of Ironwood Maine. With the collective experience that comes with having helped hundreds of families, we continue to successfully teach positive life principles at our residential treatment center for teens and improve connections within their family systems.

Founded by parents who faced similar circumstances, Ironwood Maine’s comprehensive mental health treatment program for teens is carefully designed to assist families in crisis. Our program can create change in the behavior of the challenged teen by encouraging self-respect, values, and effective communication skills so that teens can reconnect with their family members and enjoy success in life. Our program offers therapeutic, behavioral, and academic services that bring about positive change. Ironwood Maine offers a highly structured treatment program with intensive therapeutic and behavioral interventions, group work, physical exercise, outdoor-based experiences, and a wide range of enrichment programs including equestrian, art, culinary, horticulture, and nature therapy studies. Therapy delivered by a treatment team of seasoned professional clinicians is the foundation of our 3-to-6-month program.

Our Therapeutic Boarding Schools Provide Advancement Opportunities

Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and licensed by the state of Maine Department of Education, Ironwood’s academic program ensures that teens maintain their educational objectives and continuity with their home schools. Most residents are able to earn additional credits because they have discovered a new satisfaction and purpose for learning. This desire for learning, combined with our personalized attention and year-round schooling, provides the support residents need to stay focused and motivated to excel. On average, students complete 7-10 high school credits and advance one full grade.

Through communication, relationship building, self-reflection, simple living, self-discipline, engaging work, and individual and group therapy, teens adopt positive behaviors necessary to lead productive lives as contributing family members and community citizens. We do understand your family’s and your child’s struggle and we can help you during this difficult time. Call us today.

Ironwood Maine is a proud member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, HHS, Joint Commission, and the state of Maine DOE.

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Meet Emma, an Ironwood Alumnus and Stacy & Gary, Alumni Parents

Meet Our Admissions and Clinical Directors

Ironwood Maine Blog

Ironwood Maine Web Update
The only constant when navigating the world of behavioral and mental health is change and Ironwood is no different. Ironwood is always looking for better, new, and scientifically backed ways to assist residents in developing the tools, skills, and coping strategies to grow and thrive within their evolving world. As such Ironwood is working on teaching the…
Ironwood Maine Web Update
On Wednesday a brand-new system was introduced, privileges were becoming a tool provided for us to aid our focus and motivation. Every week your behavior would be charted and discussed for qualification in privileges. This brand new system helped me to spark the start of my success and hope to positively move forward in my program.
Ironwood Maine Web Update
This issue of the weekly update is dedicated to Ironwood’s sense of community. Anyone who has skimmed Ironwood’s advertising campaigns will often hear of this community, but what exactly does it entail? Ironwood’s community is made up of all individuals who live or work on campus; these being residents and staff respectively. The backbone of…

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