An Effective Residential Mental Health Treatment Program and Fully-Accredited School for Teens

Located on the Pine Tree state's beautiful mid-coast, Ironwood Maine is a licensed residential mental health treatment program and fully licensed and accredited school designed specifically for adolescents, ages 13-17. Our program offers intensive therapy along with customized and accredited academics via two interconnected programs. Ironwood’s broad program structure and modalities, which include equine therapy, outdoor experiential learning, family therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and more, meet the needs of teens requiring treatment for emotional and behavioral issues in conjunction with a safe, therapeutic learning environment. Our 400-acre campus provides the ideal setting for our equine therapy program featuring 9 beautiful horses with daily client participation. Ironwood is now able to work with most commercial insurance plans, giving families increased access to the help they need.

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Our Unique Two-Program Continuum

Ironwood Maine features two interconnected programs; 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.

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.

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

If you are considering a residential mental health treatment program, 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 to our resident teens and improve connections within their family systems.

Founded by parents who faced similar circumstances, Ironwood Maine’s comprehensive mental health treatment program for adolescents 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 team of seasoned professional clinicians is the foundation of our 3-to-6-month program.

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, and engaging work, 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, 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

Flying Solo at Ironwood
“Solos” are kind of a big deal at Ironwood. When someone goes on their Solo, this tells those around them that they’ve entered a transitional period in the program. This […]
Family Day = Quality Time
Wow! The first day of Family Weekend is a tremendous whirlwind of activity launched by a Welcome Orientation with a motivational presentation. Parents even got to experience a bit of […]
Field Trips Build Confidence
One important component of the Ironwood program is field trips. The field trips we have at Ironwood usually consist of some community work and a treat after, such as a local […]

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