Stillwater Academy

"I can't say enough great things about Stillwater Academy. We were terrified because of all the horror stories about programs that are out there, but after doing a lot of research, talking to other parents who had sent their kids here, and feeling like we had no other choice based on the escalating situation at home, we made one of the toughest decisions any parent can make to send our kid out of state to get him the help he desperately needed. I can honestly and proudly say that one year later, our kid is home, crushing it in school, more than a year sober, and has the skills and resilience and resources to thrive and build an awesome future for himself back at home. Our teen and parenting are changed forever for the better, and we are grateful beyond measure for the incredible staff, families, teachers, and therapists we met throughout the program. We always felt loved and supported, and knew that our child was in good hands there. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!"

"Our son started his downward spiral in 8th grade after the challenges of COVID, schooling from home, and mental illness. We have a history of mental illnesses in the family, and his seemed to develop during this time period. His Mom and I tried everything we could to help him get back on track, and nothing worked to snap him out of failing school, drug and alcohol abuse, and utter defiance towards us. So we did our research and found Stillwater Academy. Their admissions person, Sadie, was one of the main reasons we chose Stillwater. She was amazingly patient, reviewed our insurance coverage, outlined the program costs and general timeframes, gave us a Facetime tour of the school, and gave us a high level of confidence that our son would be well taken care of. We took our son there on March 13, 2023 and he just finished the program on Friday March 22nd, 2024. In his first 6 months, he got caught up in High School courses with A's and B's after failing 1.5 semesters in his local high school. He struggled with his mental illnesses for the first 6 months, however, the team there finally found some medications that worked for him and he has thrived these past 6 months. He achieved great grades, played a ton of guitar in the band, has advanced in the program, and stepped up as a leader. He is visioning for his future which he absolutely couldn't see just 6 months ago. We are huge fans of his therapist Rick who went over and above to make sure we had family therapy every week, and that our son had everything he needed to become successful. This therapeutic boarding school is everything we had hoped it would be and more. The entire staff loves these kids, and does a great job of maintaining the norms established to keep the school safe and the kids on track, while still caring for them. Yes, some of the norms could be considered strict by some, however, none of them are excessive. We love the format of housing they provide (staying with housing families every night), and that the school is co-ed. We would whole-heartedly recommend this school, and are so excited for our son to return home now with therapeutic tools, resilience, self-control, and a new level of maturity that we hope will drive him toward finishing High School and successfully launching into adulthood."

"2023 - This school saved our teen! Like every parent, you read the unnerving stories of wilderness programs and therapeutic schools. I did what research I could, closed my eyes, prayed, and took a chance. My wife and I flew out to every family event and every time we could tell that this staff was dedicated to our child. The kids love the staff! Tears of affection from kids, staff, and parents are always shed at these events. The school *WILL* challenge your young adult and they *WILL NOT* like it! That said, I watched almost every teen who graduated thank the staff and school for not giving in to their shouts, tantrums and demands."

"I attended Stillwater academy for 1 year and two months. It was amazing! I learned what I need to do to stay sober, and have not had a relapse in the more than two years since I've graduated. I made many great friends who u still have today. I love the group therapy, where we are surrounded by people who can relate with us, and help us through our struggles as they also work on their own. Every week we got to go and learn how to work with and ride horses, which was awesome! Also, we had group exercise time almost everyday, playing games, doing yoga, things like that. Another really amazing thing about Stillwater academy is the family therapy. Students are able to connect with their parents just about weekly to update them on their progress, tell them how things are in the school, and to work through family issues. The parents are included every step of the way! Stillwater is a safe place, with well trained, caring, loving staff! The staff and therapists help students to get to the root of the issue, instead of skimming the surface of the problems. It is an amazing school, and truly has changed my life forever! I would highly recommend sending your child to Stillwater academy if they are struggling!"

"My daughter recently graduated from this academy. I have nothing but extremely positive things to say about Stillwater. Every staff member and teacher were very focused on providing excellent care and education to my daughter. This school is very far from our home and we had to learn trust and to believe in the system. We were always treated with respect and encouragement. These people are truly professional and they have perfected their craft. Understand this is a very dynamic environment and they handle situations as a team with a common goal. I witnessed nothing but Love and kindness. My daughter has Gone through an incredible transformation.. My family will be forever grateful for their work at Stillwater."