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What we treat.

Maybe school has become impossible. Maybe your teen cannot settle, sleep, or let anyone close. Start with what you see. We’ll work from there.

You don’t need a diagnosis before you call.
A Joshua tree framed inside torn paper
Some things we help families with
Depression
Anxiety
ADHD
Neurodivergence
School avoidance, mood changes, and more →
Ages 10–17
Adolescent-focused care
PHP • IOP
Care matched to clinical need
Whole family
Parents involved from day one

Start with what you see

You don’t need a diagnosis before you call.

Maybe your teen has a diagnosis. Maybe you only know that something has changed: school feels impossible, emotions are harder to manage, or they’re pulling away from the life they used to have.

Many of the teens we support arrive looking like the descriptions below. If any of this feels familiar, tell us what you’re seeing. We’ll help you understand whether this level of care fits and what the next step should be.

What we work with

The concerns families bring us most often.

01

Depression & low mood

What it looks like

  • Persistent sadness, irritability, or hopelessness that doesn’t lift
  • Pulling away from friends, family, or activities they used to enjoy
  • Loss of energy or motivation that has lasted weeks
  • Difficulty sleeping, eating, or getting through daily tasks
  • Feeling like nothing matters or things won’t get better

How we help

Depression can make effort feel unavailable. A consistent week, connection with peers, and skills practiced in session give teens support they do not have to generate alone.

02

Anxiety & panic

What it looks like

  • Worry that doesn’t turn off, even when there’s no clear reason for it
  • Panic attacks or intense physical symptoms like a racing heart or trouble breathing
  • Avoiding situations, places, or people to manage the fear
  • Intense worry about social situations, school performance, or the future
  • Difficulty sleeping or concentrating

How we help

Teens learn to recognize what happens in their body as anxiety rises and practice tools early enough to change what happens next.

03

ADHD & executive functioning

What it looks like

  • Difficulty paying attention or staying on task, even for things they care about
  • Acting before thinking, or difficulty sitting still
  • Forgetting things, losing track of time, or stalling out on tasks
  • Emotional sensitivity, with big reactions to frustration or perceived failure
  • Falling behind at school despite effort and ability

How we help

Years of working hard and still falling behind can wear down a teen’s confidence. We address the anxiety, low mood, impulsivity, and intense frustration that can make ADHD harder to live with.

04

Trauma & PTSD

What it looks like

  • Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories
  • Being on high alert, startling easily, or finding it hard to feel safe
  • Emotional numbness or disconnection from people and activities
  • Big reactions that seem out of proportion to what’s happening now
  • Avoiding people, places, or situations tied to painful experiences

How we help

Care moves at the teen’s pace. We pay attention to what helps them stay present and never push for disclosure before they are ready.

05

Autism & social communication

What it looks like

  • Difficulty reading social cues or navigating peer relationships
  • Anxiety or meltdowns in social or sensory-heavy situations
  • Rigid thinking patterns or difficulty with transitions
  • Masking exhaustion: performing neurotypically in public and crashing at home
  • Anxiety or depression occurring alongside autism

How we help

Care focuses on the anxiety, low mood, overload, and relationship stress that can make daily life harder. Group gives teens a lower-pressure place to practice connection.

06

Emotional dysregulation & mood

What it looks like

  • Big emotional reactions that feel uncontrollable or come out of nowhere
  • Difficulty calming down after frustration or conflict
  • Rapid mood shifts
  • Impulsive decisions or behaviors during emotional moments
  • Intense conflict in relationships that keep turning chaotic

How we help

DBT gives teens concrete ways to get through intense moments, understand what set them off, and handle conflict with more choice.

07

OCD & intrusive thoughts

What it looks like

  • Intrusive, repetitive thoughts that are hard to dismiss
  • Compulsive behaviors or rituals that take up significant time
  • Needing things to feel exactly right before moving forward
  • Avoiding situations that trigger obsessive thoughts
  • Reassurance-seeking that never relieves the anxiety for long

How we help

Skills-based group and individual therapy help teens recognize and interrupt the OCD cycle, so intrusive thoughts have less power over daily life.

08

School avoidance & academic decline

What it looks like

  • Frequent absences or refusal to attend school
  • Stomachaches or headaches that show up before school
  • Difficulty concentrating or a sudden drop in performance
  • Intense worry about social situations or academic pressure
  • Missing so much school that catching up feels impossible

How we help

We work with teens and families to understand what’s underneath the avoidance, whether that’s anxiety, depression, trauma, or burnout, and build the skills and confidence to re-engage, one step at a time.

We also work with teens navigating grief and loss, life transitions, behavior challenges, and other concerns not listed here. If you’re not sure whether what your teen is going through fits, call us. We’ll help you figure it out.

Illustration representing creative expression in treatment

Our approach

Care should fit the teen, not the label.

We build each plan around what is happening in daily life, what your teen needs now, and what they are ready to work on.

See how we work →

For parents

What to expect when you reach out.

  1. 01

    Call our admissions team.

    One call is enough to start figuring out whether Joshua Tree is the right fit. No commitment, no pressure. We’ll ask about what’s been going on and answer your questions.

  2. 02

    Assessment with a licensed therapist.

    If it looks like a match, we’ll schedule a clinical assessment with one of our licensed therapists. That assessment determines whether IOP or PHP fits and begins the treatment plan.

  3. 03

    The program begins.

    Your teen starts in groups, with individual therapy alongside the group program, and family involvement is built in from the start. A typical start is three to five days from first contact, and there’s no waitlist.

Start the conversation →

Common questions

Questions parents ask first.

What ages do you serve?

Adolescents ages 10–17. Programming is developmentally appropriate across that range, and our admissions team can explain how groups are organized for your child’s age.

Does my teen need a formal diagnosis to start?

No. During the assessment with a licensed therapist, we get to know your teen’s history and what’s been going on. That’s how we figure out whether our level of care is a good fit.

How do I know if my teen needs IOP or PHP?

You’ll find out through the assessment. Call our admissions team and describe the situation. If it seems like a match, we’ll schedule a clinical assessment with a licensed therapist, and that assessment determines which level fits.

Will my teen have to be hospitalized?

No. IOP and PHP are outpatient, so teens go home every evening. We’re designed for teens who need more than weekly therapy but don’t require inpatient care.

Can my teen stay in school during the program?

Yes. IOP meets Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with an afternoon group (3:30–6:30pm) after school or a morning group (9am–12pm). PHP runs during the day, so school attendance is paused while a teen is in PHP. Admissions will help you plan for this.

How involved will I be as a parent?

Very. Family therapy is built into treatment, and parents build the same skills their teen is practicing as part of that work. Admissions will explain how family involvement is structured.

What if my teen doesn’t want to come?

Many teens start there. Call before you’ve figured that part out. We can help you think through how to approach it with them.

What happens when the program ends?

Transition planning starts during treatment. We coordinate with outside providers, as clinically indicated, so there’s a clear plan for what comes next. Your teen doesn’t leave without a next step.

Does insurance cover this?

Coverage depends on your specific plan. We’ll verify your insurance benefits and walk you through expected costs before care begins. We do not accept Medicaid.

See insurance details →

Not sure where this fits?

Tell us what has changed.

We’ll talk it through. If another level of care makes more sense, we’ll say so clearly and help you understand the options.

Start the conversation →