This is what I experienced in the summer and fall of 2026 with my two children at two of The…read moreRidge's three RTC facilities--the Lakehouse and the Farmhouse in Maine.
In short, based on our experience, I have a hard time imagining how an open-minded family could not at least benefit from taking a serious look at The Ridge. The Ridge welcomes all genders and, in our experience, does not use the "beat the kid into submission" approach associated with some residential programs. The staff are respected by the kids, listen to parents, and take parent concerns and histories seriously.
My son spent 65 days at the Lakehouse this summer. The psychiatrist prescribed a medication that his outpatient doctors had been unwilling to consider, and it has made an enormous difference--he can now attend normal school. His counselor was demanding but helped him understand the value of engaging with therapists. And, apparently, the food is excellent.
Our circumstances at home were extraordinarily difficult, yet the Lakehouse staff handled every concern I brought to them, including issues that went well beyond the immediate question of our son's treatment. They were able to separate those crises from the deeper work of helping him identify and address core mental-health issues.
Last week, our other son developed a behavior that simply could not be managed at home. The Farmhouse welcomed him almost like family, connected him with an experienced therapist, and put him with the same psychiatrist who treated his brother. The Maine facilities share staff and support one another.
Our sons have very different problems, but I am seeing the same treatment model work for both: individual therapy at least four times a week, group therapy multiple times a day, and substantive family therapy once a week. One has a new lease on life and is in dramatically less agony. The other is gaining confidence and beginning to identify core issues that need attention.
I also looked closely at the older negative reviews. My understanding is that some of the facilities and organizations that preceded The Ridge had a substantially more authoritarian model. The current organization appears to have undergone significant changes and rebranding over the past 5-10 years. Based on our experience, the current approach is much more focused on helping a child recognize problems, engage with them, and develop tools and perspective for returning home.
That doesn't mean The Ridge is right for every kid. I don't know how well it would work for someone who has completely rejected the idea of engaging with the world or its rules, or for someone with conditions requiring a very different level of care. And if you are uncomfortable with your child being around LGBTQ+ youths who are working through their own identities, this probably isn't the environment for you.
But if your child is willing to give residential treatment a genuine try, outpatient treatment isn't working, and insurance will cover it, I would encourage you to take a serious look. Our experience has been remarkably positive.
Yes, The Ridge is a company, and there are definitely corporate vibes. The admissions people are salespeople. But in our experience, the treatment itself works.
The Ridge also has relationships with other organizations that can help families investigate diagnoses, school recommendations, and other issues that may need a deeper look.
Our experience is limited to the Lakehouse and Farmhouse in Maine, and to our two children. That's all I can speak to firsthand.