The staff are amazing here and seem to really care about the teens. Highly recommend this program. It is just excellent all around.

2023- This school saved our teen! Like every parent, you read the unnerving stories of wilderness programs and therapeutic schools. I did my research, closed my eyes, prayed to heaven, 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 and the kids there, loved the staff. A lot of tears by both parties was always shed. 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.2023 - This school saved our teen! Like every parent, you read the unnerving stories of wilderness programs and therapeutic schools. I did my research, closed my eyes, prayed to heaven, 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 and the kids there, loved the staff. Tears of affection from kids. staff. and parents were always shed. read more

We found the Stillwater Academy at a true time of need for our family. Our nephew was in trouble and needed in depth treatment / counseling. He was in a complete self destruct mode and there are very few places that take kids like him. Stillwater isn't the flash or curb appeal of some places, they just get kids and therapy and the results speak for themselves. Our nephew not only completed the program, he stayed in the area, attended college and now works in the mental health field working with other teens who need help. They take some of the hardest cases / toughest kids and make a difference. Mental health treatment is not a sprint, it's a life long journey and the professionals at Stillwater understand that. They work on life skills to help their counselees live a productive independent life with the skills to seek help on their own when they need the support. The kids that go through any facility like this are some of the toughest cases in the mental health field and the staff at Stillwater understand how to deal with them. We found the staff to be top notch, professional, tough and strong willed which you know are a must for dealing with troubled teens. The family is involved from home. There is family counseling to help those back home to understand what happened and how to move forward. I would tell anyone who is looking for help talk with the leadership at Stillwater. They get results. read more

Please just don't. If you're okay with out of date debunked therapeutic practices go here. If you want a safe place for you child to get help and heal it's not here. If you want to pay 6,000$ a month and have it magically disappear this is the place. I sincerely wish you help with your family and kids healing journey you won't find that here. read more

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! read more

I was in here back when it was TurnAbout. They participated in things like attack therapy. I still can't handle hearing people yell. Medical care was restricted. I remember when we got the flu so they put 20 of us in a closed room with buckets and made us stay there. I have scars on my back from being dragged. Please watch The Program on Netflix or The Last Stop on Prime. Turnabout was modeled after Straight Inc and we endured a lot of the same humiliations (wearing noses, or sandwich boards, or carrying phone books) those kids did. They house your children with other parents. Some of the parents in that place were absolutely the cause of the kids being in there. It was not safe and probably still isn't. At least we passed some legislation so they can no longer force exercise and "repetitive motion" or whatever. My knees are shot. I've been told I'll need them replaced. This was years genuflecting, doing wall sits, burpees, etc. I saw kids collapse. We were put in isolation rooms, sometimes for months. This is inhumane, according to the UN. These places are abuse mills and should be closed and the adults in charge should be charged. There is a lot of what is called euphoric recall in these comments and reviews. The "this saved my life" is literally what we were brainwashed to say. And it is brainwashing. Just wait until y'all deconstruct too. It'll happen. It happens to most of us, and it's very much like leaving a cult. The things these programs do are not backed by evidence. I was given holding therapy, which is so dangerous it isn't even legal anymore. Attack therapy? Really? Is it helpful to stand children in corners and tell them they're worthless and deserving of the worst abuses you can think of? That's therapy? For all the accountability they taught us to take, and forced us to take, even in events that were not our faults, the grown people who run these places wouldn't know accountability if it bit them in the butt. And I'm sure they'll have this review removed like they did my other, because cowards do that. Please listen to survivors, not the people who broke us. read more

Just posting my annual reminder that the staff at Stillwater/ turnabout academy were complicit in sexual and physical abuse in 2013-2014 when I stayed here 16 months and the trauma I was left with from this so called "therapeutic" boarding school has absolutely devastated my mental health. I am a 22 year old man who still frequently wakes up screaming and crying from night terrors where I feel that I am back at Stillwater trapped and unable to escape the relentless physical and sexual abuse I experienced during my time at this facility. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS FACILITY AND THE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE THAT ARE EASILY FOUND WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SEARCHING ONLINE! THEY WHITEWASH THEIR ONLINE PRESENCE BUT ABUSE WAS NOT JUST EXTREMELY COMMON DURING MY STAY, many people I know from my stay at Stillwater would agree with me that it was the worst time of their life. If you have a kid here here are a couple quick examples of things I experienced at this facility I was a 13 year old boy and turned 14 here. -Staff laughing as I repeatedly made attempts to hurt myself enough to be hospitalized and removed from the facility even for a few days. There were at least five or six other kids who did this during my stay, and I know that it was a practice that was common place and consistent long before my stay here. - A 60+ year old man screaming in my ear with his knee crushing my neck as I cried and begged to be able to talk to my mother or father. -Conversations were supervised and my mom was made to think I was making up the abuse to try and manipulate her and go home early. I was called names and shamed and my ability to talk to my mom was restricted for bringing up that my therapist Nicholas Baum was sexually abusing me. - All the kids made to look on in silence as absolutely nothing was done in order to humiliate a girl having a psychotic break and slashing at her wrists with anything in reach that would bloody her arms. Staff claimed she was attention seeking so we should all stare and give her the attention. She was clearly distressed and bleeding from numerous wounds before anybody stepped in. -Trans girl physically abused with extra severity and no one was allowed to affirm her gender identity, she was forced to live as a man and we were made to treat her as one though she was openly female identifying. She was refused her hormone medications. - nothing was done about sexual harassment by other kids there, was continuously made to share a room with kids who had admitted to molesting younger siblings close to my age. -thrown into a window designed not to break and to keep us imprisoned with enough force to crack it and leave me with a head gushing blood. -Consistently humiliated and left to harm myself and enter a psychotic state as the shock of being trapped in a facility this abhorrent sank in. My first three weeks were spent in a hallway that was guarded at the end slowly giving up hope as I harmed myself in any way I could think to. I had turned 13 a week prior and grown adults laughed at me smashing my head repeatedly into the wall of that hallway for hours leaving bloody marks as an attempt to get medical attention outside of the facility. -the homes we stayed at at night had little oversight and we're often ripe with even worse abuse. - Stories constantly told of how similar things had been happening for the entire history of the program and we were consistently reminded how good we had it because the abuse we were experiencing wasn't as bad as the kids who were there even a year prior. I know the abuse that happened and is still likely happening at Stillwater existed as a permanent fixture of the facility for at least 10+ years before I attended. It likely continues today. Children likely suffer because of your silence if you are not sharing abuse, that you are are aware happen, and is happening. Lee please stop responding to my reviews, the only bright moment of my stay was watching one of the other kids imprisoned at your facility Knock you out cold. Don't pretend you were not aware or complicit in the abuse that happened during my stay, and during many other people stays. Your facility has a culture of abuse in breeds abuse. Your facility would not be what it is without abuse. I know you're religious, and if there is a hell, you're guaranteed a dark corner of it for profiting on the misery and abuse of countless children like myself. read more

Stillwater saved my son's life. I enrolled him at time where I wasn't sure he'd be around to celebrate his next birthday. The change I have seen in my son at only a third way through the program is astounding. He has embraced the program and every single staff member has embraced him. The love that they have poured into him is apparent in every word my son says and action he makes. They have helped him envision a bright future for himself and are teaching him the skills he needs to be able to achieve it. The support and care I receive from Stillwater as a parent is incredible. They truly care about the entire family unit. The gratefulness that both my son and I feel for Stillwater is hard to put into words. There just aren't enough words to express such heartfelt gratitude for what Stillwater has done for us. read more

It has been 3 weeks since our 14 year old granddaughter (adopted daughter) returned home after graduating from the Stillwater Academy residential treatment program after 13 months and I couldn't be more pleased. She was suffering from severe anxiety, depression, PTSD from some early situations her mom exposed her to and trauma from the death of her mom. She was starting to self harm and using substances. She returned home with skills most adults don't have, because these are learned skills that progress over the length and successful completion of the 3 levels of the program: Learn, Live, Lead. Since she has returned, I have seen incredible changes. She is more confident, can advocate for herself, set boundaries with peers, build meaningful relationships and work through the bumps she encounters with open, honest communication and articulation of her needs that result in complete resolution of the situation. None of this wouldn't have been possible before the program. This is not our first Rodeo at Stillwater The program has evolved quite a bit since our daughter went nearly 20 years ago. It's focus has changed with the needs of their clients. They now accept insurance and Cigna covered 13 months at nearly 70%. (Disclaimer: all insurance companies handle treatment at different levels and per the plans coverage. The intake manager can help you determine what your costs will be and they do have finance options available.) Stillwater offers small and large group therapy, intensive outpatient treatment and inpatient care during the first few months. In addition to weekly private therapy, they offer weekly family therapy via Zoom, which was an integral part of our family's healing. Lee Caldwell, the founder and director at Stillwater, provided her initial intake when we arrived. During the admission process, he explained how the program worked and did an interview of what led us to decide to put her there. He was kind and reassuring and kept us informed on her progress. He was always available to answer questions and provide support. We met weekly for family therapy with her therapist, Jill Hodge. She was amazing, compassionate and really listened. She helped us understand some of the underlying challenges our granddaughter was facing due to the situations in her early years. Jill worked with us on family dynamics, our codependency issues and we had a deeper understanding of how all this contributed to negative behaviors. Jill never forced our granddaughter to talk about anything she wasn't ready to discuss. In difficult sessions, she addressed emotions our child was feeling and guided her to be open and honest with us. Our granddaughter looked forward to her weekly private sessions and they developed a strong, trusting relationship. Stillwater also has a Ranch Program at Lee's family ranch where the kids learn to work with horses as part of the therapy. She learned to rope, experienced livestock births and got to ride horses, which she loved. They have a number of valuable resources for clients and families, including several books that were relevant in the healing process. The program's foundation is based on the book, The Anatomy of Peace; and for parents, Not By Chance, which speaks to the process of finding the right program for your child, what makes a good program work and the process of transitioning home. Stillwater hit EVERY mark outlined in the book for what makes a residential treatment program great. The Stillwater Academy educational program is fully accredited and all the classes transferred to her High School when she returned. She even came home with extra credits. We also obtained an IEP through her High School with the help of the extensive psychiatric evaluation that was conducted when she first got to the program. I have to mention the excellence of other staff who contributed to the success of her program. From Lee Caldwell and Jill Hodge, to the counselors and office staff, they all provided excellent support and had a vested interest all client's success. The entire staff works together like a well oiled wheel. The program also has a licensed housing program and our granddaughter loved "going to the homes". Every night she answered 5 questions about her day. These were sent to us through the messaging portal, Family Bridge. She developed close relationships with the amazing housing parents and still keeps in contact with them since she came home. Although she was very angry at first about being sent out of state to a residential treatment program, she felt the program was good for her and provided her with new skills that would help her once she returned. I can't speak highly enough about Stillwater Academy, and although we most likely will hit more bumps in the future (which is completely normal) I have every confidence that we have the tools needed to work together as a family to get over them. read more

I cannot thank the team at Stillwater enough for all they did for my son during his time in this program. Tina C's review is spot on. My son was at Stillwater for 2 years, from January 2017 through December 2018. He was 13 when I brought him to this program, all the way from New Jersey. He has ADHD and was also diagnosed with conduct disorder. He was in 7th grade here in NJ when he was getting in much trouble, expelled multiple times, and his school even filed a police report. I searched for days online for a therapeutic boarding school. I spoke with program director Lee Caldwell for hours on the phone before making the very difficult decision to send my son to this program, all the way on the other side of the country. Words can't describe how difficult it is to leave your child in the care of others, especially so far away. I called every day for the first two weeks to check on him. And every day I spoke with someone from the staff, who would connect with my son directly to provide me with a real-time update. They were wonderful helping with the adjustment. I usually spoke with Tanya, the clinical psychologist, and she is so sweet and helpful. Lee Caldwell has run the program at Stillwater Academy for over 30 years and he is, simply put, a wonderful human being. Think of everything you'd want in an ideal father figure and that's him. He has made it his life's work to help troubled teens like my son, when their caring families are at wit's end. A horse whisperer in his spare time, Lee incorporates his horse ranch into the program, and the kids have weekly visits to the stables to work with horses. We did weekly therapy sessions over Skype and I flew to Utah to visit several times each year. The program largely incorporates the book "The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict" and each child is assigned a counselor and a therapist. My son's therapist, Charlie, was great to work with and my son formed a solid connection with him. Our counselor, Paola, was caring and very responsive. Whenever I texted her she would get back to me very quickly even when off the clock! My son and I both grew emotionally during the 2 years he was at Stillwater. He learned some good coping mechanisms and I learned to be a better parent. The staff at this program really cares about these kids and they are formally trained and certified to varying degrees in adolescent development. My son had very individualized attention at their school with such small class sizes. Perhaps above all else, I felt my son was very much protected in this environment. He definitely was not able to get himself into the kind of trouble he wound himself into in the public school. I must thank the housing parents also. The Stillwater program partners with local families who become certified as foster parents and these are the families my son would stay with during his time in the program. I met several families and always felt comfortable with them. My son got along really well with a few of the housing moms - he said the personality of one foster mom, Lisa, reminded him of his grandma, who is an angel on earth. The Workmans and the Taylors are two particularly wonderful families my son and I had the privilege to connect with during this time. As of August 2020, my son is about to turn 17. He still has his challenges, of course. He is lucky to have his grandma in his life when I can't seem to cope with his decisions. She would scold me for labeling here, but the reality is that conduct disorder can be a predecessor to sociopathic behavior as an adult. I pray that we've done enough to try to steer him in the right direction. The bottom line is this: If there is any possibility that my son will turn out to be a productive, balanced adult who makes a positive contribution to society, it will be without a doubt due in large part to the lessons he learned and the connections he made at Stillwater Academy during that critical time in his childhood. My apologies this recommendation comes so late, but my heart is still bursting with gratitude for all the help my son and my family received from this program during such a difficult period of our lives. I hope everyone connected with Stillwater are coping well in these complicated times. Thank you all SO much for taking on the extremely difficult and important work of trying to save these kids! read more

Stillwater/Turnabout has been a Safe haven for our daughter. She was finally diagnosed properly and is on the correct medications. She sees a therapist once a week for one on one, we have family therapy once a week via Skype and she has group therapy daily. She is working very hard in her program and we are too. If your child is in need of help we highly recommend this program. Our daughter went from straight F's to straight A's. She is learning how to cope with her feelings and deal with bad behaviors in a better way. We are learning as a family how to communicate better with each other. Express our angst and feelings with a heart at peace not a heart at war. Our daughter did gain a lot of weight but it was because of her choices and lack of portion control. But once she felt better about herself she has been losing the weight and eating healthier, making better food choices and self monitoring her portions. read more

Stillwater Academy - Equine therapy! - Counseling & Mental Health Near Me - South Jordan, Utah

I cant even express my appreciation for this facility. From the owner Lee to the host parents everyone is working hard for your family. They have helped my child in a way that no other facility we have previously dealt with could help my family. My daughter has been here now for almost 10 months, however each child is in charge of how long they need to stay in the program. The kids work on their trauma and core issues at their own pace its up to them how the program will work (in a sense) its up to the child to work the program for the program to be successful. I was very nervous to send my child across the county but it couldn't have been a better choice for her needs. I would recommend (and have) this program to any parent or grandparent that has an out of control child. If you are at the end of your rope with our child's behavior and are worried for their future this is the place for them. My heart is full after visiting for this month's parent weekend, meeting the other kids, parents, all of the staff and the housing parents was huge relief for me. Hearing the staff speak about how much they care about our kids and seeing how much our kids love them in return, thats what makes it special. The dynamic they have with your child going to a host home for sleeping and on weekends, makes all the difference, your child gets to have a "home" to go to at the end of the day and be in a family setting is by far the greatest thing for your child. If they are in a hospital setting and not exposed to much on the outside it can make it very difficult for them when they return home, very vulnerable feeling. This place is amazing and I now have Hope for my child's future that she will be a healthy and happy life ahead. Thank you so much!!! read more

My son was going down the wrong path and had no chance at a future. I tried everything I could think of and nothing worked. Turnabout saved his life and I'm so grateful. He has learned so much and dealt with so many issues while there. He now has a future ahead of him that we never thought would be possible. I have read two negative reviews on here and it makes me sad. They have both not mentioned personal responsibility. Relapses are going to happen however it's how the relapse is handled that makes the difference. Turnabout gives the tools these kids need to healthily handle situations that will come their way for the rest of their lives. As a parent these tools have also taught me to be a better person to not just my family but to strangers as well. I truly believe that the kids that leave here will have better coping skills than most adults do. I cannot express the gratitude I have for all of the staff here. They live the words the teach and have hearts bigger than you can imagine. I would refer anyone that needs to get their child help to Turnabout. My son's life was saved and I'm forever grateful! read more

I attended Stillwater as a client for exactly one year. I would not take any of it back for a second. It saved my life from the hell that it was. I was using drugs, I developed a pornography addiction, I was self-harming, I had taken a few trips to the ER, I had very toxic relationships and people in my life, and I really hated myself. My therapist and counselor there were always by my side and only wanting the best for me. I now work there and I have been for about 9 months. I did not relapse when I left, although many of my friends did. Of course it is up to the kid with what they choose to do after the program but that has little to do with staff influence. This is a therapeutic boarding school for kids from all different kinds of struggle. Trauma, addiction, learning and behavioral disabilities, poor relationships with family and friends, risky sexual behaviors, abuse victims, and self-image issues are a few things that are treated here. Lee Caldwell is the director of the program and he is one of the best men I know. I mean it. He is kind, extremely selfless, and only wants to help struggling families and their children. I love this program and I have come to love myself because of it. read more

Stillwater Academy - This is me and my sisters the day before I graduated my program. :) - Counseling & Mental Health Near Me - South Jordan, Utah

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Stillwater has defiantly saved me and my family's life for sure! Lee and the treatment team took me while I was at my breaking point at my life and my family was not sure what to do anymore so they went with the decision of sending me to Stillwater. With family meetings and groups I felt the major support from the clients, staff and especially my family. Together we did we did it together. Now I am finishing in school and working, and I couldn't of done it with out there help. read more

So your kid crashed and burned and your devoting 110% of your time to the wreck. Not what you planed for him/her. I know what its like, I had to send my kid to Stillwater. I just wanted a place for her to be safe until she grew up. I got a lot more. The kids there get group therapy 5 days a week and one on one therapy one day per week. For my daughter, she now has a second chance at a decent life. Will she succeed, I do not know. I thought I had lost her for good prior to Stillwater. For my kid, she realized she needed help and made everything she could out of this place. She worked hard and she succeeded. She no longer cuts herself, takes drugs, cusses at the wind, views herself as life's biggest failure, runs away, runs from everything. She now has some tools to cope with the challenges of life, provided by Stillwater. This may not work for your kid but that is only up to your child. There are some kids who refuse everything and leave there just older. However, I am sure that your child knows he or she is in trouble. She probably doesn't trust or connect to anyone. If your child can use that knowledge to go forward Stillwater, at least, will give her a chance. I highly recommend this place. When I was looking for a therapy school this was the best I could find. Her therapist, established great rapport with her. The therapists works 24/7 for these kids. Her therapist moved my daughter from her own personal hell to looking at life as possibilities and finding at least a level of happiness. Although for me it was expensive, I would have paid anything I could afford to get my daughter back.In searching for a place for my daughter, I knew I needed a safe place where she could get some maturity. I also believed that she needed an emotional reset. I believed that the Equine therapy would help provide this. My daughter did not need to be broken like they broke horses in the old days but guided. It worried me that I could not find any good reviews of this place. That is why I am writing this. When I first sent her there I read about some of these places being abusive or prison like, so after my daughter was there for a month I made several trips up there to make sure she was safe, which she was. I encouraged my daughter to go forward. Most important is that I was able to keep in touch with my daughter through both visitations, mail, phone calls and family therapy meetings. I know how tough it is to send your child away into the unknown when he/she seems unable to understand any of the realities of life, but my experience tells me that he/she will be in a very safe family centered environment. Stillwater will do everything they can using the latest psychotherapy to save your kid. I wish you success. If you need someone to talk to about this school you are welcome to call or email me. Email me at: Nism at jps.net read more

I graduated Stillwater in June 2016. I was there for a good 18 months. It was probably what felt like the longest year of my life but it allowed me to continue life with a totally new and different perspective once I came to accept my stay there. I was born and raised on Hawaii so it was very hard for me to leave my family behind on the island. But what I didn't know back then is that Turn About was my family. They never locked the doors and that is uncommon compared to the other treatment facilities I have been to before. I thought it was weird at first because when the adults left the room the students still kept the integrity and held each other responsible for their wrong behaviors. Like Adults not Teens. What I loved most about TA (TurnAbout) is that you go home with actual families and even though they aren't your own blood, I can honestly say most of the housing parents try to make us feel like we are apart of their family. There are A TON of rules, as teens we DON'T want to follow but what I didn't know is that it prepared me for the reality I soon had to face as an adult. Taking responsibility for my actions was the best/hardest thing I learned because I always blamed others for my problems, especially my parents. It's been almost 3 years since I've graduated the program and high school (they also got me back on track to graduate!) and I can't say my life has been perfect. I have had ups and downs and every direction possible but at the end of the day I take my TOOLS that was given to me by these wonderful Therapists and Counselors and most importantly my peers and put them to good use. I couldn't have done it without everyone of you pushing me to become the best me I can be. Mahalo Nui Loa. And to my beautiful mother for never giving up on me! I love you MOM. Our relationship is better than ever! I also love the horses, Equine Therapy is one of the best ways to learn how to hold boundaries with ourselves and others. There are so many skills I've learned at my short stay at TA and I will never forget where I came from. They may not like it now but they will thank you later mom and dad. If you choose Stillwater for your family it will definately be challenging but the outcome is worth every cent. I highly recommend TA to any family who has found it difficult to influence their teen positively. read more

I attended Stillwater Academy for 9 months during my teenage years. I can't say enough good things about this program. My family and I remain friends with many of the staff members, housing parents, and students to this day. I won't lie and say that it wasn't difficult in the beginning to adjust being somewhere new and without family and privileges. However, that beginning time period I spent learning about the program, staff, and students who ultimately became the people supporting me in learning about myself throughout the remainder of the program. I was a rebellious and insecure teenager with little to no boundaries, no accountability, and a strained relationship with my parents. Though these issues may be common during teenage years, I am grateful for the time I spent at Stillwater Academy and the tools that I learned. I continue to use these tools in my adult life, marriage, career, and parenting roles. Stillwater Academy was my safe place. I always felt comfortable coming to the staff and students for support. I came back to visit every few months after I completed the program up until I left for college to attend group, get support, or give support. Stillwater Academy was an important, life changing experience. Throughout my program I had struggles, times of frustration, and missed my family greatly. But if it was easy and didn't allow me to face my feelings, it probably wouldn't have changed my life. read more

Turnabout Stillwater Academy saves lives! We were at the end our rope and sent our son here as a last resort. He is making tremendous progress because of the dedicated and caring staff. They are helping him cope with his emotional / behavior issues as well as get caught up on his school work. However, Stillwater isn't just helping my son, the program is helping our whole family. They help the entire family change so that the improvements made can be sustained even after the program is over. Thankfully, Stillwater is covered by my insurance. But even if I had to pay for their program 100% out of pocket, it would be worth it. And relative to other similar programs with highly qualified, licensed staff, they are very reasonably priced. read more

*this program saved my life* I attended Turnabout for 6 months during the summer of 2017. When I first arrived there I felt alone and distant. All the rules made me feel like I was trapped in a cage. At first I couldn't understand any of them. After a few months went by, I started to feel more at home. I stayed with a different family every night and they always made sure we were heard and taken care of. The staff was gentle sometimes and harsh during other times. I personally struggled with Borderline Personality Disorder (thank you lee for the proper diagnosis), and I often used this diagnosis as a crutch to force others to walk on eggshells around me and give me what I wanted. My primary counselor Paola supported me when I had emotional struggles but she told me that she would not support me in playing the victim - that was EXACTLY what I needed and I still think of that every day. I had to leave early because it was a financial struggle for my family. When I found out how much it cost, I apologized to my parents and felt like it wasn't worth it. They said, and I agree, every penny was worth it because I was heading down a path that I would not be able to come back from. I am and will always be grateful for Turnabout Stillwater Academy. I am clean and sober for over a year and am closer to my family than I have ever been. I hope this review helped someone in finding the right program because I promise this program is worth every cent. read more

I have to give an amazing review to Stillwater. I graduated their program a little over a year ago. There were definitely ups and downs in my program. I came into the program with bulimia and total denial of my addiction to drugs sex and alcohol, my 45year old boyfriend had just committed suicide and I was ready to do the same. And home life was crazy volatile, I ran away almost every night to sleep with a different boyfriend. Anyways, the staff at Stillwater were not shocked by my behaviors and didn't shame me. Instead, they kept it real and helped me get to the bottom of why I was involved in these behaviors. Dr. Hinckley called me out when I wasn't being honest and provided a safe space to talk about sexual trauma. My counselor was so incredibly down to earth and helpful. She helped me work through my trauma and cope with overwhelming feelings. All the staff was awesome! I scored and got to live with a set of housing parents that I absolutely love to this day. Spend 5 minutes with Lee Caldwell and you will understand why everyone loves him. Now, all this fantastic stuff said. I did relapse just about 6 months after graduating the program. Magic anti-addiction powder is not sprinkled over your head as you leave. And my relationship with my family is not perfect, but it's at least honest. And if you're not willing to put in work as your child progresses, this isn't the right place to ship your child off to. This program is involved, intense and requires hard work from you and your child. I would cry and complain about the program for about the first 6 months. Mostly because I didn't believe that I can do hard things. I gained confidence and love. One day I realized that I didn't want to die anymore. And that was a turning point in my life, I started to work hard and it paid off. And when they balanced my medications I really started soaring. I am happy to say that I am now a happy and loving person. I still struggle with low self esteem and addiction, but I have been taught the skills to cope. Also, there's a 24hr call line to talk it out if I'm struggling. Lee Caldwell is always happy to talk to me, and my old host parents are still a big part of my life. Overall, this program did it's job, it gave me back the option of having a healthy life. read more

Stillwater Academy helped to save my life, the Primary counselors were very caring as were the family therapist. they knew how to calm people down when they were upset. They taught me many skills that i still use today. The housing parents were very kind and understanding read more

Turnabout saved my life. I don't even know where to begin. First off, being that the negative reviews on Turnabout are negative because the people who wrote them didn't involve themselves in the program. I can tell you that right off because for nine months I was them. Yes, I wasted nine months of my time in this program. But that doesn't make Turnabout a failure. It made e a stubborn, angry, sad, and lonely 17 year old boy. However, the second that I was strong enough--and slowly but surely, Turnabout helped me become strong enough at my own pace--I worked through this program and my negative behaviors in 5 months. It wasn't always easy, even after I went home, but Lee, Charlie, Dr. Hinkley, countless others dedicated themselves to me day and night. Housing with local families every night readied me for what challenges I would face when I started going back to my own home. I was not the only one saved by this program. My family, many of my lifelong friends, and students now, every day, are learning how--not to be saved, that is not possible--but to save themselves. Truly a remarkable place. I will carry with me the rest of my life. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about Stillwater Academy. My daughter is alive today because of the selfless, caring, educated people there. My mommy heart is full after being with her for the first time in 10 months. For the first time in many years, I feel hopeful about her future. I find Steve's review to be spot on. The program IS expensive, it is hard to send your child away, and you are a part of the problem, BUT the wonderful people at Stillwater are there to help with all of these issues. I'm happy and grateful to have my daughter back. read more

So your kid crashed and burned and your devoting 110% of your time to the wreck. Not what you planed for him/her. I know what its like, I had to send my kid to Stillwater. I just wanted a place for her to be safe until she grew up. I got a lot more. The kids there get group therapy 5 days a week and one on one therapy one day per week. For my daughter, she now has a second chance at a decent life. Will she succeed, I do not know. I thought I had lost her. It is beyond my expectations to have her back. For my kid, she realized she needed help and made everything she could out of this place. She worked hard and she succeeded. She no longer cuts herself, takes drugs, cusses at the wind, views herself as life's biggest failure, runs away, runs from everything. She now has some tools to cope with the challenges of life, provided by Stillwater. This may not work for your kid but that is only up to your child. There are some kids who refuse everything and leave just older. However, I am sure that your child knows he or she is in trouble. She probably doesn't trust or connect to anyone. If your child can use that knowledge to go forward Stillwater at least will give her a chance. I highly recommend this place. When I was looking for a therapy school this was the best I could find. Her therapist, Jill, established great rapport with Z. Jill works 24/7 for these kids. Jill moved Z from Z's personal hell to looking at life as possibilities and finding at least a level of happiness. Although for me it was expensive, I would have paid anything I could afford to get my daughter back. In searching for a place for my daughter, I knew I needed a safe place where she could get some maturity. I also believed that she needed an emotional reset. I believed that the Equine therapy would help provide this. My daughter did not need to be broken but guided. It worried me that I could not find any good reviews of this place. That is why I am writing this. When I first sent her there I read about some of these places being abusive or prison like, so after my daughter was there for a month I made several trips up there to make sure she was safe, which she was. I encouraged my daughter to go forward. Most important is that I was able to keep in touch with my daughter through both visitations and family therapy meetings. I know how tough it is to send your precious child away into the unknown when he/she seems unable to understand ANY of the realities of life, but my experience tells me that he/she will be in a very safe family centered environment. Stillwater will do everything they can using the latest psychotherapy to save your kid. I wish you both success. If you need someone to talk to about this school you are welcome to call or email me. Email me at: Nism at jps.net Nigel read more

My granddaughter was lost. After she suffered abuse, loss of her mother and father, grandfather she felt there was no worth in herself or her future, self-harm and suicide became her focal points. She hated me and when I became ill she couldn't handle it. She wanted out. I checked into numerous schools and treatment centers but the good Lord kept pointing me to Stillwater. After talking with Lee Caldwell, I knew this was the right place for her. This was the hardest thing I have had to do. It felt like I was shoving her away and giving up on her but after taking her there and meeting them I knew it was going to be okay. They have given me back my granddaughter!!! The owners Lee and Jamie Caldwell are awesome and caring people who stay involved with the clients on a day to day basis. The staff are all wonderful and helpful. The support staff, counselors and therapists are the top of the line. Everyone makes you feel like you are family. The clients live with housing parents in a family environment rather than a dormitory. The clients get to see how healthy families live and become a part of them. These families treat and love our children as their own. They go to a ranch weekly and interact with animals, mostly horses. They learn responsibilities, work ethics, teamwork, and self pride of accomplishments. The clients work very hard on projects and follow the rules. If the rules are not kept they learn that there are consequences. No one forces them to do anything but fellow clients help one another until they realize that they will get better and life is good when you work hard and follow the rules. The teachers are awesome. My granddaughter has had a 4.0 average since she has been there. She loves it and enjoys learning now. They learn to enjoy and be happy without electronics and commercial gadgets. They learn to appreciate one another and be happy just being together. They hike, they swim, they rock climb and they ride horses. When I see my granddaughter now, she is all smiles and happy. Will there be some struggles, of course but the entire staff, counselors and therapists are there for the families as well as the clients and we get through them. This place called Turn about teens, Stillwater Academy is awesome and I would recommend sending your child there without any reservations. Connie read more

Let me tell you something about this place before you spent $40k (Yes, $40 thousand for 6 to 7 months)!!! Do NOT do it. Relapse rate 100%. Conditions are not good. They absolutely need to renovate and clean those carpets. The food they provide to kids is not healthy. They miss diagnosed my family member and I personally would NOT suggest it to anyone. read more

My son has been at Turnabout (Stillwater Academy) since December 2016. He has grown so much in the 5 months he has been there, as have I. They use the Arbinger Institute model and theories which really focus on helping students find inner peace and learn how to work through turmoil, trauma,attachment issues etc. (Anatomy of Peace) is the first book all parents and students are asked to read. Their staff is very caring and 100% dedicated to helping the students succeed. I have never felt more understood than the day I met with Lee Caldwell the Director at Stillwater. But he also understood where my son was at, and my husband. He understood we were all in crisis and needed to find healing. We are slowly finding thanks to Stillwater. They have specific therapeutic groups that tareget your child primary issues ie. adoption, addiction, criminal thinking, dbt, chemical dependency etc.. They have a fully accredited school with very helpful teachers. Each student has a primary case worker as well as family therapist assigned to them. The program is very well organized and ran with care and understanding. read more

I am the mother of a 12-year-old male. He has been in Stillwater for approximately seven months. I am amazed at the progress he has made as an individual . Still water has helped my son uncover his personal struggles. It has also helped him identify his strengths. This program has literally saved our son. He is learning self worth for not only himself but for others... Especially me, his mom. I highly recommend this program for anyone who is seeking a place that truly cares for the welfare of their child. This place may be called a Program but it is more than that... It is a safe haven for a child to begin again and change the negative into positive so that he or she may be able to live a productive life. It is a place where miracles happen! read more

When my child went there, the parents of patients took 4 children home a night. They fed them, made sure they bathed and did their laundry. The parents had total responsibility for children that they didn't even know, without any knowledge of their medical or psychological problems. Sometimes my child told me that certain parents would only feed them frozen corn dogs and water. Sometimes they were only allowed to use two sheets of toilet paper when they went to the bathroom. They weren't even allowed to use conditioner in their hair. In addition to that, I don't believe there were any background checks done on any of the parents that were housing children. As a consequence one of the fathers that had been housing with his wife was accused of sexual abuse to his daughter. All of this happening while we were paying a lot of money. They also had this horrible little man named Dr. Hinckley, who called my daughter a slut and a whore upon her arrival to turnabout during a group therapy session. There were also counselors there that had no training whatsoever and were actually relatives of the owner. All in all it seemed like a racket to me. Make sure if your child is going there from out of state that the parents that your children will be living with have had stringent background checks. Buyer beware....yikes read more