About

Ironwood is a residential treatment center committed to helping families in crisis with troubled teens. Our aim is to assess and treat the causes of behavior, while providing self-esteem building activities and life-enriching experiences along with rigorous academic studies - all within our home-like environment. We strive to reunite youth and their families through clinical therapy, relationship building, hard work, and shared experiences in a safe, secure, and therapeutic learning environment. Ironwood's approach is designed to work with kids who struggle with a variety of different challenges including: oppositional defiance, adoption issues, addictions, grief, bereavement, mood disorders, social and familial withdrawal, hopelessness, learning disabilities, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and association with a negative peer group. We are not designed to work with kids struggling with a history of major violence, psychotic disorders, or sexual aggression. Ironwood offers a highly structured treatment program with twice weekly individual therapy sessions, three times weekly group therapy sessions, family therapy, satisfying physical work, adventure based experiences, and a wide range of special interest programs including equestrian, equine assisted psychotherapy, canine training, art, culinary, horticulture, and nature studies. Ironwood, an accredited Maine approved secondary school, offers a full and individualized academic program taught by certified high school teachers and administrators. Experienced education staff provide daily teaching, supervision, and tutoring. Adolescents leave Ironwood with the necessary skills for effective communication and healthy social interaction, a repertoire of refined coping skills, a more positive association with the learning experience, feelings of pride for their accomplishments and a hunger for more success. Through counseling, self-reflection, simple living, discipline and engaging work, teens adopt proactive behaviors necessary to lead a productive life as a contributing family member and community citizen.