Youth Division

CRC Health's Youth Division consists of therapeutic and educational programs for children and adolescents struggling with academic, emotional, and behavioral issues that have hindered their success at school or at home. Whether a child is confronted with learning disorders, ADD/ADHD, Asperger's syndrome, or high-functioning autism, or is displaying defiance, low self-esteem, anger management issues, negative peer relationships, adoption issues, or depression, CRC has a program that can help.

Our youth programs - operated by Aspen Education Group, the nation's leading provider of therapeutic schools and programs for struggling or underachieving young people - range from short-term interventions to residential treatment and are offered in a variety of therapeutic settings including boarding schools, outdoor wilderness programs, and special needs summer camps.

Because of our reputation for quality, safety, and longevity, many of Aspen's programs have been profiled by major news and television organizations around the world, including U.S. News and World Report, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and People magazine, as well as on CNN, ABC's 20/20 and Good Morning America, NBC's Today Show and Dateline NBC, National Public Radio, and the syndicated television show Dr. Phil.

Wilderness Programs

Aspen's outdoor behavioral health programs are short-term, high-impact therapeutic interventions that emphasize experiential learning and individualized counseling as a catalyst for positive behavioral change. Designed for troubled teens struggling with a wide range of behavioral issues, our wilderness programs expose young people to natural environments, complete with camping expeditions, hiking, and other adventure activities. In this unique setting, free from modern distractions, campers have the opportunity to discover who they want to be, as our highly trained instructors guide them toward greater respect for themselves and others.

Wilderness therapy is a powerful experience for an adolescent. Teens enrolled in an outdoor program experience the challenges of living and working together outdoors as a means of working through internal conflicts and emotional obstacles that have kept them from succeeding with parents, in school, and in prior treatment. By the end of an outdoor program, teens develop a strong sense of accomplishment and personal growth, and are well-equipped to move on to the next stage of their journey.

Therapeutic Boarding Schools

Aspen's therapeutic boarding schools help adolescents who are struggling academically, socially, or behaviorally reach new levels of success. Using innovative, individualized treatment that combines comprehensive therapy, education, recreational activities, and alternative therapies, our boarding schools are an attractive alternative to the traditional school setting. With both single-gender and co-ed campuses, each of our residential programs follows an accredited middle school, high school, or college-preparatory curriculum.

Upon admission, our highly trained clinical staff creates a unique educational plan for each student that incorporates group therapy, individual counseling, and specialized therapeutic experiences such as equine therapy, which are designed to build the student's personal and emotional skills. In a structured and nurturing environment, with a small teacher-to-student ratio, therapeutic boarding schools encourage personal growth and healthy self-expression, inspire academic excellence, and teach individual responsibility and service to others.

Summer Camps

Aspen's summer programs offer youth with special needs, including Asperger's syndrome, high-functioning autism, ADD/ADHD, nonverbal learning disorder, and other special learning needs, a safe summer full of fun, adventure, and new learning experiences, and provide parents with unique alternatives to ordinary summer camps. Camp activities promote self-esteem, social skills, responsibility, and the basics of good decision-making. These programs are designed with each child's special needs in mind.