I can tell you I still have nightmares about this place. Its been 5 years since i was placed here. My story is complicated how I ended up here, but before I got here I had acquired my GED. I was at mingus for 9 months and they make you go to school everyday. I wanted to go ...
About Mingus Mountain Academy
Mingus Mountain Youth Treatment Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona is a residential rehab for teen girls. Specifically, it’s for girls ages 12-17 who are struggling with drug addiction, alcohol addiction, and other behavioral health issues.
The program uses something called the Sanctuary Model. It’s a model of treatment that is based on trauma responsive care, designed to help girls feel safe as they heal. Clients benefit from many different types of treatment like group therapy, outdoor recreation therapy, and even the center’s unique equine therapy program which has horses and miniature donkeys on site.
Don’t worry about your daughter falling behind on school work while she gets treatment. They have a fully functional education program that follows a strong high school curriculum. They even offer some college courses too so clients can earn college credit early, and they have a student government organization called the Mountain Lions Club.
The team here isn’t just focused on addiction recovery though. They want to set your daughter up for a bright future. That’s why they teach some job skills and life skills during the program, and clients can even earn their safe serve certification while working at the center’s cafeteria. They also have two therapeutic group homes to help with the transition out of treatment and a scholarship program to help clients pay for college.
The cherry on top of it all is that they are accredited by the Joint Commission – a high honor among rehabs. Between this and the well rounded program, clients and their families have loved this youth rehab.
Latest Reviews
This place has been a great caring healing place for our daughter. Don t let the previous reviews affect your choice to be in the place you need to be to heal.
It s been a long time. I still haven t been able to hardly talk about the trauma that this placed caused. Staff would antagonize you. I remember a girl and I we were blow drying our hair, and a staff member asked that a peer intervene on us for blow drying our hair similarly. I accepted but my dorm mate did not, she ended up being restrained. For blow drying our hair.Another time, I remember I over heard a girl cursing and being a bully about another girl, so as the program states I intervened and shook my head at her. She did not accept and put me immediately in a group support this is where all of the girls in ear shot circle around you and berate you about your behavior. I plugged my ears because I knew I wasn t going to listen to the bullies or accept the behavior. This is when the staff intervened. One on each side of me and another one directly in front. The staff member who was in-front of me was so close to my face his spit was landing in my eyes and I could feel heat from his breath. If I stuck my tongue out I would be licking him. Tell me, if someone is doing this to you.. would fight or flight kick in? The answer is yes. If you tried to speak while in a staff support all three staff members around you would yell louder drowning your voice out. I was trying to tell them that I had intervened on that girl first due to bullying. They screamed louder, the slightest move of a muscle in that moment (aggressive or even just wiping their spit from your face) will lead to a restraint.. they will grab you painfully and throw you to the ground face down and put knees in your back. Unless you say anything other than okay they will stand there like that screaming in your face for hours until you say okay Does this seem reformative to you?I remember gossip of 2 staff-student relationships. I do not understand how cutting a child off from their families is to help them in anyway.. if you have a troubled child.. reflect on their upbringing and what they have been through and put the work in as their parent to get into counseling and be gentle. Do not give up on your children and send them to this abusive hell on earth.
Watch The Program on Netflix if you want to know what this place is like. While insurance and parents are charged upward of $10,000 a month, the girls are forced into silence, mentally abused, physically abused, & humiliated. They use the seven levels of intervention, where "students" (prisoners) reprimand each other. It is a popularity contest on crack. It is impossible to improve in the program until you are aSo broken down mentally you submit. It is not therapy, it is abduction, kidnapping, and torture. Your child is unsafe here. This place mentally and psychologically wrecks young women and should be shut down.You cannot ride horses or swim without special privileges after staying six months, your clothes are dresscoded endlessly. This place will make your child hate you, forever. It removes all sorts of inalienable freedoms just because you are a minor. The staff themselves are abusive, humiliate you, and play favorites.They control your contact with the outside world-Thousands of dollars to give your child PTSD, and they will just resent you all the more for it.This place is AN ILLEGAL ABUSIVE PROGRAM WITH A TERRIBLE "SCHOOL"You are lucky if your counselor tracks you down and you get to talk for five minutes with them, before your time is up for the week. There is NO THERAPY. The school is inconsistent and constantly shut down for "HWC" restraints - the whole school shuts down because of riots.This place is a LITERAL INTERNMENT CAMP. the definition of concentration camp:a place where large numbers of people, especially political prisoners or members of persecuted minorities, are deliberately imprisoned in a relatively small area with inadequate facilities, sometimes to provide forced laborWhen I first got there, all of my lau dry was dirty. I tried and tried to get put on the laundry list, but was left in dirty underwear for a week before getting my turn. The adults said to ask the girls in charge and the girls said to ask the adults, meanwhile I was getting reprimanded and being told it was my fault for being sent away with dirty clothes.They will not let you speak freely on the phone, you have no privacy, no time in the bathroom (3minutesCold showers because the fire alarms are so sensitive )When I go to hell, it's gonna look like mingus mountain.It's actually impossible to articulate the level of mental damage this place inflicts. I would literally compare it to being a hostage or person overseas in active military. He'll, girls from Juvie were begging to go back. This place is a punishment, it feeds on the inability of girls to speak up, and their vulnerable positions already as girls who are mentally ill or defiant.Not to mention, not all of the girls are there because they are bad. Some are just foster kids with no where else to go, so they get state money to keep these poor girls.You can't talk, can't make friends, can't choose anything about yourself. This is a crime to put anyone through, and if you're a parent thinking of sending your child here, you should be ASHAMED of yourself. Do not be surprised when your child comes back, only to order SoupOnTheSide or never speak to you again, or worse.
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Location
Accepted Insurance
Other Forms of Payment
Medicaid is a state based program that helps lower-income individuals and families pay for healthcare. Medicaid covers addiction treatment so those enrolled can use their coverage to pay for rehab. When a program accepts Medicaid the client often pays very little or nothing out of their own pocket.
Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.
Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.
Financial aid can take many forms. Centers may have grants or scholarships available to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Programs that receive SAMHSA grants may have financial aid available for those who need treatment as well. Grants and scholarships can help you pai for treatment without having to repay.
Sliding scale payments are based on a client's income and family size. The goal is to make treatment affordable to everyone. By taking these factors into account, addiction recovery care providers help ensure that your treatment does not become a financial burden to you or your family, eliminating one barrier to care.
Military members, veterans, and eligible dependents have access to specific insurance programs that help them get the care they need. TRICARE and VA insurance can help you access low cost or no cost addiction and mental health treatment. Programs that accept military insurance often have targeted treatment focused on the unique challenges military members, veterans, and their families face.
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance for those 65 and older. It also serves people under 65 with chronic and disabling health challenges. To use Medicare for addiction treatment you need to find a program that accepts Medicare and is in network with your plan. Out of pocket costs and preauthorization requirements vary, so always check with your provider.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Outpatient Many clients who enroll in an outpatient rehab program are exiting intensive inpatient care and no longer require such high-level clinical supervision. Outpatient programs typically follow a step-down structure, with treatment frequency and intensity decreasing as clients progress in their recovery journey. Partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient (IOP) levels of care are the most time-intensive and are designed primarily for clients who have just left inpatient treatment or who are at an elevated risk of relapse.
Inpatient Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.
24-Hour Clinical Care The initial phase of recovery treatment typically includes 24-hour clinical care in Arizona. This constant supervision ensures a safe detox process, which helps the individual physically stabilize from substance use. Patients will receive medications to curb withdrawal symptoms and cravings, as well as other necessary medical treatment. This period typically lasts up to a week, then the individual will receive medical clearance to begin inpatient or outpatient rehab.
Treatments
Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Mental health rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and more. Mental health professionals at these facilities are trained to understand and treat mental health issues, both in individual and group settings.
Programs
Teen Program
Teen programs are designed to address the unique pressures teens face, pressures that can drive them to experiment with dangerous, addictive substances. They need programs that meet them exactly where they are and give them tools for long-term recovery. Therapy can help teenagers understand and work through underlying issues so they can reclaim the life ahead of them.
Adult Program
Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
Program For Men
Men face specific challenges and concerns when seeking addiction treatment. Gender-specific recovery programs help them tackle these issues head-on in an environment that's focused, targeted, and distraction-free. It also gives them the opportunity to connect with and learn from other men who have been through a similar journey and can offer support for the next step.
Program For Women
Rehabs for women provide a safe, nurturing space for female clients to heal. These treatment programs consider the specific obstacles that women can face during recovery and place a special emphasis on mental, social, physical, and reproductive health. They explore how each woman's experience has shaped the trajectory of their substance use, addressing issues such as sexual abuse and past trauma.
Young Adult Program
Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.
Child Program
The providers who specialize in the children's rehab space understand the specialized needs that this population faces. School-based and social services such as tutoring and family counseling are often central to treatment. Child programs may also address the needs of youth experiencing substance abuse in the home, including a parent's or sibling's addiction.
Clinical Services
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.
Equine TherapyGroup therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.
In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.
The goal of motivational interviewing in Arizona is to enhance your confidence in your ability to make changes in your life. It encourages you to commit to change and plan for the process of making those changes that will allow you to reach your goals.
Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.
Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.
Developing life skills is an important piece of addiction recovery treatment. These skills help you succeed in day to day tasks and live a healthy, independent life. They include communication, critical thinking, problem solving, self control, and resilience.
Nutrition therapy, aka medical nutrition therapy (MNT), is a way of treating physical, emotional, and medical conditions through diet. Specific dietary plans are designed by professional nutritionists or registered dietitians, and patients follow them in order to positively affect their physical and mental health.
Many holistic centers incorporate recreational therapy into addiction treatment to offer you a chance to rediscover joy in movement and motion and build social connections. Activities can include dance, group games, and yoga, which all help improve mental health, reduce stress, and develop positive lifestyle habits. These holistic approaches help sustain long term recovery.
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Accreditations
The Joint Commission, formerly known as JCAHO, is a nonprofit organization that accredits rehab organizations and programs. Founded in 1951, the Joint Commision's mission is to improve the quality of patient care and demonstrating the quality of patient care.
Joint Commission Accreditation: Yes
Contact Information
(602) 335-2000 
15801 East Don Carlos Drive
Prescott Valley, AZ 86315
Get Help Now - 800-985-8516
Who Answers?
Who Answers?
Fact checked and written by:
Nikki Wisher, BA
Edited by:
Kerry Nenn, BSW
