Mountain Youth Academy

Mountain City, Tennessee

332 Hospital Road
Mountain City TN, 37683

(423) 727-9898

About Mountain Youth Academy

Mountain Youth Academy is a CARF accredited behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment center in Mountain City, Tennessee. They treat youth ages five to 17 years old. This is a residential treatment center that specializes in treating kids, both boys and girls, using a trauma based approach.

They welcome kids from military parents and they’re TRICARE certified. They also accept private insurance and Medicaid.

The facility has specialized treatment tracks for kids with intellectual disabilities. All kids experience trauma in different ways. The trauma that leaves lasting effects isn’t always a big violent incident, sexual abuse, or a disaster. Kids experience trauma on multiple levels, some of which aren’t always obvious.

The center aims to identify what factors are causing a child to fall into patterns of unpredictable or acting out behavior, self-blame behaviors, or substance use. They use cognitive behavioral therapy that is trauma based to help nurture and develop better social behaviors. They also use group and individual therapy, family therapy, neurofeedback, and sensory modulation. They also have an animal husbandry program where you can learn to raise and handle animals.

The academy uses its own Behavioral Management System, or BMS. BMS is a point system where kids earn points. The points are then used to buy things like clothing, headphones, toys, and more. The kids are in the residential program from six to nine months.

Some former parents of clients felt the program worked well for their children. However, some parents and some former clients had safety concerns and report poor and even potentially dangerous treatment from the staff.

Dollar icon Payment Options

  • medicaid iconMedicaid
  • shield-cross iconPrivate insurance
  • self-pay iconSelf-pay options
  • financial-aid iconFinancial aid
  • medicare iconMedicare
  • military iconMilitary insurance
  • military iconMilitary Insurance

Medical briefcase icon Levels of Care

inpatient iconInpatient

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.

User icon Programs

check iconAdolescence program

children iconChildren program

hearing iconHearing impaired program

hiv iconHIV/AIDS program

lgbtq iconLGBTQ program

military-hat iconMilitary program

House check icon Settings & Amenities

  • home-setting iconResidential setting
  • private-room iconPrivate rooms

Shield icon Insurance

Our Policy: Mountain Youth Academy works with several private insurance providers and also accepts private payments when possible, please contact us to verify your specific insurance provider.

Heart icon Treatment

check iconDual Diagnosis

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 iconMental Health

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.

Hand holding medical sign icon Clinical Services

inpatient-file iconCognitive Behavioral Therapy

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.

couples-therapy iconCouples Therapy

Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.

dialectical iconDialectical Behavior Therapy

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.

Eating Disorder Treatment

Eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and dysfunctional eating patterns. Many psychologists and other mental health professionals consider eating disorders to be food addictions, meaning food is being used in an addictive way (similar to drug or alcohol addiction). Certain substance abuse treatment programs will have treatment for eating disorders as one of the services offered. An eating disorder may also present as a co-occuring disorder or dual diagnosis alongside drug and alcohol addiction.

medical-detox iconExperiential Therapy

Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Experiential therapy departs from traditional talk therapy by involving the body, and having clients engage in activities, movements, and physical and emotional expression. This can involve role-play or using props (which can include other people). Experiential therapy can help people process trauma, memories, and emotion quickly, deeply, and in a lasting fashion, leading to substantial and impactful healing.

family iconFamily Therapy

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.

intervention iconGroup Therapy

Group 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.

mental-health iconIndividual Therapy

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.

Nutrition Therapy

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.

house-medical iconTrauma Therapy

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.

Check icon Accreditations

CARF

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is a non-profit organization that specifically accredits rehab organizations. Founded in 1966, CARF's, mission is to help service providers like rehab facilities maintain high standards of care.

CARF Accreditation: Yes

Phone icon Contact

Phone icon (423) 727-9898
Building icon

332 Hospital Road
Mountain City TN, 37683

Call Now - Help is Available
Get Help Now - 615-845-9603
Question iconSponsored
Edited by:
Courtney Myers, MS

Reviews

2.23 (59 reviews)
Rehab.com icon Rehab.com (3)
Google icon Google (56)
Accomodations & Amenities
1
Meals & Nutrition
1
Treatment Effectiveness
1
Admissions Process
1
Staff & Friendliness
1
Cleanliness
1
Value for Cost
1
Overall Experience
Date Submitted
Reviewer
Overall Experience
Date Submitted
Reviewer
1
Trash Facility

My daughter has had a really rough life. Trauma after trauma and was acting out in a way that was harmful not only to herself, but other's as well. We sent her to this facility in hopes that they would be able to assist her in learning cooping skills and the skills she needs ... Read More

Jeri K.
Reviewed on 10/23/2023
Accomodations & Amenities
1
Meals & Nutrition
1
Treatment Effectiveness
1
Admissions Process
1
Staff & Friendliness
1
Cleanliness
1
Value for Cost
1
1

This place is one of the worst facilities I've ever sent my daughter to. She came discharged after 2 month of being an inpatient there and she has had nightmares of that place. I don't know what they did or didn't do because she hasn't told me or her current counselor but I ... Read More

Reviewed on 1/9/2019
1

This place was terrible the staff made me feel like trash and one time a girl was self harming and the staff just sat there! We were treated like animals

Reviewed on 5/30/2018
Overall Experience
Date Submitted

Google Rating

2.3 (56 reviews)
Fairly Innocent
2 months ago
1

Went in 11/21/23. Discharged 4/12/24 because my insurance canceled. What does that say about the place? I liked the peers, and i made good friends, and the Staff were very nice, I just didn't like the program or clinical team. Missed Thanksgiving, New years and Easter, and only got Christmas with my family just to be shamed by SOME peers because 'they have it harder'. I'm not saying they don't, just saying you don't shove that in someone's face, I will ABSOLUTELY NOT visit this website to give it more revenue. I constantly have nightmares about the holds they put you in. You can't breathe, and if you do, it's because you're in a t pose on the floor with someone on your legs and a person on your arm EACH. And, they call it INTENSIVE THERAPY. It did nothing but make me more scared to stand up for myself when someone was bullying me until I snapped. Now, in school, I am a FREAKING DOORMAT, and I blame MYA. I also didn't mention the band system. It made no sense. They took bullying off the red band sheet because staff were overusing that. WELL, MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE BULLIES! NEWSFLASH, KIDS ARE MEAN! They also tell you when you first come in to NOT make friends and to distance yourself from others as much as possible only to room you with someone your age and with your interests. So, do you want me to make friends or not?? DO NOT, and I mean DO. NOT. UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, bring your kid here. This place made me more traumatized than when I went in. My mother is constantly complaining about how disrespectful I am now when I was never disrespectful before I went in. And also, with the holds, they gave you bruises. I would never send a child with trauma in here just for them to come back out with more. Close your doors before someone sues and closes them theirself.

Response from the owner5 months ago
We appreciate your feedback. We would like to get more details about this; please visit http://www.mountainyouthacademy.net at your earliest convenience to provide us with your contact information. We hope to hear from you soon.
Paula Francis
2 months ago
5

My 14 year old son has suffered from anxiety, depression and psychosis for multiple years now. He had attempted suicide 3 times in less than a 6 month period. Multiple hospitalizations, therapist appointments, medication increases, medication changes and nothing was working, he just seemed to get better for a week or so and then worse than before the changes. It was frustrating and disheartening. With his last hospitalization they suggested residential treatment. Which is scary for everyone involved. Him, his siblings, his friends and definitely me. Staff was amazing, ALL OF THEM, from janitors/housekeeping to teachers, principals, nurses and counselors! They communicated with me at every turn but not just with me with him too. They also heard what we were saying and took it into consideration for his treatment. When I left my son there I was literally at my last option and didn t know what else to do but I knew I had to try it because I missed my boy, his laugh and his smile. To watch how he changed during his 60 day stay there was overall beautiful, at times it was heart wrenching and I questioned my decision to take him there but in the end it was the best decision I have made for him and our family. By the time he discharged he was smiling, laughing and being him again. Mountain Youth Academy didn t just save my son, they saved me too.

Response from the owner2 months ago
Hi, Paula. Thank you for taking the time to share your kind words with us! Compliments such as these are held very dear to our hearts. We re currently working on a staff recognition campaign and would like to share your kind words with our community. If we may include your anonymous feedback, please fill out the following form by visiting https://ebgw.short.gy/MountainYouthAcademy. Thank you again for sharing your thoughtful comments with us.
Angelica Lester
3 months ago
1

I also was facilitated here when I was a teenager back when it was called Mountain City Youth Center, was not a great place at all. Very few of the staff were genuine and cared about helping the kids, but for the most part, this place did not help any of the kids. I watched a boy get chased down through the parking lot, slammed face first into the pavement and forcefully restrained by multiple huge guy staff and they broke his arm doing so as well as tore up his face pushing his face scooting it down the pavement. Also I myself was restrained by some of these huge guy staff, and hurt every time. One time they face slammed me into the concrete floor, smeared my face in my own blood and literally broke my braces off my from teeth and knocked some of my teeth loose. Not a good place for anyone to send a child the are trying to help. They confiscated all of my worldly possessions and when I left the facility, I never got any of my belongs, they kept everything. So they don't allow the kids to have much, don't take anything you don't want to loose. And the timeout room downstairs was previously the morgue... something they don't tell people. Weird. Hope they have made this a better facility since I've been there.... Mr. Dunn was the overseer of the place then.

Response from the owner3 months ago
Hi, Angelica. Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. We'd appreciate the opportunity to discuss them with you in more detail directly. Should you wish to speak with a representative in more detail, please provide us with your contact information by visiting http://www.mountainyouthacademy.net. Thank you again.
AngryWaffle142
3 months ago
1

I was in treatment there in 2021 If that s what you d like to call MYA. At the time I thought I was getting better but in reality I was being traumatized and shoving things down and only come out with worse behaviors. I have to give props to the staff there that truly care about the kids if they re still there because there are a rare few who are genuinely good people, but this field has a high turnover rate, and many staff were messy and liked to start and escalate drama. I was well known amongst staff and peers at my time at MYA for having seizures that were at the time labeled as non epileptic. Everyone believed I was faking and I was often denied medical treatment. I wasn t the only one who was either. I was also having other symptoms like vomiting nausea and urinary symptoms. Come to find out a year later I had a tumor. I was not faking. My tumor was in my ovary and is a type of tumor known as a teratoma that can grow cells and tissue from other parts of the body. Mine had brain cells and my body was having an auto immune reaction when my white blood cells tried to attack the tumor. Many patients went through similar experiences while I was there. I didn t matter what the issue you had to fill out a form and wait to see the clinical team even if you were in excruciating pain or discomfort or even if you were actively bleeding or vomiting. Yes there are 80 something kids in the building but there is also no reason why a peer throwing up blood shouldn t be evaluated urgently. They often used unnecessary force in holds and while I was never in one personally, I witnessed many. Almost everyday some sort of extreme violence was unfolding. I witnessed an attempted murder several fights and yes I was part of fights myself I am not innocent either. I am not here to claim I am but was never trying to go to the point to take another s life or harm them to the point of no return. There was shanks made and the kids sometimes got completely out of control to the point it was scary and we were on lockdown. I was once asked to sit awake at night and watch my roommate incase she did anything harmful to herself and others with our other roommate, and if she did anything to yell for staff. This is not a healing place. I went to another residential treatment center in Atlanta and the difference where night and day. Don t send your kids here if you have a choice.

Response from the owner3 months ago
Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We'd like to follow up with you directly so that we can further address them. At your convenience, please provide us with your contact information by visiting https://mountainyouthacademy.net/contact-us/. We hope to hear from you soon.
Ashton Auth
3 months ago
1

This place was a really cool place but when I left I didn't even have 50% of my cloths and I had really good cloths their and also I have had three staff press me and I got charged with three counts of assault so if u have a kid that is bad with anger don t send them here they will j get in more trouble

Response from the owner3 months ago
Hi, Ashton. Thank you for reaching out to us with your feedback. So that we can address your concerns directly, please provide us with your contact information by visiting http://www.mountainyouthacademy.net. Thank you again.
Jules Parker
6 months ago
1

I left this place more traumatized than I came In I was placed in this facility twice and the second time around some staff threw it up in my face that it was my second time there I even got body shamed by some staff not just the kids once I left the facility 2 male staff that no longer work there tried to get with me be careful I would not leave ur children here

Response from the owner9 months ago
Hi, Jules. Thank you for reaching out to us. We would like to take the opportunity to address your concerns with you directly. At your convenience, please provide us with your contact information by visiting http://www.mountainyouthacademy.net so that we can follow up with you. Thank you again and we hope to hear from you soon.
David Hinchcliff
6 months ago
5

kyra gouge
8 months ago
1

This place is absolutely terrible, the staff picks favorites, the food is terrible and theres flies all over the cafe. your not allowed to have feelings, the drama OMG. fights break out and staff does absolutely nothing about it. i do not recommend this place for your children at all.

Response from the owner8 months ago
Hi, Kyra. Your feedback is very important to us and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share it with us. We'd like to take the opportunity to follow up with you directly so that we can learn more about your concerns. At your convenience, please provide us with your contact information by visiting http://www.mountainyouthacademy.net. Again, thank you.
Destiny Doud
9 months ago
1

They helped me but... Some staff are weird.

Response from the owner9 months ago
Hi, Destiny. We greatly value your feedback and appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us. So that we can follow up with you directly, please provide us with your contact information by visiting http://www.mountainyouthacademy.net. Thank you.
Debbie Porter
11 months ago
3

i just discharged today,it s not that bad of a place but they didn t give me half of my stuff back.

Response from the owner11 months ago
Hello, Debbie. Thank you for taking the time to leave us feedback. Please visit http://www.mountainyouthacademy.net and provide us your contact information so we can reach out to you and work toward a resolution. We hope to hear from you soon.
Jeri Emery
11 months ago
1

My daughter has had a really rough life. Trauma after trauma and was acting out in a way that was harmful not only to herself, but other's as well. We sent her to this facility in hopes that they would be able to assist her in learning cooping skills and the skills she needs to be a functioning adult in this world.We messed up so hard sending her to this trash facility! She was jumped 3 different times, after seeking help from staff to keep her safe. The first time, she was on a 10ft rule with another peer, meaning this peer had to stay 10ft away from my daughter because the peer had a very unhealthy obsession with her. One morning my daughter was getting ready for her day and this child was able to jump her from behind and choke her! The next two incidents my daughter over heard a peer talking about jumping her, she called me unable to talk because she was so frightened! I advised her to tell the staff, so they could assist in keeping her safe and they did not! This peer was able to not only attack my daughter once! But twice in the same morning!!!! The facility employees are not trained properly to handle the situations that arise with the CHILDREN! They do not care about the well being of these kids. It breaks my heart because a vast majority of these children are DCS/DHS placed and there isn't a guardian that cares about what they go through, so they're treated like animals! Their slogan is, "A place where children come first" they do not care about these children, they're getting a paycheck and the quality of care reflects that! Please! Do not put your child through this! There are other facilities you can get help from! MYA creates more trauma for these children! I'm looking forward to picking my daughter up soon, but I know we have a lot of healing and trauma caused by this facility to work through when she comes home!

Response from the owner11 months ago
Hi, Jeri. Thank you for reaching out to us with your feedback. So that we can address your concerns directly, please provide us with your contact information by visiting http://www.mountainyouthacademy.net. Thank you again.
Hope Howard
11 months ago
1

I was discharged from here on 3-4-2022. this place at first isn't so bad til the drama hits in and the staff show their true sides. I had some lovely staff like Ms. Fletcher, Ms. Walls, Ms. McBeth, and especially Ms. El-Amin and Ms. Wally. But some other staff picked favorites, treated us terrible just cause we were mentally unstable, started some drama theirselves just for the fun of it. One time I mentioned how I was about to be jumped, and they pretty much said they wouldn't do anything til it actually happened. There was one point of my stay here where everything broke loose, it was literally a 17 year old and her click running the place, the staff was afaird of them and wouldn't do anything. Literally kids were beat and the staff was too afaird to jump in. I was the quiet good kid so thankfully I was out of the way most of the time. It sucked worrying if you were next in line, but they may have not put their hands on me but they called me several bad names. I was bullied on and off but thankfully I'm out. Please don't send your kid here, my mama was trying to find a good place and yes this wasn't the worst, but it's still not good for you child. no matter what yalls relationship is like, look out for them.

Response from the owner11 months ago
Hi, Hope. Thank you for reaching out to us. We would like to take the opportunity to address your concerns with you directly. At your convenience, please provide us with your contact information by visiting http://www.mountainyouthacademy.net so that we can follow up with you. Thank you again and we hope to hear from you soon.
No reviews matching the selected filter!

Nearby Featured Providers

HealthQuest – The Summits
Memphis, TN (865) 970-7747

HealthQuest – The Summits

The Summits at HealthQuest is an Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitaliz... read more.
JACOA – Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency
Jackson, TN (731) 423-3653

JACOA – Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency

Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (JACOA) offers outpat... read more.
Delta Specialty Hospital
Memphis, TN (901) 672-6238

Delta Specialty Hospital

Delta Medical Center is a private hospital located in Memphis, TN. Delta Med... read more.
Get Help Now
Question iconWho Answers?
Phone icon 800-784-1361
Left arrow iconBack

Write a review for Mountain Youth Academy

Sharing your insights and experiences can help others learn more about this rehab center.

Title of Your Review
This is a required field
Your Review

Reviews comments must comply with our Review Policy Content Standards. Please do not use names (job titles / positions are acceptable) of any individual or identifying features, abusive remarks, or allegations of negligence or criminal activity.

A minimum of 200 characters and max of 2,000 characters required.
This is a required field
How would you rate the facility on the following?*
Overall Experience
Must select a star rating
Accomodations & Amenities
Must select a star rating
Meals & Nutrition
N/A
Must select a star rating
Treatment Effectiveness
Must select a star rating
Admissions Process
Must select a star rating
Staff & Friendliness
Must select a star rating
Cleanliness
Must select a star rating
Value for Cost
Must select a star rating
What is your connection to this facility?
This is a required field
Your First Name*
This is a required field
Your Last Name*
This is a required field
Your Phone Number
This is a required field
Your Email*
This is a required field
This is a required field
Spinner icon Submitting your review...
Thumbs up icon Your review was successfully submitted.
Get Help Today Phone icon 800-823-7153
Question iconWho Answers?