Santa Clarita, CA, November 16 – Ascend Healthcare, premier provider of residential treatment for teens suffering from mental health and substance use disorders, has opened a third residential treatment center located in Santa Clarita Valley of Los Angeles county.

This newest facility provides a holistic healing environment that is meant to fill a national gap where Ascend feels there is an entire group of under-served teens. Canyons will serve girls between the ages of 12 and 17 who are impacted by trauma and/or anxiety-related disorders. Treating the underlying conditions in a gender identity-affirming, all-girls setting will help clients make the most of Ascend’s 60-90 day program for primary mental health (with or without resultant secondary substance use).

“We’ve sadly seen a steady stream of girls who have experienced complex trauma here at Ascend, and we weren’t able to keep up with the overwhelming need for more residential treatment space to help them heal. Now, we’re devoting an entire center to it,” said Effie Goldberg, owner and Managing Director. “What these kids have been through is staggering, but we’re here to remind them how incredibly resilient they are and to help them learn how to begin to show up for themselves again. It’s really powerful and humbling.”

With access to the Angeles National Forest and a modest farm to explore, Ascend believes reconnecting with nature in a highly clinical setting allows adolescents to discover a new path towards healing. Recent research has found that animals provide the calming, unqualified attention and love that are needed to help some clients flourish, moving away from illness and toward health. In this new program, clients will be assigned an animal to care for throughout the length of their stay. In accord with the holistic nature of the program, there will also be more of an emphasis on plant-based eating.

 Under the guidance of Program Director Melissa Argueta, LMFT, the program at Canyons provides a gentle clinical approach that ensures clients learn how to show up for themselves, how to take responsibility for their lives, and how to care for others.

Ascend Healthcare is an 18-bed residential treatment center located the suburbs of Los Angeles. Ascend offers a 45-90 day program of treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, covered by health insurance. The treatment center’s program is designed to treat the entire family system and help teach teens to emotionally self-regulate in a healthy manner, helping families evolve into safe and supportive units. If you would like more information, please call Seamus at 617-869-6552 or email seamus@ascendhc.com