Mayer, Arizona — Spring Ridge Academy celebrated 25 years of therapeutic services for young people and their families on January 5. The school's leadership took time to reflect on the growth that occurred during that time.
Spring Ridge was founded by Jeannie Courtney after spending time in therapeutic programs and realizing that there was more to residential treatment than fixing adolescent behavior. She believed that the teens in these programs deserved an education with qualified teachers that mimicked a traditional boarding school, the opportunity to develop life skills that would make them leaders in their communities, and a comprehensive family systems approach that examined more than one person's contribution.
What she created in a house on a ranch in Arizona grew into a multi-building sprawling campus with three academic buildings, two dorm buildings, and endless indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities, on and off-campus. The therapeutic team became experts in trauma-based modalities and created a trauma-informed faculty and staff.
When Jeannie retired, her son and daughter-in-law, Brandon and Suzie, did not want to see the mission of healing families lost, so they took over the day-to-day operations. "We are committed to constant growth. Psychology is an evolving field that requires us to always be aware of how the old integrates with the new, and what needs to be let go of, in the face of new research," said Suzie Courtney, Executive Director. "We are excited to continue our partnership with experts in the field to ensure we are at the forefront of care."
"Looking into the next 25 years, we have a plan for continuous improvement of our practices and staying at the forefront of compassionate mental health care. We also want to be advocates for the destigmatization of mental and behavioral health care and to ensure that safe, supportive, and appropriate is care is available for all," said Erin Smith, Director of Operational Excellence.
Spring Ridge Academy, located 1.5 hours outside Phoenix, Arizona, serves young women ages 13-17. Founded in 1997 as a female and family-owned Therapeutic Boarding School. The program is licensed by the State of Arizona and accredited by the Joint Commission. The academics are accredited by Cognia. Using evidence-based clinical modalities with a traditional rigorous college-prep curriculum, including fine and expressive arts and team sports, Spring Ridge has created a relationship-based setting that allows students' emotional, relational, spiritual, intellectual, and physical growth.