Sedona Sky Academy

ABOUT SEDONA SKY ACADEMY

Sedona Sky Academy is an all-girl's boarding school and residential treatment center. Treatment is designed for adolescent females aged 13 to 18 dealing with substance misuse as well as academic, behavioral, and other psychological concerns. Based in Rimrock, Ariz., the school combines an equestrian program with educational opportunities and therapeutic services. The academy is among the 32 percent of Arizona facilities to provide specialized programming for adolescents.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

According to Sedona Sky's website, treatment utilizes an integrative theoretical approach in therapy, which includes includes dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy, and other forms of therapy. In addition to weekly individual counseling sessions with a primary therapist, students attend daily group counseling sessions that cover topics such as self-esteem, anger management, and healthy interpersonal relationships.

A typical day includes school, therapy, leisure time, horsemanship, and chores. Weekly family sessions, often via telecommunication, are also offered, along with family workshops. Sedona Sky places special emphasis on its equestrian program to develop structure, discipline, trust, respect, and other skills.

Two academic tracks are offered at Sedona Sky: an academic recovery program for students needing standard schooling and a college preparation curriculum.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1, Sedona Sky staffs a clinical director, masters-level counselors, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, a clinical director, an admissions coordinator, a program director, and a nutritionist. The school also employs teachers specializing in yoga, music, culinary arts, science, math, and other academic areas.

According to its website, Sedona Sky is accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (JCAHO), AdvancED, NATSAP, and Arizona Department of Health Services. A 2016 SAMHSA survey indicates that 21.4 percent of treatment facilities in Arizona are certified by JCAHO.

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

Clients attending Sedona Sky enjoy a scenic 29-acre campus featuring hiking trails, open lands, gated pastures for horses, ancient ruins, and rivers. The 80-bed facility includes three dormitories, modern dining, an exercise facility, and state-of-the-art classrooms. The campus also has a soccer field, basketball and sand volleyball courts, and an equestrian area.

Sedona Sky students have opportunities for partaking in hiking, art, music performances, and trips to the local theater or planetarium. Additionally, Girls may attend camping trips to the Grand Canyon.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

Six alumni who have responded to a Rehabs.com survey to date gave mixed opinions. The positive reviewers tended to emphasize the overall quality of treatment and the focus on family. Offering five-star ratings for the effectiveness of individual counseling and lead counselors, A.R. wrote in a representative positive review: “The family work we did in the workshops was very helpful in healing my relationships with my parents and being able to have a relationship with them again.”

Negative reviewers tended to criticize the academics, competence of the staff, and the effectiveness of treatment. Two alumni commented on feelings of suicide, depression, and anxiety becoming stronger during treatment.

To date, the six individuals who left reviews on Yelp reflected these mixed opinions, offering an average rating of three out of five stars.^[1]The two alumni who left reviews were critical of substance abuse treatment and academic programming.

WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY

Five of seven loved ones polled by Rehabs.com at this time of writing gave Sedona Sky positive reviews, which tended to praise staff and the quality of treatment. “Unbelievable staff and place! So thankful to everyone at SSA! Because of them we got our daughter back,” wrote one loved one in a representative review.

Two loved ones, however, offered very negative feedback. In particular, both emphasized that they felt that treatment was ineffective. "Students are not treated therapeutically even though this is supposed to be a therapeutic boarding school," wrote C.F.

On Yelp, the four loved ones who reviewed the facility left mostly positive feedback.^[1] Several loved ones praised the equine therapy as well as the other extracurricular activities.

WHAT STAFF SAY

Eight staff members surveyed by Rehabs.com to date gave mostly positive feedback. Those who rated specific metrics tended to give five-star ratings for the center's ability to treat co-occurring disorders and four stars for the effectiveness of management. Staff members often cited quality of treatment as a strength of the facility, though one felt that internal communication could be improved.

“Strengths are the multiple modalities, care of the staff, level of support for students and focus on the family,” M.G. wrote in a representative review.

FINANCING

Though Sedona Sky’s website doesn’t indicate the cost of tuition, the school does offer financial assistance.

^[1] https://www.yelp.com/biz/sedona-sky-academy-rimrock