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Highlights
Nature Lovers
Trauma-Informed Care
Adolescents
Spiritual Emphasis
About Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch for Boys
Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch offers a holistic and Christ-centered residential program for boys aged 14-17, designed to address a wide range of challenges. Combining trauma-informed care, professional therapy, academic support, and outdoor adventure, the program focuses on helping at-risk boys overcome issues such as trauma, adoption-related struggles, negative peer influences, physical abuse, and addictions to substances, gaming, or pornography. With a commitment to mental wellness, behavioral growth, and academic success, the program prepares young men for a positive and hopeful future.
At Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch, family is central to the healing journey. Every 8 weeks, Family Reconnect Day combines meaningful visitation with intensive therapy, while weekly virtual check-ins keep everyone aligned and engaged. With 24/7 mentorship from a dedicated team and personalized care, each teen receives up to five individual therapy sessions weekly, plus group and addiction recovery services. Flexible stays, from 90 days to 9-10 months, ensure support is tailored to every boy's unique needs, fostering lasting transformation.
A structured weekday schedule balances academics, therapy, and physical activities. Mornings begin with breakfast, devotions, and classes, followed by group sessions, life skills training, and evening chapel services. Weekends offer more relaxed recreation, church outings, and downtime. Adventure therapy activities, including hiking, rappelling, canoeing, and equine therapy, encourage active engagement and personal growth.
Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch provides accredited, GED-tract, or personal-growth academic options tailored to meet the individual needs of each student. Their therapeutic classroom environment provides the flexibility for self-paced study supported by one-on-one tutoring with certified teachers, helping teens learn and build skills for the future.
Set on a serene 31-acre campus in the Ozark Mountains, the center provides a safe and supportive environment. Boys enjoy private bedrooms equipped with a bed, desk, and window, alongside shared bathrooms designed for privacy. Dorms feature common areas with ping pong tables, kitchenettes, sofas, and TVs.
The campus boasts extensive amenities, including:
Recreational Facilities: CrossFit gym, indoor basketball court, game room, and outdoor adventure areas. Equestrian Center: A newly built space for equine-assisted therapy.Dining & Health: On-site chef, full cafeteria, and 24/7 nurse availability for medication management.Outdoor Spaces: Fire pits, hammocks, picnic tables, and serene natural surroundings.
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Insurance Accepted
Provider's Policy:Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch works with most major medical insurance providers. Our team can run a free, confidential verification of benefits and provide you with an accurate out of pocket cost for treatment services with your insurance benefits.
Teen Challenge Ranch offers a structured academic program to help students repair and advance their education, even if they lack sufficient high school credits. Their fully accredited courses, online platform, and individualized academic plans ensure students can earn a diploma, improve their GPA, or prepare for a GED. With dedicated teachers providing tutoring, diagnostic testing to address learning gaps, and a focus on life skills, students gain the confidence and tools needed to succeed. Those who transition home before graduating can continue their studies seamlessly through online courses.
Every activity and every class offered at Teen Challenge Ranch has a Christ-centered element and a firm belief that God wants to do something amazing in each boy’s life. Teen Challenge Ranch’s teachers and counselors lead faith-based character-building training courses with the boys, an essential aspect of their program. Christian speakers and musicians regularly come to campus to provide spiritual instruction, encouragement, and motivation. The boys are taken to off-campus church services, Christian conferences, and other spiritual events. As students grow in their relationship with Christ, they become more motivated to make positive life changes.
Teen Challenge Ranch meets the highest standards of care, demonstrated by their recent Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) certification. This accreditation highlights Teen Challenge’s commitment to providing credible, results-driven addiction treatment and behavioral therapy services. CARF certification also demonstrates Teen Challenge Ranch’s higher degree of internal quality, and its focus on service outcomes, customer feedback, and satisfaction.
Teen Challenge Ranch’s equine therapy program helps teens develop emotional regulation, confidence, and responsibility through structured interaction with horses. Led by certified equine-assisted therapists, the program provides a calming environment where teens can process thoughts and emotions with expert guidance. By caring for and working with these nonjudgmental animals, teens learn to build trust, improve communication, and understand the importance of non-verbal cues. This hands-on approach encourages personal growth and emotional healing.
Adolescents
Teens receive the treatment they need for mental health disorders and addiction, with the added support of educational and vocational services.
Adolescents
Teens receive the treatment they need for mental health disorders and addiction, with the added support of educational and vocational services.
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Adventure Therapy
This experiential approach uses the physical and emotional challenges of outdoor activities as tools for personal growth.
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Co-Occurring Disorders
A person with multiple mental health diagnoses, such as addiction and depression, has co-occurring disorders also called dual diagnosis.
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Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is the excessive and repetitive use of substances, despite harmful consequences to a person's life, health, and relationships.
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Gaming
Compulsive gaming is most often a problem for children and teens. The disorder can affect physical health, sleep, and the ability to focus at school.
Christian
Through surrender and commitment to Christ, patients refocus the efforts and source of their recovery with clinical and spiritual care.
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Trauma
Some traumatic events are so disturbing that they cause long-term mental health problems. Those ongoing issues can also be referred to as "trauma."
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Licensed Primary Mental Health
Some primary care providers offer mental health diagnosis and treatment. This can prevent patients from developing more serious conditions.
Residential
In a residential rehab program, patients live onsite, with access to daily treatment and 24-hour care. An average stay is 30-90 days.
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Therapeutic Boarding School
Evidence-Based
A combination of scientifically rooted therapies and treatments make up evidence-based care, defined by their measured and proven results.
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Experiential
Expressive tools and therapies help patients process past situations, learn more about themselves, and find healing through action.
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Christian
Through surrender and commitment to Christ, patients refocus the efforts and source of their recovery with clinical and spiritual care.
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Gender-Specific
Separate treatment for men or women can create strong peer connections and remove barriers related to trauma, shame, and gender-specific nuances.
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1-on-1 Counseling
Patient and therapist meet 1-on-1 to work through difficult emotions and behavioral challenges in a personal, private setting.
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Mindfulness Therapy
This ancient practice can be mental, emotional, and even spiritual. In meditation, you focus your attention on the present moment without judgement.
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Adventure Therapy
This experiential approach uses the physical and emotional challenges of outdoor activities as tools for personal growth.
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Animal Therapy
Animals can inspire trust and self-worth. In this experiential therapy, guided interactions are used to improve social skills and emotion regulation.
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Equine Therapy
Guided interactions with trained horses, their handler, and a therapist can help patients improve their self-esteem, trust, empathy, and social skills.
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Experiential Therapy
With this approach, patients heal by doing. Therapists help patients process difficult emotions to speak, using guided activities like art or dance.
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Eye Movement Therapy (EMDR)
Lateral, guided eye movements help reduce the emotional reactions of retelling and reprocessing trauma, allowing intense feelings to dissipate.
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Family Therapy
Family therapy addresses group dynamics within a family system, with a focus on improving communication and interrupting unhealthy relationship patterns.
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Life Skills
Teaching life skills like cooking, cleaning, clear communication, and even basic math provides a strong foundation for continued recovery.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Combined with behavioral therapy, prescribed medications can enhance treatment by relieving withdrawal symptoms and focus patients on their recovery.
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Pastoral Counseling
Based on religious principles, this branch of counseling combines spirituality with psychotherapy.
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Motivational Interviewing
Based on the idea that motivation to change comes from within, providers use a conversational framework to discover personalized methods for change.
Psychoeducation
This method combines treatment with education, teaching patients about different paths toward recovery. This empowers them to make more effective decisions.
Recreation Therapy
In recreation therapy, recovery can be joyful. Patients practice social skills and work through emotional triggers by engaging in fun activities.
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Solution Focused, Goal-Oriented Therapy
A quick goal-oriented therapy that helps patients identify their current and future goals, find out how to achieve them, and empower future problem-solving.
Spiritual Care
Tending to spiritual health helps treatment become more effective, allowing patients to better cope with their emotions and rebuild their spiritual wellbeing.
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Stress Management
Patients learn specific stress management techniques, like breathing exercises and how to safely anticipate triggers.
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Group Therapy
Two or more people meet with a therapist together. Patients get valuable peer support, strengthen interpersonal skills, and improve self-awareness.
Pornography Addiction
A person with a porn addiction is emotionally dependent on pornography to the point that it interferes with their daily life and relationships.
Grief and Loss
Grief is a natural reaction to loss, but severe grief can interfere with your ability to function. You can get treatment for this condition.
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders destabilize the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. If untreated, they can undermine relationships and lead to severe distress.
ADHD, ADD
ADHD is a common mental health condition caused by dopamine imbalance. Common symptoms include inattention, hyperactivitiy, and impulsivity.
Anger
Although anger itself isn't a disorder, it can get out of hand. If this feeling interferes with your relationships and daily functioning, treatment can help.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a common mental health condition that can include excessive worry, panic attacks, physical tension, and increased blood pressure.
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Bipolar
This mental health condition is characterized by extreme mood swings between depression, mania, and remission.
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Codependency
Codependency is a pattern of emotional dependence and controlling behavior. It's most common among people with addicted loved ones.
Depression
Symptoms of depression may include fatigue, a sense of numbness, and loss of interest in activities. This condition can range from mild to severe.
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Gambling
Gaming
Compulsive gaming is most often a problem for children and teens. The disorder can affect physical health, sleep, and the ability to focus at school.
Internet Addiction
Internet addiction is common among children teens. This compulsive disorder can damage relationships, school performance, sleep habits, and physical health.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is a long-term mental health issue caused by a disturbing event or events. Symptoms include anxiety, dissociation, flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts.
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Self-Harm
The act of intentionally harming oneself, also called self-injury, is associated with mental health issues like depression.
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Sex Addiction
Compulsively seeking out sex can easily become a problem. This addiction is detrimental to relationships, physical health, and self-esteem.
Stress
Stress is a natural reaction to challenges, and it can even help you adapt. However, chronic stress can cause physical and mental health issues.
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Suicidality
With suicidality, a person fantasizes about suicide, or makes a plan to carry it out. This is a serious mental health symptom.
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Trauma
Some traumatic events are so disturbing that they cause long-term mental health problems. Those ongoing issues can also be referred to as "trauma."
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Alcohol
Using alcohol as a coping mechanism, or drinking excessively throughout the week, signals an alcohol use disorder.
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Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep issues. They are highly habit forming, and their abuse can cause mood changes and poor judgement.
Chronic Relapse
Consistent relapse occurs repeatedly, after partial recovery from addiction. This condition requires long-term treatment.
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Co-Occurring Disorders
A person with multiple mental health diagnoses, such as addiction and depression, has co-occurring disorders also called dual diagnosis.
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Cocaine
Cocaine is a stimulant with euphoric effects. Agitation, muscle ticks, psychosis, and heart issues are common symptoms of cocaine abuse.
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Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is the excessive and repetitive use of substances, despite harmful consequences to a person's life, health, and relationships.
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Ecstasy
Ecstasy is a stimulant that causes intense euphoria and heightened awareness. Abuse of this drug can trigger depression, insomnia, and memory problems.
Psychedelics
Hallucinogenic drugs—like LSD—cause euphoria and increased sensory experiences. When abused, they can lead to depression and psychosis.
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, or meth, increases energy, agitation, and paranoia. Long-term use can result in severe physical and mental health issues.
Opioids
Opioids produce pain-relief and euphoria, which can lead to addiction. This class of drugs includes prescribed medication and the illegal drug heroin.
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Prescription Drugs
It's possible to abuse any drug, even prescribed ones. If you crave a medication, or regularly take it more than directed, you may have an addiction.
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Smoking Cessation
Quitting smoking—i.e., ceasing to smoke—means giving up smoking nicotine and tobacco products. This process has very important health benefits.
Synthetic Drugs
Synthetic drugs are made in a lab, unlike plant-based drugs like mushrooms. Most synthetic drugs are either stimulants or synthetic cannabinoids.
Center Pets
Addiction and mental health facilities with pets allow patients to interact with friendly dogs, cats, horses, and in some cases, even dolphins.
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Gender-specific groups
Patients in gender-specific groups gain the opportunity to discuss challenges unique to their gender in a comfortable, safe setting conducive to healing.
Religion-Based Track
Patients can join faith-based recovery tracks to approach recovery with others in their faith, healing in a like-minded group with similar goals.
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Young Adults Program
Programs for young adults bring teens 18+ together to discuss age-specific challenges, vocational and educational progress, and successes in treatment.
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Justin Smith
CEO & Executive Director
Angela Clyne
Director of Admissions
Clint Smith
Lower Shop Ministry
Joshua Thomas
Dean of Students
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We can't begin to express how grateful we are for your program and how it has impacted bot only our son's life but ours as well. He began there as an addict who was defiant and angry. He left as a kind, thoughtful young man with a purpose of pursuing God.
Parents of a former client
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