Residential Programs For Teens: Growth and Lasting Change Are Possible for Your Teen

At Discovery Ranch South's residential program, your child can experience growth and lasting change. Your teen can experience a home-like atmosphere along with the opportunity to take advantage of our large campus and professional staff. They will live in a cottage with a small number of other teens. There are 24-hour professional staff members to help support your child through their therapeutic journey.

Students walking to school while attending a Residential Program for Teens | Discovery Ranch South, a Residential Treatment Center for Girls and Teens Assigned Female at Birth

Teenagers Between The Ages of 13 and 17 Have Found The Support They Needed At Utah's Discovery Ranch South

Discovery Ranch South offers the perfect healing environment for struggling teens with mental health or behavioral issues. The Residential Treatment Program is located on a beautiful 60-acre ranch. However, it is also only 10 minutes from the urban hub of Cedar City, Utah.

Get Confidential Help Today, Call Us Anytime: 855-667-9388

The Campus

Teens come to the ranch to heal from across the world. Every element of the campus was chosen with healing in mind.

When your child comes to Discovery Ranch South, they will stay in one of three private homes that serve as student dorms. Each house features a living area, a small kitchen, bedrooms, and baths. They will also have access to the lodge.

The lodge features a commercial kitchen, dining area, and game room. There is also a theater room, an indoor pool, and a sauna. Your child will be able to relax as they recover in this peaceful environment.

Your child will attend school in a waterfront building. There are beautiful views of the mountains to the east and the water area to the northwest.

There are many places for your child to explore on the 66-acre closed campus. The campus includes stables and a riding arena. They can relax on the putting green. Or they might prefer to relax by a waterfall with an artificial pond stocked with native fish.

Discovery Ranch South provides a perfect balance of disconnection and accessibility. There are many therapeutic and recreational opportunities for our students and their families. The teens have the opportunity to become stable and then begin to transition to a community.

A waterfall and main campus at a Residential Program for Teens | Discovery Ranch South, a Residential Treatment Center for Girls and Teens Assigned Female at Birth

While our facility provides lots of fun activities, each one plays a role in the therapy process. Residential living is a critical part of our experiential, action-oriented therapy approach. Caring, well-trained staff members are available to support your child 24 hours a day.

Everyone works together to create an environment where the students feel safe. More than that, they are respected and supported. The school has a four-to-one ratio of students to staff. The emphasis is not on managing behaviors. Instead, the focus is on building positive relationships that inspire change. Residential activities reinforce what students are learning.

Students smile and pose for a photo while attending residential program for teens at Discovery Ranch South, a residential Treatment Center for Girls and Teens Assigned Female at Birth

The Students

While all the teens have come to the ranch to heal, they won't necessarily share the same diagnosis. This diversity encourages our students to make connections based on their strengths, not their diagnosis.

Because teens come to Discovery Ranch South for various reasons, they have a variety of different therapeutic needs. Settings that only focus on one issue risk confusing the person with their diagnosis. Teens are challenged to address their core issues. Addressing what is underneath the behavior will create lasting, healthy change.

Treatment settings that exclusively address specific diagnoses or clinical issues often create a culture of connecting to pathology. The clinically heterogeneous environment at Discovery Ranch treats a diverse range of therapeutic issues. In this environment, your child can let go of their unhealthy identity and instead identify with others and herself based on their strengths. Students that are treated in a heterogeneous environment are challenged to address the core issues of their unhealthy behaviors instead of just the symptoms. Addressing what is underneath the behavior will create lasting, healthy change.

In this environment, your child can let go of their unhealthy identity. They will learn that they are more than their diagnosis. They will discover the strong, unique human being that they are inside.

Is a Residential Treatment Centers Right for Your Teen?

The Community

Cedar City is approximately 10 minutes from the ranch. It is a college town with more than 30,000 people. Cedar City offers recreational and therapeutic opportunities. For example, there is access to art festivals and academic events.

The Utah Shakespeare Festival takes place in Cedar City. Each summer and fall, the festival draws lovers of Shakespeare and theater from around the world. The festival features famous and lesser-known plays by the Bard. There are also modern plays by a variety of different playwrights. The Utah Shakespeare Festival also offers many different classes. People can come to learn about topics like stage combat or designing scenery.

Students traveling on a bus to an activity while attending a residential program for teens at Discovery Ranch South, a residential Treatment Center for Girls and Teens Assigned Female at Birth

Students from Discovery Ranch South have both attended the plays and classes offered at the festival. To take part in events like this, students must be level appropriate.

Your child will be blocks away from hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and repelling. This is because southern Utah has some of the world's most unique geography.

Bryce Canyon National Park is located near Cedar City. The park features unique geography. For example, the world's most extensive collection of hoodoos, or irregularly eroded rock spires, is located in Bryce Canyon.

Cedar Breaks National Monument is also located near Cedar City. This national monument stretches across three miles and is more than 20,000 feet deep. The geographic formation looks like an amphitheater.

A quote on a wall at a residential program for teens | Discovery Ranch South, a residential Treatment Center for Girls and Teens Assigned Female at Birth

The Right Place

Discovery Ranch South is the right place for your child to experience lasting change. They will have the opportunity to take advantage of the large campus. Teens will live in a cottage with a small number of other students.

While all the teens have come to the ranch to heal, they won't necessarily share the same diagnosis. This encourages students to make connections based on their strengths, not their diagnosis.

When your child is ready, they will be able to enjoy all the activities that the wider community has to offer with the support of caring, well-trained staff members.

A Typical Weekday in Residential Treatment

The residential program at Discovery Ranch South is intentionally designed to provide students with both structure and free time, fostering many opportunities for personal growth and healing. While this weekday schedule offers a glimpse into a typical day, each day may vary based on individual student needs and activities.

6:45 - 7:20 AM

Wake Up / Morning Routine

After waking up, students take their medications, perform their morning hygiene routine, and get ready for PE.

6:45 - 7:20 AM

7:20 - 8:20 AM

PE Activity

Students rotate between dance, yoga, or circuit workouts during their morning PE session.

7:20 - 8:20 AM

8:30 - 9:30 AM

Morning Calves

Every morning, the students feed the calves breakfast as part of the Calf Program.

8:30 - 9:30 AM

9:30 - 10:00 AM

Breakfast

Students enjoy their breakfast in the lodge before returning to their cabin.

9:30 - 10:00 AM

9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Cabin Time /
Individual & Group Therapy

Cabin time, which is dedicated to hygiene, chores, and free time, is also when students attend individual, family, and group therapy sessions based on individualized needs and schedules.

9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

12:00 - 12:45 PM

Lunch

Students enjoy lunch in the lodge.

12:00 - 12:45 PM

12:45 - 1:45 PM

Lunch Calves

The students feed the calves lunch.

12:45 - 1:45 PM

1:45 - 3:00 PM

Therapy / Study Hall

Students attend individual, family, and group therapy sessions, while Study Hall begins at 2:30 pm for students who may require extra academic support.

1:45 - 3:00 PM

2:30 - 5:00 PM

School

As the school day commences, students have access to a diverse range of blended learning classes that cater to their academic requirements. 

2:30 - 5:00 PM

5:00 - 6:00 PM

Dinner

Students gather together for dinner, creating opportunities for them to form profound and impactful relationships that contribute to their therapeutic healing process.

5:00 - 6:00 PM

6:00 - 8:00 PM

School Continues

This afternoon school schedule is specifically designed to suit the way teenagers learn.

6:00 - 8:00 PM

8:00 - 8:10 PM

Pack up / Chores

At the end of the school day, students take responsibility for maintaining a clean and welcoming environment.

8:00 - 8:10 PM

8:10 - 8:50 PM

Evening Calves

Students feed the calves dinner.

8:10 - 8:50 PM

9:00 - 9:10 PM

"Family" Meeting in the Cabins

In their cabins, students come together for a "family" meeting where they coordinate schedules, celebrate accomplishments, discuss goals, resolve conflicts, provide mutual support, and handle the nuances of living together as a community.

9:00 - 9:10 PM

9:20 - 10:00 PM

Cabin Time

Before retiring for the night, students take their medications, tend to their hygiene needs, and dedicate time to self-care.

9:20 - 10:00 PM

10:00 - 10:30 PM

Wind Down Time

To wind down from their day, students get into bed, read, journal, or engage in other activities that promote relaxation and rest.

10:00 - 10:30 PM

10:30 PM

Lights Out

A consistent bedtime is crucial for quality sleep and good mental health. Our bodies thrive on routine, and a regular sleep pattern can improve mood, reduce anxiety and stress, and boost cognitive function.

10:30 PM

Photo & Video Gallery

We offer tours of the Ranch to prospective residents and their families. Come visit and meet our staff and girls here at the Ranch. Please contact us for more details. We are available seven days a week at 855-667-9388. We would love to help you with your planning and arrangements.

Video Gallery

Photo Gallery

Meet Your Residential Program Management Team

Maria Elkington

Maria Elkington

Residential Director
Shauna Clark

Shauna Clark

Residential Training Coordinator
Shayna Griffin

Shayna Griffin

Residential Student Support Coordinator
Kimberlee Martineau

Kimberlee Martineau

Residential Facilities Coordinator
David McGrew

David McGrew

Maintenance Supervisor

Maria Elkington

Residential Director

Maria was born and raised in New Zealand, where she developed a passion for helping others. She pursued higher education in Hawaii, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. However, upon returning home to New Zealand, she discovered that social work wasn’t the right fit for her. She then got married, started a family, and decided to further her education, earning a Master’s degree in Counseling. Her career in counseling began in New Zealand, where she worked for several organizations and as a therapist at a community college. Later, she immigrated to America and served as a Mental Health Therapist for the State of Nevada, focusing on early childhood and working with children from birth to six years old who had been removed from their homes due to neglect and abuse. In 2010, Maria and her family moved to Cedar City, Utah, and they have loved every minute of it. After moving to Cedar City, Maria really found her niche in Residential Treatment, initially working as a Residential Staff member at a long term girls RTC. Over the past 14 years, she has held various positions, including Supervisor, Assistant Director, and Coordinator for several organizations specific to Residential work. Her journey in residential treatment has been incredibly fulfilling, and she is excited to bring my expertise to DRS.Maria's hope and goal is for Residential to provide a supportive environment where students can practice and master new skills they learn in therapy, equine therapy, calving, academics, experiential learning, and performing arts, all within a safe and nurturing setting. Recognizing that the majority of a student's day is with the residential team, Maria strives to elevate each team member to provide a nurturing environment where students can heal and grow. Additionally, she has 25 years of experience as a High School and College Basketball Official. The skills and training Maria has gained from officiating have greatly complemented her work in residential settings, and a great way for her to stay connected to a sport she loves.

Shauna Clark

Residential Training Coordinator

Shauna Clark was born and raised in the Cedar City area. She has worked in residential treatment starting as a mentor back in 2014 with DRS. As of 2024, she now leads as the Residential Training Coordinator and is tasked with guiding and shaping the ethics, progress, and training of our Residential staffing teams. Additionally, she has experience as a Neurofeedback Technician. She has been trained to use technology and neuroimaging in creating neuro pathways as a treatment approach for dysregulation in the brain that can come with depression, anxiety, ADHD, etc.When not on campus, Shauna spends her time outdoors being active and taking advantage of the West in all its adventuring opportunities. Shauna goes snowmobiling in the winter months and enjoys riding dirt bikes and horses in the summer months. Presently, Shauna’s favorite aspect of working in her position is getting to not only support the growth of our clients but also our staff. She values and leans into the process of walking with and shaping our large DRS team through our continuous improvement initiatives, and basis of accountability.

Shayna Griffin

Residential Student Support Coordinator

Shayna began working at DRS in 2015 as a mentor and has worked in various positions in the residential world since then. Adopted from China at the age of 2, Shayna grew up as the middle child among a family of 17 siblings, most of whom have special needs. This unique upbringing instilled in her a deep sense of empathy and resilience. Shayna embarked on her professional journey in working in residential treatment, determined to make a difference in the lives of others. She aspires to be a beacon of positivity in the healing process, leveraging her experiences to bring about meaningful change. Outside of work, Shayna finds solace in family life, being happily married with two children. She cherishes moments spent outdoors, indulging in her passions for camping, fishing, and enjoying the serene beauty of Southern Utah. Shayna's commitment to empathy, resilience, and creating positive change underscores her inspiring journey and the impact she seeks to make in both personal and professional realms.

Kimberlee Martineau

Residential Facilities Coordinator

David McGrew

Maintenance Supervisor

David is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has lived in Utah for the past 15 years with his wife Janet and two daughters. For the past 13 years, David has created all the landscaping on the property along with maintaining it for the previous owners. Discovery Ranch South invited him to stay on and continue keeping the grounds looking like a tranquil resort with the flowing streams and beautifully trimmed green lawns. Being from Louisiana, David is a die-hard LSU fan! From time to time, you may even see an LSU Tiger flag flying above his residence. His favorite past times are golf, playing with his grandchildren, starting new landscaping projects on the ranch and of course Cajun food!