Student Housing – A Family Environment
A Powerful Approach to Housing
Stillwater Academy employs trained staff members who are licensed by the state to provide students with a structured, supportive family-style environment that reinforces practical life skills, personal responsibility, and healthy relationships. This residential setting extends the therapeutic experience beyond scheduled counseling sessions and into the everyday situations where lasting skills can be practiced and strengthened.
After a full day of school, intensive outpatient therapy, or day treatment, Stillwater’s evening residential staff and house parents provide an important source of consistency, encouragement, and guidance. They help students process what they learned during the day and put therapeutic concepts into practice through real-life interactions, routines, responsibilities, and relationships. This continuity between therapy and daily living gives students repeated opportunities to develop healthier responses, improve communication, build confidence, and turn newly learned skills into positive habits.
Practicing What They’re Learning
Intensive outpatient and day treatment both require practice and follow-up in the evenings. Stillwater Academy’s unique housing approach allows teens hands-on practice of the skills they are learning in a family setting where they are required to contribute. During the evenings and on weekends teens participate with our housing staff in games, fun, and work.
Our experience has shown that having trained staff members in their own homes, who can provide support, structure, and encouragement accelerates the recovery process.
Our home away from home housing option has become very meaningful to our students, their parents, and to referring professionals across the country.
The Importance of Emotional Practice
We all know how important practice is in piano and sports – in this video Lee Caldwell talks about the importance of practicing new emotional skills.
A Look Inside
Testimonial:
Housing Was a Critical Part of Our Son’s Success
It is difficult to put into words the effect you have had on our son. One short year ago, we flew to Salt Lake City to entrust our son to your staff. Although I was apprehensive to leave him, it was a relief not to have to worry about where he was and what he was doing.
At that time our son was deeply troubled, obsessed with marijuana, was caught stealing, was rebellious, and not capable of coping in a positive way with his life. He had little regard for himself let alone anyone else. The final issue that brought us to the decision to enroll him was when he got arrested and told the police officer that he would steal again. There is no question in our mind this was a cry for help.
Through your patience, understanding, support and confidence our real son is back. He thrived and successfully completed high school at Stillwater Academy. The small class sizes and experienced teaching staff contributed greatly to his success. In addition, we feel that the housing options at Stillwater Academy allowed Matt to experience a family environment during his stay and was a critical component in matt’s success.
Your leadership program helped our son regain his confidence and will to live life to its fullest. The friendships he made were some of the first of many friends to come. He has wisely chosen not to see any of his old friends and is working hard at establishing new healthy relationships. He is attending the junior college and getting close to land a part time job at the YMCA. He is attending AA meetings, and Willow Creek Community Church functions on a regular basis, and building a strong foundation of new friends that are appropriate. We could not be more pleased or more grateful.
P.S. After two short months in the program he told us, “I wish my old friends had the opportunity to be in a program like this?
Sincerely yours, Bob & Gigi
Our housing team creates a safe, structured home environment for students.
