No two young people are alike. Each teen has unique traits, individual talents, and strengths that must be drawn out and built upon.

Northwest knows that one treatment plan will not work for every young person, particularly those with addictions and/or behavioral and emotional issues. Our trained admissions coordinators will work with professionals and families to take into account past behaviors, attitude and actions. After we examine this history of the individual's behavior we will suggest an appropriate course of action to help.

Parent and involved professionals only want the best for the child - which is why you're concerned with getting them the best treatment available. And that is why we set up strong safeguards by hiring only the best counselors, family service providers, and staff members in our field.

Northwest's highly qualified staff has college education requirements as well as field-specific and age-specific training and Northwest training. Our program is staffed with psychiatrists, addictionologists, psychologists, and nurse practitioners. Direct Care Counselors, who will be working with your child on a daily basis, hold at least a bachelor degree in a social science or related field. Our Therapist/Case Managers, who will be working with the whole family, have a minimum of a masters degree in counseling or a related field of study.

In addition to their prior education and yearly on-going training, the Northwest staff is required to attend our rigorous orientation training. This intensive program- specific training assures continuous growth and development of staff teamwork and skills.

Our superior educational staff meets all the requirements of the Oregon Department of Education. Located on campus, our private alternative school assures ongoing academic studies integrated into the young person's comprehensive treatment plan.

At Northwest we believe that each individual is capable, if they choose, to acquire the skills to think, feel and behave differently. This philosophy does not dismiss the clinical validity of diagnoses and disabilities. However, our focus is on the practical realities of teaching the young person how to effectively take personal responsibility, how to make healthy choices for themselves and their relationships, and how to positively cope with individual issues.

Our program offers the young person a unique combination of traditional mental health and addiction treatments. In addition our program offers experiential treatment services, such as art therapy, recreation therapy, and creative expression. We utilize a solution-focused model, which helps adolescents work towards solutions to daily problems. The emphasis is on goal setting and achieving positive thinking and direction. Our positive milieu approach focuses on monitoring and modifying inappropriate and even extreme behavior problems.

While group therapy is used extensively because of its effectiveness with teens, Northwest recognizes the need for other therapeutic efforts. Psychiatric and psychological services, individual counseling, family counseling, substance abuse counseling/education, abuse victims counseling and special educational services are just a few of the additional treatment services available and utilized. These services will more specifically address the adolescent's needs while supporting and complementing group therapies.