What Makes Us Different?

What makes Spring Ridge Academy different from other programs is the comprehensive approach to the therapeutic, academic, social and physical needs of each student and family. Through the utilization of a thorough, multi-faceted therapeutic program, a fully accredited and challenging college preparatory education and a supportive peer culture, we have created a community that encourages connection and growth. Each of these three areas - therapy, education and community - are outstanding in their own right. Together with the extraordinary students, families and employees of SRA, a transformative experience is created that gives hope and an opportunity to heal. As an independently owned and operated program, we have the freedom to work with each family from an individual perspective and to tailor treatment appropriately.

Spring Ridge Academy is known throughout the therapeutic industry for its innovative family program. The cornerstone of the family program is a dynamic series of workshops that provides parents, students and other family members the opportunity to initiate meaningful change. These changes come from a new and enhanced understanding of personal choice, accountability and responsibility. Parents are given the tools to re-balance the family system by moving into a proactive and functional style of parenting. Students experience the emotional safety and structure necessary to address issues pertaining to poor self-esteem, immaturity, trauma, destructive behavior and addiction. Through the family program and workshop series, we emphasize developing trust and connection within the family through honest and direct communication, age appropriate structure and proactive parenting.

Another key element in the Spring Ridge Academy experience is the all-girl environment. Many of our students have struggled in peer relationships. Often they have felt judged or ostracized by their peer group, have clung to or become dependent on friends and boyfriends and have made choices based on the approval of negative peers. At SRA, we are able to change that perspective and offer our young women new experiences and healthy relationships. An all-girl environment provides the opportunity for our students to explore fears, assumptions, trauma and conflict in a safe and supportive environment. In addition to the therapeutic work that necessitates a single sex setting, our students learn to enjoy the freedom of expressing themselves in the classroom, groups, meetings, extracurricular activities and in relationships with both peers and adults. A Spring Ridge Academy student learns to trust her ideas and find her voice, and in turn experiences confidence and success.

This trust and confidence cannot be replicated in a co-ed setting because students needing our assistance do not have the maturity, sense of self or identity to manage these relationships and to continue their own development into mature and independent young women. The emotional safety of our milieu allows the young women to develop better ego strength and a stronger identity while our program and staff facilitate healthy relationships with both males and females.

Spring Ridge Academy is truly unique. No other program offers this quality of service in an equally caring and progressive environment, while maintaining a structure that effectively supports the student to be successful in school, relationships, health and wellness. SRA focuses on the entire young woman, not just the areas that are not working. Our young women, despite their struggles, demonstrate a range of talents in areas including the arts, athletics, academics and community service. In addition to addressing the behaviors and circumstances which have been destructive to our students, SRA also provides the opportunity for each student to explore and excel in areas of interest and talent.