ABOUT NEWPORT ACADEMY
Newport Academy is a network of regional rehab centers for adolescents from ages 12 to 20. The facility in Orange, Calif., provides gender-specific residential treatment for substance abuse as well as eating and mental health disorders. It also offers academic study, intensive family therapy, and outpatient treatment.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Intake sizes are kept small, with each program accepting six to 10 clients at a time, to allow for highly individualized care that tackles underlying issues such as low self-esteem, trauma, and depression. To ensure better long-term results, clients are expected to stay a minimum of 45 days, typically 60 to 90, and up to 120 days.
In line with evidence that adolescents do best in gender-specific treatment environments, boys and girls participate at separate facilities. Boys’ programming emphasizes learning healthy behaviors, setting boundaries, respect for others, and positive expression of feelings. The girls’ program focuses on sexual trauma and abuse, improving self-esteem and body image, assertiveness, and self-respect.
Treatment modalities include expressive therapies such as poetry, experiential therapies such as equine therapy, and the 12-Steps, adapted for teens. Residents engage in 30 hours of clinical therapy each week, which spans individual counseling, family programming, and group experiential therapy. They also participate in 20 hours of academic study and tutoring with one credentialed teacher for every six students. The educational program is fully accredited and incorporates academics with group therapy, yoga, and physical activities.
Family involvement is encouraged on a consistent weekly basis, and in weekend family programming. About five weeks into the program, families are invited for a weekend-long intensive program, where they can expect to partake in educational, experiential, and process-oriented groups. Newport Academy also offers outpatient treatment, which includes an intensive outpatient program (IOP) and outpatient program (OP).
STAFF CREDENTIALS
Boasting small staff-to-client and teacher-to-student ratios, the large Newport Academy treatment team includes psychiatrists, physicians, registered nurses, psychologists, licensed therapists and social workers, recovery counselors, care coordinators, and teachers.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Newport Academy sits on more than six acres of secluded and private grounds, with horses and stables on-site. Both the boys’ and the girls’ facilities have classrooms, comfortable living areas, and plenty of green space. Teens stay in private or semi-private rooms and are encouraged to take full advantage of the fully equipped, on-site gym.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
A former client polled at the time of this writing by Best-rehabs.com gave Newport Academy perfect five out of five stars for the major categories of treatment effectiveness and accommodations & amenities, and four stars for meals & nutrition. This anonymous alum was neutral when asked if there were many counseling options to choose from depending on the client’s preference and if the facility’s cell phone and visitation policy was fair. The alum agreed that the facility was clean and well maintained and disagreed that the facility strictly followed a 12-step model. And this former client wrote that a strength of the facility was a “strong sense of community” and that there were no weaknesses.
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Loved ones polled by Best-rehabs.com about Newport Academy at the time of this writing provided mixed feedback. One anonymous reviewer awarded consistent perfect five-star ratings to the major categories of treatment effectiveness, accommodations & amenities, and meals & nutrition. This loved one thought highly of the staff’s level of training and experience and family participation in treatment through programming. This reviewer cited “one on one treatment” as a strength, no weaknesses overall, and wrote: “Great counseling.”
Other loved ones offered negative reviews. Two provided only one out of five stars for treatment effectiveness and mentioned high staff turnover, described by one as “a revolving door” and added: “My advice – go anywhere else.” A parent, whose teen relapsed after being home one week, commented: “I think the treatment at Newport Academy is ineffective.”
FINANCING
According to the Newport Academy website, “a large majority of our fees are covered by insurance.” The facility suggests that prospective clients call the Admissions Team for more information.