Residential Options

Residential Programs for Teenagers and Young Adults:

Noble Acres also offers individually designed residential options for teenagers and young adults. Depending on their individual goals and treatment plans, the program may vary from a very structured daily schedule with intensive therapy to more of a mentoring program where the young adults plan their own day while receiving support and guidance in managing their time and resources. Programs can last from 3 weeks to several months depending on the need of the young person.

The program is particularly effective for young people who are struggling with life transitions:

• Teens who are leaving a residential program, but need a little more support with managing their new freedom
• Teens who are failing in college due to a lack of structure
• Teens who are no longer progressing in their therapy and just need a new perspective (whether they are in a residential program or going to an outpatient therapist)

The program's goal is to empower and launch young people into self-reliant independence. In order to become successful adults, the young people learn and practice important life skills such as problem-solving, work ethic, team work, self-discipline, money management and relationship skills.  Due to the small size, the program can be individualized to encourage each participant's strengths and interests while challenging self-defeating thought and behavior patterns.
Noble Acres is a holistic program that provides resources to foster physical, emotional, and spiritual growth. Our daily schedule includes yoga and meditation, work on the ranch and in the house, and time for excursions into nature, journaling, volunteering, hobbies and therapy.  The main therapy approach used is equine assisted psychotherapy (link to EAP). Instead of talking about behavior changes, students will be able to practice these first in the arena and then in their daily lives. Neurofeedback is a common adjunctive therapy that helps the brain to be more flexible and make healthy changes on the neurological level. Students with addiction issues are encouraged to attend self-help meetings in town.

Noble Acres also recognizes that a young person's successful transition into adulthood requires the parents to work on their own transition at the same time. Guidance is provided for the parents through regular phone calls, family therapy, and visits.

Students participate in the daily chores on the ranch including animal care, gardening, meal planning and cooking, and cleaning and maintenance. Students are also encouraged to develop a passion or hobby that inspires their creativity. Past student projects included raising baby chicks, building nesting boxes for the chickens, learning how to make goat cheese, planning and guiding a trip to Yellowstone National Park, building a sweat lodge and going on a vision quest, and dry-walling the workshop/garage.

Additional activities and opportunities include hikes and night hikes, camping, winter camping, snow-shoeing, snowboarding/skiing, snowmobiling, horsemanship, rafting, waterskiing, swimming, going to the fitness studio, weight lifting, martial arts training, mountain biking, woodworking, knitting, scrapbooking, and sewing. Taking classes at the local community college is also an option for some students.

Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions while being honest about mistakes and short-comings. Students' level of freedom as well as their allowance depend on their willingness to show a positive attitude, to participate in activities and work projects, and to abide by the rules and expectations. Natural and logical consequences allow students to experience the effects of their choices. 
The students practice balancing work, responsibility, routines and leisure all of which are elements of a fulfilling life.

Residential Options for Adults

Noble Acres offers help and support to people over the age of 18 who are struggling with burn out symptoms, depression, anxiety, lack of self-esteem, mild self-harm, relationship difficulties, family problems, substance abuse issues, negative life patterns, or anger management. Together with the staff, each client will develop an individualized treatment plan, outlining their goals and identifying interventions that will help the client achieve those goals.

Based on their treatment plan, clients will be given a variety of written and experiential assignments every week. Each client will participate in individual equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) sessions and receive a neurofeedback assessment. Subsequent neurofeedback sessions as well as neuromuscular therapy sessions are scheduled if therapeutically indicated. Staff are available every day to talk and process with the clients as they explore their internal world.

“There is nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse. ” (Ronald Reagan)

As part of the daily structure, clients will establish a yoga and meditation routine and complete a variety of written assignments and journal entries. In addition, clients can choose to spend time taking care of the ranch animals, gardening, hiking or snow shoeing, enjoying nature, preparing meals, working on projects, going to self-help meetings, or learning new skills, such as making cheese, woodworking, knitting, weight lifting, scrapbooking, or  playing the guitar, to name just a few. Our daily schedule incorporates opportunities for reflection, restoration and rejuvenation as well as times for physical activity, work, and fun. Individual requests for special activities are accommodated whenever possible utilizing available resources in the area.

Our main goal is to offer an environment of acceptance and support where people can be who they are without worrying about being judged. Being part of an intentional community allows clients to share their thoughts and feelings with each other. Mutual support and understanding lead to self-confidence and empathy. Conflict and disagreements offer an opportunity to practice conflict resolution and communication skills. It also allows people to broaden their perspective and understand an opposing  point of view.  It is in our relationships that we are wounded the most, and it is in our relationships that we find healing.

Clients are encouraged to involve important people in their lives in their treatment as well. Family work is an important part of the program, as we realize that life problems involve not only the individual, but their friends and families as well. Depending on each client's need, this involvement may happen through letters, phone calls, or visits.

Adult clients participate in our program on their own volition and retain all their individual rights. They may choose to leave the program at any time at their own risk. We are a drug- and alcohol-free community and reserve the right to drug test our clients and search their belongings in order to provide a safe and healing environment.