Every Struggle
is Unique.

Christ-Centered
||
Trauma-Informed
||
Evidence-Based

Residential Treatment
for Teen Boys.

Getting the Right Help Can Change Everything

High-risk behaviors

Stabilize Unhealthy,
High-Risk Behaviors

Skill Building

Build Skills for Better Success in the Classroom & Life

Faith

Grow in Faith to Support Long-Term Recovery

We Accept Insurance

Licensed. Accredited. Trusted.

Arkansas Department of Human Services
Substance Abuse Treatment Center
Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch 50th Anniversary
CARF Accredited

Evidence-Based Residential Mental Health Treatment with a Christ-Centered Approach

Substance Abuse

Substance Abuse

Are drugs, alcohol, or prescription pills causing big problems for your son? Is he escalating in reckless behavior, getting in trouble with the law, or experiencing erratic or concerning behavior?

Learn more about our Christian, dual-diagnosis treatment center today.

Mental Health

Mental Health

Is your teen struggling with serious mental health challenges? Has he talked about ending his life or attempted to commit suicide? Is he self-harming or falling behind in school because of his mental health?

Explore safe, effective residential treatment options with a Christ-centered approach.

Uncontrolled Behavior

Uncontrolled Behavior

Is your teen’s behavior out of control? Has he been expelled from school, had problems with the law, or is his behavior putting you or others around him in danger?

Discover how a Christ-centered, therapy-intensive residential treatment center can help.

What We Treat

Anxiety

Suicidal Behaviors

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Emerging Personality Disorders

Bipolar Disorder

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Grief/Loss

Trauma and Abuse

Self-Harm

Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)

Impulse Control

Video Game Addiction

Drug and Alcohol Abuse/Substance Abuse

Conduct Disorder

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)

50 Years of Successful Outcomes and Counting

  • God is doing great work through TCAR!

    Parent

  • We are very thankful for how God has provided for our family through the amazing staff at TCAR. The support, treatment, love, and discipleship you provide for our son in our family’s time of crisis is priceless. We thank God for you. We will forever be grateful for the investment by an excellent and loving team of people. We are confident that what our son is learning at TCAR will bless him throughout his life. Thank you.

    Parent

  • I appreciate TCARs investment in our son and have seen a lot of growth in him. There are a few specific staff who were very warm and friendly which made a huge difference for me.

    Parent

  • After TCAR, I went to YWAM. I wanted to continue on the path I was on, growing in my faith and becoming a stronger, better person. I’ve had so many great opportunities…I led an outreach to Mexico, I spent a summer working with youth camps, and this summer I’ll be helping lead a week-long outreach to Jamaica.

    Former TCAR Student

  • I’ve been able to stay clean and I am getting great grades in school. I’m still struggling with my relationship with my grandparents, but working on it thanks to TCAR. It really felt like family there–and there was a strong bond with the other boys around me that helped a lot, thank y’all!

    Former TCAR Student

Trauma-Focused
Intervention Model

Intervention Model

Academic Repair

Our long-term residential therapy program provides opportunities to get or stay on track to graduate from high school. We utilize individualized academic plans to accommodate a wide variety of needs ranging from behavioral challenges in the classroom to diagnosed learning disabilities or mental health-related obstacles to learning. We provide accredited and flexible academic tracks, as well as GED-prep tracks based on individual circumstances and goals. Students in our academic programs will benefit from the support of certified teachers and specialized tutors with a ratio of 9:1 in the classroom.

Equine Therapy

Human-animal interactions provide therapeutic benefit for boys in all levels of care. We routinely utilize horses to provide variety and stimulation that helps boys overcome obstacles to participating in traditional therapy. Equine-assisted psychotherapy actually helps promote the development of therapeutic bonds, an emotional connection that enables an individual to effectively participate in therapy services. We find that equine therapy is often effective even when other types of therapy have failed. All equine activities are facilitated by designated, trained staff members and debriefed by a licensed therapist.

Family Reconnect

We believe in residential treatment that brings renewal to every family that is struggling with a teen in crisis. We encourage family involvement throughout the therapeutic process through family therapy sessions, case manager check ins, frequent communication, parent support groups, book studies, coaching town halls, and RECONNECT weekends on our campus. We understand that placement in a residential treatment facility is a challenging adjustment. We want to support our families through their journey so that everyone can find healing and renewal, supporting sustainable, long-term recovery.

Spiritual Development

We believe in residential treatment that brings renewal to every family that is struggling with a teen in crisis. We encourage family involvement throughout the therapeutic process through family therapy sessions, case manager check ins, frequent communication, parent support groups, book studies, coaching town halls, and RECONNECT weekends on our campus. We understand that placement in a residential treatment facility is a challenging adjustment. We want to support our families through their journey so that everyone can find healing and renewal, supporting sustainable, long-term recovery.

Outdoor Adventure

Experiential learning is an incredible tool to build self-confidence, improve communication, and grow trust. We utilize outdoor adventure to provide high-engagement, structured, therapeutic activities that supplement the clinical residential treatment services that we provide. Safety is our number one goal. All Outdoor Adventure activities are facilitated by experienced, trained, and certified instructors and all participants are screened for mental and physical health, ensuring their personal safety at all times. Our OA curriculum includes hiking, camping, fishing, rock climbing, rappelling, ziplining, canoeing, kayaking, and more.

Clinical Therapy

Our treatment program begins and ends with effective, evidence-based clinical treatment. Psychiatric evaluation and medication management is provided on-site by a double board-certified APRN. 24-Hour skilled nursing manages the day-to-day administration of medications and monitoring of physical health. And Christian, licensed mental health therapists with advanced training in accelerated resolution therapy (ART), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based therapy provide trauma-based mental healthcare as the foundation of our daily residential care schedules.
Levels of Care
RTC
PHP
IOP

Residential Treatment Center

RTC provides the most intensive level of care in our facility. Daily schedules focus on intensive therapeutic services with 24-hour clinical services. During this period of treatment, the goal is safety and stabilization.

Partial Hospitalization Program

PHP provides structured therapeutic services alongside academic and supplemental growth activities. Daily schedules focus on balancing treatment with skill building so that clients can begin to work toward recovery.

Intensive Outpatient Program

IOP provides structured growth opportunities with the support of therapeutic services. At this level of care, clients begin to focus on academics and individual interests. They remain on campus while receiving outpatient therapeutic services.

The Future Looks Brighter with Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch

Discover the power of Christ-centered change that renews your entire family.

Teen Challenge
Adventure Ranch

Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch is a dual-diagnosis residential treatment facility for substance abuse and mental health.

For 50 years and counting, we’ve provided a Christ-centered, clinically-minded approach to helping teen boys with a variety of life controlling problems.

Levels of Care:

  • Residential Treatment – RTC
  • Partial Hospitalization – PHP
  • Intensive Outpatient Treatment – IOP
Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch
0%

99% report better family relationships

0%

3 out 4 make a decision for Christ that aids recovery

0%

78% sustain recovery for 12+ months

Meet Our Clinical Team

Our evidence-based clinical approach begins with a team of medical professionals that deliver clinical services onsite. Clinical care includes psychiatric evaluations, medication management, around-the-clock nursing, and structured therapy services using effective methodologies like accelerated resolution therapy (ART), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness training.

Abigail Johnson

APRN, PMHNP-BC, MSN

Abigail is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. She provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management with a personalized, holistic approach. Through her practice, Johnson Behavioral, Abigail provides on-site and on-call services to support safe, effective stabilization and treatment.

Abigail Johnson

Adam Persenaire

MSW, LCSW, ART, EMDR

Adam is a licensed clinical social worker. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Adam considers it an honor and a privilege to serve as a small part of working towards spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical health in the lives of those who come to the ranch.

Adam Persenaire

Cheryl Comfort

MS, LPC, TF-CBT, ART

Cheryl studied Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy at John Brown University, graduating with her second Masters Degree in 2018. Cheryl is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Telehealth. Cheryl’s clinical experience includes addressing depression, anxiety, PTSD, autism, ADHD, grief, sexually maladaptive behaviors, and anger management.

Cheryl Comfort

Katie Carney

LPC

Katie Carney is a Licensed Counselor with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Brown University and a Bachelor’s degree in Leisure Service Management from Oklahoma State University. She has 15 years of experience working with adolescents and youth in various settings, including Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Club programs, summer camps, school-based therapy programs, and residential therapeutic boarding school programs.

Katie Carney

Ryan Sylvester

MS, LAC, NCC, ART

Ryan Sylvester is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). He has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology from Oklahoma Christian University and a Master’s of Science in Counseling degree from John Brown University. Ryan is trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy for trauma and related issues and practices attachment theory, existential, motivational interviewing, and other counseling modalities to fit the needs of his clients.

Ryan Sylvester

Richard Swearingen

Director of Clinical Operations

Richard began his career in psychiatric services in 2004, becoming a Registered Nurse specializing in psychiatry in 2008. He has worked in many treatment settings, and formerly served as the Director of Nursing and Crisis Intervention for an outpatient mental health facility. He also has trained hundreds of individuals in Mental Health First Aid as well as Crisis Prevention and Intervention.

Richard Swearingen
24-Hour Nursing

24-Hour Nursing

Medication Management

Medication Management

Faith

Christian, Licensed Therapists

Family Involvement in Therapy

Family Involvement in Therapy

Effective Stabilization & Treatment for Teen Boys

Evidence-Based, Christ-Centered Teen Treatment

Get the help your family needs today with a better approach to residential mental health treatment that addresses the root causes of problematic behavior with a trauma-based approach in a Christ-centered environment.

Campus Life

Campus Life

In between school and therapy, Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch creates opportunities for boys to bond as peers, offering recreation, adventure, and discipleship. Daily schedules are structured to supplement therapeutic services through personal and spiritual growth.
Learn More

Family Involvement

Family Involvement

Family involvement during treatment improves outcomes, supporting long-term recovery. Discover how TCAR incorporates the family into the therapeutic process with a look at opportunities for communication, family therapy, RECONNECT weekends, and parent-peer support.
Learn More

Outcomes

Outcomes

Our outcomes speak for themselves. Learn more about how we measure success, exploring the effectiveness of our clinical services, opportunities for personal growth, spiritual development, and our culture for fostering recovery.
Learn More