FAQs

Gateway is distinguished by five core touchstones:

Therapy that is individualized. Gateway therapists have expertise in multiple therapeutic methodologies and techniques. Drawing from their broad knowledge base, they design thoughtful, sophisticated treatment plans to support each youth's unique strengths and needs.

Education that is personal. Gateway teaches to each youth—not just to a curriculum. Every youth is challenged and supported within their own ability as they learn to think critically, communicate effectively, and become a life-long learner.

Exploration that is therapeutic. Gateway’s activities safely challenge teens socially, emotionally, and physically. These opportunities are a therapeutic tool to help our youth push themselves, learn how to form healthy relationships, practice cooperation, and develop life skills.

Community that is empowering. Gateway’s small, home-like environments provide the nurturing young people need to thrive and the safety to practice positive relationships. Through staff mentoring, peer interactions, group activities, and volunteer service, teens learn self-advocacy, life skills, and self-confidence.

Fitness that is focused. Gateway's youth participate in targeted exercise and deliberate physical movement in therapy, school, and their community. When movement is focused and performed at specific times, it not only improves their physical health, it also prepares the youth to learn, sparks motivation, helps regulate emotions, and enhances self-esteem.

Families play a vital role in Gateway's treatment process. Parent and family contact and involvement is crucial to each young person's healing and growth at Gateway. Beginning the first week of your child's stay, you will have weekly virtual family therapy sessions with them and their therapist. They will also have weekly social phone calls with you. Gateway also encourages unlimited letter writing and emailing of letters. Additionally, Gateway has Parent Workshops every three months, where parents attend a four-day therapeutic experience along with their teen and other parents. Parent Support and Education Groups are offered weekly via Zoom. We welcome parent visits when clinically appropriate.

Gateway's treatment philosophy centers on optimizing our youths' growth and learning through exposure to the real world and community we live in. This is why our homes are located in more urban settings that provide access to cultural, recreational and social activities in our neighborhood. As our youth progress through our phase system, their ability to interact with the community around them increases. Some of our community-based opportunities include volunteer projects, social outings, movies, water parks, weekly use of local recreation centers, etc. All of our youth, new and veteran, are able to go off campus, to participate in our Outdoor Experiential program and to engage in community activities. 

Technology is another important part of preparing our youth for life beyond Gateway. Rather than expecting students to go from highly restricted technology use to managing unlimited access independently, we believe in a gradual and intentional reintroduction of technology. As students progress through the program, they have opportunities to practice using technology in increasingly independent ways while receiving guidance and support.

Our goal is not simply to teach students how to use technology, but to help them develop a healthy and balanced relationship with it. Through technology literacy, clinical support, and real-world practice, students learn to recognize both the benefits and potential risks of technology and develop strategies for making responsible choices.

Whether navigating the community or learning to manage technology, Gateway's goal is the same: to give youth opportunities to practice, build confidence, and develop the skills they need to successfully transition back into their everyday lives.

LGBTQIA+ is an inclusive term that includes youth of all genders and sexualities, as well as individuals exploring their sexuality, gender identity, and gender expression.  At Gateway, we provide a safe and nurturing space for LGBTQIA+ youth and their families.  We respect each youth's right to individually identify gender as male, female, or nonbinary.  Gateway recognizes and supports a youth's internal sense of gender, which may be different from their assigned sex at birth.  Gateway supports gender expression, such as a youth's behavior, clothing, hairstyle, activities, mannerisms, and body characteristics.

Gateway has a flexible length of stay, based on your teen's and family’s progress in treatment. Your primary therapist and the Gateway clinical team, together with you as a parent, determine when your teen has progressed to the point where they are prepared for the next step in life. Overall, the typical length of stay for our youth ranges between eight to fourteen months.

Gateway Academy provides a small, supportive academic environment designed for students who may have struggled in traditional school settings. Our small class sizes and individualized support can be especially helpful for students experiencing school-related anxiety, school refusal, or feeling overwhelmed in a traditional classroom environment. We work to help students rebuild confidence, experience academic success, and develop a more positive relationship with learning.

Gateway’s academic program is fully accredited through Cognia and by the State of Utah, a nationally recognized accrediting organization. Our academic and clinical teams work closely together to ensure that students’ educational and therapeutic needs are addressed as part of a truly integrated program. We offer special education services for those who need them, as well as honors classes and a college prep curriculum. For more on academics at Gateway, click here.

Gateway is accredited through Cognia and thus, can accept all accredited school credits (including credits earned out of the country).

Credit earned at Gateway is transferable to any other accredited high school or college. When a student transitions to another school, we will provide a cumulative transcript that will reflect all high school credits earned, which will facilitate a seamless transition the next school.

Some wilderness and short-term treatment academic programs are accredited and others are not. If the program is accredited, all grades and credits a youth earns will be transferred into Gateway as they would from any accredited school. Typically, teens can earn credit in wilderness in English, P.E., Science, and Psychology.

If the program is not accredited, Gateway will not include any coursework or grades from the previous program on the cumulative transcript.

Gateway is not affiliated with any one specific religious organization. We strive to meet the religious needs of those youth who request participation in their chosen denomination.

Yes! We are licensed to work with adolescent boys and transgender students ages 13 - 17. On occasion we can consider enrolling an eighteen-year-old. Please call the Admissions Office to discuss this further if your child falls in this age group. 

Yes, we work with many school districts throughout the nation, several of which we directly contract with. We are an approved NPA/NPS in several states. If you are working with a school district to help fund your youth's stay at Gateway, we can help.  Please contact the admissions office to discuss how we can assist you in working with your school district.

Yes, we work with many insurance carriers.  Gateway is licensed by the State of Utah to provide Residential Treatment Services.  Whether you will receive coverage for Gateway's services will be dependent on the terms of your personal insurance policy.  Navigating insurance for mental health services is a complicated and challenging road.  We work with insurance billing agencies that are experts in the mental health world, who can help you determine what coverage you have, and help you bill your insurance carrier.

Yes. Most of the adolescents we serve struggle with anxiety that interferes with school, relationships, or daily life. Through individualized therapy, group therapy, mindfulness practices and mindful movement, family involvement, academics, and experiential learning, we help students develop healthier coping skills, build resilience, and gain greater confidence.

For students whose anxiety is connected to past difficulties or negative experiences at school, our small and supportive academic environment can provide an opportunity to rebuild confidence. With small class sizes, individualized attention, and a strong emphasis on relationships, students can experience academic success in a setting where they feel supported rather than overwhelmed. Over time, this can help students develop a more positive relationship with learning and greater confidence in their ability to succeed.

We also recognize that technology overuse can contribute to or intensify anxiety for some adolescents. Rather than simply removing technology, Gateway takes an intentional, gradual approach to reintroducing it. As students progress through the program, they have opportunities to practice using technology in healthy and balanced ways while learning to recognize its benefits, risks, and impact on their emotional well-being.

Our Outdoor Experiential program provides another important opportunity for students to manage anxiety in healthy ways. Time outdoors, fresh air, physical activity, and learning new activities can help students step away from stress and discover healthy outlets they can turn to when they are feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

Our goal is to help each student develop a toolbox of healthy strategies for managing anxiety while continuing to grow emotionally, socially, and academically.

Choosing a therapeutic program for your child can be an incredibly difficult and emotional decision. As a parent, you may be wondering if you’ve tried everything, whether your child is ready for this level of support, and whether Gateway is truly the right fit. You don’t have to make that decision alone. Our Admissions team is available to answer your questions, discuss your family’s unique situation, learn about your child, and help you determine the most appropriate next step.

Gateway Academy may be a good fit for adolescents who are struggling with emotional, behavioral, or academic challenges that have not improved with traditional outpatient therapy or school-based support. We work with students experiencing anxiety, depression, school refusal, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, ASD Level 1, trauma, emotional dysregulation, technology overuse/misuse, family conflict, low self-esteem, and difficulty succeeding in traditional school settings.

Our integrated, relationship and research-based approach combines individualized therapy, family involvement, accredited academics, and experiential learning within a structured residential environment. Typically, our students have not experienced sufficient success with outpatient or school-based support alone.

Our goal during the admissions process is not simply to enroll students—it is to understand your child and determine whether Gateway is an appropriate fit for their individual needs.

Absolutely. We encourage prospective families to visit our campus to learn more about Gateway Academy, meet members of our team (including our sweet therapy dog Hope), and experience our community firsthand. Touring campus is a great way to ask questions, explore our academic and residential environment, and determine whether Gateway is the right fit for your family.

Once a student is enrolled, family involvement remains an important part of the treatment process. We welcome family visits at appropriate times during your child's stay and encourage ongoing participation in their journey. We also host quarterly parent workshops that provide education, support, and opportunities to connect with other Gateway families. These workshops are designed to strengthen family relationships and help parents feel confident supporting their adolescent's continued growth and success.

We understand that families often reach out during a stressful time and may need support as quickly as possible. Our admissions team does everything we can to accommodate each family's timeline while ensuring that Gateway Academy is the right fit for your adolescent.

Our admissions process is thorough and individualized. We carefully review your application, previous evaluations and assessments, educational records, and other relevant documentation. We also spend time getting to know your family by talking with parents about their child's history, strengths, challenges, and goals. Your perspective is an essential part of the admissions process and helps us understand your adolescent beyond what is captured in reports and records.

When appropriate, we also consult with therapists, educational consultants, physicians, and other professionals involved in your child's care to gain a comprehensive understanding of their needs.

This thoughtful approach helps us determine whether Gateway can provide the level of support your adolescent needs and allows us to begin developing an individualized plan for a successful transition into our program. Throughout the process, our admissions team will communicate closely with your family and work diligently to move forward as efficiently as possible.

Bullying can have a significant impact on a teenager’s confidence, relationships, emotional well-being, and willingness to participate in school or social activities. At Gateway Academy, we help students process these experiences, rebuild their sense of self-worth, and develop healthier ways to respond to difficult social situations.

We recognize that bullying can extend beyond the school environment into the digital world. Through our technology literacy program, students learn how to recognize and respond to online bullying, navigate difficult social interactions in digital spaces, and understand the potential impact and risks of participating in or contributing to cyberbullying. As technology is gradually reintroduced, students have opportunities to practice making responsible choices and developing a healthier relationship with technology.

Through individualized and group therapy, supportive relationships, and our small academic environment, students have opportunities to feel understood, supported, and successful. Our Outdoor Experiential program also gives students opportunities to try new activities, challenge themselves, work through discomfort, and experience success outside of the classroom. These experiences can help students recognize their strengths and build confidence in their ability to handle challenges.

Our goal is to help students move forward from difficult experiences with greater confidence, stronger coping skills, and a better understanding of how to build healthy relationships—both in person and online.

School refusal is often a symptom of an underlying challenge rather than the problem itself. Anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, learning differences, executive functioning issues, technology overuse, bullying, social difficulties, or overwhelming stress can all contribute to a teen's inability to attend school consistently.

At Gateway Academy, we take the time to understand the factors contributing to each student's school refusal and develop an individualized plan to address those underlying needs. Through a combination of therapeutic support, accredited academics, executive functioning coaching, and a structured, nurturing environment, students gradually rebuild confidence, develop healthy coping skills, and re-engage with learning.

One of the hallmarks of our program is the close collaboration between our clinical and academic teams. Rather than working independently, therapists, teachers, and mentors communicate regularly to ensure each student's emotional and educational needs are addressed together. This integrated approach allows us to provide consistent support, make thoughtful adjustments as students progress, and create an environment where therapeutic growth and academic success reinforce one another.

Our goal is not simply to get adolescents back into a classroom, but to help them feel emotionally safe, capable, and successful as learners. By addressing both the emotional and academic aspects of school refusal, we help students regain confidence in themselves and establish a foundation for long-term success both in school and beyond.

Yes. Many parents contact us because they're concerned that their teen spends too much time on their phone, social media, video games, or other digital devices. Excessive technology use can affect sleep, school performance, relationships, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life.

At Gateway Academy, we recognize that technology is an essential part of everyday life, and today's adolescents need to learn how to navigate a digital world—not avoid it altogether. Our goal is not simply to limit technology use, but to help students develop healthy, responsible, and intentional habits that will serve them long after they leave Gateway Academy. Our clinical team works with each student to understand the role technology plays in their life and address any underlying emotional or behavioral concerns that may be contributing to unhealthy patterns of use.

We educate students about the potential risks associated with excessive screen time, social media, gaming, pornography, and online interactions while helping them develop practical strategies for creating healthier boundaries and making thoughtful choices. We re-introduce technology slowly and intentionally.

Our structured residential environment provides opportunities for students to reconnect with peers, engage in meaningful activities, build real-world relationships, and discover interests beyond their screens. By the time students transition home, our hope is that they have developed the awareness, skills, and confidence to use technology as a positive tool—one that supports their well-being rather than controls their lives. Additionally, we provide parents with support and education about managing technology in the home.

Outpatient therapy can be an effective and important resource for many adolescents, but some teens need a higher level of support to make meaningful progress. If your child continues to struggle despite participating in therapy, or if emotional, behavioral, or academic challenges are significantly affecting their daily life, relationships, safety, or ability to function, it may be time to consider a more comprehensive level of care.

Families often seek additional support when a teen is experiencing challenges such as persistent anxiety or depression, school refusal, declining academic performance, social isolation, emotional dysregulation, family conflict, difficulty with independence, or challenges related to trauma or significant life transitions.

At Gateway Academy, we provide an integrated therapeutic and academic environment designed to support adolescents who need more than weekly therapy alone. Our clinical and academic teams work closely together to address the whole student—emotional well-being, relationships, learning needs, and personal growth. Through individualized therapy, family involvement, structured routines, and meaningful academic support, students have the opportunity to develop the skills and confidence needed for lasting success.

Determining the right level of care is an important decision, and every adolescent’s needs are unique. Our admissions team is available to help families understand their options, answer questions, and explore whether Gateway Academy may be an appropriate fit for their child.

At Gateway Academy, being owner-operated means that leadership is personally invested in the success of every student, family, and staff member. Our owners are actively involved in the day-to-day life of the academy—not removed from it. They are present on campus, accessible to families, engaged with students, and work alongside our team to ensure that Gateway's mission and values remain at the heart of every decision.

This hands-on approach helps preserve the culture and relationships that have defined Gateway since 2002. Decisions are made with students' best interests in mind, guided by the long-term vision of the program rather than short-term business priorities. Families can feel confident knowing that the people leading Gateway are deeply connected to the community and committed to maintaining the personalized, relationship-centered environment that has helped more than 1,000 families over the past two decades.

For us, being owner-operated isn't simply a business model—it's a commitment to remaining present, accountable, and personally invested in helping every adolescent and family who entrusts us with their journey.

Gateway Academy supports adolescents with ADHD and executive functioning challenges through a comprehensive, individualized approach that addresses both their academic and emotional needs. We recognize that even bright, capable teens can struggle with organization, time management, planning, motivation, emotional regulation, and follow-through.

Our small class sizes of 4–6 students allow teachers to provide individualized attention and support while helping students develop greater confidence and independence. Special education support is also available for students who need it, ensuring that academic instruction and accommodations are responsive to each student's individual learning needs.

Rather than focusing only on the behaviors parents may see—such as procrastination, disorganization, missed assignments, or difficulty managing daily responsibilities—we work to understand the underlying factors contributing to these challenges. ADHD and executive functioning difficulties may occur alongside anxiety, depression, learning differences, or emotional stress, so our approach addresses the whole adolescent rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis.

Our clinical, academic, and residential teams work closely together to provide consistent support and coaching throughout the day. Students receive individualized academic support, therapeutic services, structured routines, and opportunities to practice executive functioning skills in real-world situations. Strategies introduced in therapy are reinforced in the classroom, during daily routines, and through interactions with staff and peers.

Every Gateway student also participates in Learning Strategies, a dedicated course designed to explicitly teach and strengthen executive functioning skills. Through instruction, guided practice, and real-world application, students develop practical strategies they can continue using long after they leave Gateway.

Learning Strategies addresses skills such as:

• Planning and prioritizing tasks

• Time management and organization

• Goal setting and follow-through

• Emotional regulation and frustration tolerance

• Flexible thinking and problem-solving

• Study and learning strategies

• Self-advocacy and communication

• Independent decision-making and responsibility

Our goal is not for adults to manage these responsibilities for students, but to help adolescents gradually build the skills, confidence, and independence to manage them for themselves. With consistent support and repeated opportunities to practice across academics, therapy, residential life, and the Learning Strategies curriculum, students can strengthen the skills they need to navigate school, relationships, and everyday life with greater confidence.

Gateway Academy is known for providing a relationship-based, evidence-informed approach that supports the whole adolescent—not just the challenges they are experiencing.

At the heart of Gateway is the belief that meaningful growth happens through strong, trusting relationships. Our students are known as individuals, not defined by a diagnosis. We take the time to understand each adolescent’s strengths, experiences, goals, and needs while creating a supportive community where they can build confidence, develop skills, and reconnect with their potential.

Our program combines compassionate, relationship-centered care with evidence-based therapeutic practices. Our clinical team uses proven approaches tailored to each student's unique needs while continually evaluating progress and adjusting support to help students achieve meaningful growth.

A defining feature of Gateway is our true integration across all areas of the program. Our clinical, academic, and residential teams work closely together every day to provide a consistent and coordinated approach. Rather than therapy, academics, and residential life operating separately, each department collaborates to ensure that every aspect of a student's experience supports their emotional growth, academic success, and personal development.

This integrated model allows us to address the whole adolescent—helping students strengthen relationships, develop healthy coping skills, build confidence, and prepare for success beyond Gateway.

One of the ways in which we reintroduce technology is through our partnership with Bark Phones. At Gateway, we believe technology is an important part of life—and learning how to use it in a healthy, responsible way is an important life skill. For students who have struggled with screen dependence, social media, online relationships, or other challenges related to technology use, simply returning to unrestricted access may not be the best approach.

As students progress through Gateway, we gradually reintroduce technology in a structured and intentional way. Our partnership with Bark Phones allows us to provide students with access to a phone (typically around week 6) while maintaining appropriate safeguards and support as they develop healthier technology habits.

Bark Phones give us tools to help monitor and manage aspects of a student's phone use while allowing students to begin practicing the skills they will need outside of Gateway. This creates an opportunity to address technology use in real time, rather than simply talking about responsible technology use in theory.

Our goal isn't to keep students from technology. It is to teach them how to use it well.

As part of Gateway's technology literacy approach, students learn to recognize the benefits and risks of technology, understand how their choices affect their well-being and relationships, and develop the skills needed to make responsible decisions.

The gradual reintroduction of technology also allows our clinical, academic, and residential teams to work together. We can help students identify challenges, practice new strategies, and build confidence before they transition home.

Ultimately, our partnership with Bark Phones is about creating a bridge between the highly structured environment of Gateway and the real world our students will return to—where technology is part of everyday life. We want students to leave Gateway not simply knowing how to use technology, but feeling confident in their ability to manage it in a healthy and balanced way.

We believe senior year is about more than earning a diploma—it’s about preparing students to confidently take their next step.

Every Gateway senior participates in our College & Career Readiness course, a yearlong experience designed to guide students through the decisions and practical steps involved in life after high school. During the fall, students explore colleges, majors, and career pathways, complete college applications, and build profiles on platforms such as Common App, College Board, ACT, Niche, and Raise.me. Students also have opportunities to experience college firsthand through campus visits.

Throughout the process, Gateway provides individualized support with applications, research, planning, and decision-making, helping students navigate what can otherwise feel like an overwhelming process.

In the spring, the focus shifts from “Where am I going?” to “How will I succeed once I get there?” Students explore practical skills for the transition to adulthood, including college success strategies, independent living, internships, job searches, trades, and structured gap-year opportunities.

And while college is an important pathway, it isn’t the only one. Whether a student plans to attend a four-year university, community college, enter the workforce, pursue a trade, complete an internship, or take a structured gap year, our goal is the same: to help every graduate leave Gateway prepared for what comes next.

At Gateway, college and career readiness isn’t just about getting students accepted—it’s about helping them become ready to succeed.