Who We Serve
Supporting Adolescents Through Challenge
Summit serves adolescents ages 13 to 19 from around the world who are navigating anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, and other challenges that impact their family life, school performance, and sense of self. We consider each student individually to ensure Summit is the right fit and the right level of care.
If you’re wondering whether Summit might be right for your child, we encourage you to reach out. Our Admissions team is here to discuss your family’s unique situation and help you determine the best path forward.
Common Challenges We Address
Students at Summit are often working through one or more of the following:
Emotional + Mental Health
- Anxiety and depression
- Low self-esteem and lack of motivation
- Difficulty processing grief or loss
- ADHD and executive functioning challenges
Academic
- Profound academic challenges
- Learning differences, including Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 and non-verbal learning disorders
- Avoidance of responsibility
Identity and Gender
- Questions about gender identity or sexual orientation
- Navigating life as a transgender, gender non-conforming, or gender fluid adolescent
- Family dynamics around identity and acceptance
- Building confidence in one’s authentic self
Social + Behavioral
- Poor decision-making and impulsivity
- Defiance toward authority
- Difficulty with social skills and peer relationships
- Susceptibility to negative peer pressure
- School refusal or truancy
Family + Personal
- Adoption-related struggles
- Substance experimentation or misuse
- Technology and social media overuse
- Refusing or avoiding accountability for behavior
When Summit May Not Be the Right Fit
Summit is a residential treatment center, not a higher level of psychiatric care. We’re not able to serve students who:
- Are actively suicidal or experiencing active psychosis, severe depression, or mania
- Have eating disorders not in remission
- Have poorly controlled dissociative or panic disorders
- Have medical conditions that are difficult to manage in a residential setting (such as Type I Diabetes)
- Have physical conditions that would significantly restrict program participation
- Demonstrate sexual predatory behavior or victimization of others
- Have significant involvement with the legal system
- Have a significant history of assaultive conduct or bullying behavior
- Have substance dependence with a likelihood of acute withdrawal symptoms
- Have a significant pattern of running away
- Refuse to enroll or engage with programming
- History of trauma
- Attachment difficulties
Cases We Consider Carefully
Some students may be appropriate for Summit depending on the specifics of their situation. We carefully evaluate students who:
- Have a Full Scale IQ below 90
- Have shown physical aggression only in the home setting
- Have a history of self-harm, suicidal ideation, or eating disorders that are now stabilized
- Have prodromal psychiatric symptoms
- Have learning challenges that require significant accommodation
- Have shown some aggressive behavior that isn’t part of a long-standing pattern
Let’s Talk About Your Family
Every student’s situation is unique. These guidelines help us determine fit, but we always consider each adolescent individually. If you’re unsure whether Summit is right for your child, please reach out to our Admissions Director to discuss your particular circumstances.