Southern Peaks RTC

About Southern Peaks RTC

Southern Peaks Regional Treatment Center in Cañon City, Colorado, is a licensed psychiatric residential treatment facility for boys and girls ages 10 to 18, operated by the nonprofit Abraxas Youth & Family Services. They work with young people who have histories of complex trauma and serious emotional, behavioral, or psychiatric struggles, and they assess and treat co-occurring substance use for youth who qualify. Care is offered at two levels: a sub-acute program built around structured group and community living, and a smaller, highly individualized acute program for youth whose psychiatrist determines that level is medically necessary. An interdisciplinary team that includes the young person, their family, nurses, therapists, a psychiatrist, educators, the placing agency, and the home school district shapes each treatment plan, with the goal of helping youth return to a less restrictive setting.

Treatment combines individual, group, and family therapy with social skills training and psychiatric and medication support. Clinical approaches include trauma-focused CBT, DBT skills training, EMDR, recreational therapy that uses music, art, movement, mindfulness, and community outings, and equine-assisted therapy offered in partnership with Mini Angel Eyes. Youth keep up with school year-round, with special education support under IEPs, credit recovery, and GED options, and older teens can complete a 16-week life skills curriculum covering health, careers, college preparation, money management, housing, and risk prevention. They also run a day treatment program that provides therapeutic special education support to students from local school districts.