About this facility
White River Academy is a therapeutic boarding school located on the edge of Utah’s Great Basin. It supports adolescent boys facing issues such as mental health, behavioral challenges, substance use, learning difficulties, and family conflict. Through a structured, residential program, the academy combines academics and therapy to guide students toward long-term growth and success.
The program integrates evidence-based and holistic therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR, and the academy’s signature developmental vacation model. Students participate in individual and group counseling, along with family therapy that strengthens relationships and reinforces progress at home.
What sets White River apart is its use of animal and equine therapy to promote emotional connection, responsibility, and trust. Students care for and ride horses as part of their therapeutic routine. The campus’ natural surroundings provide ample opportunity for outdoor activities such as hiking and team sports. These experiences help students build resilience, discipline, and healthy peer relationships in a supportive, engaging environment.
Services
A quick overview of services associated with this facility.
Type of Care, TC, Mental health treatment; Treatment for co-occurring substance use plus either serious mental health illness in adults/serious emotional disturbance in children
Service Setting (e.g., Outpatient, Residential, Inpatient, etc.), SET, Outpatient; Partial hospitalization/day treatment; Residential/24-hour residential
Facility Type, FT, Multi-setting mental health facility (e.g., non-hospital residential plus either outpatient and/or partial hospitalization/day treatment)
Treatment Approaches, TAP, Activity therapy; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Couples/family therapy; Dialectical behavior therapy; Group therapy; Integrated Mental and Substance Use Disorder treatment; Individual psychotherapy; Abnormal involuntary movement scale
Emergency Mental Health Services, EMS, Crisis intervention team
Facility Operation (e.g., Private, Public), FOP, Private for-profit organization
Payment/Insurance/Funding Accepted, PAY, Medicaid; Private health insurance; State education agency funds; Cash or self-payment
Special Programs/Groups Offered, SG, Clients with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders; Clients who have experienced trauma; Persons with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Children/adolescents with serious emotional disturbance (SED)
Recovery Support Services, RSS, Mentoring/peer support
Facility Smoking Policy, SMP, Smoking not permitted
Age Groups Accepted, AGE, Children/Adolescents; Young Adults; Adults
Facility Vaping Policy, FVP, Vaping not permitted
Ancillary Services, AS, Court-ordered outpatient treatment; Diet and exercise counseling; Family psychoeducation; Legal advocacy; Case management service; Integrated primary care services; Suicide prevention services; Education services
