North Carolina’s best residential mental health facilities offer 24-hour care and a wide range of treatment options to help people achieve recovery from their conditions. For people dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders, or co-occurring substance use, residential treatment removes the distractions of daily life and is considered absolutely essential for people with complex or severe mental health issues.
Programs in North Carolina range from teen-focused facilities and gender-specific programs to centers specializing in eating disorders and young adult transitional living. Treatment lengths typically run 60 to 90 days or longer, with many programs incorporating experiential therapies like adventure therapy, animal therapy, and nature-based programming.
List Of North Carolina’s Best Mental Health Treatment Centers
We know that it can be challenging to find just the right residential mental health treatment facility for yourself or a loved one. That’s why we assembled this list, with some of the best options and locations in the state of North Carolina.
1. Carolina Residential Services (CRS), Lenoir, North Carolina
Carolina Residential Services, Inc. provides residential treatment for individuals with mental health disorders and/or developmental disabilities, as well as support for their families. Their facility has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) since 2009, and in that time, they have been working in collaboration with the community, empowering clients to experience personal satisfaction and to live with dignity in their communities.
The five residential programs at CRS are staffed by professionals committed to safety, respect, and compassion, providing high-quality care to every resident. The services provided here focus on a person’s assessed strengths, rather than on their present barriers, diagnoses, or deficits. They do this by assisting people with individualized and person-directed treatment. Some of the skills and services provided include family integration and interaction, physical health services, peer support and involvement, and teaching independent living skills. They also focus on the residents’ educational goals, employment skills, and personal interests.
Location and contact information:
247 Commercial Ct. NE
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 757-5710
2. The Emily Program, Durham, North Carolina
The Emily Program has two residential treatment centers in North Carolina. One is for children, adolescents, and adults, and another is for adults only. These CARF-accredited facilities are well-known as places of hope and healing and have a track record of providing incredible care to all their residents.
The list of treatment options is extensive. Group psychotherapy and family therapy here aim to bolster the residents’ sense of community, while individual psychiatric care allows for introspection and self-acceptance. Nutrition and movement therapy are provided to help people reconnect with and take care of their bodies in healthier and more constructive ways. Medical care is also available throughout the process. Experiential activities and expressive arts allow for much-needed self-expression. No matter your experience with disordered eating, the caregivers at the Emily Program will be there for you every step of the way.
Location and contact information:
4024 Stirrup Creek Dr.
Ste. #200
Durham, NC 27703
(984) 246-0455
3. Green Hill Recovery, Raleigh, North Carolina
With an impressive 4.7-star rating on Google Reviews, Green Hill Recovery offers a clinically-driven, recovery-centered mental health program for young men in North Carolina. More specifically, one of their programs is a residential transitional living program, intended to ease residents into the first year of recovery from substance abuse or mental health conditions.
At this facility, the staff emphasize that recovery is, in part, about rediscovering fun. The young men in this treatment program can expect to stay busy: they will be exploring culture and entertainment in Raleigh, taking cooking lessons or entrepreneurship courses, volunteering in their community, and more.
The compassionate team here is trained in a variety of treatment modalities, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing and enhancement therapy (MET), mindfulness-based activities, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and more. They also specialize in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), also known as acceptance-based behavioral therapy (ABBT), which has been shown to reduce self-stigma.
Location and contact information:
6124 St Giles St.
Raleigh, NC 27612
(984) 204-1106
4. Momentum Recovery, Wilmington, North Carolina
Momentum Recovery in North Carolina is a Joint Commission-accredited facility that offers a unique, four-step recovery program for young adults experiencing mental health and substance use disorders. The first step in this treatment involves residential care. There are two tracks of treatment offered here. The Cove program for young women and the Creek program for young men. Both tracks involve treating mental health conditions and symptoms, such as bipolar disorder, mood disorders, anxiety, disordered eating, aggression, apathy, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), self-harm, depression, and more.
Treatment methods include CBT, DBT, art therapy, group therapy, peer support, and a variety of others, including an alumni network. They also place a big emphasis on adventure and experiential therapy, with activities such as surfing, diving, fishing, kayaking, and other water-based activities.
Location and contact information:
5027 Wrightsville Ave.
Wilmington, NC 28403
(888) 528-3361
5. Newport Academy, Charlotte, North Carolina
Research has consistently shown that residential mental health services have incredible benefits for adolescents, providing support, structure, and a caring community throughout the healing process. Newport Academy, which provides residential treatment for teens aged 12 to 18 in North Carolina, makes sure that each resident’s individualized treatment plan incorporates clinical, experiential, and academic elements to address their unique situation.
This Joint Commission-accredited and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)-partnered facility can treat anxiety, depression, mood disorders, or co-occurring issues, such as substance abuse, self-harm, or disordered eating. They can also provide psychological assessment for teens unsure of their mental health condition.
Some of the treatment methods offered here include CBT, family therapy, MET, music and art therapy, ACT, DBT, emotional freedom technique (EFT, also known as tapping), EMDR, yoga, adventure therapy, mindfulness techniques, animal therapy, and more. Newport Academy works with most major insurance companies, both in-network and out-of-network, to ensure that your teen is well taken care of throughout their stay.
Location and contact information:
10450 Brief Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28227
(833) 452-0063
6. Red Oak Recovery, Leicester, North Carolina
Red Oak Recovery is a men’s residential drug and mental health rehab center that offers a wide range of treatment options. Conditions such as mood disorders, OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, eating disorders, and depression are treated here. Anger management is also available, as well as grief counseling and trauma therapy.
Red Oak Recovery is CARF-accredited and a member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP). It provides a variety of treatments and therapeutic options, such as CBT, DBT, adventure therapy, EMDR, animal therapy, and nature therapy, which are conducted on-site.
Location and contact information:
631 Willow Creek Rd.
Leicester, NC 28748
(828) 795-9875
7. Residential Treatment Services Of Alamance, Burlington, North Carolina
Established in 1971, Residential Treatment Services of Alamance has three residential care facilities throughout the state of North Carolina. In their 50 years of service, their CARF-accredited facilities have remained dedicated to improving the lives of adults with mental health conditions, substance abuse disorders, and both.
The experienced staff at these facilities draw on their extensive experience to design individualized recovery programs for every resident, which provide them with essential resources to build strong, sustainable paths to recovery. These programs can include crisis stabilization, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), transitional living, and educational programs, all within a home-like residential setting.
Location and contact information:
136 Hall Ave.
Burlington, NC 27217
(336) 222-1737
How We Chose The Top Mental Health Facilities In North Carolina
Each facility on this list was carefully vetted using a variety of criteria.
Selection criteria includes:
- Accreditation and Licensure: Programs must hold current accreditation from the Joint Commission or CARF, or maintain active state licensure from North Carolina’s relevant regulatory bodies.
- Residential Treatment Availability: Only facilities offering structured, on-site residential care were considered, since this level of support is central to effective treatment for complex psychiatric conditions.
- Evidence-Based Treatment: Each facility must offer clinically proven therapies such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, or trauma-informed care as core components of their programming.
- Specialized Programs: Facilities serving specific populations, including adolescents, young adults, men, or those with eating disorders or co-occurring disorders, were given extra consideration.
- Client Satisfaction: Google ratings, past client testimonials, and overall reputation within North Carolina’s behavioral health community are important indicators of quality.
- Notable Affiliations and Memberships: Partnerships with organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) were considered as additional markers of credibility.
Browse our directory for more helpful information about addiction and mental health recovery centers.
FAQs About The Best Mental Health Rehab Programs In North Carolina
Learn more about the facilities providing residential mental health care in the state of North Carolina.
Will Insurance Cover The Cost Of My Residential Mental Health Care In North Carolina?
In many cases, insurance providers will work with residential mental health centers in North Carolina to cover the cost of treatment. This is not a guarantee, however. It is recommended that you contact both the treatment center and your insurance provider before starting treatment to verify your level of coverage.
How Long Is Residential Mental Health Treatment In North Carolina?
The length of time that treatment takes will often depend on the needs of the person. It will usually take several weeks, with many North Carolina facilities offering 60 or 90-day treatment plans. Some facilities provide care for even longer periods for people with severe mental illness or co-occurring drug or alcohol addiction.
What Types Of Mental Health Conditions Are Treated At Residential Facilities In North Carolina?
North Carolina’s residential mental health centers treat a broad range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and personality disorders. Many facilities also offer dual diagnosis treatment for people managing a co-occurring substance use disorder alongside a mental health condition.
Is Residential Mental Health Treatment The Right Choice?
Residential treatment is generally the better fit when symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily functioning, when outpatient treatment hasn’t produced results, or when a person needs distance from an unstable home environment. A mental health professional or primary care provider can conduct a clinical assessment and help determine which level of care is most appropriate.
Do North Carolina Mental Health Rehab Centers Accept Pregnant Women?
Some mental health facilities in North Carolina will accept pregnant women, but not all do. Pregnancy poses specific challenges to the treatment process, and facilities must have the resources available to address any medical complications that arise. Contact the rehabilitation center of your choice to verify that they offer adequate services for pregnant women.
Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.
These include peer-reviewed journals, government entities and academic institutions, and leaders in addiction healthcare and advocacy. Learn more about how we safeguard our content by viewing our editorial policy.
- American Psychological Association (APA) — The mindful way through self-stigma: An open pilot study of a single-session acceptance-based behavioral therapy workshop for mental health self-stigma
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2025-81114-001 - National Library of Medicine (NLM) — Effectiveness of residential treatment services for veterans with substance use disorders: A propensity score matching evaluation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38211367/ - National Library of Medicine (NLM) — Mental disorders into adulthood among adolescents placed in residential care: A prospective 10-year follow-up study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35730184/ - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) — Find treatment
https://findtreatment.gov/