Mountain Valley Treatment Center

Mountain Valley Treatment Center Not-For-Profit Residential Treatment Center located in Plainfield, NH for Adolescent Anxiety

The mission of the not for profit Mountain Valley Treatment Center is to provide evidence based treatment for anxiety, OCD and related disorders through a comprehensive and collaborative therapeutic milieu within a structured environment. Mountain Valley is one of only a few residential treatment centers in the United States that focuses exclusively on the specialized needs of adolescents with OCD and anxiety disorders. Mountain Valley specializes in the treatment of the following anxiety disorders: Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Social Phobia, Specific Phobias, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). While anxiety disorders are occasionally experienced in isolation, more commonly they are experienced concurrently with one another (e.g., PTSD and Panic Disorder). The three most common anxiety disorders treated in residential treatment are: 1) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), 2) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and 3) Panic Disorder/Agoraphobia. These types of anxiety commonly cause the most impairment in a child’s daily life, and will therefore most commonly warrant intensive residential treatment. Mountain Valley offers the highest level of professional and compassionate care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Bordering the White Mountain National Forest, our 1800 acre setting offers a range of enjoyable activities and opportunities for experiential learning and to complement the treatment of anxiety. Our rural treatment setting provides a much needed and approachable alternative to the often intimidating and stigmatizing setting of some psychiatric hospitals or large residential treatment centers. Most individuals served by Mountain Valley have struggled to attend school consistently or have limited engagement in social activities due to their anxiety. We strongly believe that these circumstances are an indicator that more focused and intensive residential treatment is needed at such a critical developmental juncture. Residents stay typically stay 90 to 120 days, with length of stay being predicted by the intensity of their anxiety, the presence of co-occurring conditions, and progress in treatment.

"The most rewarding part is making an impact on someone early enough, then getting to see them live a beautiful life. So...
12/16/2025

"The most rewarding part is making an impact on someone early enough, then getting to see them live a beautiful life. Some of my clients still stay in touch with me and it’s incredible to get their updates.”

From Long Island to Vermont, Senior Clinician Antoinette Moody brings years of experience in community mental health—and finds Mountain Valley to be her most rewarding job. Read more:

https://mountainvalleytreatment.org/staff-spotlight-antoinette-moody/

Congratulations to our Executive Director Zack Schafer, MS, OTR/L! He received the 2025 Rising Star Award from the New H...
12/14/2025

Congratulations to our Executive Director Zack Schafer, MS, OTR/L! He received the 2025 Rising Star Award from the New Hampshire Occupational Therapy Association . The award goes to a recent graduate with five years or less of professional service in the field of occupational therapy. This individual should demonstrate outstanding professionalism, service, and leadership—Zack certainly meets all of those criteria, and we're proud to have him leading our program!

12/13/2025

Why are so many teens struggling with anxiety right now—and what can parents actually do to help? In this episode, Zack speaks with psychologist Dr. Rachel Gingold, who brings nearly 30 years of experience treating adolescents and families. Together, they unpack how the COVID years disrupted social development, increased avoidance, and intensified anxiety for teens everywhere.

https://mountainvalleytreatment.org/resources/podcast/

📸 from our holiday party with staff and families over the weekend, thanks to Lui Lui for the hospitality!
12/10/2025

📸 from our holiday party with staff and families over the weekend, thanks to Lui Lui for the hospitality!

Christmas came early and one of our vans got a big upgrade, thanks to generous donors! We recently received a new Ford T...
12/09/2025

Christmas came early and one of our vans got a big upgrade, thanks to generous donors! We recently received a new Ford Transit AWD Passenger Van XLT, perfect for many miles of adventures and memory making. Thank you to the House family, Ford Motor Company and Hillsboro Ford for making this new ride possible!

❄ All smiles on a snow day! ❄
12/03/2025

❄ All smiles on a snow day! ❄

We're excited to welcome a new occupational therapist to the MV team! Renee Horst, MS, OTR/L brings a wide range of clin...
12/01/2025

We're excited to welcome a new occupational therapist to the MV team!

Renee Horst, MS, OTR/L brings a wide range of clinical experience to Mountain Valley. She has worked in home health, outpatient, inpatient, and skilled nursing settings, serving individuals from infancy through older adulthood. Her background has given her a strong appreciation for developmental nuance, sensory attunement, and the importance of hands-on, experiential work.

Renee completed her bachelor's and master's degree at the University of Southern Maine, and she discovered Mountain Valley while preparing to return to New England. As she learned more about the program, she immediately recognized aspects of her own adolescence in the experiences of the young people we serve. Her history of intense anxiety, avoidance, and fear of judgment informs her deep empathy for residents and her belief in their capacity to build skills, confidence, and meaningful change.

Before becoming an occupational therapist, Renee worked in group home settings supporting older adults with complex behavioral histories who required continuous supervision. That early experience shaped her commitment to trauma-informed practice and her appreciation for environments that prioritize safety, structure, and warmth.

Outside of Mountain Valley, Renee loves reading—especially nonfiction—spending time outdoors, taking on home improvement projects, and being with family. She brings steadiness, creativity, and a grounded presence to the OT team and is grateful for the opportunity to support residents as they take brave steps toward growth. Renee lives in Lebanon, New Hampshire, with her husband and son.

11/30/2025

In a new Fear Less episode, Zack talks with Dr. Will White about the hidden ways men experience fear, anxiety, and major life transitions. Will shares candid stories from fatherhood, leadership, loss, and aging, while Zack reflects on overworking, anger, and becoming a father again. Together they highlight how men often express anxiety through anger, shutting down, or work—rather than naming it for what it is:

https://mountainvalleytreatment.org/resources/podcast/

While there's a lot of emphasis on feeling thankful around the holidays, sometimes it's a lot easier said than done. The...
11/28/2025

While there's a lot of emphasis on feeling thankful around the holidays, sometimes it's a lot easier said than done. The stress of the season can make remembering the good things harder than ever. And the research is clear: intentionally practicing gratitude is good for both mental and physical health. However you're feeling this season, here are three tips to jumpstart your own gratitude practice:

https://mountainvalleytreatment.org/gratitude-mental-health/

Our executive director Zack Schafer and his wife recently welcomed a daughter to their growing family! In a new solo Fea...
11/20/2025

Our executive director Zack Schafer and his wife recently welcomed a daughter to their growing family! In a new solo Fear Less podcast episode, he reflects on the arrival of baby Meli and how becoming a parent again reshaped his understanding of fear and anxiety. He revisits the worries he had before his first child’s birth—fears about not having life perfectly organized—and how becoming a dad taught him that anxiety doesn’t disappear, but you learn you can handle uncertainty anyway:

https://mountainvalleytreatment.org/resources/podcast/

"I love grad days, because it shows how the residents have grown so immensely. It’s very rewarding to see the rectifica...
11/20/2025

"I love grad days, because it shows how the residents have grown so immensely. It’s very rewarding to see the rectification that happens between parents and kids, especially since I’m a dad."

Spotlighting our Milieu Support Specialist TJ Baumann, who turned an early dislike of school into a passion for teaching (from hang gliding and skiing to Mountain Valley):

https://mountainvalleytreatment.org/staff-spotlight-tj-baumann/

Life at MV lately includes: ✔️Checking off a challenging hike ✔️Kitty love ✔️Learning how to crochet in collaboration wi...
11/17/2025

Life at MV lately includes:

✔️Checking off a challenging hike
✔️Kitty love
✔️Learning how to crochet in collaboration with our occupational and recreational therapists
✔️Sushi thanks to Chef Aric 😋

Address

703 River Road
Plainfield, NH
03781

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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Our Story

The mission of the not for profit Mountain Valley Treatment Center is to provide evidence based treatment for anxiety, OCD and related disorders through a comprehensive and collaborative therapeutic milieu within a structured environment. Mountain Valley is one of only a few residential treatment centers in the United States that focuses exclusively on the specialized needs of adolescents with OCD and anxiety disorders. Mountain Valley specializes in the treatment of the following anxiety disorders: Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Social Phobia, Specific Phobias, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). While anxiety disorders are occasionally experienced in isolation, more commonly they are experienced concurrently with one another (e.g., PTSD and Panic Disorder). The three most common anxiety disorders treated in residential treatment are: 1) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), 2) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and 3) Panic Disorder/Agoraphobia. These types of anxiety commonly cause the most impairment in a child’s daily life, and will therefore most commonly warrant intensive residential treatment. Mountain Valley offers the highest level of professional and compassionate care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Located in the Upper Valley/Dartmouth College region of New Hampshire, our 25 acre setting offers a range of enjoyable activities and opportunities for experiential learning and to complement the treatment of anxiety. Our rural treatment setting provides a much needed and approachable alternative to the often intimidating and stigmatizing setting of some psychiatric hospitals or large residential treatment centers. Most individuals served by Mountain Valley have struggled to attend school consistently or have limited engagement in social activities due to their anxiety. We strongly believe that these circumstances are an indicator that more focused and intensive residential treatment is needed at such a critical developmental juncture. Residents stay typically stay 90 to 120 days, with length of stay being predicted by the intensity of their anxiety, the presence of co-occurring conditions, and progress in treatment.