Hermes said Nathan had been to many different kinds of treatment centers and had a conversation with his family shortly before he passed away about what worked and what didn’t work.
“That conversation is the backbone to what Roots [Renewal Ranch] is,” Hermes said. “We just wanted to be able to help families so that they didn’t have to experience what we experienced.”
Located at 831 Indian Trail, Argyle, Roots Renewal Ranch is a residential treatment center for girls ages 13 to 17 who are experiencing mental health challenges, including substance use, anxiety, depression and self harm.
A closer look
The clinicians use a trauma-informed approach to address not just the behavior, but the root cause underneath. Hermes said her brother often received a “sobriety band-aid” that didn’t lead to long-term change.
“He would come back and be triggered by family or life and it would be a matter of time before he would use again,” Hermes said. “Getting down into the trauma and dealing with what’s underneath the behavior–whether that’s self harm, suicidal ideation, substance use, etc.–then you can heal.”
The 60- to 90-day program includes two individual therapy sessions and a family therapy session each week. Patients complete two-and-a-half hours of school a day as well as three hours of group therapy.
What makes it unique
Although Hermes and her family intended to open a treatment center for young boys, they realized there was a greater need in the community among young girls.
“At the time we opened, we were the first residential female-only facility in Texas,” Hermes said.
Roots Renewal Ranch utilizes a mixture of cognitive behavioral therapy, music therapy, art therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, somatic psychotherapy, and animal therapy.
“The animals are the purpose for the clients,” Hermes said. “It gives them something outside themselves to care for.”
Hermes said the goal is to give patients natural dopamine boosts that they’re not getting from technology and substances.
Another aspect of the program that sets it apart is its focus on building relationships.
“If you’re relationship-based then clients are more likely to open up and start that healing journey faster,” Hermes said.
Find out more
There are many ways community members can get involved at Roots Renewal Ranch. The center has an Empowerment Speaker series where women in the community tell their stories, Hermes said.
Individuals interested in volunteering can call the center and the program director will connect them with opportunities that fit their skill set.
Individuals and families interested in Roots Renewal Ranch’s services can call 888-399-0489 to learn more about programs and services and to speak with an intake specialist.
“Having a mental health disorder of any kind is not a life sentence,” Hermes said. “We can heal and we can get the help we need to be successful.”
- 831 Indian Trail, Argyle
- www.rootsrenewalranch.com
