Who We Help
Support for Each Child's Journey
A Path to Healing for Every
Child and Family
At Sandhill Center, we provide a nurturing environment for children ages 8 to 13 who need more than traditional therapies can offer. Since 2004, our neuroregulatory approach has helped address the root causes of dysregulation, fostering emotional growth, healthier relationships, and lasting progress. With a focus on compassionate individualized care, we guide children and families toward meaningful and transformative change.
Issues We TreatWe Can Help
Sandhill Center specializes in assisting children who struggle to regulate their emotional states, often leading to challenges in home, school, or community settings. Our therapeutic approach addresses issues such as emotional dysregulation, social difficulties, and resistance to adult guidance, providing a path toward healing and improved relationships.
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A common challenge among children referred to Sandhill, regardless of diagnosis, is difficulty regulating their emotions. This often manifests as temper tantrums, verbal aggression, or mild to moderate physical aggression toward others, themselves, or property. Many of these children face rejection and failure in school and social settings. Their behaviors are frequently misunderstood as spoiled or willful misbehavior, rather than a struggle to manage intense emotions. At Sandhill Center, our neuroregulatory approach supports children in developing emotional management skills, fostering better relationships and a stronger sense of acceptance and worth.
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Our neuroregulatory approach is highly effective for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Recognizing that these children often do not respond to traditional behavior modification methods, we use diverse strategies to address social skill deficits, sensory integration challenges, rigidity, and other hallmarks of ASD. Tools like the squeeze machine developed by Temple Grandin and other sensory supports help improve self-regulation. Our small, home-like environment offers nurturing, individualized attention without causing overstimulation or overwhelm.
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Some children exhibit unsafe or reckless behavior, such as self-harm (e.g., head banging, scratching), running off without regard for safety, or lashing out impulsively. These actions are often driven by dysregulation and impulsivity rather than intent. Young children naturally lack full awareness of risks or consequences, and for children at Sandhill Center, this lack of understanding is significantly heightened. These behaviors often lead families to seek residential treatment.
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While it’s normal for children to test boundaries, many at Sandhill Center exhibit extreme resistance to adult guidance. This behavior may appear oppositional but often stems from a need to control their environment or avoid forming deep connections out of fear of rejection. Some children have experienced environments requiring excessive independence, making closeness a trigger for strong reactions like tantrums or impulsive actions. Our goal is to rebuild trust in adult care by consistently providing support and safety.
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Approximately half of the children at Sandhill Center are adopted. While some struggle to form relationships (attachment challenges), others do not, and not all children with attachment issues are adopted. Regardless of the reason, the core of Sandhill’s program is relational, with interventions and strategies designed to address challenges through meaningful relationships.
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Many children at Sandhill Center face significant academic challenges, with some refusing to attend school altogether. For these children, school has often been a negative experience marked by being labeled as behavior problems, accused of laziness, or feeling like failures. Del Rio Academy, our onsite school, provides a supportive and non-threatening environment. Its integration with the residential program ensures education and treatment work seamlessly together. Each child’s academic plan is individualized to provide targeted support and build on their strengths.
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By the time families seek residential treatment, they have often encountered behaviors like lying, manipulation, stealing, and tantrums—what we call “control strategies.” These maladaptive behaviors are typically used to exert control or avoid consequences. Since they have been effective in the past, children persist in using them. Treatment at Sandhill Center focuses on replacing these strategies with healthier ways to navigate their environment.
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Many children arrive with mood disorder diagnoses, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. While medication may play an important role, we integrate mood management into daily routines and therapy sessions. Our program emphasizes healthy habits, including a brain-friendly diet, sufficient rest, and regular exercise. Parents often notice mood improvements within the first few months, and as children develop better self-regulation skills, their medication needs may decrease.
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A common concern for parents is their child’s reluctance to take responsibility for their actions. This often stems from deep shame and a fear of being perceived as “bad.” While avoiding responsibility might feel protective to the child, it can create a frustrating cycle. Helping children recognize and accept personal responsibility fosters healthier relationships and breaks this cycle.
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As children grow, they develop a better understanding of how their actions impact others. However, some children at Sandhill Center struggle with this awareness, which can be perceived as a lack of empathy. This can be frustrating or hurtful for families. By engaging children in relationships and helping them identify the impact of their actions, we support them in building empathy and repairing relationships.
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Similar to avoiding personal responsibility, some children use blame as a control strategy, shifting accountability to others to avoid shame or embarrassment. Addressing this behavior helps children understand the importance of personal responsibility in healthy relationships.
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Families who choose Sandhill Center have often exhausted other treatment options, including outpatient therapy, behavior modification methods, and even hospitalization or residential programs. Traditional models often fail to address dysregulation, focusing instead on higher brain functions. At Sandhill, we prioritize stabilizing lower brain functions through neuroregulatory strategies, creating a foundation for children to engage more effectively in individual and family therapies
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