Our mission
The Nest provides a safe, supportive, and developmentally attuned environment for neurodivergent adolescents. We empower teens to embrace their unique strengths, develop essential life skills, and build meaningful connections through evidence-based treatment, experiential learning, and family involvement.
At Family First Adolescent Services, we celebrate neurodiversity. That’s why we power The Nest, a specialized residential treatment program for neurodivergent boys ages 12-18.
What is neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity describes everyone. It’s the full range of how people think and process information. Within this range are two broad groups of people: neurodivergent, including people with autism and ADHD, and neurotypical, who align more closely with common ways of thinking and functioning.
Neurodivergence: strengths and challenges
Strengths
- “Outside-the-box” thinking and creative problem-solving
- Deep focus and intense interest, which can lead to mastery
- Logical and analytical thinking, especially with complex problems
- Authenticity and advocacy when communicating with others
- Detail orientation that helps connect the dots of the bigger picture
Challenges
- Executive functioning issues, like organization and time and attention management
- Rigidity that makes it hard to change or learn in traditional environments
- Social norms can be hard to recognize, which can cause communication issues
- Intense emotions that are hard to regulate, leading to tantrums and outbursts
- Sensory issues with noises, lights, textures, and smells
- Masking, which is an attempt to appear more neurotypical to fit in
Who we serve
Neurodivergent teens
The Neurodivergent Empowerment Support and Transformational (NEST) Program offers structure and support for teen boys, including—but not limited to—those diagnosed with:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Dyslexia and other learning differences
- Sensory processing issues
We can also help your son learn to manage any co-occurring mental health issues, like anxiety or depression, that are common among neurodivergent people. You can trust that when he is in The Nest Program, he’s supported every step of the way.
Parents and families
Enrolling your son in The Nest Program can also teach you more about how his brain works, what he might be sensitive to, and what can help him navigate the world.
- Parent coaching & education – We help families understand neurodivergence and learn strategies for communication and co-regulation.
- Parallel process therapy – Ensuring parents grow alongside their teen to create sustainable change.
- Family intensives & retreats – Immersive experiences to rebuild trust, connection, and alignment in the home.
- Ongoing support groups – A community of understanding and shared learning for parents and caregivers.
Your son doesn’t need to be “fixed.” He needs help learning the skills that make navigating our world possible.
Goals of treatment
- Increased emotional regulation and self-awareness
- Strengthened executive functioning and adaptive coping skills
- Improved social confidence and relationship-building abilities
- Better family communication and less conflict at home
- More self-advocacy and independence in daily living
- Greater sense of identity and appreciation for personal strengths
The Nest program
We take a personalized, strength-based approach. That means we focus on what works for your son, so his treatment plan might change over time. As he makes progress, we’ll reinforce his wins and give him new challenges that are developmentally attuned to him.
What sets us apart
Specialized residential treatment for neurodivergent boys in South Florida
By learning self-awareness, self-advocacy, and acceptance, your son can tap into his strengths and transform challenges into opportunities for growth. Call 888.904.5947 or contact us online to find out how The Nest Program can help him step into adulthood with confidence.