Germaine Lawrence is a residential treatment center designed for girls ages 12-18 with complex behavioral, psychological and learning challenges. Located in a shady residential neighborhood just minutes from Boston, our campus provides a supportive, safe haven for girls who have been making choices that disrupt their family life, academic progress, and social development. 

Germaine Lawrence has an impressive track record helping girls who have resisted treatment in other settings. Our research shows that over 80% of the girls we serve successfully complete their treatment goals and that about 90% of these girls continue to do well for at least one year after leaving Germaine Lawrence.

Girls who thrive at Germaine Lawrence come to us with issues that include depression, attachment disorders, anxiety disorders, borderline features, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, eating disorders and trauma.

Germaine Lawrence uses cognitive behavioral approaches to teach girls to take responsibility for their behavior and make better, safer choices. All clinicians provide Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), an evidence-based method that has been proven effective for adolescents with challenging, behaviors. Girls receive weekly individual therapy and clinicians also lead therapeutic groups on a wide range of topics during which girls practice skills to build constructive relationships.

Our therapeutic milieu is also a highly structured teaching environment where girls receive a great deal of individual attention. We use PEM – the PyschoEducational Model – a research-proven approach that teaches students new skills for dealing with painful feelings. We provide a wide range of expressive arts therapies, a challenging recreation program, and sensory integration and mindfulness activities.

The Germaine Lawrence middle school and high school program is fully accredited and our curriculum meets the rigorous requirements of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, preparing students for college admissions. We offer a high level of special education support and accommodations in small group settings, as well as advanced classes for college preparatory students. Academics are designed to fit girls’ learning styles and help develop positive self esteem. Core subjects are supplemented by art, physical education and life skills classes. Additional classes are available at the Harvard Extension School

As part of their daughter’s treatment, we encourage parents to participate in our rich family program. Regular family therapy, parent support groups, parent training and coaching, campus visits, home visits, and in-home therapy are integral parts of our family program. We adapt these services for parents for whom our campus is not readily accessible.

Our programs are supported by board-certified child psychiatrists who are available five days per week. Our nursing staff are on-site seven days per week. A physician from Boston Children’s Hospital holds a clinic on-campus weekly and refers students to Children’s Hospital for other specialized medical care.

Germaine Lawrence is accredited by the Council on Accreditation, approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.