Facility profile North Carolina
Equinox RTC
Equinox RTC was a residential treatment center in Hendersonville, North Carolina, operated by Family Help & Wellness. It operated from 2016 to 2023.
About Equinox RTC
It opened in 2017.
Its address was 2420 Middle Fork Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792.source It cost $12,000 to $17,000 per month.source 9-12 months reported average.source
Incidents on record
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April 2021 License action
In April 2021 the North Carolina DHSR issued a 55-page report imposing penalties for unlawfully restricting teens' communications with parents and improper isolation and seclusion.source
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August 2021 Investigation
In August 2021 a 90-page NC DHSR follow-up report cited deficiencies including 33 of 36 audited staff not trained to meet clients' needs, no CPR-trained staff always available, and 21 of 36 staff lacking restraint and seclusion training.source
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September 2023 Closure order
In September 2023 Equinox RTC announced it would close, reportedly related to two DHSR reports and survivors speaking out.source
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Reported December 2025 Abuse
Survivors report solitary confinement, violent staff, communication restrictions, food restrictions as punishment, emotional abuse and overmedication.source
News coverage
Staff
Administration
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Andy Dunn
Former Program Director (2016, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness Field Director, Therapist, Co-Field Director, Program Director, 2004-2025
- Second Nature Wilderness Program Program Director, 2014
- wilderness program in Maine Field guide, before 2021
- Summit Achievement Field Guide, before 2025
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Bryan Tomes
Former Director of Business Development and Founding Partner, Founder (2016-2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- New Leaf Academy of North Carolina Academic Director, 2006
- Lake House Academy Academic Director, 2010-2021
- Glen Willow Academy Academic Director, Head of School, 2011-2025
- New Leaf Academy NC Academic Director, before 2011
- Asheville Academy for Girls Executive Director, 2012-2025
- Magnolia Mill School Academic Director and Operations Director, Founder, before 2016
- Whetstone Academy cofounder, business director
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John Moore
Former Executive Director (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Capstone Treatment Center Operations Coordinator, 2019
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Kera Miller
Program director
Elsewhere in the industry
- Red Mountain Colorado executive director
Notable staff
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Kyle Gillett
Former Executive Director and a Founding Partnersource
Elsewhere in the industry
- Telos RTC Assistant Clinical Director, Research Director, Primary Therapist, Therapist, Assistant Clinical Director, Therapist and Assistant Clinical Director, Therapist, Assistant Clinical Director, 2005
- Solstice West Founder, Founder, Program Director, Clinical Director, Therapist, Admissions Director, Admissions and Marketing Director, Founder, Program Director, Admissions/Founder, Therapist/Marketing Dir., 2008-2025
- Magnolia Mill School Executive Director, Founder/Executive Director, Founder, 2012-2025
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Wes Selent
Elsewhere in the industry
- the Program Director of (https://www
- Oakley School Former Director of Student Life (2020)
- Solstice West Former Staff (2022)
- Magnolia Mill School
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Dan Hadley
Clinical Director (2017, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- the Executive Clinical Director of (https://www
- (https://www
- the Director of Business Development at the reportedly abusive (https://www
- the Academic Director of (https://www
- a Lead Guide at (https://www
- Magnolia Mill School Former Executive Clinical Director, Psychiatrist, Therapist (2022-2025)
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Benjamin Stivers
Former Team Manager (2019, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Pacific Quest Lead Guide, 2017
-
Bonnie Richardson
Former Academic Director (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Summit Achievement Academic Director, 2014
-
Dan Keith
Former Clinical Director (2019, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Magnolia Mill School Therapist, before 2019
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Dave Archer
Former Therapist/Clinical Director (before 2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Alpine Academy Family Teacher, 2022
- Ashcreek Ranch Academy Clinical Director, 2025
- Utah Youth Village Family Teacher, before 2025
- New Haven RTC Therapist/Assistant Clinical Director, before 2025
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Jennifer Selent
Former Staff (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Island View RTC Therapist, 2021
- Solstice West Therapist/Clinical Director, Clinical Director, 2022
- Magnolia Mill School First Clinical Director, Clinical Director, before 2025
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Kristin Scheewe Tui
Former Human Resources and Operations Manager (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Lake House Academy HR Director, 2018
-
Laura G. Storey
Former Admissions Director (2022, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Asheville Academy for Girls Director of Business Development, 2017
-
Melissa Margolin
Former Therapist (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
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Michael John Riemer
Former Team Manager (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
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Natalie Stark
Former Recreational Therapy Director (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Vista Residential Treatment Centers Staff, 2010
- Provo Canyon School Staff, 2015
- Vista Treatment Centers
-
Shane Parker
Former Lead Teacher for History and ELA (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
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Zachary Allen
Former Math and Science Teacher (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Connections on the network map
The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.
Ownership
- Family Help & Wellness
Documents
From the Unsilenced archive
1 document about Equinox RTC that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Equinox RTC.
Wiki entries
Materials and links
External links
A program's own website is linked as an archived snapshot, so the page reads as it did when it was captured.