Fostering Hope, Health & Healing
Referrals can be submitted via email [email protected] or fax 850-863-8576
Gulf Coast Treatment Center is a psychiatric residential treatment facility providing holistic mental health care to girls and young women ages 12 to 17. Our facility uses trauma-informed care and a mix of evidence-based therapy modalities to help young women overcome emotional and behavioral issues.
Gulf Coast Treatment Center is a psychiatric residential treatment facility providing holistic mental health care to girls and young women ages 12 to 17. Our facility uses trauma-informed care and a mix of evidence-based therapy modalities to help young women overcome emotional and behavioral issues.
Services
Group therapy is central to treatment at Gulf Coast Treatment Center. We encourage our residents to use group therapy to share experiences and find ways to work together toward healing and acceptance. Group topics include anger management, life skills, and more. We also offer specialized groups for young women who’ve experienced trauma and PTSD as a result of sexual abuse.
To make sure our residents are ready for the world at large once they leave our program, we make sure that they’re involved in a wide array of enrichment activities that teach them living skills. This includes recreation therapy to help them learn to work with others, independent skills training to teach responsibility and self-reliance, and other outings to prepare them to be positive members of society.
Our program offers treatment for residents who are dually-diagnosed with a substance use disorder and mental health issues. Through treatment modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, addiction education, and relapse prevention, we create a treatment plan that targets both the cycles of addiction and underlying mental health issues.
Academics are central to the residential program at Gulf Coast Treatment Center. Our teachers are certified and licensed by the Florida Department of Education, and our state-certified Special Education teachers have extensive experience working with teens struggling with emotional and behavioral issues. We follow state guidelines for education standards and work with home schools to align curriculum where possible.
Admissions
Read more about our admissions and evaluations process, and find out what you need to make a referral.
Welcome from the CEO
Read a personal letter from our CEO, Terry Abbott, welcoming patients and families to Gulf Coast Treatment Center.
Our Team
Learn more about the team of nurses, therapists, psychiatrists and administrators that provide high-quality care to our patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to our most commonly asked questions, including information about the length of stay, visitation details and more.
What to Bring
Find a full list of items recommended for a stay at Gulf Coast Treatment Center, along with a list of contraband not allowed on site.
Licensing & Accreditation
Gulf Coast is accredited by The Joint Commission, which helps monitor quality and care. Read more about our other licenses.
Our Partner Facilities
Our facility is a part of Gulf Coast Youth Services. Learn more about our partnership with Okaloosa Youth Academy, a residential juvenile justice facility for at-risk male youth.
Join Our Team
Gulf Coast Treatment Center is always looking for mental health professionals who are passionate about providing quality care to children and teens. Find out if we have a role that’s right for you.
Patient Testimonials
“The therapists are great. They really care and were there when I needed help. I appreciate all I learned while a resident at Gulf Coast Treatment Center.”
“Thank you for everything you did for our daughter. We never thought she’d make the changes needed to live with us again.”
“I have changed so much since I got placed at Gulf Coast Treatment Center. I have been in other placements and this has been the only one that has helped me. I appreciate everything GCTC has done for me”
“Thank you for being a role model to me, working with my team to get me home…I want to say thank you for everything; I really do appreciate it.”
“[My therapist] was so helpful to me in getting past my trauma. Gulf Coast Treatment Center has helped me a lot. I never thought I would feel better.”
Patient Satisfaction
*Survey data was collected from July 2025 to December 2025 through Mental Health Outcomes, LLC, which benchmarks patient satisfaction data for psychiatric hospitals across the United States.
Your Feedback Matters
We value your feedback. Please take a few moments to share your review of the service you received while in our care.
Empathy: Supporting Healing and Trust
Empathy is at the heart of our patient-centered care, guiding how we listen, understand, and support each patient’s healing process. Learn more about our commitment to compassion and the respect we have towards all patient experiences in this short video.
Contact Us
Gulf Coast Treatment Center
1015 Mar Walt Drive
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
Local Phone: 850-863-4160
Toll-Free: 800-537-5433
Email: Message Us
