The Residential Treatment Program is located on a beautiful 60-acre ranch. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. This place did not save my life it scared me to have problems. H.A. Anyone is free to fact check this, and contact me with further questions [redacted]. DO NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL! , The Troubled Teen Industry: Commodifying Disability and Capitalizing on Fear by Catherine Kushan. how to walk a human a dogs guide. They gave all the kids the same level of trust, none. He reportedly began working in the TTI because his brothers have worked at various other treatment centers. the villa pacific palisades, ca. The chidren cant even have open discussions with other inmates there for fear of being punished and losing privileges. I still maintain close relationships with both girls and boys who are around my age (23-27) that have gone through exactly what you are going through now; so whether its easier to talk to a guy or girl or someone with a similar case to yours, I can put you in contact with them if youd like (Free of charge too! I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. I still hear screams from my friends being restrained in the back of my mind. This type of environment makes reporting abuse and neglect impossible for teenagers. My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. My brother noted some of the staff was wonderful and he used their tips to get through challenges after his father died (my Moms 1st husband). The reason I am writing this now is because I ended up becoming an alcoholic and drug addict once I went to college and had finally had complete freedom. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. Privilege to them is being able to sit on a couch, to be able to speak out loud, to be able to eat a single apple. Proof is attached as an image. This merit system was easy for some kids to abuse, in one circumstance during my stay, a child was repeatedly raped, and was threatened with the merit system to get him to keep quiet. The teenagers at Discovery Ranch as forced to adhere to a strict set of rules at all time. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. Also if you notice, a large majority of the 5 star ratings are from former staff as opposed to parents/students. , Through my stay I personally witnessed: Two suicide attempts. Eaton County Circuit Court 1045 Independence Blvd. There is not enough research of the negative effects places like DR have on a young person, people dont like to talk or hear about places like DR, the system is extremely flawed, its a corporation that works very hard to keep you there as long as possible for obvious financial reasons while hiring unqualified staff. And the scariest part was that it was fantastic during the day; we would do ropes courses and go skiing and horseback riding and talk to a truly kind therapist every day who genuinely though I was insane or a pathological liar and convinced me I was hallucinating or having nightmares. I am at a loss for what to do at this point. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch stars confirm return for season 3 Education was packets and computer testing only poor. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. It wasnt until he left the program that people even found out about this happening!! His step-father (my Dad) told me not to discuss it around him. When you try to induct real truths into the once a week, 1/2 hour, monitored phone call, the therapist redirects you to la la land. My Mom says she wishes she had heard of that school at the time. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. The reason for posting this is that this is cathartic for me and nice to have a group of people who have at least a basic Im in therapy, on medication, have been to three AA meetings in the past three days, and just feel like I am out of options and suicide or getting constantly fucked up is my only option at this point. I am at a loss for what to do at this point. 54A District Court 124 W. Michigan Ave., #54A Lansing, MI 48933 (517) 483-4433 Court Website. I cannot even put into words the pain I feel even today when my experience gets brought up or when I read about other kids that are STILL suffering from having to go through this program. At one point during my stay, I saw my friend stab his arm repeatedly with a pencil, spraying blood all over me and the windowsill we were sitting on. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. Lawsuit Attorney For Grand Ledge - Michigan Lawsuit Attorneys We provide a safe, home-like environment for your son. I suggest seeking different options for your child. Stay in touch with the other people you shared your time with during DR, reach out to them when things are tough, talk about your struggles. Allegations of abuse that have been reported by survivors include: forcing a resident to lick cow feces off another residents boots, forcing teenagers to unclog a toilet with their bare hands, adult male staff masturbating while watching underaged residents showering, changing, and using the toilet, teens being fed undercooked food and deprived of food, verbal abuse, include staff shouting and swearing at teenagers, widespread allegations of brainwashing techniques in order to force conformity, use of solitary confinement as punishment, published in 2015 by Catherine Kushan, Discovery Ranch, a treatment center located in Mapleton, Utah, provides an empirical example of how this industry rhetorically manipulates legitimate psychiatric conditions to solicit clients. On top of that I was forced to study 7 hours straight on the weekends if I didnt meet academic requirements. 9/17/2020: (SURVIVOR) Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. We were indirectly expected to manipulate visiting parents of troubled kids who have not yet been sent to treatment. Our parents (his Mom and step-father) regret sending him there even all these years later. STOP DISCOVER RANCH they will play you out of so much money its unbelievable. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. And before you tell me that was a long time ago, I am a part of multiple survivor groups online for former students from DR and other abusive programs in Utah. They are very abusive and they will lie to you. Grand Ledge Courts. 25 votes, 28 comments. There may be more reports for "Discovery Ranch for girls" For more results perform a general search for "Discovery Ranch for girls" Showing 1-1 of 1 . Also there were lawsuits against this place. And it wasn't just because he was suddenly a millionaire . Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. What Is Discovery in a Lawsuit? - FindLaw Any complaints about the program and the abuse kids witnessed would be brushed off by program coordinators and therapists. In addition, survivors have reported that on the off-chance that they. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. The ranch has the best of both worlds: a small-town atmosphere with access to world-class skiing, outdoor activities, surrounded by beautiful mountains, and close to two major universities and hospitals. The tuition is reported to be anywhere between $6,500 to $12,000 per month. The website is misleading. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. Like other behavior-modification programs, Discovery Ranch utilizes a level system based around a merit/demerit structure. (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, we hold ourselves to the, We maintain professional memberships in research organizations, such as, . Until now I had remembered my experience there as a happy one- I literally only remembered what went on during the day. I am not the only victim. I was a student and am a survivor of Discovery Ranch, Utah. AMA! We were victims of abuse. Its heart wrenching to see how many families were deeply financially destroyed as well as personal connections being permanently damaged. Your Participation Is Key To Success We support & vent to each other about how difficult and lonely it was for us to get back to normal life after we left, how it shaped us into the adults we are today, and what steps we took to try and heal from this horrible experience. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. Teenagers can be punished for infractions as small as making an inappropriate facial expression, meaning they can be punished for crying or raising their eyebrows without permission. The moment I stepped foot on campus, I was treated like some sort of criminal. When the program opened, it housed both boys and girls on the same campus, but kept them completely seperate in different parts of the campus. Mysterious intruders throw a spanner into the works at Blind Frog Ranch They will do everything to keep themselves looking like the best option at all costs just for money. It got heated on the ranch and Duane kept referring to this person as a "freeloader." The ranch hasn't been short of intruders, in many forms including surveillance cameras and spy drones. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. ORDER AND MEMORANDUM DECISION. Our parents (his Mom and step-father) regret sending him there even all these years later. DISCOVERY RANCH FOR GIRLS Ripoff Reports, Complaints, Reviews, Scams, Lawsuits and Frauds Reported Your Search: Discovery Ranch for girls. Allegations of abuse that have been reported by survivors include: According to a Thesis published in 2015 by Catherine Kushan, Discovery Ranch, a treatment center located in Mapleton, Utah, provides an empirical example of how this industry rhetorically manipulates legitimate psychiatric conditions to solicit clients. They often cause way more harm than good. She currently works as the Residential Director at, is reported by survivors to have run the facility. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. Although you move on and mature, its a wound that never fully heals and cuts deep. (and have it be removed weeks later). I literally cant live with these memories. The reviews on their website are COMPLETELY weeded before theyre posted. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. Although there are no support groups for people like us and since the program is so small & were from all over the country, it feels and looks very real that you may be alone, YOU ARE NOT. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. We would act like we loved the treatment center, and that there wasnt any abuse going on. Discovery Ranch is the Top Residential Treatment Center for Troubled Teen Boys 1318, Located in Utah. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. Are they just being a teenager? I had an IEP at my old school because I cant learn that easily but the program directors convinced my parents I was too lazy to do work that I had trouble doing. With the help of a REAL rehab and AA, I had achieved 14 months sober. Discovery ranchs idea of privileges is being able to sit on something other than hard wood chairs. To them, there is one way that every kid learns, and if you have learning disabilities thats too fucking bad and ask the doctor to raise your meds the next time he comes. A friend of mine stabbing his arm 15+ times with a pencil. The kids come out shell shocked, traumatized and fearful. , As a father I was treated poorly. The chidren cant even have open discussions with other inmates there for fear of being punished and losing privileges. Sure, we said all the things our parents wanted to hear once we got out, it was certainly drilled into us every single day, but that faded into a deep anger/depression that raised months, sometimes even years later, & you find yourself in worse condition than you were before entering DR; battling a demon 98% of people will never know. Each part of his daily experience will reinforce his therapeutic goals. It is run like a prison. Its funny, almost all of the kids that left as a level 5 or 4 ARE DOING DRUGS AND ARE DOING WORSE AT HOME, goes to show how little the program works. Your child will be put in with kids that are older than their age group, that were in gangs, that are addicted to drugs, etc. I stopped feeling emotions and didnt for two years. They often cause way more harm than good. They often cause way more harm than good. Allegations of abuse that have been reported by survivors include malnutrition/food deprivation, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and solitary confinement used as punishment. I suggest seeking different options for your child. Our academic program meets your son at his level. They strip you of everything, even contact with your own parents, and dangle it in front of you as motivation to do/act how they want. A kid was put in isolation for about 4 weeks before being moved to a different treatment center. We had a close friend that took her life during our time there, we lost a friend to drug addiction that spiraled after leaving DR, and we had another friend who lost her life to cancer, which could have been detected in the earlier stages if DR didnt fail to seek proper medical attention (she was actually punished quite often for complaining about the pain and was either made to do hard manual labor or the staff would put her in isolation for days on end. Proof is attached as an image. There thieves taking advantage of parents dispositions and they should be shut down Derek (Google Reviews), 1/12/2014: (SURVIVOR) Link to Anonymous Survivor Testimony, 12/1/2013: (PARENT) After my daughter was here for here for 2 months her condition worsened and she started having suicidal thoughts which had never happened before.When I met with her Dr. When the program opened, it housed both boys and girls on the same campus, but kept them completely seperate in different parts of the campus. Your son will experience the value of hard work through daily chores and responsibilities. The civil lawsuit seeks a minimum of $350,000. Have been in contact with many former students that have not done well once leaving the ranch. The ranch has the best of both worlds: a small-town atmosphere with access to world-class skiing, outdoor activities, surrounded by beautiful mountains, and close to two major universities and hospitals. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. please if you are thinking of sending anyone or know anyone who is considering to send someone here, keep the kid far away from them. They are there only to try and give the staff (who by the way have no training in psychology at all) an easier time. If Im in the car with someone and they make a wrong turn or something I will flip out and start having a panic attack because all I can think about it oh my god where are they taking me theyre locking me up again. Feel free to ask anything about my stay I'm an open book. This will provide him with the. No one deserves what they really do to people. dont do this to your child We are all begging you. However, your teen is still troubled and your family is still in crisis. Renewed Hope Ranch seeks "to provide unsurpassed residential care to troubled teenage girls who significantly struggle to overcome their mental, emotional, behavioral and educational challenges," according to its website. We have all suffered enough, its time to heal and create a system that works. Carebear (Yelp), 2015: (SURVIVOR) This place is horrible. , your son will confront his personal challenges with the goal of healing and increasing his capacity which builds his self-confidence and self-esteem. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is degrading and disrespectful and I will forever hate this program as they manipulate people into spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to not help there kids. $1,000 in 1990 worth today . 2023 Discovery Ranch Residential Treatment Center for Teen Boys |. The reason I am writing this now is because I ended up becoming an alcoholic and drug addict once I went to college and had finally had complete freedom. Listen to your child, and dont fall into the traps that programs make which lead parents to think their child is untrustworthy, a liar, manipulator, etc. If this describes your family, let us help. My Mom says she wishes she had heard of that school at the time. You might feel that you are all alone. June 27, 2022; how to get infinite lingots in duolingo; chegg payment options; discovery ranch lawsuit . Staff parents "were expected to replicate a. The ranch horse manager Jerry put a phone in my face showing horses having sex. 8 9 comments Best Add a Comment dsholliday 7 yr. ago They dont let parents talk freely to their own child. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. I attended Discovery Ranch for 6 months Ama! : r/troubledteens discovery ranch lawsuit. Also, I would sit there and talk to my therapist while he takes notes and this is a direct quote is that it? Then the session was over. STOP DISCOVER RANCH they will play you out of so much money its unbelievable. Discovery Ranch combines the power of traditional and experiential therapies to create a clinically sophisticated, relationship-based residential treatment center for boys ages 13-18. Listen to your child, and dont fall into the traps that programs make which lead parents to think their child is untrustworthy, a liar, manipulator, etc. Throughout your sons experience at Discovery Ranch he will have the support of caring, educated. Discovery Ranch combines the power of traditional and experiential therapies to create a clinically sophisticated, relationship-based residential treatment center for boys ages 13-18. The protocols here suck, and do absolutely nothing in the way of help. Those goals are helping your son learn, grow, and heal so that your family can be a family again. After essentially being re-traumatized after remembering all this, I recently went on a five day bender started Wednesday where I got high and or drunk every waking moment, which culminated with me waking up on my bathroom floor on Monday morning covered in blood and vomit next to two empty bottles of wine and Xanax spilled across the floor with a five page suicide note on my computer that Id written in a blackout. While some people purchase land for views or for the prospect of building a property, Duane Ollinger 's family bought the massive 160-acre Utah plot known as Blind Frog Ranch to search for buried treasure. If you have a child with attention deficit disorder do not send your son here BECAUSE it is like water boarding to have a kid sit in a room for 7 hours straight and have them study all day even though they are trying.
