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). 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. Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. Privileges to some might sound like being able to talk to friends, or having free time. The representative will help connect you with resources that can help your family--even if that help is not from us. Also the staff there (although there were some that I liked) were extremely rude. They will do everything to keep themselves looking like the best option at all costs just for money. I was forced to do the most humiliating and degrading things possibly conceivable; I was forced to eat a girls used tampon, lick cow shit off a girls boots, unclog a toilet with my bare hands adult male staff would masturbate to me showering, changing, and using the toilet while masturbating (keep in mind I was 15. I had to raise a baby cow for the slaughter to learn to deal with loss, exercise until I threw up blood, pick up cow shit every day, I could go on and on. He also is the Executive Director of, . Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our program. If you absolutely need mental support for your child, I suggest something that is close to home, and something that does not limit their ability to see and interact with the outside world. Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. They will do everything to keep themselves looking like the best option at all costs just for money. My parents (his Mom and step-father) note sending him away added to his sense of rejection started by peer abuse even though they were desperate due to his issues at home and school. My son, although he enjoyed his stay, refused to be brainwashed, and therefore got nothing therapeutical out of his stay; only resentment and anger, and he gained knowledge how to manipulate therapists to his benefit. Seek other avenues for your child. , This is the worst place to send your child. 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. They lied and were mainpulative, and power tripped all the time. The parents believe discovery ranch and most kids have no hope of anyone listening to them because they think no one believes them and they wont talk and they lie about it. In addition, your son will experience many opportunities to explore Utah. They would restrain kids to the point the kids arm was almost broken. Discovery ranch uses a merit system to punish kids. 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! Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. 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! However, our neighbor whose son went there the following year had all good experiences. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. NAAS is an organization that has accredited many notoriously abusive behavior-modification programs, including many WWASP programs. 9/17/2020: (SURVIVOR) Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. Isnt that tax evasion? Your son will experience the value of hard work through daily chores and responsibilities. Im happy to say that she is leading a normal life and leaving DR was the best thing that happened. , I try to think positively about it but honestly this shithole gave me PTSD. We were victims of abuse. Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. The kids come out shell shocked, traumatized and fearful. Michele (Yelp), 2012: (PARENT) As a father I was treated poorly. Parents wont know or understand the gravity of impact this experience has had until after you get out and have openly talked about it, and although its very hard not to blame or take your anger out on them, you have to realize they made their decision out of love and ignorance. 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 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. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. If anything, kids got worse from being here. In other words, do not trust them. Dave Blackwell worked as a Therapist at Discovery Ranch. In fact, the administration at discovery ranch intentionally delayed my high school graduation by refuting me the right to do my classes in order to keep me there longer. The program is affiliated with several other Ascent Company programs, such as RedCliff Ascent, Discovery Academy, Discovery Connections, and Oxbow Academy. The facility in Utah is run like a prison. If you are in an urgent situation and need help call 911. My mind sometimes uncontrollably cradles and turns to static when I hear the same radio noise as the staff used at DR. But I fucking wasnt. It does not represent any obligation. Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? 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. You have been warned and I still have ptsd and Ive been going to therapy for 2 and a half years and more to come. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. 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 gave all the kids the same level of trust, none. Any complaints about the program and the abuse kids witnessed would be brushed off by program coordinators and therapists. 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. They picked favorites and we were treated like garbage. In this, experiential, safe, and supportive environment. When she was given her home visit, her mom took her to the doctor and was diagnosed, although we have tried to find the outcome of the lawsuit, none of us have been able to track her family down to share our sympathy). Let us help. worked as a Therapist at Discovery Ranch. If this describes your family, let us help. When she was given her home visit, her mom took her to the doctor and was diagnosed, although we have tried to find the outcome of the lawsuit, none of us have been able to track her family down to share our sympathy). It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. They often cause way more harm than good. The discovery process was contentious, especially with respect to the Aaron Ranch Lawsuit, and went on for years in state court. It makes me fucking sick that this place, along with HUNDREDS of others, still exists, quietly protected under the umbrella of the state government of Utah, and that parents are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for their children to be tortured and driven insane or into obedient, soulless sociopaths. , DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO DISCOVERY RANCH IF YOU CARE ABOUT THEM! The program has a maxmimum enrollment of 60 boys, and the average length of stay is reported to be around 10 months, but this can be substantially longer if the boy is deemed resistant. 54A District Court 124 W. Michigan Ave., #54A Lansing, MI 48933 (517) 483-4433 Court Website. On top of that I was forced to study 7 hours straight on the weekends if I didnt meet academic requirements. A friend of mine stabbing his arm 15+ times with a pencil. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. The amounts of times I screamed out loud in physical/mental exhaustion from being undermined and unheard is uncountable. Eaton County Circuit Court 1045 Independence Blvd. Parents wont know or understand the gravity of impact this experience has had until after you get out and have openly talked about it, and although its very hard not to blame or take your anger out on them, you have to realize they made their decision out of love and ignorance. You Have Questions, We Have Answers. Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. dont do this to your child We are all begging you. NAAS is an organization that has accredited many notoriously abusive behavior-modification programs, including, The program is affiliated with several other, is the Executive Director of Discovery Ranch. My Mom says she wishes she had heard of that school at the time. Please. The main issue I have with this place is that it literally fucked up my education so bad that Im 17 and still in freshman English. 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. Chad Ollinger and his brother, Duane, are gold prospectors in the Uintah Mountains of Utah. It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. $1,000 in 1990 worth today . I highly suggest people look it up, one of the most disgusting things Ive ever read in my life: Link. I didnt ask to see that.. You will also be able to observe your sons progress through our secure, password-protected parent portal. In January 2104, the boy was placed in a dorm at Discovery Ranch with three other boys, one who began grooming him and another resident for "sexual victimization" until he was "violently sodomized," the family says in the lawsuit. I had no contact with the outside world except letters to my parents which were censored, and observed phone calls once a month. 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. The men have also come up against many dangerous physical hitches in getting to the treasure. I understand that people need to help themselves and I cannot blame Discovery Ranch for my decisions but this environment definitely did not promote positive change in my life. If you are LGBTQ and need support, call the Trevor Project Hotline 1-866-488-7386, If you are having suicidal thoughts, call toll free 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741, If you are a child being abused or know of a child being abused call toll free 1-800-422-4453. 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. 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. However, the abuse overshadowed it. 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. They left me more broken than they found me. , Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. This type of environment makes reporting abuse and neglect impossible for teenagers. 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. (Yelp), 11/10/2013: (SURVIVOR) Link to Anonymous Survivor Testimony, 10/13/2013: (SURVIVOR) I attended Discovery Ranch 5 years ago when I was 15 years old. This isnt how we should treat precious children The staff have no idea how much damage theyre doing as theyre just following orders This is a mess it needs to be shut down.. I literally couldnt make this shit up. Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. We do all this so that you can know your son is safe with us. The night staff was apparently fucked up on heroin, meth, pcp, etc the whole time and had virtually no training or qualifications, which I learned when a male staff member sexually propositioned me over Facebook when I was 18, so three years later, and told me what happened behind closed doors. The boat bought with funds by Discovery Ranch was not once used for the kids, the owners just use it for personal use. 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. The lawsuit was filed in Eaton County Circuit Court more than four months after Hultberg initially "asked the district to provide mask exemptions that had been approved," in a Sept. 7, 2021, FOIA . When we have the opportunity to get together, its a very special and meaningful time for all of us, we reminisce about the little funny stories that helped us get through the day during our time, we think about about all the suffering we endeared and how we survived, and we always take the time to honor our close friends that didnt and have passed. June 7, 2022 . Discovery Ranch is the Top Residential Treatment Center for Troubled Teen Boys 1318, Located in Utah. The moment I stepped foot on campus, I was treated like some sort of criminal. Their website lists the following conditions the program claims to treat: various mental illnesses including anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, and oppositional defiance the last of which is no longer listed in the DSM substance abuse and other addictions, eating disorders [] learning disorders and nonverbal learning disability [] social struggles, low self-esteem, adoption/attachment issues, and grief and loss The unadvertised conditions that I witnessed among detainees included being LGBT, Internet addiction, and one girl in particular was sent there for having a black boyfriend. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. If youre a troubled teen thats reading this that just recently got out, or its been years and its still effecting you, please believe me when I say that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. These programs are money makers. Even when I started feeling feelings again I realized on Wednesday that I had been experiencing emotions with maybe 50-75% of the intensity that I normally should, which was put into perspective when I finally accepted that these things truly happened to me and felt for the first time in my life the appropriate pain and humiliation that corresponds to being treated in such a way for such an extended period of time. 25 votes, 28 comments. 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. Id go on to say I have PTSD. He previously worked at the confirmedly abusive Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. In Season 1, Episode 2 ("Under Siege"), the Raneys went to Virginia to help couple Kim and Josh Zabec the owners of Revolutionary Roots Farm after pigs had ruined part of their homestead. Although you move on and mature, its a wound that never fully heals and cuts deep. In February of 2015, a former resident at DR and his family filed a lawsuit against the school reporting that the boy was violently and repeatedly sexually assaulted by another resident at the program. This will provide him with the. There is overmedicating (including putting kids to sleep for doing nothing wrong. Their motto is apparently Strength in the Struggle. THATS WHEN YOU KNOW THE PLACE IS TERRIBLE. , Beware the evil behind their smiling eyes! There is a culture of caring and respect, but also of excellence and high expectation both for staff and students. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. This creates a streamlined experience for your son. Aside from the obvious prejudice and discrimination, many of these conditions are not legitimate clinical impairments, and those that are require individualized care, which this facility does not provide.. He previously worked at the confirmedly abusive, organization. You have been warned and I still have ptsd and Ive been going to therapy for 2 and a half years and more to come. The kids come out shell shocked, traumatized and fearful. , As a father I was treated poorly. I am not the only victim. We would act like we loved the treatment center, and that there wasnt any abuse going on. THATS WHEN YOU KNOW THE PLACE IS TERRIBLE. Davinci (Google Reviews), 2018: (SURVIVOR) Beware the evil behind their smiling eyes! Im scared to mention my real name because Discovery Ranchs aftercare program still controls my life. 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. He previously worked at Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. At Discovery Ranch we understand that when your teen is in trouble, your whole family is in trouble. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. The representative will help connect you with resources that can help your family--even if that help is not from us. ages 13-18. If you have any logic in your brain in the slightest then you should realize how goddamn stupid it would be to send your kid to this shit hole. , Its been about 8-9 years since I left DR; Im now 25 and although I dont dwell on what happened so much anymore, this place has had such a negative impact on my life. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. They left me more broken than they found me. Jackson (Yelp), September 2020: (SURVIVOR) Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. Although you move on and mature, its a wound that never fully heals and cuts deep. We found a traditional therapist that proved to be far more effective. Also MAY I NOTE THAT THEY ARE SO DESPERATE THAT THEY NEED THEIR OWN STAFF MEMEBERS TO WRITE REVIEWS. Discovery Ranch only wants to know and talk about their truth which is nothing close to reality. Phil McGraw is wrapped up in a new scandal after sending multiple young guests to a treatment facility that has been accused of abuse. I attended Discovery Ranch in Mapleton Utah from November 18th 2015 to May 15th 2015. He reportedly began working in the TTI because his brothers have worked at various other treatment centers. Learn about discovery -- the legal procedures used to gather evidence for a lawsuit. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. The Residential Treatment Program is located on a beautiful 60-acre ranch. Have been in contact with many former students that have not done well once leaving the ranch. My parents (his Mom and step-father) note sending him away added to his sense of rejection started by peer abuse even though they were desperate due to his issues at home and school. My brother was at the Ranch over a decade ago. , There are plenty of articles that prove why Discovery Ranch is dangerous for the mental development of children. We were victims of abuse. 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. 10 Discovery Ranch for Girls reviews. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, we hold ourselves to the, We maintain professional memberships in research organizations, such as, . I suggest seeking different options for your child. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. Regardless of what they were there for, NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE TREATED AS INHUMANELY AS CHILDREN SUCH AS MYSELF WERE. We believe that teens are more than their diagnosis. 02-17-2016. discovery ranch lawsuit. STOP DISCOVER RANCH they will play you out of so much money its unbelievable. The night staff was apparently fucked up on heroin, meth, pcp, etc the whole time and had virtually no training or qualifications, which I learned when a male staff member sexually propositioned me over Facebook when I was 18, so three years later, and told me what happened behind closed doors. It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. The schooling they provide is a joke. ), There is a significant lack of professional supervision/lack of training, There is a high turnover rate for employees, There is parent manipulation/lies on the programs part for $$, There is lack of necessary medical care to avoid the girls telling a doctor they are being abused, and they are never alone when with a doctor, Run like a bootcamp, zero free time for the kids, every day feels like a punishment, Mormons are running it and very religiously biased, Please. (During my stay, a kid in a different house was repeatedly raped by another kid for days until he was caught.) My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. Your family is struggling. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. You have tried outpatient therapy. Youre parents will love that, Ha!). The amounts of times I screamed out loud in physical/mental exhaustion from being undermined and unheard is uncountable. This website uses cookies and third party services. I posted this exact review several times spacing itself out several months. Also MAY I NOTE THAT THEY ARE SO DESPERATE THAT THEY NEED THEIR OWN STAFF MEMEBERS TO WRITE REVIEWS. Your attorney should explain each step, but here you can learn basics on Complaints, Answers, and other motions involved at the beginning of a lawsuit. I felt like i somehow deserved to be treated like this and I think a part of me knew I could never stand living in the real world after all this happened. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. , Kinda like a prison that just focuses on external behavior. Both boys have turned out well however, my brother has trauma from the experience. As part of the therapeutic learning process, all boys participate in weekly ropes activities that build character and help develop lifelong skills. After I graduated I was transferred to discovery ranch. DO NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL! , The Troubled Teen Industry: Commodifying Disability and Capitalizing on Fear by Catherine Kushan. We were treated like we were in prison, and if we stepped out of line, we had our privileges taken away. Teenagers at Discovery Ranch have extremely limited contact with the outside world. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. Your job as parents is to help your child, you guys are the problem not your kids. They gave all the kids the same level of trust, none. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. In May 2018, the family that owns Blind Frog Ranch in Moab, Utah, filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM . I thought I was actually crazy, but it was all real. I suggest seeking different options for your child. Their motto is apparently Strength in the Struggle. DISCOVERY RANCH FOR GIRLS Ripoff Reports, Complaints, Reviews, Scams, Lawsuits and Frauds Reported Your Search: Discovery Ranch for girls. Anyone is free to fact check this, and contact me with further questions [redacted]. 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 posted this exact review several times spacing itself out several months.
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