He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. In May 2018, the family that owns Blind Frog Ranch in Moab, Utah, filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM . Staff care about one another and take a genuine interest in the girls. 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. Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. We all cope in our own ways, but if we can help by sharing our experiences and what we learned, theres not a single one of us that would turn down a younger DR peer that is currently battling our same battles. 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. May their souls rest in peace. Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. 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. The location is part of a dispute between the city and one tow truck company that filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 2, 2020. Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. He reportedly began working in the TTI because his brothers have worked at various other treatment centers. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. 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. I had repressed memories of the physical, sexual, and psychological torture i endured for five years until I watched a documentary on the stanford prison experiment in my psychology class. 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. discovery ranch lawsuitshaun thompson elmhurst Consultation Request a Free Consultation Now. 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. Discovery Ranch for Girls is a well run industry leader in residential treatment for adolescent girls. This is my real name, as Im no longer afraid to write my review under an alias. Have been in contact with many former students that have not done well once leaving the ranch. I attended Discovery Ranch in Mapleton Utah from November 18th 2015 to May 15th 2015. 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. The Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch, which airs on Discovery Channel, is currently in its fifth season. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. 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. Their motto is apparently Strength in the Struggle. Your Call is Confidential. 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. Please. They would restrain kids to the point the kids arm was almost broken. 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! We were victims of abuse. 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. (only the higher rank kids would be allowed to do this). 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.. Grand Ledge Courts. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. A kid was put in isolation for about 4 weeks before being moved to a different treatment center. We believe that teens are more than their diagnosis. Therapy was more like brainwashing than therapy. Therapy was more like brainwashing than therapy. But, the couple was later outspoken on social media about the extent to which they were helped by the Raney family. Any complaints about the program and the abuse kids witnessed would be brushed off by program coordinators and therapists. We earned academic accreditation through Discovery Academy. I highly suggest people look it up, one of the most disgusting things Ive ever read in my life: . I literally cant live with these memories. He also is the Executive Director of, . Until now I had remembered my experience there as a happy one- I literally only remembered what went on during the day. I can still hear the screams of kids being restrained and having their arms pinned behind them and blood flow cut off because they didnt follow simple orders. My brother was at the Ranch over a decade ago. John (Yelp), 10/28/2019: (SURVIVOR) There are plenty of articles that prove why Discovery Ranch is dangerous for the mental development of children. 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. As per Discovery, intruders have appeared on the land at Blind Frog Ranch in many forms. Kids are constantly getting restrained and put on drugs to keep them under control. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. This is not just a couple of resentful people. His step-father (my Dad) told me not to discuss it around him. ! , A family member of mine attended this school so everything I have heard is 2nd hand. I was told Control-freak parents often produce children who feel guilty and disloyal , fearing theyll disappoint their over-bearing parents. I couldnt believe he was blaming me for thisafter we could no longer afford to send her there she was abruptly released and told good luck. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. A friend of mine stabbing his arm 15+ times with a pencil. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? The discovery process was contentious, especially with respect to the Aaron Ranch Lawsuit, and went on for years in state court. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. . Although you move on and mature, its a wound that never fully heals and cuts deep. Both boys have turned out well however, my brother has trauma from the experience. I literally couldnt make this shit up. 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. Also a staff there named Matt polson threatened to restrain me several times. 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. 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. 0. 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 entire facility is designed to create a rich therapeutic and healing environment. Not a single one of us agree that this program helped us or our relationships with our families. 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. In other words, do not trust them. 54A District Court 124 W. Michigan Ave., #54A Lansing, MI 48933 (517) 483-4433 Court Website. They have the same goals in mind. Proof is attached as an image. When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. You have tried community resources or other programs. 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. 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. 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. Yes, we have an amazing ranch!! I was 15 years old. 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 . 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. I still hear screams from my friends being restrained in the back of my mind. The facility in Utah is run like a prison. This will provide him with the experience of a lifetime because Utah has a natural landscape that is second to none. I literally cant live with these memories. 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. 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. Brent Hall is reported by survivors to have run the facility. This website uses cookies and third party services. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. 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. 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. Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. I wish I could give negitive stars! It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. Discovery Ranch is the Top Residential Treatment Center for Troubled Teen Boys 1318, Located in Utah. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. 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. A friend of mine stabbing his arm 15+ times with a pencil. At Discovery Ranch we understand that when your teen is in trouble, your whole family is in trouble. NAAS is an organization that has accredited many notoriously abusive behavior-modification programs, including many WWASP programs. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. We found a traditional therapist that proved to be far more effective. It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. If you are like most parents of Discovery Ranch students, you have been looking for help for a long time. We have the record and independent verification to prove it. They often cause way more harm than good. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. The schooling they provide is a joke. The representative will help connect you with resources that can help your family--even if that help is not from us. I have constant dreams where bugs are crawling all over my skin and I wake up screaming from anxiety. I posted this exact review several times spacing itself out several months. able to inform their parents of abuse, their parents are manipulated by DR into believing that their child is lying and being manipulative in an attempt to be pulled from the program. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. because Utah has a natural landscape that is second to none. On top of that I was forced to study 7 hours straight on the weekends if I didnt meet academic requirements. 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. Also the staff there (although there were some that I liked) were extremely rude. In this experiential, safe, and supportive environment, your son will confront his personal challenges with the goal of healing and increasing his capacity which builds his self-confidence and self-esteem. He will have the support of well-trained and experienced clinical, academic, residential, and experiential staff members. The kids come out shell shocked, traumatized and fearful. , As a father I was treated poorly. Its sick and I hope in the future these places will be illegal and I will NEVER send my kids to one of these places. The chidren cant even have open discussions with other inmates there for fear of being punished and losing privileges. I had no contact with the outside world except letters to my parents which were censored, and observed phone calls once a month. 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. You Have Questions, We Have Answers. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there.
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