0. We have created this bond because unless you went through a detention center such as DR, you will not understand. If you are at all struggling and/or would like to talk to someone who can relate, please do not hesitate to contact me through this post and Id be happy to exchange information so we can talk. However, the abuse overshadowed it. 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. Non-Verbal Learning Disability including High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD). Are they just being a teenager? The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. We earned academic accreditation through Discovery Academy. 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 will do everything to keep themselves looking like the best option at all costs just for money. Leslie Glies worked as the Residential Director of Discovery Ranch. When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. In addition, survivors have reported that on the off-chance that they are 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. 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.. 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. You can find much better treatment for a better price. Im scared to mention my real name because Discovery Ranchs aftercare program still controls my life. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. You might feel that you are all alone. Isnt that tax evasion? Residential Treatment is an Intensive Healing Experience, Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. He also worked for a time as the Director of, Teenagers at Discovery Ranch have extremely limited contact with the outside world. $1,000 in 1990 worth today . DISCOVERY RANCH - 20 Photos & 27 Reviews - 1308 S 1600th W, Mapleton, UT - Yelp Restaurants Home Services Auto Services Discovery Ranch 27 reviews Unclaimed Counseling & Mental Health Edit Write a review Add photo Save Photos & videos See all 20 photos Add photo Location & Hours 1308 S 1600th W Mapleton, UT 84664 Get directions Edit business info Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. Please. It wasnt until he left the program that people even found out about this happening!! My parents sent me there because I was depressed, doing poorly in school instead of getting straight As, got caught shoplifting a pack of gum from 7-11, spent too much time on the computer, and was too angry and defiant. There thieves taking advantage of parents dispositions and they should be shut down , 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. The level-system consists of five levels, which the boys progress through by earning points for good behavior while avoiding demerits for negative behaviors and rule infractions. It is reported by survivors that these calfs are later slaughtered, apparently in an attempt to teach the residents how to deal with loss. This practice is extremely cruel, and is reported to be very traumatic to many survivors. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. These issues include: At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. The ranch horse manager Jerry put a phone in my face showing horses having sex. 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. Discovery Ranch is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS), but it is important to note that neither the United States Department of Education nor the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes NAAS as an accrediting agency for institutions of higher education. Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. Caring, experienced professionals are ready to help your son. 25 votes, 28 comments. 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. He can participate in various sports teams, such as basketball, flag football, wrestling, and cross-country running. You and your son will work to rebuild your relationship with weekly. the licensed substance abuse counselor has obviously never touched a substance in her life. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. We were indirectly expected to manipulate visiting parents of troubled kids who have not yet been sent to treatment. There was never any you can do it it was you better do it or youre going to be put on mc and never get out of here. 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 pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. Craig Smith worked as the Clinical Director of Discovery Ranch. ages 13-18. They would yell at us and use excessive force. 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. When I came back to real life I had forgotten how to smile and had to train myself to make facial expressions that corresponded to the emotions I should have felt in various circumstances. discovery ranch lawsuit. discovery ranch lawsuit. dont do this to your child We are all begging you. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. I literally cant live with these memories. We found a traditional therapist that proved to be far more effective. 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. Also a staff there named Matt polson threatened to restrain me several times. DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY, INC., Plaintiff and Counterclaim Defendant, v. CHELSEA FILER, Defendant and Counterclaim Plaintiff. Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct. 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. Lawsuit filed March 3rd against the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF). He reportedly began working in the TTI because his brothers have worked at various other treatment centers. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. He began his career working in Admissions at Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. 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 dont believe that the people who tortured me were innately evil; i think it was a situation similar to Abu Ghraib. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. 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. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. Education was packets and computer testing only poor. Discovery ranchs idea of privileges is being able to sit on something other than hard wood chairs. I have maintained very close friendships with a handful of other patients that were there during my time (for a wide range of different reasons) and we even make it appoint to see each other each year. The men have also come up against many dangerous physical hitches in getting to the treasure. If they mention these sorts of things to parents (over heavily monitored phone calls and letters in the mail), contact between student and parent would be cut off. In other words, do not trust them. Eaton County Circuit Court 1045 Independence Blvd. They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. 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. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. ORDER AND MEMORANDUM DECISION. 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. I stopped feeling emotions and didnt for two years. They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. They are very abusive and they will lie to you. 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. 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. 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. The boat bought with funds by Discovery Ranch was not once used for the kids, the owners just use it for personal use. 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. The average stay is OVER a year not under like they love to say. This is my real name, as Im no longer afraid to write my review under an alias. This is my real name, as Im no longer afraid to write my review under an alias. He also is the Executive Director of, . We have all suffered enough, its time to heal and create a system that works. Carebear (Yelp), 2015: (SURVIVOR) This place is horrible. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? Not a single one of us agree that this program helped us or our relationships with our families. They love tossing kids emotional and mental state around for worse, or they will lie about problems that a kid doesnt have just to keep kids there longer.They will try to keep kids from telling you from what is really going on, the use their security measures as a punishment Instead of safety and they can, have, and will threaten kids. 10 Discovery Ranch for Girls reviews. In May 2018, the family that owns Blind Frog Ranch in Moab, Utah, filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM . , family visits, and Parent Day Seminars. I suggest seeking different options for your child. 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. sacramento obituaries 2021; apartments on aldine mail route May their souls rest in peace. Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. STOP DISCOVER RANCH they will play you out of so much money its unbelievable. Once a lawsuit gets underway, parties to the lawsuit or their lawyers start gathering information related to the 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. 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. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. 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. After I graduated I was transferred to discovery ranch. I felt meaningless, worthless, like a pawn used to control my dads emotions, fishing out hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. 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. Also the staff there (although there were some that I liked) were extremely rude. Discovery Ranch strives to heal your family as a whole. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. They report that 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 attacker used threats of violence, coercion, guilt, and the merit system of Discovery Ranch to manipulate (the boy) to avoid reporting increasingly deviant sexual behaviors, including discussions about sex, pornography, masturbation, and sexual violence. According to the complaint, Discovery Ranchs merit system also prevented (him) from reporting the assaults because he believed that his inferior status and past interactions with Discovery Ranch staff and administrators would result in him being punished if he attempted to disclose the assaults. The family claims the sexual assaults went undiscovered and unchecked throughout the months of January and February and were only revealed when he [the assailant] was transferred from Discovery Ranch after being discovered engaging in bestiality with a horse. The family says that Discovery Ranch failed to adequately investigate the assailant for psychosexually deviant and violent tendencies before admitting him to Discovery Ranch and placing him in the dorm. Additional Information: Family Alleges Bestiality at Alternative School, 9/20/2020: (SURVIVOR) Discovery ranch seems to actively try to remove as many negative reviews as they can, many were mine being removed over and over. Your son will have the opportunity to build the strength and resilience he needs to thrive at home. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. . Brent Hall is reported by survivors to have run the facility. The chidren cant even have open discussions with other inmates there for fear of being punished and losing privileges. Our parents (his Mom and step-father) regret sending him there even all these years later. These programs are money makers. They dont let parents talk freely to their own child. It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. 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! After I graduated I was transferred to discovery ranch. This is not just a couple of resentful people. The website is misleading. 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. As I walked away in shock he was tackled by staff.This was after I had already seen two separate suicide attempts. 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. We would act like we loved the treatment center, and that there wasnt any abuse going on. They would restrain kids to the point the kids arm was almost broken. This website uses cookies and third party services. Happened several times to my friends. 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 the confirmedly abusive, organization. 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. No one deserves what they really do to people. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. He previously worked at Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. Each part of his daily experience will reinforce his therapeutic goals. We also understand that every teen and every family is unique. Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch is a show on the Discovery Network about a rancher and his son who operate a 160-acre ranch in Utah. It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. Its heart wrenching to see how many families were deeply financially destroyed as well as personal connections being permanently damaged. Discovery Ranch strives to heal your family as a whole. Each part of his daily experience will reinforce his therapeutic goals. Before you would consider sending your son away, you need to know that he is going to a place you can trust. I suggest seeking different options for your child. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. Please save your child from this place. . Discovery is the legal term used to describe the different processes that require parties in a lawsuit to exchange information that each side possesses. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. However, the abuse overshadowed it. 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. I literally cant live with these memories. Im scared to mention my real name because Discovery Ranchs aftercare program still controls my life. 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. Youre parents will love that, Ha!). If you want to send your kid to either wilderness or discovery ranch why dont you do us all a favor parents and send your child to Disney Land so theyll be happy rather then send them to whats pretty much a mental institution for parents that have no idea what the fuck there doing.