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. I stopped feeling emotions and didnt for two years. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. Your job as parents is to help your child, you guys are the problem not your kids. But I fucking wasnt. However, the abuse overshadowed it. Therapy was more like brainwashing than therapy. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. We have experience working with a variety of behavioral and emotional issues. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. The tuition is reported to be anywhere between $6,500 to $12,000 per month. 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. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. 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. 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. He also worked for a time as the Director of, Teenagers at Discovery Ranch have extremely limited contact with the outside world. (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. We do all this so that you can know your son is safe with us. They picked favorites and we were treated like garbage. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Amy Golden. Discovery ranch uses a merit system to punish kids. Case No. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. Dave Blackwell worked as a Therapist at Discovery Ranch. Overpriced, over rateddo not send your child there if you care about them. Education was packets and computer testing only poor. For a year I was put down and felt stupid and inadequate and my opinion didnt matter and if I decided to express it I would be put on some protocol that restricted me from doing anything but sitting at a fucking desk and staring at the god damn wall. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, we hold ourselves to the highest professional standards. We have the record and independent verification to prove it. 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. 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 found a traditional therapist that proved to be far more effective. DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY, INC., Plaintiff and Counterclaim Defendant, v. CHELSEA FILER, Defendant and Counterclaim Plaintiff. A kid was put in isolation for about 4 weeks before being moved to a different treatment center. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in 6th District Court on behalf of Brenda Woolsey, claims Clay Brewer, then 17, should have never been at Turn-About Ranch on Dec. 6, 2016, when he woke up "feeling. We Have Helped Struggling Teens To Learn The Skills They Needed To Heal, Thrive, And Reunite With Their Families. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. We have all suffered enough, its time to heal and create a system that works. Carebear (Yelp), 2015: (SURVIVOR) This place is horrible. You might feel that you are all alone. 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. One small slip up, and you have all privileges taken away from a day to sometimes even a week. 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. She currently works as the Residential Director at, is reported by survivors to have run the facility. We maintain professional memberships in research organizations, such as The Joint Commission and NATSAP. Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct. 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. Plaintiff Diamond Ranch Academy, Inc. (DRA) operates a residential youth treatment facility in Hurricane, Utah. The trauma Ive witnessed, and seen other kids witness was unbearable. discovery ranch lawsuit. I suggest seeking different options for your child. One small slip up, and you have all privileges taken away from a day to sometimes even a week. When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. They have the same goals in mind. Discovery Ranch for Girls is a well run industry leader in residential treatment for adolescent girls. 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. 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. 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. They emotionally and mentally compromise kids for fun. 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. . 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. I still have insomnia and night terrors of being at that place. worked as the Clinical Director of Discovery Ranch. His step-father (my Dad) told me not to discuss it around him. Fact-Finding and Discovery Find out about "discovery" -- the process by which opponents in a lawsuit get information from each other to establish facts in the case. I was 15 years old. Before you would consider sending your son away, you need to know that he is going to a place you can trust. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. In comparison, most of the other residents had serious drug problems, were in gangs, were extremely violent, etc. 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. Any minor infraction is punished severely. I had no contact with the outside world except letters to my parents which were censored, and observed phone calls once a month. On top of that I was forced to study 7 hours straight on the weekends if I didnt meet academic requirements. A kid was put in isolation for about 4 weeks before being moved to a different treatment center. Teenagers at Discovery Ranch have extremely limited contact with the outside world. , family visits, and Parent Day Seminars. 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 suggest seeking different options for your child. ), I witnessed a 15 year old boy be sodomized by a broom handle and have the living shit beat out of him because he tried to run away and watched a girl punch a window and slit her wrists in front of me because she couldnt take it anymore. 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. Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. You are a survivor of an abusive environment that is very similar to a prison. 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. dont do this to your child We are all begging you. BE CAREFUL OF THEM. James (Yelp), 2019: (SURVIVOR) This place is sickening. Also MAY I NOTE THAT THEY ARE SO DESPERATE THAT THEY NEED THEIR OWN STAFF MEMEBERS TO WRITE REVIEWS. They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. My parents spent over $200,000 here before they realized I was not getting the help I needed. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. They would yell at us and use excessive force. You Have Questions, We Have Answers. 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. NAAS is an organization that has accredited many notoriously abusive behavior-modification programs, including many WWASP programs. The location is part of a dispute between the city and one tow truck company that filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 2, 2020. The amounts of times I screamed out loud in physical/mental exhaustion from being undermined and unheard is uncountable. Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct. It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. 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. 02-17-2016. Are they just being a teenager? The average stay is OVER a year not under like they love to say. Seek other avenues for your child. , This is the worst place to send your child. 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. Seek other avenues for your child. Keith (Yelp), 6/28/2013: (PARENT) This is the worst place to send your child. 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. 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 stopped feeling emotions and didnt for two years. I literally couldnt make this shit up. If any of you also went there shoot me a pm id like to hear about it. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. For example, in an employment law case, a fired employee will want to see their personnel file, and through discovery, an employer would likely be required to provide those documents. After I graduated I was transferred to discovery ranch. If anything, kids got worse from being here. Please save your child from this place. . Contact one of our well-trained representatives now. And the horrible part? I would estimate their rate of rehabilitation around 20%. They dont let parents talk freely to their own child. They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. Discovery Ranch a Utah corporation doing business as Discovery Ranch, Discovery Connections Attorney/Law Firm Details Plaintiff Attorneys Kathryn J. Steffey Attorney at SMITH HARTVIGSEN PLLC 257 E 200 S Ste 500 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Clayton H. Preece Attorney at SMITH HARTVIGSEN PLLC 257 E 200 S Ste 500 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Court Documents Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. These experiences will teach your son values like Responsibility, Grit, Honesty, Respect, Courage, Kindness, and Accountability. They lied and were mainpulative, and power tripped all the time. Also if you notice, a large majority of the 5 star ratings are from former staff as opposed to parents/students. William (Google Reviews), 6/1/2020: (SURVIVOR) Through my stay I personally witnessed: Two suicide attempts. 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. Staff parents "were expected to replicate a. 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. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. Sanoy (Google Reviews). He will have opportunities for growth through our experiential campus, by developing new skills and interests. We would act like we loved the treatment center, and that there wasnt any abuse going on. DO NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL! , The Troubled Teen Industry: Commodifying Disability and Capitalizing on Fear by Catherine Kushan. 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. This type of environment makes reporting abuse and neglect impossible for teenagers. A free inside look at company reviews and salaries posted anonymously by employees. 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. These programs are money makers. 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. In addition, your son will experience many opportunities to explore Utah. 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. In other words, do not trust them. You and your son will work to rebuild your relationship with weekly family therapy, family visits, and Parent Day Seminars. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. Therapeutic experiences challenge your son to learn and grow. With the help of a REAL rehab and AA, I had achieved 14 months sober. He previously worked at Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. 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. 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 . It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. Im scared to mention my real name because Discovery Ranchs aftercare program still controls my life. Basically non-existent education. 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. While at Discovery Ranch, your son will participate in a variety of outdoor activities. However, in 2013 DR moved their girls program to Cedar City, UT and began makerting theis program as, member since 2005. 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. This investigative process is aptly named "discovery," because it often turns up facts and documents that were previously unknown -- to at . 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. 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. Yes, we have an amazing ranch!! Throughout your sons experience at Discovery Ranch he will have the support of caring, educated. We found a traditional therapist that proved to be far more effective. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. They made me feel disgusting and quite hideous. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. Any complaints about the program and the abuse kids witnessed would be brushed off by program coordinators and therapists. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! They dont want to discuss whats actually wrong. 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. This website uses cookies and third party services. dont do this to your child We are all begging you. BE CAREFUL OF THEM. , This place is sickening. 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. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. 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.. 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 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. My mind sometimes uncontrollably cradles and turns to static when I hear the same radio noise as the staff used at DR. I suggest seeking different options for your child. Your Call is Confidential. The civil lawsuit seeks a minimum of $350,000. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. It began with a lawsuit filed by Hannah Archuleta, who appeared on Dr. Phil in 2019 and then went to the Turn-About Ranch. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. I attended Discovery Ranch in Mapleton Utah from November 18th 2015 to May 15th 2015. You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. The chidren cant even have open discussions with other inmates there for fear of being punished and losing privileges. 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. 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. We have created this bond because unless you went through a detention center such as DR, you will not understand. Your teen is struggling. The staff often used abusive behaviors and were very rude to us. The teenagers at Discovery Ranch as forced to adhere to a strict set of rules at all time. The kids come out shell shocked, traumatized and fearful. Michele (Yelp), 2012: (PARENT) As a father I was treated poorly. 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 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. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. Please save your child from this place. Jason (Google Reviews), 6/10/2016: (SURVIVOR) Terrible place dont send your child here. STOP DISCOVER RANCH they will play you out of so much money its unbelievable. 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.
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