Also the staff there (although there were some that I liked) were extremely rude. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. the villa pacific palisades, ca. 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. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. The moment I stepped foot on campus, I was treated like some sort of criminal. Also a staff there named Matt polson threatened to restrain me several times. 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). . 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. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for teenage boys aged 13-18 with emotional and behavioral issues. DR does not accept transgender males. My parents spent over $200,000 here before they realized I was not getting the help I needed. (During my stay, a kid in a different house was repeatedly raped by another kid for days until he was caught.) They are very abusive and they will lie to you. You Have Questions, We Have Answers. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. It began with a lawsuit filed by Hannah Archuleta, who appeared on Dr. Phil in 2019 and then went to the Turn-About Ranch. When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. There is overmedicating (including putting kids to sleep for doing nothing wrong. Discovery Ranch is reported by many survivors to be an extremely abusive program. 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. We also understand that every teen and every family is unique. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. I posted this exact review several times spacing itself out several months. However, the abuse overshadowed it. Also there were lawsuits against this place. 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. In addition, your son will experience many opportunities to explore Utah. 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. (only the higher rank kids would be allowed to do this). My mind sometimes uncontrollably cradles and turns to static when I hear the same radio noise as the staff used at DR. $1,000 in 1990 worth today . The ranch horse manager Jerry put a phone in my face showing horses having sex. (Blood sprayed on me). And the horrible part? My personal experience here was horrible. BE CAREFUL OF THEM. James (Yelp), 2019: (SURVIVOR) This place is sickening. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. Blind Frog Ranch 2022 lawsuit update In season 2, we see someone come onto the ranch and serve the gang some sort of paper. DO NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL! , The Troubled Teen Industry: Commodifying Disability and Capitalizing on Fear by Catherine Kushan. My Mom says she wishes she had heard of that school at the time. Your family is struggling. Its not just the kids too, sometimes there are good staff, but whenever there is that person never lasts long at all, they all literally quit because this place is so horrible. 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. We will not share your information. Staff care about one another and take a genuine interest in the girls. 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. 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. I am at a loss for what to do at this point. Terrible place dont send your child here. Before you would consider sending your son away, you need to know that he is going to a place you can trust. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. While enrolled at Discovery Ranch, your son will experience a safe and structured environment. (During my stay, a kid in a different house was repeatedly raped by another kid for days until he was caught.) Every part of Discovery Ranch, from the amazing campus to the nationally accredited Academic Program, helps to promote growth and healing. 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). After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. 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. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. It is run like a prison. He will receive consistent feedback. 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. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for teenage boys aged 13-18 with emotional and behavioral issues. DR does not accept transgender males. I literally cant live with these memories. 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. The protocols here suck, and do absolutely nothing in the way of help. For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our program. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. 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. DO NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL! Jeff (Google Reviews), HEAL Program Information Discovery Ranch, Family Alleges Bestiality at Alternative School, The Troubled Teen Industry: Commodifying Disability and Capitalizing on Fear by Catherine Kushan (mentions Discovery Ranch), Strength in the Struggle A Marketing Video uploaded by the school to YouTube, Discovery Ranch Secret Prisons for Teens. (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. 2:14-CV-751-TC. (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. survivors to be an extremely abusive program. They would arbitrarily lock me in a tiny pitch black closet devoid of food, water, a bathroom, or human contact for days, usually because I made an inappropriate facial expression like crying or raising my eyebrows when they screamed at me that I was worthless and no one could ever love me. Residential Treatment is an Intensive Healing Experience, Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. Chad Ollinger and his brother, Duane, are gold prospectors in the Uintah Mountains of Utah. Although you move on and mature, its a wound that never fully heals and cuts deep. If you are like most parents of Discovery Ranch students, you have been looking for help for a long time. He previously worked at, worked as the Residential Director of Discovery Ranch. Lawsuit filed March 3rd against the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF). The website is misleading. His step-father (my Dad) told me not to discuss it around him. You are a survivor of an abusive environment that is very similar to a prison. Therapeutic experiences challenge your son to learn and grow. This place did not save my life it scared me to have problems. , I attended Discovery Ranch 5 years ago when I was 15 years old. 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. 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. This is not just a couple of resentful people. Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct. Those goals are helping your son learn, grow, and heal so that your family can be a family again. Case No. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. (and have it be removed weeks later). Each part of his daily experience will reinforce his therapeutic goals. 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. ! , A family member of mine attended this school so everything I have heard is 2nd hand. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. Isnt that tax evasion? 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. We were victims of abuse. 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. However, our neighbor whose son went there the following year had all good experiences. 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 still hear screams from my friends being restrained in the back of my mind. My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. He also is the Executive Director of, . I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. Clinton Dorny is the Executive Director of Discovery Ranch. 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. On top of that I was forced to study 7 hours straight on the weekends if I didnt meet academic requirements. I didnt ask to see that.. The civil lawsuit seeks a minimum of $350,000. Their motto is apparently Strength in the Struggle. 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. This is not just a couple of resentful people. Last year, Granby Ranch Metropolitan District, a homeowner-controlled metro district, filed suit against the group of entities associated with the Granby Ranch development. They will do everything to keep themselves looking like the best option at all costs just for money. 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. 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. 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. Discovery Ranch has been a NATSAP member since 2005. A friend of mine stabbing his arm 15+ times with a pencil. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. The reviews on their website are COMPLETELY weeded before theyre posted. They made me feel disgusting and quite hideous. This website uses cookies and third party services. We were victims of abuse. Also they lie to the kids about the effects of marijuana, such as the claim that you can withdrawal from it, but I know that isnt true. I have constant dreams where bugs are crawling all over my skin and I wake up screaming from anxiety. Anyone is free to fact check this, and contact me with further questions [redacted]. 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. The men have also come up against many dangerous physical hitches in getting to the treasure. Youre parents will love that, Ha!). They dont give the children any hope of getting out whatsoever. In addition, survivors have reported that on the off-chance that they. 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. Although the system failed us, my peers and I have created somewhat of a little support group to cope and its helped us tremendously. We have created this bond because unless you went through a detention center such as DR, you will not understand. He since has shut down and will not discuss it so no idea if it was accurate or something he said when first home to avoid being sent back. The tuition is reported to be anywhere between $6,500 to $12,000 per month. Throughout your sons experience at Discovery Ranch he will have the support of caring, educated. I would estimate their rate of rehabilitation around 20%. The teenagers at Discovery Ranch as forced to adhere to a strict set of rules at all time. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. I felt meaningless, worthless, like a pawn used to control my dads emotions, fishing out hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. 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. They often cause way more harm than good. 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. We earned academic accreditation through Discovery Academy, Contact one of our well-trained representatives now. 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. This place did not save my life it scared me to have problems. H.A. 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. I literally couldnt make this shit up. ), 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. He reportedly began working in the TTI because his brothers have worked at various other treatment centers. ! Jack (Yelp), 5/28/2020: (SIBLING) A family member of mine attended this school so everything I have heard is 2nd hand. 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. 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. 9/17/2020: (SURVIVOR) Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. Not a single one of us agree that this program helped us or our relationships with our families. We have all suffered enough, its time to heal and create a system that works. Carebear (Yelp), 2015: (SURVIVOR) This place is horrible. Amy Golden. Those goals are helping your son learn, grow, and heal so that your family can be a family again. This will provide him with the experience of a lifetime because Utah has a natural landscape that is second to none. 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 had no contact with the outside world except letters to my parents which were censored, and observed phone calls once a month. Also a staff there named Matt polson threatened to restrain me several times. 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, 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. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. Contact one of our well-trained representatives now. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. Lawsuits, harassment then found him. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. We believe that teens are more than their diagnosis. The lawsuit filed by the staff parents said the couple joined Eagle Ranch as staff parents in April 2020 and ended their employment in January 2022. We have created this bond because unless you went through a detention center such as DR, you will not understand. 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. Leslie Glies worked as the Residential Director of Discovery Ranch. 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. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. 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. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. . "Defendant White took the minor child on a hunting trip where he gave him alcohol . Education was packets and computer testing only poor. Both boys have turned out well however, my brother has trauma from the experience. As I walked away in shock he was tackled by staff.This was after I had already seen two separate suicide attempts. They left me more broken than they found me. , Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. She currently works as the Residential Director at Redcliff Ascent, another Ascent Company program. May their souls rest in peace. I suggest seeking different options for your child. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. 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 would yell at us and use excessive force. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. 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. However, your teen is still troubled and your family is still in crisis. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. 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. Non-Verbal Learning Disability including High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD). They dont want to discuss whats actually wrong. You will also be able to observe your sons progress through our secure, password-protected parent portal. 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 dont know why but when i was there I never wanted to leave. 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. Youre not. I suggest seeking different options for your child. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, we hold ourselves to the highest professional standards. And the horrible part? (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. I stopped feeling emotions and didnt for two years. 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. When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. Happened several times to my friends. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? This is my real name, as Im no longer afraid to write my review under an alias. Blind Frog Ranch Lawsuit. They are there only to try and give the staff (who by the way have no training in psychology at all) an easier time. linus pauling vitamin c, lysine protocol. Feel free to ask anything about my stay I'm an open book. I highly suggest people look it up, one of the most disgusting things Ive ever read in my life: . He will take part in equine therapy and horsemanship programs and will have the responsibility of caring for a rescued baby calf. Are they just being a teenager? The amounts of times I screamed out loud in physical/mental exhaustion from being undermined and unheard is uncountable. 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. The website is misleading. In comparison, most of the other residents had serious drug problems, were in gangs, were extremely violent, etc. Not only were surveillance cameras found pointing at their worksite, but military helicopters have flown over the Utah land and spy drones have been seen, too. These programs are money makers. 10 Discovery Ranch for Girls reviews. 25 votes, 28 comments. Seek other avenues for your child. , This is the worst place to send your child. Privileges to some might sound like being able to talk to friends, or having free time. Yes, we have an amazing ranch!! Discovery Ranch South offers the perfect healing environment for troubled teens with mental health or behavioral issues. The chidren cant even have open discussions with other inmates there for fear of being punished and losing privileges. We were treated like we were in prison, and if we stepped out of line, we had our privileges taken away. A kid was put in isolation for about 4 weeks before being moved to a different treatment center. June 27, 2022; how to get infinite lingots in duolingo; chegg payment options; discovery ranch lawsuit . It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for teenage boys aged 13-18 with "emotional and behavioral issues." DR does not accept transgender males. The last few years of my life have felt unreal, Ive had migraines with frustration wondering how places like this exist, and how theyve gotten away with so much deceit. The Clinical, Academic, Residential, and Experiential departments all work together. We were treated like we were in prison, and if we stepped out of line, we had our privileges taken away. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. 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. As per Discovery, intruders have appeared on the land at Blind Frog Ranch in many forms. , your son will confront his personal challenges with the goal of healing and increasing his capacity which builds his self-confidence and self-esteem. This creates a streamlined experience for your son.