He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. I wish I could give negitive stars! As I walked away in shock he was tackled by staff.This was after I had already seen two separate suicide attempts. 9/17/2020: (SURVIVOR) Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. TENA CAMPBELL U.S. District Court Judge. It wasnt until he left the program that people even found out about this happening!! He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. because Utah has a natural landscape that is second to none. 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. 2023 Discovery Ranch Residential Treatment Center for Teen Boys |. worked as the Clinical Director of Discovery Ranch. After I graduated I was transferred to discovery ranch. I had been raped when i was 12 and was unable to tell my male therapist or parents about this happening because my family is very Catholic. 19K views, 49 likes, 17 loves, 159 comments, 10 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from FOX 13 News: UTAH RANCH LAWSUIT - A teen is filing a lawsuit against a Utah ranch where she says she was sexually. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. Not a single one of us agree that this program helped us or our relationships with our families. For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our program. (During my stay, a kid in a different house was repeatedly raped by another kid for days until he was caught.) Happened several times to my friends. We earned academic accreditation through Discovery Academy. The staff often used abusive behaviors and were very rude to us. Terrible place dont send your child here. They picked favorites and we were treated like garbage. Anyone is free to fact check this, and contact me with further questions [redacted]. This is not just a couple of resentful people. Eaton County Circuit Court 1045 Independence Blvd. A friend of mine stabbing his arm 15+ times with a pencil. They often cause way more harm than good. 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. It does not represent any obligation. 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. He will have the support of well-trained and experienced clinical, academic, residential, and experiential staff members. The representative will help connect you with resources that can help your family--even if that help is not from us. The trauma Ive witnessed, and seen other kids witness was unbearable. This will provide him with the experience of a lifetime because Utah has a natural landscape that is second to none. However, in 2013 DR moved their girls program to Cedar City, UT and began makerting theis program as, member since 2005. His step-father (my Dad) told me not to discuss it around him. survivors to be an extremely abusive program. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, we hold ourselves to the, We maintain professional memberships in research organizations, such as, . Listen to your child, what do they think they need? They often cause way more harm than good. My cousin went to a place 2 years ago called Shortridge Academy and had a much better experience there. Discovery Ranch is reported by many survivors to be an extremely abusive program. If this describes your family, let us help. I am not the only victim. 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. 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: Discovery ranch seems to actively try to remove as many negative reviews as they can, many were mine being removed over and over. Please. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. Until now I had remembered my experience there as a happy one- I literally only remembered what went on during the day. Get Confidential Help Today, Call Us Anytime, Internationally-recognized Residential Treatment Center for Teen Boys Ages 13-18 Located in Utah, Top Residential Treatment Center For Teens, Discovery Ranch combines the power of traditional and experiential therapies to create a clinically sophisticated, relationship-based. These programs are money makers. Their motto is apparently Strength in the Struggle. The kids come out shell shocked, traumatized and fearful. , As a father I was treated poorly. 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. We will not share your information. ), 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. 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 dont let parents talk freely to their own child. It began with a lawsuit filed by Hannah Archuleta, who appeared on Dr. Phil in 2019 and then went to the Turn-About Ranch. The civil lawsuit seeks a minimum of $350,000. We were indirectly expected to manipulate visiting parents of troubled kids who have not yet been sent to treatment. Case No. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. 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. They will do everything to keep themselves looking like the best option at all costs just for money. Discovery Ranch is reported by many survivors to be an extremely abusive program. 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. 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. . They lied and were mainpulative, and power tripped all the time. The average stay is OVER a year not under like they love to say. Non-Verbal Learning Disability including High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD). They tear children apart, and they come out broken. May their souls rest in peace. The Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch, which airs on Discovery Channel, is currently in its fifth season. While at Discovery Ranch, your son will participate in a variety of outdoor activities. 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 lawsuitshaun thompson elmhurst Consultation Request a Free Consultation Now. I had been raped when i was 12 and was unable to tell my male therapist or parents about this happening because my family is very Catholic. We have created this bond because unless you went through a detention center such as DR, you will not understand. They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. Throughout your sons experience at Discovery Ranch he will have the support of caring, educated, experienced professionals. Residential Treatment is an Intensive Healing Experience, Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. He reportedly began working in the TTI because his brothers have worked at various other treatment centers. 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. Are they just being a teenager? (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. We were victims of abuse. I literally cant live with these memories. 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. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. Your son will experience the value of hard work through daily chores and responsibilities. Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. If you are like most parents of Discovery Ranch students, you have been looking for help for a long time. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. . 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. No one deserves what they really do to people. 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.. Happened several times to my friends. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. Discovery Ranch only wants to know and talk about their truth which is nothing close to reality. Every part of Discovery Ranch, from the amazing campus to the nationally accredited Academic Program, helps to promote growth and healing. 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. We would act like we loved the treatment center, and that there wasnt any abuse going on. The protocols here suck, and do absolutely nothing in the way of help. 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. Are they just being a teenager? Duane and his son, Chad Ollinger, are trying to finish a goal set by Duane's own father. 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. We have all suffered enough, its time to heal and create a system that works. Carebear (Yelp), 2015: (SURVIVOR) This place is horrible. Your son will have the opportunity to build the strength and resilience he needs to thrive at home. 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). The website is misleading. 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. Its heart wrenching to see how many families were deeply financially destroyed as well as personal connections being permanently damaged. Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. 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. 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. Allegations of abuse that have been reported by survivors include malnutrition/food deprivation, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and solitary confinement used as punishment. I thought I was actually crazy, but it was all real. It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. 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. You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. Education was packets and computer testing only poor. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. The website is misleading. 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. Discovery Ranch strives to heal your family as a whole. 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. Isnt that tax evasion? When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. The schooling they provide is a joke. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. This creates a streamlined experience for your son. I felt meaningless, worthless, like a pawn used to control my dads emotions, fishing out hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. 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. He also is the Executive Director of, . This is my real name, as Im no longer afraid to write my review under an alias. 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. Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. And the horrible part? 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 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. Basically non-existent education. However, our neighbor whose son went there the following year had all good experiences. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. I highly suggest people look it up, one of the most disgusting things Ive ever read in my life: . Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. A kid was put in isolation for about 4 weeks before being moved to a different treatment center. 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. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. This type of environment makes reporting abuse and neglect impossible for teenagers. A court has maintained a number of claims the Granby Ranch Metropolitan District has made in a lawsuit against the owners of Granby Ranch. 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. 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. They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. I dont know why but when i was there I never wanted to leave. Discovery ranch uses a merit system to punish kids. He also worked for a time as the Director of, Teenagers at Discovery Ranch have extremely limited contact with the outside world. I still have insomnia and night terrors of being at that place. 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. 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. 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. 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 was 15 years old. 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). The teenagers at Discovery Ranch as forced to adhere to a strict set of rules at all time. 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. 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. You might feel that you are all alone. A friend of mine stabbing his arm 15+ times with a pencil. Your Participation Is Key To Success 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. I dont believe that the people who tortured me were innately evil; i think it was a situation similar to Abu Ghraib. I would estimate their rate of rehabilitation around 20%. 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! May their souls rest in peace. The staff often used abusive behaviors and were very rude to us. 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 unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. I am at a loss for what to do at this point. 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. These programs are money makers. The moment I stepped foot on campus, I was treated like some sort of criminal. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. Your community does not have the resources to help. I felt meaningless, worthless, like a pawn used to control my dads emotions, fishing out hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. Contact one of our well-trained representatives now. I posted this exact review several times spacing itself out several months. 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. They dont give the children any hope of getting out whatsoever. 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. Craig Smith worked as the Clinical Director of Discovery Ranch. 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. 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. Discovery ranchs idea of privileges is being able to sit on something other than hard wood chairs. Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct. 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. 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. We were victims of abuse. 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. They lied and were mainpulative, and power tripped all the time. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. Any complaints about the program and the abuse kids witnessed would be brushed off by program coordinators and therapists. The ranch horse manager Jerry put a phone in my face showing horses having sex. 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. 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. ), 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. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. The Residential Treatment Program is located on a beautiful 60-acre ranch. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. They often cause way more harm than good. This is my real name, as Im no longer afraid to write my review under an alias. I have constant dreams where bugs are crawling all over my skin and I wake up screaming from anxiety.