In addition, survivors have reported that on the off-chance that they. They left me more broken than they found me. , Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. 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. (and have it be removed weeks later). While at Discovery Ranch, your son will participate in a variety of outdoor activities. 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. Are they just being a teenager? He also is the Executive Director of Discovery Academy. I have constant dreams where bugs are crawling all over my skin and I wake up screaming from anxiety. 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. 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. They are very abusive and they will lie to you. Basically non-existent education. Also there were lawsuits against this place. I thought I was actually crazy, but it was all real. agolden@skyhinews.com. 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. The website is misleading. 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. DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY, INC., Plaintiff and Counterclaim Defendant, v. CHELSEA FILER, Defendant and Counterclaim Plaintiff. Youre not. I dont believe that the people who tortured me were innately evil; i think it was a situation similar to Abu Ghraib. This will provide him with the. This type of environment makes reporting abuse and neglect impossible for teenagers. 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. They dont give the children any hope of getting out whatsoever. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. 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. In addition, your son will experience many opportunities to explore Utah. I wish I could give negitive stars! I literally cant live with these memories. 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 Let us help. He can participate in various sports teams, such as basketball, flag football, wrestling, and cross-country running. Aside from the obvious prejudice and discrimination, many of these conditions are not legitimate clinical impairments, and those that are require individualized care, which this facility does not provide.. Happened several times to my friends. 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. Completing the assessment is free. 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. The representative will help connect you with resources that can help your family--even if that help is not from us. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. They later sued the show, saying . May their souls rest in peace. ages 13-18. Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our program. 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. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. 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. Im in therapy, on medication, have been to three AA meetings in the past three days, and just feel like I am out of options and suicide or getting constantly fucked up is my only option at this point. You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. We respect your privacy. Isnt that tax evasion? The trauma Ive witnessed, and seen other kids witness was unbearable. The discovery process was contentious, especially with respect to the Aaron Ranch Lawsuit, and went on for years in state court. In other words, do not trust them. She currently works as the Residential Director at Redcliff Ascent, another Ascent Company program. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. 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. Those goals are helping your son learn, grow, and heal so that your family can be a family again. We provide a safe, home-like environment for your son. 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. Leslie Glies worked as the Residential Director of Discovery Ranch. (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. We do all this so that you can know your son is safe with us. Isnt that tax evasion? 2023 Discovery Ranch Residential Treatment Center for Teen Boys |. You will also be able to observe your sons progress through our secure, password-protected parent portal. Yes, we have an amazing ranch!! Therapeutic experiences challenge your son to learn and grow. 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. 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. But I fucking wasnt. Discovery Ranch for Girls is a well run industry leader in residential treatment for adolescent girls. The tuition is reported to be anywhere between $6,500 to $12,000 per month. They dont give the children any hope of getting out whatsoever. 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 lied and were mainpulative, and power tripped all the time. They gave all the kids the same level of trust, none. If any of you also went there shoot me a pm id like to hear about 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. 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. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. The Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch, which airs on Discovery Channel, is currently in its fifth season. However, in 2013 DR moved their girls program to Cedar City, UT and began makerting theis program as, member since 2005. (During my stay, a kid in a different house was repeatedly raped by another kid for days until he was caught.) 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. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. A court has maintained a number of claims the Granby Ranch Metropolitan District has made in a lawsuit against the owners of Granby Ranch. 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. Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. 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 licensed substance abuse counselor has obviously never touched a substance in her life. Before you would consider sending your son away, you need to know that he is going to a place you can trust. These programs are money makers. Brent Hall is reported by survivors to have run the facility. They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. , family visits, and Parent Day Seminars. 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. In Season 1, Episode 2 ("Under Siege"), the Raneys went to Virginia to help couple Kim and Josh Zabec the owners of Revolutionary Roots Farm after pigs had ruined part of their homestead. I am at a loss for what to do at this point. These programs are money makers. The protocols here suck, and do absolutely nothing in the way of help. Please save your child from this place. . 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. It is degrading and disrespectful and I will forever hate this program as they manipulate people into spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to not help there kids. 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. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. 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 I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. When the program opened, it housed both boys and girls on the same campus, but kept them completely seperate in different parts of the campus. 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. Before you would consider sending your son away, you need to know that he is going to a place you can trust. 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. After I graduated I was transferred to discovery ranch. With the help of a REAL rehab and AA, I had achieved 14 months sober. If you absolutely need mental support for your child, I suggest something that is close to home, and something that does not limit their ability to see and interact with the outside world. I 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. He began his career working in Admissions at Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. 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. The civil lawsuit seeks a minimum of $350,000. ! Jack (Yelp), 5/28/2020: (SIBLING) A family member of mine attended this school so everything I have heard is 2nd hand. Your job as parents is to help your child, you guys are the problem not your kids. There is overmedicating (including putting kids to sleep for doing nothing wrong. The website is misleading. One small slip up, and you have all privileges taken away from a day to sometimes even a week. They will do everything to keep themselves looking like the best option at all costs just for money. 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. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. Kids are constantly getting restrained and put on drugs to keep them under control. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. The school uses research to help create an individualized treatment plan for each teen. 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. 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 do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. He previously worked at Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. the licensed substance abuse counselor has obviously never touched a substance in her life. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. We earned academic accreditation through Discovery Academy, Contact one of our well-trained representatives now. 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. 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. He reportedly began working in the TTI because his brothers have worked at various other treatment centers. 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. He previously worked at the confirmedly abusive Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. Therapy was more like brainwashing than therapy. We found a traditional therapist that proved to be far more effective. 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. You can be assured that your son will not confront these challenges alone. The staff often used abusive behaviors and were very rude to us. My parents spent over $200,000 here before they realized I was not getting the help I needed. My personal experience here was horrible. Until now I had remembered my experience there as a happy one- I literally only remembered what went on during the day. 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. Sanoy (Yelp), August 2020: (SURVIVOR) Kinda like a prison that just focuses on external behavior. 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. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. No one deserves what they really do to people. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. I still hear screams from my friends being restrained in the back of my mind. Discovery ranchs idea of privileges is being able to sit on something other than hard wood chairs. Last year, Granby Ranch Metropolitan District, a homeowner-controlled metro district, filed suit against the group of entities associated with the Granby Ranch development. Your Participation Is Key To Success 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. Discovery Ranch South offers the perfect healing environment for troubled teens with mental health or behavioral issues. THATS WHEN YOU KNOW THE PLACE IS TERRIBLE. Davinci (Google Reviews), 2018: (SURVIVOR) Beware the evil behind their smiling eyes! 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. Chad Ollinger and his brother, Duane, are gold prospectors in the Uintah Mountains of Utah. It wasnt until he left the program that people even found out about this happening!! Non-Verbal Learning Disability including High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD). There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. You and your son will work to rebuild your relationship with weekly family therapy, family visits, and Parent Day Seminars. 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. And the horrible part? When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. We would act like we loved the treatment center, and that there wasnt any abuse going on. We maintain professional memberships in research organizations, such as The Joint Commission and NATSAP. Case No. Id go on to say I have PTSD. 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. His step-father (my Dad) told me not to discuss it around him. 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). Aside from the obvious prejudice and discrimination, many of these conditions are not legitimate clinical impairments, and those that are require individualized care, which this facility does not provide., In February of 2015, a former resident at DR and his family filed a lawsuit against the school reporting that the boy was violently and repeatedly sexually assaulted by another resident at the program. Are they just being a teenager? Learn about discovery -- the legal procedures used to gather evidence for a lawsuit. behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. Plaintiff Diamond Ranch Academy, Inc. (DRA) operates a residential youth treatment facility in Hurricane, Utah. The parties fought over depositions and the production of documents, among other things, in various states where witnesses were located. They often cause way more harm than good. 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. The teenagers at Discovery Ranch as forced to adhere to a strict set of rules at all time. Discovery ranch uses a merit system to punish kids. The program has a maxmimum enrollment of 60 boys, and the average length of stay is reported to be around 10 months, but this can be substantially longer if the boy is deemed resistant. 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. The schooling they provide is a joke. It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. You might feel that you are all alone. 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. Our parents (his Mom and step-father) regret sending him there even all these years later. It makes me fucking sick that this place, along with HUNDREDS of others, still exists, quietly protected under the umbrella of the state government of Utah, and that parents are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for their children to be tortured and driven insane or into obedient, soulless sociopaths. , DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO DISCOVERY RANCH IF YOU CARE ABOUT THEM!