discovery ranch lawsuit

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. 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 care about one another and take a genuine interest in the girls. Their motto is apparently Strength in the Struggle. They dont let parents talk freely to their own child. Also there were lawsuits against this place. However, in 2013 DR moved their girls program to Cedar City, UT and began makerting theis program as Discovery Ranch For Girls. Both boys have turned out well however, my brother has trauma from the experience. STOP DISCOVER RANCH they will play you out of so much money its unbelievable. Have been in contact with many former students that have not done well once leaving the ranch. He will have opportunities for growth through our experiential campus, by developing new skills and interests. discovery ranch lawsuit. When Jack Stuef found a chest of gold and jewels in a Wyoming forest last year, he felt giddy. I literally couldnt make this shit up. They are very abusive and they will lie to you. I wish I could give negitive stars! He also is the Executive Director of, . Our parents (his Mom and step-father) regret sending him there even all these years later. 02-17-2016. 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. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. The staff often used abusive behaviors and were very rude to us. DR also advertises their calf program heavily, where each new resident is given a baby calf to care for and raise. I literally cant live with these memories. The amounts of times I screamed out loud in physical/mental exhaustion from being undermined and unheard is uncountable. 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. Anonymous (Tales from the Black School), 7/8/2013: (SURVIVOR) DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO DISCOVERY RANCH IF YOU CARE ABOUT THEM! Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. . Once a lawsuit gets underway, parties to the lawsuit or their lawyers start gathering information related to the lawsuit. And the scariest part was that it was fantastic during the day; we would do ropes courses and go skiing and horseback riding and talk to a truly kind therapist every day who genuinely though I was insane or a pathological liar and convinced me I was hallucinating or having nightmares. Listen to your child, and dont fall into the traps that programs make which lead parents to think their child is untrustworthy, a liar, manipulator, etc. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. On top of that I was forced to study 7 hours straight on the weekends if I didnt meet academic requirements. Basically non-existent education. 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. 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. behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. We were treated like we were in prison, and if we stepped out of line, we had our privileges taken away. 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. Also the staff there (although there were some that I liked) were extremely rude. Before you would consider sending your son away, you need to know that he is going to a place you can trust. Seek other avenues for your child. , This is the worst place to send your child. There is overmedicating (including putting kids to sleep for doing nothing wrong. 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. Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. 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. Are they just being a teenager? 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. worked as a Therapist at Discovery Ranch. 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. I was 15 years old. (Blood sprayed on me). 1308 South 1600 West, Mapleton, Utah 84664, . We maintain professional memberships in research organizations, such as The Joint Commission and NATSAP. They often cause way more harm than good. It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. Please save your child from this place. . 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. BE CAREFUL OF THEM. , This place is sickening. They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. Discovery Ranch South offers the perfect healing environment for troubled teens with mental health or behavioral issues. No one deserves what they really do to people. 8 9 comments Best Add a Comment dsholliday 7 yr. ago The ranch has the best of both worlds: a small-town atmosphere with access to world-class skiing, outdoor activities, surrounded by beautiful mountains, and close to two major universities and hospitals. Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. The school uses research to help create an individualized treatment plan for each teen. 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. Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch is a show on the Discovery Network about a rancher and his son who operate a 160-acre ranch in Utah. 0. Discovery Ranch for Girls is a well run industry leader in residential treatment for adolescent girls. He will receive consistent feedback. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. Discovery Ranch strives to heal your family as a whole. In addition, your son will experience many opportunities to explore Utah. 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. 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! The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. Amy Golden. 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. The reviews on their website are COMPLETELY weeded before theyre posted. You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. I dont know why but when i was there I never wanted to leave. We were treated like we were in prison, and if we stepped out of line, we had our privileges taken away. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. discovery ranch lawsuit. Duane and his son, Chad Ollinger, are trying to finish a goal set by Duane's own father. It is reported that they are only allowed to communicate with their parents through heavily censored and monitored letters, as well as a once-monthly phone call, which is also monitored by staff. 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. There is a culture of caring and respect, but also of excellence and high expectation both for staff and students. 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. 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 The staff often used abusive behaviors and were very rude to us. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. 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. Find out more about the assessment. worked as the Clinical Director of Discovery Ranch. the licensed substance abuse counselor has obviously never touched a substance in her life. 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. The program is located at 1308 South 1600 West, Mapleton, Utah 84664. 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. The kids come out shell shocked, traumatized and fearful. , As a father I was treated poorly. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. We were indirectly expected to manipulate visiting parents of troubled kids who have not yet been sent to treatment. 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. One small slip up, and you have all privileges taken away from a day to sometimes even a week. He also is the Executive Director of Discovery Academy. 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! Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! 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. STOP DISCOVER RANCH they will play you out of so much money its unbelievable. They often cause way more harm than good. The location is part of a dispute between the city and one tow truck company that filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 2, 2020. 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. 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. 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. In this, experiential, safe, and supportive environment. 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. Basically non-existent education. 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. She currently works as the Residential Director at, is reported by survivors to have run the facility. Also there were lawsuits against this place. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. 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. (only the higher rank kids would be allowed to do this). In addition to taking part in the equine therapy and horsemanship programs, he will have access to the fully-equipped music studio. , your son will confront his personal challenges with the goal of healing and increasing his capacity which builds his self-confidence and self-esteem. I literally cant live with these memories. 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. 10 Discovery Ranch for Girls reviews. Kids are constantly getting restrained and put on drugs to keep them under control. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. He will receive consistent feedback. 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. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. 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. 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. Case No. He previously worked at, worked as the Residential Director of Discovery Ranch. As per Discovery, intruders have appeared on the land at Blind Frog Ranch in many forms. Isnt that tax evasion? They tear children apart, and they come out broken. Our academic program meets your son at his level. Education was packets and computer testing only poor. Each part of his daily experience will reinforce his therapeutic goals. Non-Verbal Learning Disability including High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD). The Residential Treatment Program is located on a beautiful 60-acre ranch. This is my real name, as Im no longer afraid to write my review under an alias. They made me feel disgusting and quite hideous. 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. 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. Also MAY I NOTE THAT THEY ARE SO DESPERATE THAT THEY NEED THEIR OWN STAFF MEMEBERS TO WRITE REVIEWS. Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. 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. 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. 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. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. Even though I have left the program, if I dont follow their horribly rigorous and reclusive aftercare rules I go back. Im happy to say that she is leading a normal life and leaving DR was the best thing that happened. Josephine (Yelp), 11/26/2013: (SURVIVOR) I try to think positively about it but honestly this shithole gave me PTSD. I dont believe that the people who tortured me were innately evil; i think it was a situation similar to Abu Ghraib. 25 votes, 28 comments. They dont want to discuss whats actually wrong. 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. With the help of a REAL rehab and AA, I had achieved 14 months sober. 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. They tear children apart, and they come out broken.

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