DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY, INC., Plaintiff and Counterclaim Defendant, v. CHELSEA FILER, Defendant and Counterclaim Plaintiff. survivors to be an extremely abusive program. Kids are constantly getting restrained and put on drugs to keep them under control. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. Throughout your sons experience at Discovery Ranch he will have the support of caring, educated, experienced professionals. They emotionally and mentally compromise kids for fun. 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. Derek (Yelp), 8/21/2015: (SURVIVOR) 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. Discovery Ranch for Girls is a well run industry leader in residential treatment for adolescent girls. 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. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. 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. You have tried outpatient therapy. sacramento obituaries 2021; apartments on aldine mail route 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. They are very abusive and they will lie to you. discovery ranch lawsuitshaun thompson elmhurst Consultation Request a Free Consultation Now. discovery ranch lawsuit. the licensed substance abuse counselor has obviously never touched a substance in her life. Discovery Ranch has been a NATSAP member since 2005. 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. Not a single one of us agree that this program helped us or our relationships with our families. 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 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. 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. Once a lawsuit gets underway, parties to the lawsuit or their lawyers start gathering information related to the lawsuit. 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. They gave all the kids the same level of trust, none. This creates a streamlined experience for your son. Like other behavior-modification programs, Discovery Ranch utilizes a level system based around a merit/demerit structure. They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. I didnt ask to see that.. This will provide him with the. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. It is reported by survivors that these calfs are later slaughtered, apparently in an attempt to teach the residents how to deal with loss. This practice is extremely cruel, and is reported to be very traumatic to many survivors. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. 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. They dont give the children any hope of getting out whatsoever. He will take part in equine therapy and horsemanship programs and will have the responsibility of caring for a rescued baby calf. Staff care about one another and take a genuine interest in the girls. Also the staff there (although there were some that I liked) were extremely rude. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. Although you move on and mature, its a wound that never fully heals and cuts deep. 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. 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! They would restrain kids to the point the kids arm was almost broken. If anything, kids got worse from being here. Clinton Dorny is the Executive Director of Discovery Ranch. However, our neighbor whose son went there the following year had all good experiences. The reason I am writing this now is because I ended up becoming an alcoholic and drug addict once I went to college and had finally had complete freedom. I literally cant live with these memories. I still have insomnia and night terrors of being at that place. Every part of Discovery Ranch, from the amazing campus to the nationally accredited Academic Program, helps to promote growth and healing. Education was packets and computer testing only poor. Yes, we have an amazing ranch!! We were victims of abuse. June 7, 2022 . 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. (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. Your attorney should explain each step, but here you can learn basics on Complaints, Answers, and other motions involved at the beginning of a lawsuit. Therapy was more like brainwashing than therapy. You are a survivor of an abusive environment that is very similar to a prison. 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. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. Brent Hall is reported by survivors to have run the facility. I thought I was actually crazy, but it was all real. The ranch horse manager Jerry put a phone in my face showing horses having sex. It wasnt until he left the program that people even found out about this happening!! "Defendant White took the minor child on a hunting trip where he gave him alcohol . 9/17/2020: (SURVIVOR) Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. 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. Even though I have left the program, if I dont follow their horribly rigorous and reclusive aftercare rules I go back. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. 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. Feel free to ask anything about my stay I'm an open book. 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. We do all this so that you can know your son is safe with us. My personal experience here was horrible. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. 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. 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. He previously worked at the confirmedly abusive Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. 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. agolden@skyhinews.com. After I graduated I was transferred to discovery ranch. If you are LGBTQ and need support, call the Trevor Project Hotline 1-866-488-7386, If you are having suicidal thoughts, call toll free 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741, If you are a child being abused or know of a child being abused call toll free 1-800-422-4453. 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. 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. 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. We have all suffered enough, its time to heal and create a system that works. , This place is horrible. He will have the support of well-trained and experienced clinical, academic, residential, and experiential staff members. I literally cant live with these memories. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. Any complaints about the program and the abuse kids witnessed would be brushed off by program coordinators and therapists. 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 was 15 years old. 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. Youre not. 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 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. 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. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. 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. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. 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. In addition to taking part in the equine therapy and horsemanship programs, he will have access to the fully-equipped music studio. This type of environment makes reporting abuse and neglect impossible for teenagers. Regardless of what they were there for, NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE TREATED AS INHUMANELY AS CHILDREN SUCH AS MYSELF WERE. My mind sometimes uncontrollably cradles and turns to static when I hear the same radio noise as the staff used at DR. 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. Completing the assessment is free. 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. 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. 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. 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. In comparison, most of the other residents had serious drug problems, were in gangs, were extremely violent, etc. The chidren cant even have open discussions with other inmates there for fear of being punished and losing privileges. worked as the Clinical Director of Discovery Ranch. Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. (During my stay, a kid in a different house was repeatedly raped by another kid for days until he was caught.) In other words, do not trust them. 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. Now, other past guests on the show are coming forward with similar stories, including . He will receive consistent feedback. 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 are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. 0. 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. Your son will experience the value of hard work through daily chores and responsibilities. ages 13-18. 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. Duane and his son, Chad Ollinger, are trying to finish a goal set by Duane's own father. They strip you of everything, even contact with your own parents, and dangle it in front of you as motivation to do/act how they want. 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. My mind sometimes uncontrollably cradles and turns to static when I hear the same radio noise as the staff used at DR. As I walked away in shock he was tackled by staff.This was after I had already seen two separate suicide attempts. DO NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL! , The Troubled Teen Industry: Commodifying Disability and Capitalizing on Fear by Catherine Kushan. They dont give the children any hope of getting out whatsoever. When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. 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. 8 9 comments Best Add a Comment dsholliday 7 yr. ago Non-Verbal Learning Disability including High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD). Overpriced, over rateddo not send your child there if you care about them. 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 is reported by many survivors to be an extremely 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. I wish I could give negitive stars! 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. The location grew in popularity after rumors swirled that the land . Not a single one of us agree that this program helped us or our relationships with our families. 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. They only allow astonishing ones to pass. Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. 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. 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. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. My cousin went to a place 2 years ago called Shortridge Academy and had a much better experience there. They have the same goals in mind. Although the system failed us, my peers and I have created somewhat of a little support group to cope and its helped us tremendously. They would yell at us and use excessive force. . Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. 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. 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. We would act like we loved the treatment center, and that there wasnt any abuse going on. Any minor infraction is punished severely. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. 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. Also a staff there named Matt polson threatened to restrain me several times. The schooling they provide is a joke. 2023 Discovery Ranch Residential Treatment Center for Teen Boys |. They often cause way more harm than good. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. Discovery ranch uses a merit system to punish kids. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. We were treated like we were in prison, and if we stepped out of line, we had our privileges taken away. Your teen is struggling. 10 Discovery Ranch for Girls reviews. I still have insomnia and night terrors of being at that place. Let us help. Your job as parents is to help your child, you guys are the problem not your kids. The school uses research to help create an individualized treatment plan for each teen. We have created this bond because unless you went through a detention center such as DR, you will not understand. 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. 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. He will be expected to maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes daily exercise and well-balanced meals. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. These programs are money makers. Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! 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. 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. Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! Also MAY I NOTE THAT THEY ARE SO DESPERATE THAT THEY NEED THEIR OWN STAFF MEMEBERS TO WRITE REVIEWS. 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. A kid was put in isolation for about 4 weeks before being moved to a different treatment center. We earned academic accreditation through Discovery Academy, Contact one of our well-trained representatives now. 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. Chad Ollinger and his brother, Duane, are gold prospectors in the Uintah Mountains of Utah. 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. We were victims of abuse. 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. Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct.

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