The representative will help connect you with resources that can help your family--even if that help is not from us. 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. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. . 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. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. 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. This merit system was easy for some kids to abuse, in one circumstance during my stay, a child was repeatedly raped, and was threatened with the merit system to get him to keep quiet. Anyone is free to fact check this, and contact me with further questions [redacted]. We earned academic accreditation through Discovery Academy. In comparison, most of the other residents had serious drug problems, were in gangs, were extremely violent, etc. As part of the therapeutic learning process, all boys participate in weekly ropes activities that build character and help develop lifelong skills. 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. My personal experience here was horrible. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. The website is misleading. When you try to induct real truths into the once a week, 1/2 hour, monitored phone call, the therapist redirects you to la la land. sacramento obituaries 2021; apartments on aldine mail route They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. 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. I posted this exact review several times spacing itself out several months. 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. Clinton Dorny is the Executive Director of Discovery 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. They would restrain kids to the point the kids arm was almost broken. In May 2018, the family that owns Blind Frog Ranch in Moab, Utah, filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM . Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct. 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. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. I wish I could give negitive stars! Privileges to some might sound like being able to talk to friends, or having free time. The program is affiliated with several other Ascent Company programs, such as RedCliff Ascent, Discovery Academy, Discovery Connections, and Oxbow Academy. We have all suffered enough, its time to heal and create a system that works. Carebear (Yelp), 2015: (SURVIVOR) This place is horrible. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. The amounts of times I screamed out loud in physical/mental exhaustion from being undermined and unheard is uncountable. The kids come out shell shocked, traumatized and fearful. Michele (Yelp), 2012: (PARENT) As a father I was treated poorly. They made me feel disgusting and quite hideous. Regardless of what they were there for, NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE TREATED AS INHUMANELY AS CHILDREN SUCH AS MYSELF WERE. Your community does not have the resources to help. He will have opportunities for growth through our experiential campus, by developing new skills and interests. Even though I have left the program, if I dont follow their horribly rigorous and reclusive aftercare rules I go back. Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. 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. Youre parents will love that, Ha!). 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.. In addition, your son will experience many opportunities to explore Utah. 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. Their motto is apparently Strength in the Struggle. We were indirectly expected to manipulate visiting parents of troubled kids who have not yet been sent to treatment. 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. 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. linus pauling vitamin c, lysine protocol. Youre not. Its heart wrenching to see how many families were deeply financially destroyed as well as personal connections being permanently damaged. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. Its heart wrenching to see how many families were deeply financially destroyed as well as personal connections being permanently damaged. the licensed substance abuse counselor has obviously never touched a substance in her life. I still hear screams from my friends being restrained in the back of my mind. agolden@skyhinews.com. We respect your privacy. Discovery ranchs idea of privileges is being able to sit on something other than hard wood chairs. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. No one deserves what they really do to people. We maintain professional memberships in research organizations, such as The Joint Commission and NATSAP. In addition, survivors have reported that on the off-chance that they are able to inform their parents of abuse, their parents are manipulated by DR into believing that their child is lying and being manipulative in an attempt to be pulled from the program. I suggest seeking different options for your child. 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. discovery ranch lawsuit. 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. Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. You have tried community resources or other programs. The men have also come up against many dangerous physical hitches in getting to the treasure. the licensed substance abuse counselor has obviously never touched a substance in her life. I suggest seeking different options for your child. There is a culture of caring and respect, but also of excellence and high expectation both for staff and students. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. May their souls rest in peace. Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. 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. I thought I was actually crazy, but it was all real. The moment I stepped foot on campus, I was treated like some sort of criminal. 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). 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. It does not represent any obligation. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. ORDER AND MEMORANDUM DECISION. This is my real name, as Im no longer afraid to write my review under an alias. They have the same goals in mind. The location is part of a dispute between the city and one tow truck company that filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 2, 2020. Proof is attached as an image. 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. 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. (During my stay, a kid in a different house was repeatedly raped by another kid for days until he was caught.) No one deserves what they really do to people. ! , A family member of mine attended this school so everything I have heard is 2nd hand. DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY, INC., Plaintiff and Counterclaim Defendant, v. CHELSEA FILER, Defendant and Counterclaim Plaintiff. I had no contact with the outside world except letters to my parents which were censored, and observed phone calls once a month. 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 (Google Reviews). 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. Discovery Ranch has been a NATSAP member since 2005. As I walked away in shock he was tackled by staff.This was after I had already seen two separate suicide attempts. Duane and his son, Chad Ollinger, are trying to finish a goal set by Duane's own father. (Yelp), 11/10/2013: (SURVIVOR) Link to Anonymous Survivor Testimony, 10/13/2013: (SURVIVOR) I attended Discovery Ranch 5 years ago when I was 15 years old. My mind sometimes uncontrollably cradles and turns to static when I hear the same radio noise as the staff used at DR. I literally cant live with these memories. 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. 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. 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). 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. They would restrain kids to the point the kids arm was almost broken. After I graduated I was transferred to discovery ranch. The trauma Ive witnessed, and seen other kids witness was unbearable. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. I am not the only victim. The ranch horse manager Jerry put a phone in my face showing horses having sex. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. You might feel that you are all alone. Contact one of our well-trained representatives now. Your son will have the opportunity to build the strength and resilience he needs to thrive at home. discovery ranch lawsuitshaun thompson elmhurst Consultation Request a Free Consultation Now. 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. She currently works as the Residential Director at, is reported by survivors to have run the facility. I am not the only victim. Discovery ranchs idea of privileges is being able to sit on something other than hard wood chairs. 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). It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. discovery ranch lawsuit. dont do this to your child We are all begging you. Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct. While at Discovery Ranch, your son will participate in a variety of outdoor activities. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. You are a survivor of an abusive environment that is very similar to a prison. I dont believe that the people who tortured me were innately evil; i think it was a situation similar to Abu Ghraib. Non-Verbal Learning Disability including High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD). They are there only to try and give the staff (who by the way have no training in psychology at all) an easier time. 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. I still have insomnia and night terrors of being at that place. They gave all the kids the same level of trust, none. 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. But I fucking wasnt. With the help of a REAL rehab and AA, I had achieved 14 months sober. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. Discovery Ranch strives to heal your family as a whole. 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. Every part of Discovery Ranch, from the amazing campus to the nationally accredited Academic Program, helps to promote growth and healing. This is not just a couple of resentful people. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. 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. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. Proof is attached as an image. He will receive consistent feedback. Staff parents "were expected to replicate a. DR also advertises their calf program heavily, where each new resident is given a baby calf to care for and raise. Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! Even though I have left the program, if I dont follow their horribly rigorous and reclusive aftercare rules I go back. They dont let parents talk freely to their own child. 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. BE CAREFUL OF THEM. James (Yelp), 2019: (SURVIVOR) This place is sickening. 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. 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. 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. You can find much better treatment for a better price. (Blood sprayed on me). Last year, Granby Ranch Metropolitan District, a homeowner-controlled metro district, filed suit against the group of entities associated with the Granby Ranch development. He previously worked at the confirmedly abusive Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. They dont want to discuss whats actually wrong. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible 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. I highly suggest people look it up, one of the most disgusting things Ive ever read in my life: Link. Kids are constantly getting restrained and put on drugs to keep them under control. 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.. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. 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. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. 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. 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. 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. The moment I stepped foot on campus, I was treated like some sort of criminal. If you absolutely need mental support for your child, I suggest something that is close to home, and something that does not limit their ability to see and interact with the outside world. We would act like we loved the treatment center, and that there wasnt any abuse going on. If you are in an urgent situation and need help call 911. In other words, do not trust them. 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. 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 May their souls rest in peace. 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. But, the couple was later outspoken on social media about the extent to which they were helped by the Raney family. 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 meaningless, worthless, like a pawn used to control my dads emotions, fishing out hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. Now, other past guests on the show are coming forward with similar stories, including . 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. The school uses research to help create an individualized treatment plan for each teen. 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. This is not just a couple of resentful people. My parents spent over $200,000 here before they realized I was not getting the help I needed. They made me feel disgusting and quite hideous. This is my real name, as Im no longer afraid to write my review under an alias. Discovery is the legal term used to describe the different processes that require parties in a lawsuit to exchange information that each side possesses. June 27, 2022; how to get infinite lingots in duolingo; chegg payment options; discovery ranch lawsuit . They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. I stopped feeling emotions and didnt for two years. 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. 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. Kids are constantly getting restrained and put on drugs to keep them under control. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. I highly suggest people look it up, one of the most disgusting things Ive ever read in my life: . You will also be able to observe your sons progress through our secure, password-protected parent portal. It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? Discovery Ranch strives to heal your family as a whole. Eaton County Circuit Court 1045 Independence Blvd. We were victims of abuse. We were victims of abuse. 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. 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. Throughout your sons experience at Discovery Ranch he will have the support of caring, educated. 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.. It wasnt until he left the program that people even found out about this happening!! 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. A free inside look at company reviews and salaries posted anonymously by employees. I attended Discovery Ranch in Mapleton Utah from November 18th 2015 to May 15th 2015. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. I dont believe that the people who tortured me were innately evil; i think it was a situation similar to Abu Ghraib. The chidren cant even have open discussions with other inmates there for fear of being punished and losing privileges. 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. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. Also the staff there (although there were some that I liked) were extremely rude. They often cause way more harm than good. And the horrible part? I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. These issues include: At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. 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. They dont give the children any hope of getting out whatsoever. 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. The reviews on their website are COMPLETELY weeded before theyre posted. 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. 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. Let us help. 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. You can find much better treatment for a better price. Discovery Ranch for Girls is a well run industry leader in residential treatment for adolescent girls. They picked favorites and we were treated like garbage. The entire facility is designed to create a rich therapeutic and healing environment. My parents spent over $200,000 here before they realized I was not getting the help I needed. On top of that I was forced to study 7 hours straight on the weekends if I didnt meet academic requirements. It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real.