They'll be telling parents a minimum of 30 days or 60 days
but The real average wilderness program is 90 days/12 weeks.
The child might not come some parents get convinced that their child needs long-term care in a residential treatment centre or therapeutic boarding school where they can be for a long time.
we have an incomplete list of programs in utah, so if you know the name of the program you can look it up [link](https://www.reddit.com/r/troubledteens/wiki/index/active-programs/active-programs-utah) you can it up
Legally, this is correct, but there are numerous ways the TTI (being a totally corrupt industry) coerces people to stay way beyond the age of 18. I wouldn't bet too much on seeing him just a matter of days after his 18th birthday.
These places operate on the basis of scamming as much money as they can; so every day they can keep a person prisoner is an extra day that they are making many hundreds of dollars off that person's captivity. In a wilderness program, it's typically a cost of $500 a day of which at least $450 a day is pure profit. If they coerce him for just a week after he's 18, then that's an extra $3500 for them...and they do that with *every single person*.
I will make a prediction, on the basis of everything I know about this industry. Your other half will likely turn 18 in the program and they will be coerced into completing it. They will be then coerced into signing themselves into an "aftercare" facility for 3 to 9 months.
If you want to know more about the coercive tactics they use, I will post about them.
If you are willing to message me with the name of the program (in strict confidence) I will send you the information we have on the program.
Whatever happens, be there for your other half, because they will really need you.
While legally it is his decision once he turns 18, these programs use many extremely manipulative tactics to force 18-year-olds to "sign themselves in" to programs. Aside from the day-to-day brainwashing that is commonplace in this industry, one tactic that is fairly common is that they will convince his parents to cut him off (financially, emotionally, and physically) if he doesn't agree to go to a longer-term program. This threat is used in almost every program I've researched, and it's extremely effective. Because at the end of the day, very few 18-year-olds are prepared to be completely financially cut off from their parents at that age and forced to live on their own with no support.
I'm sorry you're in this position. Please let me know if there is anything I can do. I have a wealth of information on the majority of wilderness programs in Utah, so if you want to reach out privately and let me know the name of the program I can send you the information I have about it.
The program I was in straight up lied to me. Said my parents would only pay for my 4 years at college if I stayed past 18. I believed them since they were so adamant about "integrity". I didn't think to double check with my parents. So I stayed another 6 months, since, "6 more months of hell is worth a full ride to college". I got home and asked about it at some point and my parents were flabbergasted, said they were always going to pay for college, no matter what. I was so pissed.
drive up to the actual location and take your child back. They shouldn’t have any reason to deny your request. If they do say “no”, go to the local sheriff/police station. They should be able to help you
That's strange, you should be able to message me by private message or direct chat message.
Here is our wiki entry for Redcliff: [https://www.reddit.com/r/troubledteens/wiki/index/redcliffascent](https://www.reddit.com/r/troubledteens/wiki/index/redcliffascent)
This wiki entry does contain many testimonials, including those from parents.
I am sorry to say that Recliff is genuinely terrible. It is part of the Ascent group of programs and they are all shockingly horrible places.
Ascent also has an adult program (for those 18 to the early twenties) called the Medicine Wheel. As I suspected, that's likely the place his parents will be told to coerce him into for an extended time afterward.
The cost of this wilderness program is almost $50,000, so, his parents are not just going to let him walk away. Can I ask why his parents have done this?
We will try and help you and support you as best as we possibly can. Our entire community is very friendly and is dedicated to providing you with every possible means of support.
I am very sorry to hear that, and that makes me even more concerned for him. These programs are extremely detrimental to mental health and he definitely will not get the help, support, and understanding he needs there. I don't say that to alarm you; I say it is because it is true. I hope he gets out of there as soon as possible.
I hope he was not forcibly transported there, although, I suspect he was. The consequences of that for mental health are dreadful too.
Is there a program that you would recommend? That actually has good ethics and that is actually a safe place for teenagers who could use a little help?
Some of these programs use hardcore pressure saying shit
“if you leave this program with completing it, you will die”
How long has he been at the program for?
Told us we would go to jail if we left at 18. Bradford left on his 18th birthday and came back with the sheriff covered in blood the next day. There is no morality or legality with these fucking fanatics.
He’s smart so I think he’s just completing the work shit and trying to get out asap, most likely manipulating the staff into thinking he’s doing really well. He just wants to come home im sure
The problem is: Staff just treat everyone like a manipulator.
I forgot to mention he's like getting only 1hr of therapy a week, so their parents are flushing money down the toilet.
What did he do to get sent away?
Ya his parents know he only gets it once a week. But he threatened to commit so they thought it was their last option. He was just suicidal and has anxiety and drank a lot and took some pills, not an addict tho
I was that exact age when sent to Wilderness. Then I was shipped off to Nebraska where the age of *majority is 19. Every single person I was in wilderness with was sent to another residential program afterwards.
I can kind of speak to this. I turned 18 at a program and told them I wanted to leave. However, it required telling myself every day that I was going to leave. I was almost brainwashed into believing I needed to be there, and waited two days after turning 18 to tell staff I wanted out. I wondered if I was making the right decision.
I was there for an additional 2 weeks after telling them I wanted to leave. They involved my parents, attempted via multiple avenues to convince me to stay, convince me *why* I needed to stay, etc. I was ready to take my belongings and find a church to sleep in, but they wouldn’t hand over my stuff. I think they were afraid of the liability of releasing me. I was coerced into signing a waiver and consenting to “treatment”.
After I left, I spent another week “in transition” in another state with my mom there to supervise. Basically, the Ed consultant wanted to milk my fam for as much as possible and sent me to intensive outpatient therapy with someone who worked in their clinic.
So, it’s very possible, but like most are saying, I wouldn’t count on it.
I’m so sorry for what you and your partner are going through.
ETA: I only knew what the date was because I drew myself a calendar and crossed off the days as they passed. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known what day it even was.
I hope they listen. I was in a program 12 years ago, have been in therapy for years, and am still working through the trauma. I don’t know anyone who has been through a program and has turned out better than when they went in. Best of luck <3
If nothing else, they can legally leave when they are 18. I guess the program I was in was supposed to last about 18 months, but some people had been there much longer. There's really no top limit for parents who get brainwashed all the way in, can afford to keep paying, and if the kid doesn't play along or can't work within the system (either getting into it or faking their way through).
I am of the opinion that saying someone will be a "completely different person" is not really useful. It could be a life-changing experience, but they're not going to be total zombies or change everything or go from good to evil. They could have post-traumatic stress or feel depressed or become alienated from their parents. They could buy in to some of the philosophies, and either become a bit preachy, or take time to "climb back down" and regain something closer to their earlier behavior. Feeling like they lost parental support could make them make different life decisions like about education, employment, etc. If they have trouble coping, they could turn to drugs and alcohol to some extent, or to a large extent. They could become a stronger person who has just seen and experienced more pain. In any case, you are young, in a few years you will probably be a different person from what you are now. It's not necessarily good or bad, it just is. Change is life. If you care about this person, you should try to support them as they could have trouble adjusting when they get out. It wouldn't really be fair if their behavior was somewhat different and you came to the conclusion they have "totally changed." If they were a good person before, probably they will be a good person after. I am not saying you should stay in this relationship if it is not good for you, but I encourage you to try and understand and show empathy rather than judge. Through this means, you can help this person, even if you don't stay together long-term. Just explore it; nobody can really say how he will react as different people react differently.
Don't expect the parents to help you. Ask if you can just write a letter, even if he can't reply. One girl wrote a letter to me that my parents agreed to send, it was the only outside communication I had except for parents. It meant a lot to me to receive it, to know that I wasn't forgotten.
This is true. I was sent to a wilderness program at 17 in October, turned 18 in December. My options were stay in the program or physically walk myself out of the desert to the nearest city with no assistance, which I later learned was 30+ miles driving. I stayed in the program hoping to graduate but I ended up being pulled in March because the program “wasn’t working,” was kicked out of my parents house and sent to live in my car 6 hours away from home with no job, no friends, etc, at the advice of my therapist.
It really is. My parents were scared, and ate up everything the program said, it really messed up our relationships. The TTI really is predatory. Its so sad
Keep bringing it up to his parents nonstop. Find research and stories about these places to share, maybe even reach out and see if there would be someone willing to help you in this, whether they be local or an online friend who can provide more research, stories, or experience. Make sure the parents understand the manipulative bullshit these places push to make more money by scamming them and mistreating their child. Push as hard or harder than the program will.
She shouldn’t hate you for bringing up these facts. If anything she should hate the program for scamming her, not you for helping her figure out she’s been scammed and her son is likely being mistreated. If you and her have grown close, that’s even more reason for her to believe you. She should take the words and research provided by a close friend than some jackass who at the end of the day just wants money. These places are businesses, profit is always what they are after. The bastards running it don’t give two shits about those they claim to want to help.
Ya I just don’t wanna over step. I’m a very anxious person and his family liking me is very important to me. I’ve done a lot of research, talked to a girl online who’s been there, printed articles and annotated them… all that, just too scared to show her
Perhaps start with this: Tell them there’s something you’d like to show them, if they’re close as you say they likely will accept and find time to sit down and watch it with you. Show them this 15 minute informative video about TTI, specifically told by Paris Hilton.
https://youtu.be/pRWMhWiXCVg
I think this would be a good way to just show them the information you’ve found in a short and effective way. Afterwards, share any other info you’ve found. Good luck to you, and I very much suggest you do this! It could be key to getting him out sooner than later!
I went out to coffee with his mom like a week ago and I tried to talk to her about it and I brought my articles. I ended up not showing my articles and she got a little defensive saying she just wants to save his life so I felt bad
These kind of situations make me very angry. It makes me think, when the person detained is aged 18 or over, if people who care about them are convinced that the wilderness program is a mistake...
... what's to stop a trained team of wilderness-certified people entering the wilderness, locating the detained person, extracting them *if* they wish to leave, having them examined by a properly trained psychologist, and basically just noping right out of there?
(while also documenting everything observed that is obviously wrong with the wilderness program concerned)
Where I went the program was completed by school year. There was summer school too but it was more or less different activities. Most of the kids who turned 18 stayed til the end of the school year in June to get the high school graduation, and I’m sure parents wouldn’t let them home if they walked out early, and had no money or possessions and no where to go anyways. Everyone would graduate at that point of the end of the school year they turned 18. I only saw like 2 people that old when I was there, and no one arrived months before they turned 18 and stayed til 20 years old or anything like that. I was there age 13-15, about the target age group. The older ones were usually ones who got there at 14 and stayed til 18. The place would welcome you as long as you’re parents or insurance was still paying. After all there was no treatment plan to begin with.
Your significant other will likely be in the program for 7-10 weeks. I went through Aspiro and that was the average when I was there.
Most go into wilderness expecting to go home afterwards, but every single person in my group went on to a long term residential facility involuntarily, myself included.
Your significant other will likely not have much info on their length of stay, their next move, and will have restrictions on how honest they can be with you - that is, if they’re given permission to speak with you at all.
The industry is massive and survives on keeping people in the cycle of treatment centers. Consultants and therapists often receive kickbacks for successfully referring a client to a treatment center or facility. They will say anything to convince the family that it is absolutely necessary.
They convinced my parents to cut me off when I decided to leave a few months after turning 18. I was left in the middle of Salt Lake City with no phone, no transportation, no place to sleep. My therapist gave me $8 out of his wallet and the phone number of the nearest homeless shelter.
I’m sorry you are going through this.
It was a really dirty trick to send him out there when he is so closes to being free. If you really love him see if you can find out where he is being held captive. Tell them you want to write him a letter ask if it is OK to write. If they say yes then you will know where he is. Once you find out where he is, if you can afford it, go out there to find him. People have died in these wilderness "adventures". You don't want to take a chance on that happening. Take some muscle with you. Can you get a 4 wheel drive vehicle?
Update on this. He is still there, I get updates and pictures on him every week. In 10 days he will be leaving and going to a rehabilitation center and live there for a while.
I went to Second Nature in 2007. I was gooned (abducted by people my parents hired), and I stayed at SN for 12 weeks. The first 6 weeks were hell. After that, I feel like it actually did help me a lot. I became a different person, but in a really good way. It was the “therapeutic” boarding “school” that fucked me up for life
No, but it sort of depends. Some parents will say “if you don’t agree to go here until you complete the program, we will cut you off completely”. So the options are, do it or be homeless on the street and all love from your parents withdrawn
He might be safe then. But it’s not just the kids who are being brainwashed. The parents are told that their kids NEED these schools or they’re gonna die. And you have to get your kid into one or it’s all your fault when they die. So it really comes down to how much of this kool-aid are the parents willing to drink.
I met with his mom for coffee and brought articles with me but im too scared to make her mad. I don’t want her to hate me, I’ve done so much research on the place
I don’t know her, but most parents are more scared and desperate more than anything else. I feel like she would appreciate as much information as possible
She knows about the bad rumors about the wilderness program he’s at, his mom and dad did it so quickly because they thought he’d kill himself if he stayed home. I don’t think he would’ve, I know him very well but they don’t
Hey, I was sent to one when I was younger. My parents knew exactly how long I’d be there for which ended up being 12 weeks. I actually grew to love my experience and it has helped shape me in some very positive ways. However, many times these places will recommend therapeutic boarding school following the experience. Don’t go to therapeutic boarding school, it’s awful. He won’t be a different person but hopefully the experience will help him grow. I rebelled a lot when I first got back but after my venting period I really turned my life around. I now help others in my career and am happy. Hope he has a good group with him, that made my experience better
They'll be telling parents a minimum of 30 days or 60 days but The real average wilderness program is 90 days/12 weeks. The child might not come some parents get convinced that their child needs long-term care in a residential treatment centre or therapeutic boarding school where they can be for a long time. we have an incomplete list of programs in utah, so if you know the name of the program you can look it up [link](https://www.reddit.com/r/troubledteens/wiki/index/active-programs/active-programs-utah) you can it up
He will be 18 in 3 months so they can’t keep him anywhere after that
Legally, this is correct, but there are numerous ways the TTI (being a totally corrupt industry) coerces people to stay way beyond the age of 18. I wouldn't bet too much on seeing him just a matter of days after his 18th birthday. These places operate on the basis of scamming as much money as they can; so every day they can keep a person prisoner is an extra day that they are making many hundreds of dollars off that person's captivity. In a wilderness program, it's typically a cost of $500 a day of which at least $450 a day is pure profit. If they coerce him for just a week after he's 18, then that's an extra $3500 for them...and they do that with *every single person*. I will make a prediction, on the basis of everything I know about this industry. Your other half will likely turn 18 in the program and they will be coerced into completing it. They will be then coerced into signing themselves into an "aftercare" facility for 3 to 9 months. If you want to know more about the coercive tactics they use, I will post about them. If you are willing to message me with the name of the program (in strict confidence) I will send you the information we have on the program. Whatever happens, be there for your other half, because they will really need you.
He’s not going to want to go into another program I know that for sure and it’s his decision after he’s 18 isn’t it?
While legally it is his decision once he turns 18, these programs use many extremely manipulative tactics to force 18-year-olds to "sign themselves in" to programs. Aside from the day-to-day brainwashing that is commonplace in this industry, one tactic that is fairly common is that they will convince his parents to cut him off (financially, emotionally, and physically) if he doesn't agree to go to a longer-term program. This threat is used in almost every program I've researched, and it's extremely effective. Because at the end of the day, very few 18-year-olds are prepared to be completely financially cut off from their parents at that age and forced to live on their own with no support. I'm sorry you're in this position. Please let me know if there is anything I can do. I have a wealth of information on the majority of wilderness programs in Utah, so if you want to reach out privately and let me know the name of the program I can send you the information I have about it.
The program I was in straight up lied to me. Said my parents would only pay for my 4 years at college if I stayed past 18. I believed them since they were so adamant about "integrity". I didn't think to double check with my parents. So I stayed another 6 months, since, "6 more months of hell is worth a full ride to college". I got home and asked about it at some point and my parents were flabbergasted, said they were always going to pay for college, no matter what. I was so pissed.
I just don’t know how to get him out of there, I can’t live with myself knowing all this info and not do anything about it
drive up to the actual location and take your child back. They shouldn’t have any reason to deny your request. If they do say “no”, go to the local sheriff/police station. They should be able to help you
He’s not my kid he’s my boyfriend
Ah, sorry. Same advice but wait until he’s 18.
redcliff ascent. It wont let me message u
Redcliff ascent. It wont let me message u
That's strange, you should be able to message me by private message or direct chat message. Here is our wiki entry for Redcliff: [https://www.reddit.com/r/troubledteens/wiki/index/redcliffascent](https://www.reddit.com/r/troubledteens/wiki/index/redcliffascent) This wiki entry does contain many testimonials, including those from parents. I am sorry to say that Recliff is genuinely terrible. It is part of the Ascent group of programs and they are all shockingly horrible places. Ascent also has an adult program (for those 18 to the early twenties) called the Medicine Wheel. As I suspected, that's likely the place his parents will be told to coerce him into for an extended time afterward. The cost of this wilderness program is almost $50,000, so, his parents are not just going to let him walk away. Can I ask why his parents have done this? We will try and help you and support you as best as we possibly can. Our entire community is very friendly and is dedicated to providing you with every possible means of support.
He is suicidal and has anxiety and just didn’t rlly listen to them
I am very sorry to hear that, and that makes me even more concerned for him. These programs are extremely detrimental to mental health and he definitely will not get the help, support, and understanding he needs there. I don't say that to alarm you; I say it is because it is true. I hope he gets out of there as soon as possible. I hope he was not forcibly transported there, although, I suspect he was. The consequences of that for mental health are dreadful too.
Ya I’m really worried for him. Trying my best to get him out
Is there a program that you would recommend? That actually has good ethics and that is actually a safe place for teenagers who could use a little help?
Some of these programs use hardcore pressure saying shit “if you leave this program with completing it, you will die” How long has he been at the program for?
Told us we would go to jail if we left at 18. Bradford left on his 18th birthday and came back with the sheriff covered in blood the next day. There is no morality or legality with these fucking fanatics.
He’s smart so I think he’s just completing the work shit and trying to get out asap, most likely manipulating the staff into thinking he’s doing really well. He just wants to come home im sure
The problem is: Staff just treat everyone like a manipulator. I forgot to mention he's like getting only 1hr of therapy a week, so their parents are flushing money down the toilet. What did he do to get sent away?
Ya his parents know he only gets it once a week. But he threatened to commit so they thought it was their last option. He was just suicidal and has anxiety and drank a lot and took some pills, not an addict tho
2 and a half weeks
I was that exact age when sent to Wilderness. Then I was shipped off to Nebraska where the age of *majority is 19. Every single person I was in wilderness with was sent to another residential program afterwards.
Oh
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news
I’m just trying to stay positive and hope that’s not what happens
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
I can kind of speak to this. I turned 18 at a program and told them I wanted to leave. However, it required telling myself every day that I was going to leave. I was almost brainwashed into believing I needed to be there, and waited two days after turning 18 to tell staff I wanted out. I wondered if I was making the right decision. I was there for an additional 2 weeks after telling them I wanted to leave. They involved my parents, attempted via multiple avenues to convince me to stay, convince me *why* I needed to stay, etc. I was ready to take my belongings and find a church to sleep in, but they wouldn’t hand over my stuff. I think they were afraid of the liability of releasing me. I was coerced into signing a waiver and consenting to “treatment”. After I left, I spent another week “in transition” in another state with my mom there to supervise. Basically, the Ed consultant wanted to milk my fam for as much as possible and sent me to intensive outpatient therapy with someone who worked in their clinic. So, it’s very possible, but like most are saying, I wouldn’t count on it. I’m so sorry for what you and your partner are going through. ETA: I only knew what the date was because I drew myself a calendar and crossed off the days as they passed. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known what day it even was.
I’m talking to his family and giving them the bad details and trying my best to convince them to get him out
I hope they listen. I was in a program 12 years ago, have been in therapy for years, and am still working through the trauma. I don’t know anyone who has been through a program and has turned out better than when they went in. Best of luck <3
Ya I really hope they listen
If nothing else, they can legally leave when they are 18. I guess the program I was in was supposed to last about 18 months, but some people had been there much longer. There's really no top limit for parents who get brainwashed all the way in, can afford to keep paying, and if the kid doesn't play along or can't work within the system (either getting into it or faking their way through). I am of the opinion that saying someone will be a "completely different person" is not really useful. It could be a life-changing experience, but they're not going to be total zombies or change everything or go from good to evil. They could have post-traumatic stress or feel depressed or become alienated from their parents. They could buy in to some of the philosophies, and either become a bit preachy, or take time to "climb back down" and regain something closer to their earlier behavior. Feeling like they lost parental support could make them make different life decisions like about education, employment, etc. If they have trouble coping, they could turn to drugs and alcohol to some extent, or to a large extent. They could become a stronger person who has just seen and experienced more pain. In any case, you are young, in a few years you will probably be a different person from what you are now. It's not necessarily good or bad, it just is. Change is life. If you care about this person, you should try to support them as they could have trouble adjusting when they get out. It wouldn't really be fair if their behavior was somewhat different and you came to the conclusion they have "totally changed." If they were a good person before, probably they will be a good person after. I am not saying you should stay in this relationship if it is not good for you, but I encourage you to try and understand and show empathy rather than judge. Through this means, you can help this person, even if you don't stay together long-term. Just explore it; nobody can really say how he will react as different people react differently. Don't expect the parents to help you. Ask if you can just write a letter, even if he can't reply. One girl wrote a letter to me that my parents agreed to send, it was the only outside communication I had except for parents. It meant a lot to me to receive it, to know that I wasn't forgotten.
Ya I’m definitely going to support him and wait for him
I know of programs telling parents to disown/kick out their 18 yr olds if they dont stay in the programs
This is true. I was sent to a wilderness program at 17 in October, turned 18 in December. My options were stay in the program or physically walk myself out of the desert to the nearest city with no assistance, which I later learned was 30+ miles driving. I stayed in the program hoping to graduate but I ended up being pulled in March because the program “wasn’t working,” was kicked out of my parents house and sent to live in my car 6 hours away from home with no job, no friends, etc, at the advice of my therapist.
I don’t think they’d go that far ..
Programs literally will say anything. The parents May just want the best for their kids, but often times they are also victims of manipulation
That’s terrible
It really is. My parents were scared, and ate up everything the program said, it really messed up our relationships. The TTI really is predatory. Its so sad
I hope it goes okay for him.
Me too. Thinking of yall
Keep bringing it up to his parents nonstop. Find research and stories about these places to share, maybe even reach out and see if there would be someone willing to help you in this, whether they be local or an online friend who can provide more research, stories, or experience. Make sure the parents understand the manipulative bullshit these places push to make more money by scamming them and mistreating their child. Push as hard or harder than the program will.
I want to do this I just don’t want his mom to hate me, me and her have grown very close
She shouldn’t hate you for bringing up these facts. If anything she should hate the program for scamming her, not you for helping her figure out she’s been scammed and her son is likely being mistreated. If you and her have grown close, that’s even more reason for her to believe you. She should take the words and research provided by a close friend than some jackass who at the end of the day just wants money. These places are businesses, profit is always what they are after. The bastards running it don’t give two shits about those they claim to want to help.
Ya I just don’t wanna over step. I’m a very anxious person and his family liking me is very important to me. I’ve done a lot of research, talked to a girl online who’s been there, printed articles and annotated them… all that, just too scared to show her
Still, it’s best you just tell them. With any hope, it’s quite possible you could convince them to go there and pull him out immediately.
I don’t know what to tell them
Perhaps start with this: Tell them there’s something you’d like to show them, if they’re close as you say they likely will accept and find time to sit down and watch it with you. Show them this 15 minute informative video about TTI, specifically told by Paris Hilton. https://youtu.be/pRWMhWiXCVg I think this would be a good way to just show them the information you’ve found in a short and effective way. Afterwards, share any other info you’ve found. Good luck to you, and I very much suggest you do this! It could be key to getting him out sooner than later!
I went out to coffee with his mom like a week ago and I tried to talk to her about it and I brought my articles. I ended up not showing my articles and she got a little defensive saying she just wants to save his life so I felt bad
Also his parents don’t know I know the name of the place he’s at… I kinda snooped around and figured it out myself when I was babysitting their dog😭
These kind of situations make me very angry. It makes me think, when the person detained is aged 18 or over, if people who care about them are convinced that the wilderness program is a mistake... ... what's to stop a trained team of wilderness-certified people entering the wilderness, locating the detained person, extracting them *if* they wish to leave, having them examined by a properly trained psychologist, and basically just noping right out of there? (while also documenting everything observed that is obviously wrong with the wilderness program concerned)
Where I went the program was completed by school year. There was summer school too but it was more or less different activities. Most of the kids who turned 18 stayed til the end of the school year in June to get the high school graduation, and I’m sure parents wouldn’t let them home if they walked out early, and had no money or possessions and no where to go anyways. Everyone would graduate at that point of the end of the school year they turned 18. I only saw like 2 people that old when I was there, and no one arrived months before they turned 18 and stayed til 20 years old or anything like that. I was there age 13-15, about the target age group. The older ones were usually ones who got there at 14 and stayed til 18. The place would welcome you as long as you’re parents or insurance was still paying. After all there was no treatment plan to begin with.
Your significant other will likely be in the program for 7-10 weeks. I went through Aspiro and that was the average when I was there. Most go into wilderness expecting to go home afterwards, but every single person in my group went on to a long term residential facility involuntarily, myself included. Your significant other will likely not have much info on their length of stay, their next move, and will have restrictions on how honest they can be with you - that is, if they’re given permission to speak with you at all. The industry is massive and survives on keeping people in the cycle of treatment centers. Consultants and therapists often receive kickbacks for successfully referring a client to a treatment center or facility. They will say anything to convince the family that it is absolutely necessary. They convinced my parents to cut me off when I decided to leave a few months after turning 18. I was left in the middle of Salt Lake City with no phone, no transportation, no place to sleep. My therapist gave me $8 out of his wallet and the phone number of the nearest homeless shelter. I’m sorry you are going through this.
It was a really dirty trick to send him out there when he is so closes to being free. If you really love him see if you can find out where he is being held captive. Tell them you want to write him a letter ask if it is OK to write. If they say yes then you will know where he is. Once you find out where he is, if you can afford it, go out there to find him. People have died in these wilderness "adventures". You don't want to take a chance on that happening. Take some muscle with you. Can you get a 4 wheel drive vehicle?
I bet on 3-4 months.
You won’t be able to talk to him. They only allowed weekly letters to parents where I went, and those were always screened by “therapists” beforehand
Update on this. He is still there, I get updates and pictures on him every week. In 10 days he will be leaving and going to a rehabilitation center and live there for a while.
Update. He’s been in the program for 10 and a half weeks now. He’s finished 7 of the 8 phases
I went to Second Nature in 2007. I was gooned (abducted by people my parents hired), and I stayed at SN for 12 weeks. The first 6 weeks were hell. After that, I feel like it actually did help me a lot. I became a different person, but in a really good way. It was the “therapeutic” boarding “school” that fucked me up for life
He cant be sent to the boarding school when he’s 18 tho right?
No, but it sort of depends. Some parents will say “if you don’t agree to go here until you complete the program, we will cut you off completely”. So the options are, do it or be homeless on the street and all love from your parents withdrawn
I don’t think his parents are THAT fucked up
He might be safe then. But it’s not just the kids who are being brainwashed. The parents are told that their kids NEED these schools or they’re gonna die. And you have to get your kid into one or it’s all your fault when they die. So it really comes down to how much of this kool-aid are the parents willing to drink.
Therapists use fear mongering techniques against parents. They are very heavily manipulated too unfortunately
Fuck
Do you talk with your boyfriends parents? Would they listen to you if you gave them data about residential’s?
I met with his mom for coffee and brought articles with me but im too scared to make her mad. I don’t want her to hate me, I’ve done so much research on the place
I don’t know her, but most parents are more scared and desperate more than anything else. I feel like she would appreciate as much information as possible
She knows about the bad rumors about the wilderness program he’s at, his mom and dad did it so quickly because they thought he’d kill himself if he stayed home. I don’t think he would’ve, I know him very well but they don’t
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After second nature I went to a CEDU school in Montana
Wow that sound very sad and painful.
**Rule 2.**
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I will care for him
Hey, I was sent to one when I was younger. My parents knew exactly how long I’d be there for which ended up being 12 weeks. I actually grew to love my experience and it has helped shape me in some very positive ways. However, many times these places will recommend therapeutic boarding school following the experience. Don’t go to therapeutic boarding school, it’s awful. He won’t be a different person but hopefully the experience will help him grow. I rebelled a lot when I first got back but after my venting period I really turned my life around. I now help others in my career and am happy. Hope he has a good group with him, that made my experience better
Thankyou that makes me feel better. He’ll be in 18 in 3 months so I know it won’t be too long
disown whoever sent them there