These are basic brainwashing techniques. The concept is that by stripping kids of their identity, a new identity can be formed. It is pure bullshit because the crap that the schools shove down your throat is as bad as the shit your parents did. The concept, in theory, is correct; however, these schools are not qualified to carry it out.
What does work for some students is that they are in the program long enough to simply GROW UP. They could have grown up just the same in any environment is suspect. I laugh when I here kids give the schools credit for changing their lives. YOU DESERVE THE CREDIT ALL ON YOUR OWN! These programs are warehouses for teenagers. The statistics for teenagers who mature in Emotional Growth Boarding Schools are no different than the teenagers who mature in High School.
As far as I'm concerned, these programs are practicing mind control without a license. It really is criminal.