256
The Ridge Creek School / Hidden Lake Academy / why are yall living in the past
« on: December 25, 2006, 08:35:19 PM »
Hey, Max. How's it going in the Marines?
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An open discussion about the troubled parent industry
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257
The Troubled Teen Industry / Carlbrook
« on: December 24, 2006, 11:23:32 PM »
He fell asleep- we'll answer those tomorrow.
258
The Troubled Teen Industry / Carlbrook
« on: December 24, 2006, 10:33:03 PM »
I talked to my son about the program tonight and asked him about some of the things psy raised. First of all, my son is very objective. He is not a program kid and had little good to say about Carlbrook when he came out- after 9 months(7 weeks of which was spent back in wilderness). He said that kids were encouraged to snitch- in some cases kids felt empowered by the ability to rat out others and advance themselves in the program. He, personally, refused to do this and suffered consequences as a result. He said the kids who are successful post-program did NOT have substance abuse problems. They had issues such as anger, serious conflict with parents and other adults, video game addiction/no friends issues or depression due to family or other emotional issues. He said he can't even count the number of kids who have bombed out of college or returned to serious substance abuse. However, a number of kids, including himself, are doing really well at top colleges. NONE of these kids had substance issues of any significance.
He said Tim Brace was absolutely not abusive in any manner and was one of the most tame members of the entire staff. He has a lot of respect for Grant Price, even though he was an ass much of the time. He thinks Grant has an accurate view of what the program is really all about, but he (Grant) thinks it is the best alternative for the kids in it. Glenn Bender is psycho and worthless. I won't comment on others here.
He does not think kids were forced to make up abuse or trauma just to get through the workshops and group sessions. He said there was an instance of someone unilaterally making up something about his/her family from the beginning in order to get attention. It created a serious mess and he/she finally admitted it wasn't true.
He said most kids didn't buy into any of the therapeutic work. Some faked it and then started to buy into it (sort of a "fake it till you make it" thing like AA). Some really did buy into it. Some, like my son, resisted it and took what they needed and left the rest.
My son said the benefit for him was getting a chance to just have time out, get to read a lot and think about his future. He said he would have been fine coming home after wilderness if he had educational options. He says sending him to wilderness was absolutely the right thing and that the therapy in wilderness was much more effective than the therapy at Carlbrook. He said wilderness was our only choice with him at the time. He said after wilderness we should have found a program where he lived in a small group and attended a local school (I think they have some of these situations in Utah, etc.).
Psy- I don't think it would have changed our mind even if we had been able to talk to other disgruntled kids. The school and staff make a tremendous impression and it truly seemed like the best choice for our son. He doesn't think Oakley would have been any different.
So-I have this kid with me for another couple of days if you have any questions. He has been out 2 1/2 years now and is in touch with a lot of other post-program kids.
He said Tim Brace was absolutely not abusive in any manner and was one of the most tame members of the entire staff. He has a lot of respect for Grant Price, even though he was an ass much of the time. He thinks Grant has an accurate view of what the program is really all about, but he (Grant) thinks it is the best alternative for the kids in it. Glenn Bender is psycho and worthless. I won't comment on others here.
He does not think kids were forced to make up abuse or trauma just to get through the workshops and group sessions. He said there was an instance of someone unilaterally making up something about his/her family from the beginning in order to get attention. It created a serious mess and he/she finally admitted it wasn't true.
He said most kids didn't buy into any of the therapeutic work. Some faked it and then started to buy into it (sort of a "fake it till you make it" thing like AA). Some really did buy into it. Some, like my son, resisted it and took what they needed and left the rest.
My son said the benefit for him was getting a chance to just have time out, get to read a lot and think about his future. He said he would have been fine coming home after wilderness if he had educational options. He says sending him to wilderness was absolutely the right thing and that the therapy in wilderness was much more effective than the therapy at Carlbrook. He said wilderness was our only choice with him at the time. He said after wilderness we should have found a program where he lived in a small group and attended a local school (I think they have some of these situations in Utah, etc.).
Psy- I don't think it would have changed our mind even if we had been able to talk to other disgruntled kids. The school and staff make a tremendous impression and it truly seemed like the best choice for our son. He doesn't think Oakley would have been any different.
So-I have this kid with me for another couple of days if you have any questions. He has been out 2 1/2 years now and is in touch with a lot of other post-program kids.
259
The Troubled Teen Industry / Carlbrook
« on: December 24, 2006, 02:26:07 PM »
Hey. This isn't me defending the program. This is me stating what was going on. Just facts. I realize it is couched in "program speak" but that's the way it was presented. Not my endorsement.
260
The Troubled Teen Industry / Carlbrook
« on: December 24, 2006, 02:02:16 PM »
Carlbrook was pretty consistent in getting kids out after the 14 or 15 months of the "program". They liked to graduate the peer groups together. Of course, if a kid "messed up" (in their eyes) the kid would drop back a peer group or be delayed for other reasons. Generally, they did get the kids out in 14-15 months. There was no pre-payment. It was monthly.
When we visited we got to talk to kids individually. However, no kids got to talk to parents who weren't "with the program". My son was forbidden to talk to touring parents AND new students and ALL females.
If a kid really didn't want to be there and the normal efforts to get them back in line failed, they had to go back to wilderness until they decided Carlbrook wasn't so bad after all.
When we visited we got to talk to kids individually. However, no kids got to talk to parents who weren't "with the program". My son was forbidden to talk to touring parents AND new students and ALL females.
If a kid really didn't want to be there and the normal efforts to get them back in line failed, they had to go back to wilderness until they decided Carlbrook wasn't so bad after all.
261
The Troubled Teen Industry / All kinds of libel from Willie(karenInDallas) on ST
« on: December 23, 2006, 09:55:26 AM »
I am the real Karen.
Psy- "Teens/Parents Saga" or something to that effect was the subject line of our recent emails.
Merry Christmas all.
Psy- "Teens/Parents Saga" or something to that effect was the subject line of our recent emails.
Merry Christmas all.
262
The Troubled Teen Industry / All kinds of libel from Willie(karenInDallas) on ST
« on: December 23, 2006, 08:36:50 AM »
Thanks, Guys. My registered name is Charly.
Appreciate the posts.
Karen- no longer in Dallas
Appreciate the posts.
Karen- no longer in Dallas