Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => Straight, Inc. and Derivatives => Topic started by: animals all of us on February 10, 2004, 03:57:00 PM
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NW Bhvrl. Hlthcre. Srvcs.
If you live up north and you want to be sure that your child doesn't get her/his civil rights taken away, or potentially abused: don't take them to Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services.
Their website is: http://www.northwestbhs.com/ (http://www.northwestbhs.com/)
Here's what happened, read slowly please:::
I wound up in a chat room last night where a young boy, 18, told me about NorthWest Behavioral Healthcare Services. I chatted some more, baited and goaded to get what I wanted. Turns out this kid has only been out of this hospital for two years as of this coming april.
I called NorthWest today and gave them the fucking sob story; "Oh, my child is A.D.D. and he's sneaking out with his drunk friends, and, OH, I am scared."
Upon questioning, the phone practitioner tells me that phone conversations from client to friends is supervised, as well as family. In fact, says Sarah the practitioner, the child cannot call 911 at all if so desired; it is the staff that do it in any emergency. The client/patient gets two hours of school per day. Family is only allowed to visit on weekends, and once per week during scheduled therapies.
Sarah also informs me of NorthWest's ability to handle many child issues ranging from drug and alcohol addiction, to A.D.D. and even food disorders. She says that children are only privately secluded if they are harm to themselves.
In chat, this boy told me that he was not allowed to leave or sign out at will while he was in therapy. Deadbolts were on all the doors. He witnessed children being restrained daily.
When I asked about complaints against this place, the practitioner told me that the biggest complaint parents have had is getting in touch with the doctors and psychiatrists being hard to reach. But, she tells me, this hospital hasn't been sued. Yet.
All this shit is up in Gladstone Oregon.
Oh, and apparently this here therapeutic hospital works on sliding scale. Dig this. For impoverished folk, the child care and extensive school aid there is only $175.00 per day. Now that makes it all better for me. You?
What can I do about this ??? Is there anything I can do to research this more and inform the proper authorities of this abuse ???
Sincerely,
B.A.D.
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I would suggest using more..."underhanded" tactics to get what you want/ need..
Apply for a job there :smile: :razz:
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I'm not going to reply to this cause I don't want trouble.
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I am looking into sending my daughter to NORTHWEST BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES. Does anyone have any input or advise. I don't know anything about the place.
Thanks-
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Why would you send your daughter to a place you know nothing about?
Yes I do have suggestions..
Tour the facility..Do research...Talk to the counsellors..
If it is a "therapeutic community" its generally been proven these do more harm than good..
If you want some solid infos go to http://www.isaccorp.com (http://www.isaccorp.com)
_________________
They stuck me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
to give me the needed professional help
to protect me from the enemy, myself
"Let the God, Therion, rant " - animals all of us 2004
[ This Message was edited by: Therion on 2004-03-17 07:49 ]
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I seem to be unable to find any alternatives. I do not want her on the street, I see this as a severe danger to her. She is out using and putting herself in danger. I cant keep her at home and she runs away from all open facilities. I will check out the website you suggested. Thank you.
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You dont need to put her in an "open facility" per se..
But theres some places that are gonna make her worse...Trust me...I had my ego ripped into pieces in a facility at 13 yrs old..I was a virgin and had usedm nothing but pot a few times..
Less than a year after my release I became a needle user and pursued this for ...until I was 29...trying to kill pain induced by TC....
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Is there something that you know about this particular facility? I saw that you mentioned them in your post. Please let me know.
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No...I never mentioned them..
I said...If ...they are TC etc (therapeutic community)
I have no personal knowledge of this particular place under that particular name..
But have seen and heard things..
I would suggest looking further into this..
The internet is your friend..
Im sure you can find some ex clients of this place if you look..
All Im saying is that ....I would estimate that up to 80% of long term adolescent treatment centers are abusive...
Are they willing to let you speak...in private with your child once enrolled?
Is your child going to be able to use the phone to call you as needed?
Do they restrain?
Are other graduates/former clients running the groups?
Those are a few questions I would be asking..
Theres just no reason a child should be kept from communicating with their family..
Read these forums..all of this stuff does happen in these facilities.
They prey on your fears..and get you to sign their rights away..
Disclaimer
******I am not speaking of any particular center...but making general statements.
I am not speaking about Northwest Bevaioral Healthcare Services specifically***
However if I wanted to find out things about this place I would use the same tools available to you..
Google search etc etc..
I would just make sure I knew every damn thing about the place my child will be living...
You may be mad at yourr daughter but plz dont let that affect your decisions..
Sometimes ...sadly enough..sex/pot/alcohol/sneaking out at night are just signs of a confused teen..
Dont rush into anything that will make your daughter hate you forever..
I know of a certain friend of mine who was destroyed in Straight inc...has gone on and gotten married and had a child and is a normal productive GOOD person..but guess what? she wants nothing to do with her mother at all..and its her mother whom is suffering now..
DIsclaimer....
** All of this is my Humble Opinion
http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?topic=61&forum=7&2 (http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?topic=61&forum=7&2)
_________________
They stuck me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
to give me the needed professional help
to protect me from the enemy, myself
"Let the God, Therion, rant " - animals all of us 2004
[ This Message was edited by: Therion on 2004-03-17 01:18 ]
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Look at this
http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?to ... forum=25&0 (http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?topic=1585&forum=25&0)
and
http://www.thestraights.com (http://www.thestraights.com)
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If you want some solid infos go to http://www.isacorp.com (http://www.isacorp.com).
http://www.isaccorp.com (http://www.isaccorp.com) is the website Therion was suggesting. :grin:
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Oops yes thanks for the correction there...
_________________
They stuck me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
to give me the needed professional help
to protect me from the enemy, myself
"Let the God, Therion, rant " - animals all of us 2004
[ This Message was edited by: Therion on 2004-03-17 07:50 ]
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Thank you for taking the time to send this info. I appreciate it.
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As a former employee of Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services, I can address some of the concerns below. NWBHS is a lock-down facility for dually diagnosed adolescents -- this is why there are dead bolts (actually magnetic locks) on the doors. Rarely is there a need to restrain a client, but it does happen, and not only when a kid is a danger to him/herself or others -- it also happens sometimes when a client refuses to comply with staff requests. True, clients cannot contact their parents anytime they want -- phone calls are granted at scheduled times to keep things orderly and structured. And yes, it is expensive if you have to pay for it yourself, and insurance companies seem to be trimming their coverage more and more these days.
So. Is it a good program? Well, yes and no. Yes because the mental health therapists and counselors, chemical dependency counselors, school teacher, recreation counselor, special topics counselor, and art counselors are all excellent. Most of the floor staff (Adolescent Counselors) are great. Some are terrible. Many of the staff have egregiously poor boundaries, with both fellow staff members and clients. This is not monitored very well, and therefore staff is not held very accountable nor guided very well to improve and grow. Much of the employee misconduct and unprofessionalism continues unnoticed or unreported. This is particularly true of the "phone practitioner" mentioned below, Sarah (for more, see below). Her full name is Sarah Mahler, and she is the daughter of the company's owner and executive director, Dan Mahler. It is my impression (just an opinion) that Mr. Mahler runs his company much like a Machiavellian prince or a self-proclaimed Nietzschean ubermensch-- manipulating and exploiting his staff to do his bidding and presenting his allegedly primary goals in such a noble way that his staff is seduced into supporting his cause. It is also my impression that he lies, manipulates, cheats, exploits, buries damaging information, and conducts his business with little regard for ethics, morals, scruples, principles, or people's feelings. For hi, it seems, if the desired ends are met, then the means -- whatever they are -- are justifiable. And I believe his desired ends are simply to keep the facility open and running at all costs so as to secure his financial future for himself and his family. Which of course is his right -- it's his business. However, I never got the impression that he cares much for the clients and staff per se (except for his inner circle, which includes his daughter), but rather sees this noble endeavor as the perfect "charitable work" facade by which to meet his real objectives: money, power, and control. He seems very concerned about "reputation" and "image" but seems to show little interest in truth and fairness. Ms. Mahler, his daughter, was hired on as a floor counselor a few years back or so, and since then she has rapidly climbed the company ladder to admissions counselor to admissions supervisor to performance improvement "specialist." It is many veteran staff's opinion that her promotions into these positions seem to have occurred without commensurate merit, and many other more qualified and more veteran employees who applied for these positions were by-passed to make room for Ms. Mahler's clearly nepotistic ascent. Ironically, Ms. Mahler is observed by many staff to spend a significant amount of her time at work doing non-work related activities while on the clock, including personal phone calls and emails, long gossipy non-work related discussions with her work friends in her back office, reading and sharing mail from past boyfriends and engaging other staff members in lengthy discussions to "help" her decide what to do about her personal drama, and pursuing an inappropriate romantic/sexual relationship with a fellow co-worker who had just joined the company (the clear impropriety of which is magnified by the fact that the liason was also adulterous -- Ms. Mahler has been engaged for almost two years -- and took place by and large on company time in the company facility, against her father's wishes. Mr. Mahler apparently did not have a problem with his daughter's infidelity. He simply requested that she "keep it out of the workplace," which she did not). It has been clear to most staff for awhile that Ms. Mahler enjoys an untouchability within the company and has an extreme sense of entitlement. The impression she gives to most staff who work with her or under her supervision is that she believes she can do whatever she wants whenever she wants on company time without accountability or consequences. When she was preparing the company for the Oregon state audit, she made no bones about instructing several staff members who would be meeting with the auditors to lie in response to certain questions in order to make the facility appear to be up to speed in its practices. I know this because I was one of those employees she instructed to lie.
I use the case of Ms. Mahler simply as an example of what's going on underneath the shiny, noble facade of Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services. Is it a good program? Some clients do benefit greatly, but this is because of the talented staff of therapists, counselors and floor staff. But at the same time, I believe it to be a sham in the sense that the person "selling" you on the company when you call to inquire about the program (Ms. Mahler in Admissions, whose phone script is likely crafted by her father) will lie or spin information to get you to send your child there. Once they are there, they are most likely in good hands, but you must decide if you want to send your child to a facility where ethics and principles are lacking in the Executive Director's office, where it is likely that Ms. Mahler will be sitting when her father retires. This is just my opinion and impression based on things I have seen while working there. If your child needs help, they will probably benefit at least somewhat from being at Northwest Behavioral, but you should be very aware of what's on the surface and what's beneath the surface if you send your child there. I can't say Northwest Behavioral is the best place to work, but it does provide good services by and large, in spite of what's going on in the "oval office."
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Well it sounds like the people in charge aren't that honest or sincere. What I would want to know is, why do they get restrained for not complying with staff wishes, and do they get yelled at or called names by other people, do they get called liars for not admitting to drug use and other sorts of behaviors, do they have rules dictating what they are allowed to THINK about, as was the case in straight, which in my opinion was one of the more destructive rules. You have explained a lot about the man who runs it and his daughter, which obviously doesn't suggest a very positive facility, but what about the treatment?? What approach does the place take in terms of treatment and its philosophy?? I would want to know these answers if I was considering putting someone in this place. I say IF, because I really can't see myself ever locking up my kids (if i had any) in ANY locked up treatment center where they can't call me and talk to me in private. This alone sounds like a load of crap.
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Staff wishes = sit up straight...look forward...share your innermost secrets...or be restrained?
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As a former employee of Northwest BHS, I too, have comments to make. The policy for restraints is that ONLY a child who is in danger of hurting himself or someone else is to be restrained. All other forms of intervention are to be used first. I personally observed several of the supervisors initiate restraints unnecessarily. No, the children do not get restrained if they speak out of order, don't sit up straight, etc., but a non-compliance issue that I once observed was a child who had left his therapy group, and sat in the hallway, clearly angry. He simply refused to be monitored by a staff person. The clients are always monitored, for safety reasons, as many of the clients have severe mental health issues, whereupon they are prone to suicidal gestures/suicide attempts. Refusing to move is not dangerous. This child should not have been restrained. The child was not physically harmed in this action, but who can say the mental effects suffered from being held to the ground by 5 people, then lifted and carried to a room where your ankles and wrists are strapped to a bed. This is a very rare occurrence at the facility, but it does happen.
I agree with the other former employee that most of the staff implementing the program are wonderful capable people. They do admirable work. However, as mentioned, many of the management staff lack the desire or the ability to affect change in the lives of people. Their ultimate desire is to make money, though their mission statement claimes they are committed to Quality, Integrity, People, blah, blah, blah. Nobody asks the employees about this though. The receive several high accreditations from governing bodies, i.e the State of Oregon, JCAHO, Drug and Alcohol Boards, etc. However, the staff are told it is perfectly alright to lie to the surveyors if they are asked any questions during an evaluation. Not very high moral standards, if you ask me.
They advance people to positions of power if they are either related to the owner, friends of the boss' daughter, or otherwise unqualified to wipe their own rear-ends. The drive is for status quo. Any challenge to the process is hammered down swiftly. There is no room leadership. In short, it is a poorly run business that happens to employ some of the most amazing and talented people I have ever had the privilege of working with. All the really good counselors want to leave because of this. If you ever ask anyone who works there about the program, anyone who gives a glowing report is an owner/sibling/friend or child of the owner. Anyone happy with the place is a poorly trained, inexperienced person who should never have been placed in charge of anything. Almost all the supervisors are in their early 20's. Most of them have no other experience in mental health. But, they don't rock the boat, so they get promoted.
They do strip searches. This is to protect the clients and the staff from weapons being brought to the unit, and from drugs being snuck in. I personally have seen a girl come onto the unit with cigarettes and three mini lighters stuffed in her crotch. Nobody touches the client during the search, and it is brief...mostly to check the clothing. Otherwise, I don't know of anything I would consider abusive. Do kids get help?...some do, some get worse, MANY come back. They are teenagers...they are experimenting, their parents need help more than they do most of the time. It's sad, really. 30 days won't fix your kid. Family therapy, long-term, outpatient, that would be my recommendation. I have over a decade of experience in mental health...this place is run by a moron with no morals. You can do better, because on the off-chance your child does connect with one of the quality staff, they are limited in access to those people, because they are chronically understaffed.
Phone calls are permitted on a daily basis. The calls are not closeley monitored, but the client's behaviors are. Some clients get quite angry with their parents during these calls, and any acting out is monitored for the sake of safety. I've personally been kicked, hit and bitten while working there, so yes, some clients get restrained.
THe best advice I can give is this: Your teen needs a GOOD parent, decide if you really are one. Get help for your whole family. Would you trust a 20-year-old to do a better job than yourself. I have to give kudos to the very talented therapists who work there...I'd trust them to care for my own mental health. Other than that, it's a crap shoot. Good luck!
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"The policy for restraints is that ONLY a child who is in danger of hurting himself or someone else is to be restrained." ...anon
that was Straight's policy too. It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
-- Aristotle
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Bunch of low life motherfuckers at NBHS can't even follow the laws. They'll get what is theirs to have that they make themselves. Just gotta make a coupla quick phone calls here.........
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I dont know Anon...it sounds to me that the way you describe these people and their attitudes toward the facility, and all of the professional concerns....well, its hard for me to agree that things are going along as policy dictates for this facility.
If everyone is poorly trained, unqualified, and unconcerned with their professionalism...how can there possibly be no friction in how the clients are handled?
I would seriously urge you to take a harder look at what you are describing. It seems to me that other than your belief that help for people can be a good thing, that there isnt much else tethering you to the idea that anything about this place is positive.
I have my own opinions about what this place is probably like, but I would encourage you to open your eyes a bit wider and see for yourself.
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Oh, my eyes are opened wide, that's why I no longer work there. I believe that many of the people who work there feel as I do. They started there with the hope of helping young people, and now are trying like hell to get out of there. Again, I believe that people can get help there, but not many. In order to do so, you have to be immune to the chaos swirling around you, and most teenagers cannot do that. I don't believe the facility was created with the idea that they would hurt kids, butI believe many of the policies and procedures do just that (emotionally not physically). There is a better way to treat adolescents, and as soon as people see that, facilities like this one will no longer be able to exist.
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So what did you do about it anon? Just cut and run...pretend its not there because yo no longer are a part of it?
Did you make any phone calls to media or government agencies?
Did you warn parents?
Did you participate in abuse?
You mentioned restraint but..what about brainwashing?What about the group? What about the tearing down of the ego? What about "breaking" the "druggies" will?
Those are the things that scar worse than straps and chains..
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Wow, i came upon this recently and being a parentof a former patient at Northwest, I feel the need to respond. Everyday I thank God that I have my child back. You cannot imagine the agony that our family went through prior to her being at Northwest. They saved my child's life. They taught her a better way to live without drugs. They taught us as parents how to help her during her times of stress.
I somehow cannot help but think that the "former staff" obviously were let go and are simply trying to get even.
I recommend Northwest to any parents who have children in need of help. The staff were professional, the care for my daughter was excellent, and the program worked.
It is also comforting to know that they don't apparently hesitate to remove staff that shouldn't be there.
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How long ago did your daughter get out? there are a lot of people on this board that successfully completed programs that wen6t through hell in their lives afterwards because them.
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I can read between the lines of your post there. I really can't understand why you are so afraid to even have an ID other than 'Anonymous'.
I can read what you are refusing to say. Your child for a fact (because for a fact I was the one who phoned that fucking hospital and I was the one who posted first here about Northwest) was not allowed legal time for education. Your child was not allowed to call police at will without the phone being dialed for him, and was not allowed to speak to you without supervision. However professional you can make these things look, however nice you want to call it out, however pretty you want to make what happened: its still breaking the law and is known by its pure and true name as Child Abuse, or Medical Malpractice, or False Imprisonment. One and the same here, and all are felonies.
So, here, without any doubt whatsoever, I can tell you what will happen sooner. It will be here before you can even sense its coming. Your child is going to rear back at you one of these days. They will hold your sorry ass accountable for stealing their childhood from them. The funny part is you'll have to answer some questions, and you won't be able to. The only thing you will say is, "I did what I thought was best for you honey".
And when you are old and decrepit and your child leaves you in a hospital to die, at least you won't have to wonder what that's all about.
Be happy your child does not know the law for himself/herself, if they did...............
Enjoy your creations to the fullest. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if you are one of the staff at Northwest trying to cover your illegal activity. If this is not the case, the least you could do is learn the law and civil rights for your child and those around you. Darkness awaits you. [ This Message was edited by: animals all of us on 2004-05-03 14:34 ]
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A nightmare that I couldn't wake up from...that's what it was like when my son's disease nearly devoured his life and our family. After I got past my own denial, I couldn't find anyone who could help. He didn't want help. With our family history, I was afraid his "bottom" would be death. I was also afraid of what it was doing to my younger kids.
I am thankful for Northwest. I doubt if any program is perfect, but their locked facility gave my son a chance to get away from his using friends and for the drugs and his mind to clear. They gave him tools to start recovering. I made some changes. We have a relationship again. It hardly qualifies as an Extreme Makeover, but we've awoken from our nightmare.
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I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience but many do. I too am a former employee and saw many kids come back after 90-days clean and sober and talk. Having had the opportunity to see the changes in their lives was incredible. To the former employee who wrote before me, it sounds like you didn't have a good experience either, but I did. I found Northwest to be a great place to work. I felt the administration was compassionate, cared about their employees, and provided a good program. I felt that when a decision needed to be made, they always did the right thing or what was in the best interest of the child or their family.
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Well, there's two more Anonymous Posts from a coupla pussies. Or is it from the same person. I can't tell. One minute you are saying that you worked at Northwest, oh Mr. Anonymous Postor, the next you are saying your child went there. Sounds like you got you brainwashed and confused.
Why do you continually skirt around the issues ??? You are obviously a bullshitter because for one, my first post tells you that it was not me who EVER set foot in a place like Northwest. I mean, how daft can you be not to see what is clearly written over and over ???
Secondly, I never said that there weren't patients who had 'pleasant' experiences. I simply stated a fact that the clinical director got on the phone, this is only after I had been directed to call Northwest by a concerned former patient, told me open and honest procedures that are illegal.
Again, since you cannot read you fucking stupid cunt alien moron, here is what I said.
No. No. Wait.
No.
I am really tired of spelling things out for people who are trying to pass off that you are remotely intellectual humans. My original post is specifically designed to pull child abusers like you out of the fucking wood work. Now you are caught. And yeah, I have issues. I have a fucking bundle of issues with liars and thieves like you who purport and front for Northwest and can't decide whether or not you work there or whether or not your child was there.
Ive just realized that you are the same person who has posted anonymously since these websites have been open. You support Melvin Sembler. You are the same anonymous postor that heckles people when they are working at healing. How odd and alone you are. How sad for you. What a waste of life you are. How silly and strange that you haven't killed yourself yet.
I would say: "Anonymous Postors Unite!". But there is only one of you. You are one and the same. You are.........
Anonymous.
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I am posting anonymously because I don't want to hassle with signing on for an account or whatever. I work at Northwest right now. I think that your use of abusive language and cursing shows how immature you are. I think that you do not know what you are talking about on several levels. I agree with other posters who work there currently or previously, in that there are many good people who work there. I have seen a few restraints that did not need to happen. I have also seen kids kept from harming themselves or others. We limit phone calls to family to keep the kids in their group and individual therapy sessions. We monitor those phone calls loosely (meaning keeping an eye on the kid, NOT listening in) so we have an idea if the kid is getting along well, is begging to be taken out, or is cursing their mom indiscriminately. We limit who they can talk to, as well, to family members over 18. We also limit and monitor their visits for much the same reasons. We are responsible for the kids' safety, which means they stay within sight of a staff member. Some of our kids have a history of hitting their family members. Sometimes it's the parents who have a shady history.
We have kids who are detoxing from chronic, serious drug use. Kids who are depressed enough to try to kill themselves. Kids with a history of violence. We help some kids, not others. We're not for everyone. Really, we're sort of an ER for treatment. We get the kids ready for good, outpatient family therapy by allowing them to become stable through detoxing and a therapeutic environment. When they are with us, they have less than the six hours of school that (I believe) the law requires. But there are exceptions to those laws, and being in treatment is one of them. We do have a licensed teacher who helps kids keep up with their regular schoolwork.
As to being able to call 911 whenever they want to, well, if we did that, some kids would call 911 every ten minutes. I'm sorry, but minors don't have the same rights as adults. When their parents sign them into our custody, their rights are limited under the law. They don't have unlimited access to mail, either. It all goes through their therapist.
This is not breaking the law, it is not medical malpractice, it is not false imprisonment, and it is most certainly not child abuse. It is keeping kids from their drug dealers and their psycho and/or over-21 boyfriends. For less than thirty days. Yes, our average stay is less than thirty days. We didn't steal their childhood; in most cases, it was gone long ago. We try to give a piece of it back.
We are not perfect, and it has already been noted that the upstairs politics is disconcerting. But I'll tell you now that in the two years I've worked there I have never seen or heard of anyone there hitting a kid, threatening a kid, cursing a kid, or verbally abusing a kid. I have seen mistakes made through what I believe is are lapses in judgment coupled with poor training, but not through malicious intent.
The kids can think whatever they want. We do consequence some speech, like cursing, glorifying drug use, and language demeaning to groups (racist, sexist, homophobic, etc.). "Consequence" usually means making it a little more difficult to earn privileges (common privileges are having a radio in their room, going on a pass with their parents, or candy bars during the movie on weekend evenings). If their speech is directly threatening, the consequences are more serious, usually including a loss of all privileges; if the behavior is serious enough, we ask them to stay in a "Quiet Room" until A: they are no longer a threat to themselves or others and B: they show some level of responsibility for the actions that brought them that consequence. This usually means writing a couple essays and a letter of apology. Kids who have a hard time reading and writing (and we get a lot of those) can do these assignments verbally, or through artwork.
There's a lot I don't like about the facility. But that has mostly to do with upper management. The people who work the floor are dedicated, hardworking, caring individuals. I find it amusing that the people with the worst to say about Northwest are people who have never been there, and had maybe one phone call there. Even former staff members with negative things to say on this board also had good things to say. I also thank the parent or two who weighed in and told of their experience. I hope your child(ren) are still doing well.
If anyone has any questions about what I've written, post them. I'll check back in a couple days. If anyone has any arguments, I can address those. If someone just wants to curse someone out, tell it to your dog. He'll love you anyway.
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I too am a parent of a former patient at Northwest. No I'm not the same one as before and no I don't work there.
But I can say that the treatment that my son received was extremely helpful in turning his life around (he left the program about 1 year ago). He is doing well in school this year, has new peers, and talks with his siblings. These are all things that were absent from his life after my divorce and while he was using drugs. I had little hope for him but he has proven me wrong. I cannot say enough about the impact that Northwest has made on the lives of our family.
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Im really confused, Anonymous.
You don't want to take the time to identify and clarify your ONE self, and its like you are just really talking to yourself. You are wasting time fucking over what you say by saying you are not the ONE who you are. You are Anonymous and as such, you flagrate bullshit all over this website and you have spammed since the beginning of its time.
As far as my immaturity is concerned, I never said I was older than you are. When it comes to having one foot in the grave and one that needs to stomp on your own hands for writing all the horrible and purely emotional factless bantering blablabla posts you have for the last two years, the difference in the two appendages is clear. You are Anonymous, and there is no difference in Anonymous, you talk to yourself and your words are useless and you are a heckler. You have supported the illegal seizure of lives, you have siphoned money from the pocketes of innocents, and you are the devil itself. If you cannot take the ten seconds to identify yourself, then as you said in many, many posts - you are Anonymous. This makes you Anonymous. That, lonely postor, is fact. You remain Anonymous.
And whether or not your fucking druggie loser son/daughter sons/daughters were in there at Northwest remains anonymous too. I have no way of clarifying that the one true anonymous postor and what it says is real. I am not able like you, to differentiate you. You are anonymous. You talk to yourself. You are a shitbag and the reason you will not clarify your one self is because you know that the law is being broken. Or, more correctly, you will not do so because you are frightened that someone immature and crazy like me will come and kick the remaining old useless strange and lonely dry dusty shit out of your obsolete ass. Oh, that would be lynching because I know alot of people who would really like to fuck over you, anonymous. You are one.
Anything you write beyond this post is just me busting you in the mug with a crowbar while I train you to bark in your bitch's cage. So go ahead, bark some more mybitch. Louder this time.
Truthfully, anything you write beyond this point is just open pratterings of someone protecting their own interests, openly hiding and revealing more of your heinous garbage. Besides just being the only anonymous ever on here, the obvious fact that you are even willing to debate without asserting any of the facts laid out in the original posts about total lawlessness at Northwest making a child 'well', says that you have no skill other than keeping your emotions on your shoulders and that you want to be heard because you are feeling mondo guilty about something you did. So go cry somewhere else nigger, I can be just as one sided as you. Your next post will just be segregative and noninclusive to the whole of what the original post is about. I really don't give two pisses about you or your fake family of anonymous people. This is not about you, this is about children. But since you think its about you and the fact that you do not exist: please, I would like you to post more about what a sad waste of a parent you are, or a sad guilt filled worker you are. You are dying, make it known.
So come on ! Post that uselessness here, bark some more. Let the survivors of your anonymous creations hear your fuckshitass thoughts about nothing. Go ahead - post now. Come one. mf. Post. Post it here. I know you will because you have no interest in helping children off drugs, you completely wish for YOUR causes and justifications for why you are still allowed to live through your loser children and your fuck jobs that don't do shit but move things around like property, meaningless words, and humans, to be heard. If it was opposite you would have alread addressed the facts in the first post. You are anonymous and remain so. Post now, I know you will. Post your fuckshit. Post it bitch. Bark. Post. Come one, Come one.
Post your shitheadedness cos its just w/e. Post.
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Out of all that I have read on this site written by yourself (animals...) the one thing that you have said that's thought out and rings true is that this is about the children. This is about the children that have no more chances to make a new start. This is about the children that are so hurt and in so much pain that they turn this pain on themselves. It is about the children that call Northwest themselves asking for help. Each day I go to my job, my only desire to do what I can to give the kids in this program some education and tools for a new start. So many of them thank this program and the counselors for giving them their lives back.
Everything we do in this building is legal. The authorities are aware of us. They have even come to visit and toured the building. The State of Oregon knows we are here. They have walked through our doors, they have talked with staff, they have even talked with clients in our program. There are laws out there to protect children and we follow all of them. I believe in protecting children.
My goal in writing a response to this is not to argue with anyone. I hope that if there are parents out there that run across this site while searching for help for their kids, they read past all the harsh language, the insults, and the words written by those who have anger in their hearts. I want them to do what their instinct and their gut tells them to. Find help for your children. That help can be found in counseling, outpatient therapy, family therapy, or even at a treatment center such as Northwest. Look into real genuine facts about the program that you want to take your child to. Ask questions about the program, take a tour, get referrals from friends, family members, your doctor, their school. But please don't ever be afraid to ask for help for your child if they are in danger. Remember, they are what matters.
Thank you for reading.
Annie (Northwest staff member)
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Nice barking anonymous. Got you trained now. Again. This time louder.
woof!
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Okay, I took the ten seconds. I'm not anonymous. I'm the one who made the long post explaining why we do a lot of what we do in the program. You accused me of anger, but the only one showing a lack of control here is you. I haven't flamed anyone. I just saw this site for the first time three days ago. I think I've answered the concerns you addressed. I took the time to look at that website about The Straights, and whoever referenced that, you're right; that's some scary stuff. I am appalled by what went on in those places. Northwest is not one of those places.
Why are you so angry, Animals? Why are you accusing everyone I work with of doing bad things, when you don't know us, you've never been to our facility, and several different posters have told you that we do not do the things you accuse of doing. It is clear that you do not know the law in Oregon about such things, and that you have an axe to grind. I suggest that you research the law before you make blanket statements libeling a group of people. You have accused me of theft and abuse. I challenge you to prove it.
Or perhaps you are too busy making up threatening, racist, crude and vile comments to turn on your brain.
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I am angry. I don't hide it at all.
I called your facility directly after I spoke to one of your 'voluntary' patients.
He wanted to sign out. He was not allowed to do so. The law just got broken.
He asked to call home. He was not allowed to do so without direct supervision and someone dialing the phone. In fact, he was not allowed to call HRS, Emergency Services, or the Police at his own will. The law has just been broken.
He was not allowed state sanctioned education at the amount prescribed by the state. Law broken.
He was asked to facilite 'advice' to other patients, asked by those who claim to be licensed counselitorially. Law broken.
He did not ask to be on meds. He was made to be on meds though. Law broken.
He saw patients restrained unnecessarily. Law broken.
HMMM.
Yeah. I guess I am angry you fucking piece of shit.
I tell you what. If you want to discuss this with the police now I would do so. I am openly threatening you and your fucking sorry excuse for a 'get well' center. I will ram your head so far up your numb ass that you will at least think you are educated, its obvious you are not aware of anything as easy as law. I have to wonder what somebody did to you to make you this way. Very very sad.
At least, when I get arrested for you and your exploitations of innocents - I will get the exposure in court that I need.
I am cursing your whole fucking clan, family, aquaintances, and friends and anyone else you care to mention.
Oh, and when I called to speak to the clinician who I was Directly transferred to on the phone she confirmed everything that was said. I told her that I had a child who needed help and she jumped all over, she was falling all over herself and her words and her fucking ignorance of the laws surrounding children and child abuse. She would have made it easier on herself and what happens at Northwest, and would have saved me and her some time, if she had just spoken bluntly and said, 'yeah, we abuse the kids here'.
The boy I met on yahoo chat rooms is currently looking into filing complaints and possibly a medical malpractice suit against Northwest thanks to me and my g/f. Im not kidding here. I found him the attorney up there, it only cost me a few bucks to get the calling card. I handed over the name of the clinician I spoke to.
This boy has only just gotten out thanks to his parents. The 'doctor' told the parents that they wanted to keep the boy for a few more weeks (he had been there for three months) for examination, this is only after they told him and his parents he'd only be there for three months.
Oh, you are saying to yourself, 'problem handled problem solved'. Nah. Lotsa parents come to this board to get the true side of what these facilities can do to children. I am happy that I have chosen to fight you. The mere fact that you are not ignoring the original post and defending yourself against yourself indicates that you are defending lawlessness. That its even being debated at all is very funny to me and others will see it and your open defensiveness, I am very happy that fornits does not erase anything.
See you in court Northwest.[ This Message was edited by: animals all of us on 2004-05-12 07:14 ]
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You also did what I said you would do. Got you trained bitch. Now post again. Do it.
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Are you not just angry, but also dumb as a stump? I just told you that the law in Oregon is clear about parents' ability to restrict access to juveniles using the phone, about their ability to sign themselves out of treatment, and about the lifting of the school requirement if a child is in a residential facility. Yes, most of our kids are prescribed medications. No, they are not required to take them; some kids do refuse. We offer education on what the medications are for and possible side effects. Yeah, we have kids offer each other advice in a monitored setting. It's called 'group therapy'. Maybe you should try it.
If the law up here is different from the law in California or wherever you're from, I'm not responsible for your ignorance. Just exactly what are you threatening me with? A lawsuit? Fine, bring it on. We don't abuse kids, so there's no grounds for a lawsuit. If you're threatening me with something else, well, come on up here and let's see your face. So far, you're all talk and no walk. E-mail me your name so I know who to put on the libel suit, buddy.
Knowing something about the law might be "easy", but it does require some thought, an ability to comprehend information given you. I've yet to see that capacity from you, Animals.
Yeah, I'm defending myself, my co-workers, and my profession. That's not necessarily "defensiveness." as for your silly taunt, "Now post again. Do it," you set yourself up in a win-win situation: If I don't post, I let slide anything you said, most of which is patently false and the rest of which is noise. If I do post, you get to say, "I've got you trained."
I hope that makes you feel superior, that you think you've outwitted someone with that little game that I last heard from a 5-year-old. It's nice when someone who has nothing good or positive in their life or their soul finds something to feel proud of.
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Listen up Northwest. If you're on the up & up you've nothing to worry about. I hope there is a program out there that actually helps kids. It would be a refreshing change. But if you are a counselor or therapist of any note then you ought to understand the suspicion of the posters on this board. If not you then haven't been paying attention. We just want all the child/teen "therapuetic communities" out there that WE ARE WATCHING. We know the games they play, the laws they break and the short and long term of the damage they inflict. We will find out if the program is abusive or not. And we will dog violators to the end of their days. We're providing a service that no one is more equipped to provide and even those that are seem unwilling. So we'll continue to WATCH and investigate and post our findings and concerns on the web, in print or with a bullhorn if necessary. Any person or program with a child's best interest at heart needn't be concerned.
For you parents who are looking for help - Investigate any program or therapuetic community THOROUGHLY. The web is a great resource. If they are unwilling to allow you an impromptu visit where you can actually see their methods at work or if they would restrict your communication with your child then look for alternatives. There is simply no reason that you should not see or speak to your child any time you damn well see fit. Personally I wouldn't place my child any place that restricted my access to them AT ALL especially when it is their heart & mind that is being treated. It would be completely unacceptable for a program to treat your child's emotional struggles with a sledgehammer to the skull. Don't place them in a situation where the sledgehammer can potentially be used on their heart or their mind. Find a good therapist instead.
Lastly clashfan, I generally skip the name calling and finger pointing. It's just not productive and not at all the point of this thread. But I just can't ignore this one thing. You ask animals why he is angry and then suggested he try group therapy... :eek:
Talk about dumb as a stump! HAVE YOU READ ANY OF OUR THREADS AT ALL? Do you not know why we are ALL so angry? Why we are doing this? Some of us have been paying for our "group therapy" for 15 or 20 years! Abusive therapy tends to make people angry. Child abuse should make EVERYONE angry. We're angry because we're finally sane. And we're putting our anger to good use by monitoring the madness out there.
WE ARE WATCHING...Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves
--Ronald Reagan
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Gods its so funny mindfucking people isnt it ?!?
Here you are, ChildAbuserFan, thinking and posting just what you know about whatever it is you think you know. 'This is about who can piss the loudest, and I'm gonna win "buddy" '.
You are so right, buddy. I do have you trained. Here you are thinking I have you trained. In your compulsiveness you forgot to remember about search engines and controversy. I welcomed you to post and you did. And I welcome you to post again motherfucker. Underneath all this slander, we are building up to the top of the many search engines against you and yours.
yup clashfan, that was some tasty crack you just sold.
Whatever you say is right. Damn right I am dumb as a stump and I can't comprehend anything you are saying. And goddamm right I've got you trained. Everything I say is just noise and has no heed of law. That's right. More now. Everything you have said after the fact of what I brought up is just more of exactly what I want, the more you babble on and on and on and on about Northwest the more it makes you and yours look just as on the defensive about what it is you are doing there.
It was so much fun speaking to that clinical director and easing her into lawlessness that day.
The boy I spoke with is scarred. I never said I was filing a law suit. I said I found him the attorney. You continue to make it abundantly clear who is not literate here. Whats' the stat on illiteracy of hospital employess in America today ? I wonder if it is rival and related to the abuse of children by hospital employees. hmm.
Got you trained mah niggah. Now go ahead post again. I know you'll do it, that's what I want. I want more defensiveness and slandering from Northwest, that's what I want. Please don't ignore yourself anymore.
Because I'm as dumb as a stump I didn't catch your name or your little email address. Clashfan has to be one of the absolute most hypocritical ID names around and it makes me fucking sick. I don't recall that band ever rockin in their songs about child abuse or about how good it feels to rock out to exploiting children and their parents. ChildAbuseFan, do you touch your lover with those hands of abuse, or do you just speak out with that mind of yours ? Or is it both ?
Thank you, childabuserfan, for explaining yourself to me. I would like to hear more about your crimes. Please, bark again. Bark again, please.
Again, you are right. Either way - I win. Bark again, please. I like it.[ This Message was edited by: animals all of us on 2004-05-23 16:33 ]
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i recently was trapped in northwest behavioral and dont recall a staffmember named annie. so, unless youre new there since then, or dont work there, i dont believe thats your real name. because the clients know all the staff that work, unless youre one of the ones that doesnt have anything to do with the clients, that just sits on the outside, watching what you wish. why dont you give us all your real name?
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Look dumb oregon biatch. If a kid is put in a treatment center without rights outside of the center or from his parents then that center isn't lawful. If a kid can't call 911, amensty international, the police or anyplace else than you guys are holding him against his will. A child is allowed a lawyer and if his parents are sold on putting him away aware or unaware of abuse, he has the right to leave. [ This Message was edited by: smack on 2004-05-25 15:20 ]
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Whiterabbit, you are right in that I did not take the time to look up other threads. I plead guilty to a lack of curiosity about the background of someone viciously attacking my coworkers and myself. Something Animals said made me wonder if the concept of group therapy was new to him/her. (I'll use 'him' from now on, for convenience.)
Watching out for violators is important. Kids, especially kids with the history that many of our clients have, are vulnerable to abuse. I don't object to watchdogs. I object to the blanket assumptions, bigotry, gratuitous name-calling, and profanity-laced tirades against a group of people who are trying to do good things. You normally don't name-call or point fingers--do you ever object to those who do? Do you ever say to someone like Animals, "You know, your approach is counter-productive to our goals and is patently offensive."
I agree that parents should investigate programs thoroughly, and that the internet is a good tool for that. Touring the facility in question is also important. Meeting with the people who will work your kid every day will help show you what kind of person they are and what their approach is. I also agree that outpatient counseling with a good therapist should be tried first.
I disagree with you about the phone call issue. If we let the kids call home 24/7, some kids would never get any therapy. If there is a big need, the therapists can make exceptions. But overall, part of what we do is help families set healthy limits with each other, and help the kids stay focused on their therapy/recovery. I understand that you disagree, I'm just trying to say why we do it this way.
Smack, well, I don't know where you're from, but the law in Oregon is clear. A parent or guardian of a minor child can control who that child can see or talk to. A minor cannot sign themselves out of somewhere their parent has signed them into. We can disagree about whether that is appropriate or fair or right, but it is legal in Oregon. In some, or even most, cases it is against the kid's will. It is not against the law. If you don't like that, work to change the law. You may feel that a kid should have the human right to leave, but he currently does not have the legal right to do so.
Look, I think it's great that y'all are looking out for kids who are in bad and unsafe situations. I know there are a lot of shady and just plain freaky operators out there. My objection was to being insulted, threatened and in general cursed out by someone with no direct knowledge of our program. My mistake was in trying to reach some reasonable understanding with someone who showed to me no interest in being reasonable. My question to the rest of you is this: Where is your objection to Animals' approach? You call me on my statement about group therapy, which is legitimate for you to do. But why do you not call Animals on the things he says? Is he just your attack dog, your bad cop so that you can play good cop? Or is it too difficult to have that conversation with someone when you agree with their underlying point of wanting to protect children? Or maybe you just don't want his vitriol unleashed on you. I wouldn't blame you if that were the case, because it isn't any fun. It doesn't really make for a constructive dialogue.
Well?
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You there; Anonymous with the lisp. I don't understand a word you just posted cos its full of holes.
1.) It is not voluntary therapy if the child is held against his or her will.
2.) It doesn't matter if you 'think' or have an opinion whether a child should be able to call his guardian or not, its the motherfucking law in ALL of the United States. You could be tampering with evidence, or not allowing that free and independent child to speak to someone who could help them in the event of what they feel is an emergency. Its not up to what you think. That's why we're on your motherfucking case here, opinion has nothing to do with this.
3.) Now you want to bring gender into this. I will call you a 'him' for the purpose of posting from now on too. Wait, you don't have a gender do you ? You're just anonymous.
4.) With 1 and 2 in mind there, it can't be family therapy if the child is only seeing the parents once or twice a week. Your thoughts are flawed if you still believe in a system that treats the problem. Here you are locking up children even in your post: "Its my opinion that a child should not be allowed to leave if the guardian has signed them in.", and "A child should not be allowed to call out whenever they choose."
You are treating those children like they are fucking lollipops for the taking just in your opinions alone. You really make me fucking sick.
Your beliefs are flawed. You limit a childs freedoms and basic civil rights, and call this therapy. You do the 'group therapy' thing which is an integral part of the US standard for becoming healthy. You take the child out of the setting that they are going to return to. You don't hold the parents accountable for shit when they are the ones who have had any influence on the child at all from the time any child is born to the time they come to your chopshop.
That boy I told you I spoke to told me that the doctor diagnosed the child after about three months of being at NWBCC (the C I added in place of H for Healthcare, stands for Chopshop): the doctor says that the child doesn't show any signs of addiction to drugs or alcohol but that NWBCC would like to keep him for further evaluation. What a fucking joke. This is not about wellbeing, this about you doing a job and knowing not what your job is really about. You suck at your job and you keep trying desperately to defend your ignorance.
You don't know why you do your job. Maybe its to 'help' kids. You probly are in school or have been to some school for the 'best' or nearly good training on industry standards for getting some type of certificate to help people or whatever.
The biggest industry in this country is the healthcare industry. You don't know why that is either. All of you pat and cookie cutter sentences are so obvious and generic and apathetic to what is really going with your own self. Get a life beyond your training for once, and then maybe learn more about your laws in your own city/state area - then maybe you can be understood.
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It is also not "lawful" to post FULL NAMES of previous treatment program clients, but this site does it consistantly.
So, cut the crap with your high and mighty RIGHTS crusade. ::jawdrop::
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I guess if you are so bound and determined to slander against what is already wrong that you are being called on, you can call the police or inform your local attorney general my niggahbitch.
Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services
Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services
Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services
Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services
Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services
Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services
Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services
Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services
You're right. I should cut the crap with this high and mighty crusade. I will do what you ask. As soon as you stop working and posting about it.
Wait. No I won't. Make me cut the crap with my high and mightiness or whatever you perceive this to be about.
Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services
Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services
Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services
Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services
[ This Message was edited by: animals all of us on 2004-05-30 02:58 ]
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Clashfan
Do we ever object to counter productive comments? Sure posted on lots of other threads. But animals is entitled to his opinion. And his rage. These boards should be one place where he can express that.
You are making me as worried as he is. You're right I disagree entirely with the limited contact, lack of phone calls and the lock up of US citizens of any age. Whether it is lawful or not. In Florida it was against the law and they got away with it for 17 years. The state even aided and abetted in this practice.A genuine need or emergency may seem like an unlikely possibility to you but not for us. Everyday in our group therapy was an emergency and we were completely powerless to do anything about it. Because we were minors. Because we needed our "therapy" uninterrupted. Because we could not make a phone call. Could not leave. Had limited, supervised contact with our parents.
And I'm sure some of the people participating in our program had good intentions. I'm sure my parents did. Unfortunately they were treating a headache with a sledgehammer and I couldn't tell them about it.
I'm sure you think you understand that there are some shady places out there. You have no idea. You haven't read the other threads on this board. Allow me to enlighten you with some stories. Stories about what can happen when good intentions are allowed to over ride the civil liberties of anyone but especially children.
My parents took me to Straight on October 20, 1980. My intake lasted 6 hours. Two teen girls coerced a confession from me. Yes I had smoked pot, tried drinking. They advised me that if I did not sign myself in they could have me court ordered to mental institution. Because I had admitted to doing drugs. And doing drugs was crazy. They said that I would be in the program for 2 weeks and after that time I could leave if I chose .After 6 hours I gave up. I decided that 2 weeks was not so long. A mere 14 days. How bad could it be?If it became unbearable I would run away. I never saw a psychiatric professional of any sort. Not a doctor, not my parents not even an adult. I signed the papers as they instructed.
We changed foster homes frequently, arbitrarily. It seemed they didn't want us to feel comfortable or more importantly, secure. I do not know how many foster homes I lived in those first few months. The first one was roughly 3or 4 days followed by a week or so at the second. After that there was a string of homes consisting of days at a time.One home was very comfortable, the parents at least to me, appeared wealthy. But my oldcomer was a sadistic little tyrant who took pleasure in her power. She enjoyed watching us shower and go to the bathroom. She invented additional rules like newcomers had to sleep naked on the floor. Newcomers had to watch her eat spaghetti or ice cream especially if they were on the pb & j diet. Newcomers could not sit on the furniture. Moral inventories were often not long enough, legible enough. They frequently had to be rewritten. Her reviews were merciless. Other foster homes were so poor that squares of toilet paper were specified and limited to an exact number. Newcomers may use 5 squares or 8 squares. Many homes were overcrowded in those days. The bedroom typically consisted of a mattress or two on the floor and we slept 3 or 4 to a mattress. Locked doors and locked windows.In spite of the fact that it was illegal, unsafe and a fire hazard.
Open meeting review was a nightmare.Everyone was reviewed & given setbacks or responsibilty. " I deserve nothing" or "I deserve talk". As if that wasn't enough to drive one to feel worthless, the resulting verbal assault would drive the message home. Still the staff had more vicious tools in their arsenal of ego destruction. We sat on the concrete floor. We'd been in review for hours one day after I'd been there maybe a month and I raised my hand to a 5th phaser to request permission to go to the bathroom. She denied my request. Time passed and my need became more urgent. The fifth phaser went to a staff trainee who said no. I tried to hold it. Surely they would break for us to use the bathroom soon. At the back of the group Txxx Bxxxxx on first phase for months, was humming to herself. She hummed & rocked herself constantly. Even a fifteen year old could see that she needed psychiatric help. Serious help. I wondered why someone who was so obviously mentally ill was permitted in the program. Txx was lucky on this day. The staff was trying to ignore her rather than restrain her as they frequently did. I tried to focus on her humming. Maybe I could distract myself from the need to go to the bathroom.
More time passed.It became painful. The meeting showed no signs of relenting. I could focus on nothing but overwhelming physical need. I began signaling frantically. The 5th phaser looked sympathetic and again went to the trainee who looked at me and went to a junior staff member, KW. She glared at me and shook her head no.I was desperate. How could they not see that I genuinely had to go? My stomach was distended, grotesque. Frightening. I was sweating, crying. Begging. I wondered if my bladder would burst and kill me. K looked at me with a smirk. Disgust, contempt and a giggle. The senior staff member, W finally noticed. There was now a second girl Jill Sxxxx, also crying and asking to go to the bathroom. Other girls were beginning to raise their hands. W shrieked at the group"If you girls have to go to the bathroom so goddamned bad you can go on the fucking floor cause you're not going!" I was sitting on my foot, shoving it into my crotch, rocking slightly, crying. Girls began to scoot away from Jill and I. Finally I couldn't wait any more. I thought maybe I could just go a little. Enough to relieve the pain and hold the rest until the end of the review. There was no stopping it. I sat in a big puddle of urine. Jill followed suit. K looked at us and told us we were disgusting and laughed. Wanda told us we could just sit in it. The review continued. Another girl went on the floor. Finally my name was called and I stood in my urine. A flurry of hands went up. All vying for the opportunity to tell me that I was disgusting, a piece of shit. K was laughing so hard. W looked at me with disgust, contempt. They both proceeded to tell me how disgusting, stupid, pathetic I was. I was humiliated, ashamed, helpless and terrified. On the inside I was trembling. I was not allowed to say a word. W advised the 5th phaser, Lxx Axxx to get a mop but that I was to clean up my mess. She gave me a rag mop but no bucket. I mopped and wrung it out with my hands in the girls bathroom sink repeatedly until it was cleaned up. I cleaned up all the urine on the floor. Mine, Jill's all of it. The entire group watched, even the boy's side joined in the fun. Occasionally K would look over and giggle.
This happened on two more occasions. At that point I decided that I would just drink as little as possible so I wouldn't have to use the bathroom. I needn't have bothered. I was put on the peanut butter and jelly diet for failing to cooperate. This limited my morning meal to 2 pieces of dry toast and a dixie cup of orange juice approximately the size of a shot glass. Lunch and dinner was a big hamburger bun with a teaspoon of peanut butter in the center. Sometimes a slab of jelly sometimes not. Usually frozen. One 6 oz cup of water at lunch and one at dinner. I went on the diet in early to mid November and was on it through Christmas. One day they called my name at sick call and told me I had a bladder infection. Gave me a little blue pill each day for about a week or so and then just as abruptly told me I was better. I realized at some point that I had lost weight. While sitting on the couch one morning, I showed my foster mother how I could fit both of my arms inside my corduroys and touch my knees. Corduroys that I had been barely able to zip up. They took me off the pb & j diet a few days later. Still I was put on PB & J twice more before I went home.
Of course exercise raps were pretty high on the list of intolerable therapies. Occasionally W would lead us in an exercise rap. The timing of this appeared to be random. We would do no exercise for a week or two or even a month and then abruptly we would do a 2 hour session of exercises. We would do jumping jacks, sit ups endlessly, military style. If anyone fell out of count we would start over. Girls would have tears mixed with sweat running down their faces but we could not stop or it would result in more exercise. So we'd continue exercising and crying. That windowless warehouse in central Florida was brutally fucking hot without the air conditioning. The very walls would sweat. People would pass out. Beg for water. We were allowed only seconds at the water fountain in order to minimize the disruption to our "therapy". People frequently choked trying to drink as much water as possible in the limited time allowed. One of the newcomers that lived our foster home went home after a particularly brutal exercise session and drank water until she threw up. One day the girls group went to the carpet room for our exercise rap. I don't know why I thought this would be better. I just thought it had to be somehow. It was agony. Endless. My stomach cramped.Three girls fainted. When I got to the foster home that night my old comer asked me what the sores were on my back were. Turns out they were rug burns.
That summer was so hot, it was misery. Many kids had taken to carving and cutting themselves out of desperation, hopelessness or just sheer misery. One girl carved the words highway to hell up her arm. A boy had carved streaks in his cheeks that looked like Indian war paint.Another boy had gouged huge circles on his cheeks. One day about twelve kids all made a break for the doors. It was illegal for the doors to be locked so they had posted boys as sentries at each door. Those attempting to run were tackled and restrained. Only two got away.
These stories are not the exception. They're not the worst. They're pretty typical of a day in an abusive lockup program. And it went on EVERYDAY. For years.
Of course there are also cases of rape, broken bones, mental illness and many attempted suicides which of course were never reported. Then there are the documented suicides- more than 40 and those are just the ones they know about. As many as 50,000 kids had their childhood eaten by purportedly well intentioned but ultimately destructive therapy.
How could this go on? Why would parents allow this? Those are the big questions right? How? Because phone calls were not permitted, contact with parents was limited, we had no contact with the outside world, no way to call for help and no one who would listen, no one monitoring the "therapy" that went on daily. Because no one took the rights of ALLEGED teen drug abusers seriously.
Because good intentions were allowed to take precedence over civil liberties.
I don't think Animals is making blanket assumptions. He has concerns. Big ones. Legitimate ones.He is expressing them exactly the way he learned in 12 hour daily group therapy sessions. I don't blame you for being not liking it. You're free to express that. Free to post a differing point of view. It makes for good discussion. Enlightenment. I'm not interested in censoring your opinions. And I'm not interested in censoring animals rage. He's had plenty of that. Maybe getting rid of some of it will allow him to express it with less venom someday.
Besides, he has good intentions......
:skull: For three days after death, hair and fingernails continue to grow but phone calls taper off.
-- Johnny Carson
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tanx rabbit.
Except for your personal story of horror I thoroughly am inspired to continue ranting now.
Actually, this whole log/post started, I'll repeat myself here I guess, when I was messing around in an alcoholics yahoo chat room. It was about four in the morning.
This boy was in there. He's eighteen now. His Id/handle looked like some kind of jargon he'd just been made to learn from rehab, I forget the name. Someone mentioned rehab. So I perked up and asked had anyone been to rehab in that chat room. The kid told me he just got out recently.
We got to talking and I told him about Straight. He all of a sudden had some real questions about civil rights. He told me some very personal and real stories about Northwest.
I called Northwest the next day and told the clinical director - who got on the phone, who tried to get me to come in and have a emergency family conference A.S.A.P., that my son was up to no good. She confirmed what the boy had already said to me.
The director confirmed that phone privileges and all private conversations with law, guardian, and otherwise are 'not permitted' (in those words). The director confirmed that voluntary patients are not allowed to leave and that the doors are locked tight. The director confirmed in ignorance that Northwest does not follow the state guidelines for education of minors. They also hesitantly told me when I asked nicely, that many time patients are restrained even if they are of no harm to themselves.
The boy told me in that first meeting that their physician or doctor at Northwest told the parents that the boy showed no signs of alcoholism but that the three months he'd already been there was not sufficient enough time to make an accurate diagnosis of any problems and that more time would be needed.
They pulled his happy ass right outta there !!!
I'm still pushing the little bugger to stay on the case of the attorney we called. No joking. I called them up for him, too, with my calling card.
Why did the clinical director unknowingly confirm the boys story ?[ This Message was edited by: animals all of us on 2004-05-30 03:05 ]
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i actually went to nwbhs at the beginning of the year. and i have very mixed feelings on the facility. if you would like me to answer any questions, just ask and i will give you the best answer i can about the place. i was there for a month, so i should know some stuff you want to know. i didnt have an extreme experience, really, but i just kind of went a long with it sometimes, and tried to fight it as well. so ask, and ill answer.
i dont really know how to use this website. so i think i just posted this in some completly random area. but, ill try again. sorry if it posts twice.
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Thank you Anon. You are welcome to put up an ID for yourself. You don't have to use your name.
But I do care that you differentiate yourself from the hecklers who come to this forum and badger honest people not unlike yourself where you've been through abusive families and abusive treatment facilities.
I knew there were others like that kid I talked to. If you know or have been in contact with other children who've been in NWBHS please inform them that coming here and telling about their experiences is paramount. Parents should be well informed when their children are being put in facilities exactly what forms of treatment are being used. I have a couple attorneys up north who would be interested in speaking with you, just say the word.
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One time I met these "Survivors" guy.Then I made complaint about the quality of Fagers website.Then my new "survivor Friends" promptly becan posting my full name here.
Dont trust these fagers/bradburies and other famous survivors.they are only selfserving,and most of them come from the 7phase.Still assholes the lot of them.
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Fuck you dickhead, if you haven't noticed many have worked long hours to make a difference. It's been a hard battle, one you would have quit long ago. Why don't you go back to watching the Simpson's of somehting to keep your mind occupied? Until then, fuck off. :skull:
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"fuck you dickhead, I haven't seen you work long hours and blah blah blah adnauseum."
I dont' understand your post anonymous. You are telling me that you work at NWBHS and that any work you do is okay and makes it okay to abuse children because you make a fucking paycheck doing it and fucking children keeps you fed ?
What exactly does Simpsons have to do with this and how would you know it exists if you hadn't watched it yourself after a long hard day of fucking children ?!?
No. I say - FUCK YOU DICKHEAD !
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so, i got a username. im the one who posted about answering any questions you might have about nwbhs. so, ask, and you shall recieve answers. i dont keep in contact with anyone from there because i went there with the intentions of becomiing friends with nobody.
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So when did you go there and what was a real experience there like? I have read a lot of mixed crap on this website, a lot from people that have never even been to northwest. A lot of shit has been thrown without any real support to back it up. And a lot of shit has been flung by people that seem to be angry because they went to another awful horrible program and they want to make every treatment center out there regardless of if they are good or bad pay for that experience.
So lets here some truth about this program...
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i was there around the beginning of this year. and as for the real experience, i have very mixed feeling on it. i was extremely upset for even being there in the first place and then they throw on you that you have to do a strip search. that wasnt the most wonderful thing. but, as i think about it after ive been out, it makes sense. i found the staff to be generally pretty cool. in fact, i think i became friends with many of the staff. the person i didnt like much was my therapist. i didnt think she did any good and in fact, i felt like she was very rude and said some very unneccessary things to me. even after everything she said, i wasnt allowed to change therapist for some reason. which i find rediculous because a therapist is there to talk and you cant talk to someone unless youre comfortable with them. and i hated her and couldnt talk to her. i think they(as a facility) was a little too babyish and didnt give enough freedom(its hard to use that word in this situation). stupid things like not being able to listen to music whenever you have free time, or not being able to keep face wash in your room. another thing that i found to be horrible was lack of fresh air. the building has no windows that open and one or two doors that lead outside. i found myself feeling very sick a couple of times. food was horrible there. and when you refuse to eat it they threaten to send you to the hospital for malnourishment then bring you back in for another at least thirty days. i really did become quite fond of some of the staff though. they truly did care and i realy wish i would be able to keep in touch with them. but i think thats against the rules. i dont think its effective a lot of the time for stopping drug use. its really not intense enough for that. and also, you only see your therapist once a week and your meds dr. once a week. which for an intensive therapy center is very minimal. and if you ask to see them more, they say they dont have time. they are good about letting the client choose whether or not to participate in activities. i give them that. and the fact of the staff being very active with the kids. if you want me to go in detail more about any specific part just ask. hope it helps
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On 2004-06-03 20:50:00, animals all of us wrote:
I dont' understand your post anonymous. You are telling me that you work at NWBHS and that any work you do is okay and makes it okay to abuse children because you make a fucking paycheck doing it and fucking children keeps you fed ?
No. I say - FUCK YOU DICKHEAD !"
someone call the guys with the white jackets, Animals is fucking crazy
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Wow! When I came across this website, I had no idea what I was getting into. I was just sitting at home searching the web and I was shocked when I ran across a site had information about northwest. I am also a northwest "survivor", if that is what you all are calling it. I was torn about posting anything here. It seems that anyone that has anything positive to say about the place gets ripped to shreds. But, I am a believer in speaking my mind. And since I want people out there to be informed, I hope people read my story as well.
It hurts me and frustrates me to read about northwest being called a "child abuser". I survived true child abuse in my life. I have horror stories, probably a lot like some of the other "survivors" out there. My life was incredibily horrible growing up. I'm sure a lot of you can identify with how it feels to be sure that those you trust hate you. I was not wanted and it was made clear to me what a burden I was to my mom.
My parents had split up when I was pretty young and my dad had no idea what was going on at mom's house. I was a scarred kid and never said anything when I saw him. I kept all that crap inside for a lot of years. When I was older, I just was horrible to both of my parents. I never listened to anything they said. I remember one night, my dad was trying so hard to reason with me and I just walked out the front door. I was gone for over a week. Pretty much just trying to kill myself. I guess you get the picture. I was into to everyone(literally) and everything.
When I finally did go home. My dad said we were going to get an assessment at some place. I didn't really want to go, but then I guess I was tired of all the pain too. I was so tired of being sad and angry and hurt all the time. I just went with him.
When I got to the place I went back with some lady to what they call the nurses station and they talked to me about what the place was. I found out I was going to be there for a while. I admit I was shocked. And angry. And I cried lots. The first few days were really hard. I really wanted to just run away. But then I met a lot of cool staff. I agree with the other person who posted about the staff at northwest. They all listened to me. Yeah, there were some dumb rules, but nothing too hard. I did get frustrated a lot of the time, but even when I would get pissed and swear at them, they just would talk to me. I went to a hell of a lot of groups. Some were great. Some weren't. There were a few staff there that I didn't like, but hey, they probably didn't like me either. No one abused me there. I know what child abuse is, and no one laid a hand on me, yelled at me, nothing! In fact as much as I hated being there at first, it was one of those life-changing experiences. I told my dad everything about my life (well, almost everything...) We actually talked and even I got a chance to face my mom. It was safe. I always knew that all I had to do was walk up to a staff and they would listen to me if I needed them to. They were busy lots of the time, and some of the kids there were real shits. But I also met some others that were okay. I wasn't really about making friends though.
It has been really hard since I got out. There have been times that I wish I was there again, just because I know that I wouldn't have to face life. But now I want to live, and I care about the things I do to myself. Me and my dad fight still, but it's not the same. My therapist (who was great) taught both of us how to listen and talk even when we are mad. I still want to use drugs sometimes, but I haven't and that says tons and tons about how much I have grown. I wouldn't even have thought twice about it before.
I guess that's my story. I am open to any questions too. I am all for this website if it is going to go after programs that don't let you have contact with your parents, or lie to them or do all those things that other poster talked about in his(her?)post. That sounds awful. It just wasn't like that at northwest. Maybe noone will believe me, but I have the right just as anyone else does to put my words out there.
So that's my story.
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I'm glad you posted your experience. And I'm glad it was a good one. The most useful thing this forum can do is inform and enlighten. I have a very cynical view of behavior modification programs, as does Animals. We don't want the type of program we were in to exist ever again. And they can only operate in secrecy. So we watch and post information & experiences, good and bad. Challenge suspect practices and put it all up where people can check it out. Your storyis equally imortant to that end. And opposing views make for lively discussion.
And every once in a while someone feels the need to vent some anger. It might make for better therapy than debate but I think this is an appropriate place for it. :wave: It's obnoxious to ask law enforcement to follow the law. That's insulting to every cop.
--John Lovell, lobbyist for the California police chief's association
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OK, here's a thought.
If Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services is such a great place (so say its "reps"), why are so many of its most valuable employees leaving in droves?
Hmmmm....
Anybody have any insight as to why?
Just curious....
Curious George
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better pay to abuse children in other places.
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Nope. Wrong. Try again.
Keep in mind that these people who are leaving are very good people.
Now what's your guess?
Curious George
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They did a group lotto thing and won :???:
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Hmm... That they got into grad school and are moving on with their education after getting some great experience at Northwest. Or, they have worked in this field long enough and decided that this isn't for them and want to do something different.
Oh...wait! You don't want the truth. You just want to bitch and complain to someone who will listen and since this is the only place you can do it without anyone telling you to your face that your full of S*$%, here you are rambling on and on and on...
I'm bored of all this. Seriously, I say that all of you who are out there wasting your energy slamming Northwest move on with your pathetic little selves and pay attention to things in your own lives. You must have some deep rooted anger issues that need worked through, possibly stemming from emotional trauma in your life. I hope you get the help you must desperately need. Leave the rest of us in peace.
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So when the staff at Northwest Healthcare Services get an education it is time for them to quit? The kids there are your lab rats to learn with? Make mistakes with them and than move on to better things? You just proved what a foul place Northwest is.
Anger issues? yes, a lot of people on this site are angry at foul child abusing programs that require little to no education to be on the staff.
Either your an ex client who is still brainwashed with the belief that you need those people, or your a counselor or ex-staffer from there.
If your a counselor, you should know that one of our goals is to have your license to practice revolked, or if you don't have a license I'll file a complaint against you and prevent you from ever having one. The abuse that took place at straight has been far beyond proven. For you to bash our concerns about the well being of children shows our nation and the world that you do NOT belong in the health care field.
ISP TRACKERS....please send me the location of this anonymous child abuser. PM or e-mail. An investivation is in order.
After I am done with your stupid abusive ass I will proudly stand in front of your face and we'll see if you have the balls or courage to tell me that I am full of shit. :skull:
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On 2004-06-14 16:10:00, Anonymous wrote:
"Hmm... That they got into grad school and are moving on with their education after getting some great experience at Northwest. Or, they have worked in this field long enough and decided that this isn't for them and want to do something different.
Oh...wait! You don't want the truth. You just want to bitch and complain to someone who will listen and since this is the only place you can do it without anyone telling you to your face that your full of S*$%, here you are rambling on and on and on...
I'm bored of all this. Seriously, I say that all of you who are out there wasting your energy slamming Northwest move on with your pathetic little selves and pay attention to things in your own lives. You must have some deep rooted anger issues that need worked through, possibly stemming from emotional trauma in your life. I hope you get the help you must desperately need. Leave the rest of us in peace. "
You are wasting your time posting here as well, idiot. Time for your child abusing ass to get the shaft..hopefully a large black shaft in a cell...
Some nice folks are coming down on Northwest soon.
_________________
Whats your name man?
Graham....like gram of dope n shit.. :wave: [ This Message was edited by: Scarstruck on 2004-06-14 23:11 ]
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omg, I am so bored with this. I am above this. I am in the middle of a shit storm and I am bored because I know something is about to happen and I could lose my paycheck.
Everything I say is better than what you say because I work at a hospital that runs children into the ground and doesn't really help them, but we get the parent's money so that makes me superior to you.
I lack the education to actually say anything worthwhile, but I can tell you I'm bored with this shitty mess 'cos I'm tired of my own life and the way my parents neglected me the way I neglect the children at Northwest Behavioral Services.
Hey. Sign me up to file something against Northwest. I know the boy who basically started this whole post about Northwest is interested. I haven't heard from him in about a week, and he hasn't heard back from the attorney investigating NWBHS just yet. then again it hasn't been that long ago since we started this.
chumba@dubmail.net
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My son was there for 40 days several years ago. He had a long history of violence against us his family, and was sent there after being arrested for assaulting his dad. He had armed himself with a butcher knife in order to kill me if I found him up playing video games in the night - at age 14.
I supplied them with names and numbers for all of the therapists that he saw there so that they could get an accurate history. They knew we only had 30 days on our insurance, and assured us we would have an eval done in a week.
Three weeks later, they still had not called anyone for a history. They decided I had beat and burned him with cigarettes from birth, because he said so. They had still not released a report to us. I finally threatened to remove him because I knew they had empty beds if they didn't call the past therapists for input and a history. I asked for a new therapist there because the one he had wouldn't talk to me, just kept asking me about violence against my son.
They kept her on and got a junior therapist to call the past family therapists. Even though she knew that the eval would say that he had PTSD due to abuse by me, she didn't ask them about abuse, so they couldn't set her straight.
They ambushed my husband and I with the psych eval in a family session 27 days into his 30 day stay. (He ended up with 40 because he spanned the new year.) It nearly ruined our very strong 18 year marriage. They were heartless and cruel to do it to us, and to enable him by encouraging him.
He never came home. He's lived in homeless shelters and has been mooching off of a stranger for a while now. He is unmedicated and won't talk to us. He admits the abuse report was a lie, but feels it was justified because he didn't want to be there.
He was a danger to us and to himself. He needed a locked ward.
The staff was totally incompetent. Especially Genny, who lied to us about treatment and diagnosis, fell for a smart kid's lies, delayed treatment, and refused to get an accurate history.
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I just rechecked his files, of which I got an entire copy after his release. They confirmed the story my son told us after his release that kept pushing him to make an official abuse report against me. He told us that Genny would not talk about anything else until he agreed to file a report against me with the state. He was locked in a room with Genny the day I called Dan Mahler to tell him I would be pulling him out of there. Genny wouldn't let him go until he called HRS. Of course, in the files, she did it for his benefit...
Genny should have her license taken away. But then, no matter how good you are at reporting these people they always have an expert reason and expert opinion for doing what they did. And you're just a liar in their expert opinion, so who will the reporting agencies believe? Them, every time.
We trusted her with our child who was and still is a very unhappy unstable person. She only made him worse, and cut him off from his only means of support.
BTW, he had been in therapy since he was 8, and was admitted at NWBS when he was 16. He had been expelled from school for repeated fighting, broken into houses and cars to steal, abused animals, assaulted family. This kid needed help and he was allowed to manipulate his treatment in a way that was detrimental to himself and his family.
And Dan Mahler never once called me back until I tried to remove him. I called 9 different days out of 27. Sarah called back several times and gave me the "I'll look into it" lip service. They should be out of the business of treating kids who aren't substance abusers.