Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Ridge Creek School / Hidden Lake Academy
Liscensure Questions
Anonymous:
--- Quote ---On 2005-12-23 10:06:00, Anonymous wrote:
"1. Restrictions
Yes there are restrictions at HLA. Negative actions equal negative consequences.
--- End quote ---
What would be some examples of these restrictions?
--- Quote ---2. Monitered Communication
Yes, communication is monitored. Students can say anything they want as long as it is the truth and they are respectful.
--- End quote ---
yeah, had the same thing at the program I was in. Sure you can say anything you want, as long as it doesn't fly in the face of their 'reality'. I tried many, many times to tell what was going on in there only to have family members told that I was lying and manipulative.
--- Quote ---3. Locked at night
Yes. The doors are locked at night. Aren't yours?
--- End quote ---
Are the kids locked in?
--- Quote ---4. Special Interventions
Yes. There are special interventions. This is for when students are particularly out of line, such as being threatening or intimidating. Safety is of the utmost importance to HLA and they will not tolerate students who take safety away from campus.
--- End quote ---
What would be some examples of special interventions?
--- Quote ---5. Special Reels
Yes. There are special group sessions to get to the bottom of any potential act that take safety away from campu. Again, safety is of the utmost importance and if special groups are needed outside of the scheduled groups, HLA will conduct them.
--- End quote ---
Do these group sessions employ confrontational methods with the kids?
--- Quote ---6. No contact with outside people (family only)
Communication is limited to family only for the first eight months because HLA wants the students to focus on rebuilding the family relationship. HLA wants as few distractions as possible while this relationship is being reestablished. After eight months new communication is added. By the end of the program students are allowed to go home on a monthly basis and go out with frieds without adult supervision.
--- End quote ---
Its called isolation. A common tactic used in Thought Reform. See the BITE model http://www.ex-cult.org/bite.html#two
II. Information Control
1. Use of deception
a. Deliberately holding back information
b. Distorting information to make it acceptable
c. Outright lying
2. Access to non-cult sources of information minimized or discouraged
a. Books, articles, newspapers, magazines, TV, radio
b. Critical information
c. Former members
d. Keep members so busy they don?t have time to think
3. Compartmentalization of information; Outsider vs. Insider doctrines
a. Information is not freely accessible
b. Information varies at different levels and missions within pyramid
c. Leadership decides who "needs to know" what
4. Spying on other members is encouraged
a. Pairing up with "buddy" system to monitor and control
b. Reporting deviant thoughts, feelings, and actions to leadership
5. Extensive use of cult generated information and propaganda
a. Newsletters, magazines, journals, audio tapes, videotapes, etc.
b. Misquotations, statements taken out of context from non-cult sources
6. Unethical use of confession
a. Information about "sins" used to abolish identity boundaries
b. Past "sins" used to manipulate and control; no forgiveness or absolution
--- Quote ---7. PT during class
Yes. If students are misbehaving during class, they may have to go into the hall to do some exercise as a consequence. Push ups never killed anyone.
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How long would these PT sessions last?
--- Quote ---8. Fall-out
Yes. Students are expected to report anything that makes the campus unsafe to the staff. Again, safety is of the utmost importance to HLA.
--- End quote ---
Again, refer to the BITE model
4. Spying on other members is encouraged
a. Pairing up with "buddy" system to monitor and control
b. Reporting deviant thoughts, feelings, and actions to leadership
--- Quote ---
9. All the cutters
Yes. HLA has students that have a problem with cutting. Unfortunately, cutting has become a growing problem with adolescents over the past several years. HLA does an excellent job in working with these students and gone to great lengths to further their expertice in working with this difficult problem. The students that struggled with cutting when you were here, KC, are actually doing wonderfully well at this time.
--- End quote ---
Did these kids cut before coming into HLA?
--- Quote ---10. The loss of confiditiality with counselers
Not sure what you mean on this one. Yes the counselors share pertinent information with each other if it is in the best interest of the child. Counselors are sensitive to maintaining confidentiality.
--- End quote ---
I think they're referring to this type stuff...
6. Unethical use of confession
a. Information about "sins" used to abolish identity boundaries
b. Past "sins" used to manipulate and control; no forgiveness or absolution
--- Quote ---I have now answered all of these points. I will not debate them further as I assume most of my answers will now be twisted. I am not here to argue with any of you. I have stated my position on these items as requested. I hope this helps.
"
--- End quote ---
It helps somewhat but I still have many more questions as you can see. Thanks for at least responding, its most appreciated.
Anonymous:
"Are the kids locked in?"
No. Any kid can leave anytime they want. The police will be called, but HLA will not physically detain any student that wants to leave campus.
"What would be some examples of special interventions?"
A lot of hiking and a lot of writing. The length could be anywhere from three to seven days. It is not fun, and is not meant to be. It is a consequence, but it is not in any way abusive or extreme.
"Do these group sessions employ confrontational methods with the kids?"
Yes. But not in terms of in your face yelling or name calling. Do things ever get loud? Yes.
"Its called isolation. A common tactic used in Thought Reform. See the BITE model"
This is far from what HLA does. HLA truly restricts the communications for the reasons I listed in the previous post.
How long would these PT sessions last?
At the shortest is would be doing 10 push ups and the coming back to class. At the longest they may do exercise for the entire class period (45 minutes). Typical is probably five to ten minutes.
"Did these kids cut before coming into HLA?"
Yes.
"I think they're referring to this type stuff...
6. Unethical use of confession
a. Information about "sins" used to abolish identity boundaries
b. Past "sins" used to manipulate and control; no forgiveness or absolution "
Fall out is really used to find out stuff that has hapened on campus that takes away safety so that safety can be restored. No other reason. You are taling about kids telling disclosures when they tell their life story. The only time this is shared is when it is the best interest of the child to do so. Again, counselors are very sensitive to the information that the kids give them. Kids telling their disclosures is a very delicate matter that the counselors take very seriously.
209
RobertBruce:
At least one of you has the balls (Aften) to even try and respond.
One thing I did want to address though even though he said he would not debate things further.
Why can counsolers share information with parents, bosses, and other counsolers, but students cannot share information with students.
I dont think they should Im just curious about the double standard.
Are students ever on restriction indefinitly? What if they didnt committe the act and are being forced to acknowledge guilt?
Are all fall outs for saftey reason?
What if I told on a student for kissing a girl? Is this a saftey concern?
Anonymous:
I will gladly answer these because I see them as legitimate questions and not a debate over rediculous questions which so often pops up on this site. This is actually refreshing:
"Why can counsolers share information with parents, bosses, and other counsolers, but students cannot share information with students."
If a student wants to share information about themselves with another student, then that is fine. It is absolutely their right. They cannot share about other students because other students are not responsible for their therapy. The staff, sometimes, will share information with each other because they are trying to determine the best way to help the child. There is no other reason than that.
"Are students ever on restriction indefinitly? What if they didnt committe the act and are being forced to acknowledge guilt?"
No. Though it has not always been this way. Now at the school, restrictions are 3,4,5,or7 days depending on the severity of the rule that was broken. If students continue to break rules their restriction may be extended. If it gets to too many days the student would likely go to Ridge Creek. In the case of whether or not they committed the act, I am sure there have been times in the last 10 years when a student was put on for something they did not do. Counselors sometimes make mistakes. I do know that counselors try very hard to not make that mistake because it breaks trust when that happens. I don't think the students ever truly realize how much energy goes into making sure a student is acctually deserving of the restriction that they receive. The flip side of this is that there are plenty of times a student will get away with something and not get put on restriction. I imagine it evens out in the end.
"Are all fall outs for saftey reason? "
Yes.
"What if I told on a student for kissing a girl? Is this a saftey concern?"
Yes, for a couple of reasons. First that means the students are probably not focused on what they need to be focused on if they are in a relationship. Two, many girls that come to HLA have some pretty heaving issues surrounding intimate relationships, anything from being co-dependent to dealing with rape issues. When a kid is becoming intimately involved with another student it can push some big issues for the kids and keep them from their therapeutic work. I understand the problem the kids have with this rule. I have also been told by many kids that one of the nice things about HLA was not having that pressure on them the way they have it at their other schools.
I hope this helps. Again, I will not get into a rediculous debate. If you want to continue to ask legitimate questions, I will answer them. I feel there is nothing to hide. I will also not get into circular arguments or name calling.
209
Anonymous:
well, here's a legitimate question.
who are you?
by what authority are you speaking for HLA?
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