Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Aspen Education Group
My son is currently at Aspen Ranch
Covergaard:
I can understand the drug issue, but not the anger issue.
We do not have laws about sexual harassment etc. and girls are expected to slap an offender in the face if he does not listen to a message. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_har ... isdictions
That difference in our cultures meant catastrophe for a fellow countrywoman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Andersen She had to undergo a rough and unnessesary treatment, that properly will destroy her life on long term and make it impossible to socialise in the Danish society. It is a punishment that did not suit the claimed crime and correspond to being ordered to wear a bandage when the leg is not broken.
In Denmark no court would address an anger issue. If that anger issue results in crime, its jail time. But we would never try to order someone to alter their behavior. And there is a very good reason for doing so, because when can you stop altering people personalities and maintain democracy.
And your statement only strengthen my position: A program should only be used as a result of a court order. No child should be sent to a program without a sentence. 2% in the wrong place is 2% whose life is at danger.
I am glad that the torment did turn out good for you but remember that they did not save your life. It is up to you.
Deborah:
Perhaps it's time for all states to adopt regs similar to Utah's, specifically for TBSs. It would not allow violent kids in TBSs. They'd have to go to RTCs. Keep in mind a program owner and NATSAP helped create these regs.
i. A therapeutic [boarding] school shall not admit or provide services to an individual who:
A. has a recent history (within the past 2 years) of attempting suicide or making serious self-harm gestures (requiring medical or therapeutic treatment),
B. has a psychosis, schizophrenia, severe depression, mental retardation, or a severe mental illness (requiring medical or therapeutic treatment),
C. is violent, highly combative, or physically or sexually aggressive,
D. presents substantial security risks,
E. requires medical detoxification,
F. lacks the ability to engage in a rational decision-making process or exhibits severely impaired judgment, or
G. has a history of repeated runaway attempts or incidents;
ii. A therapeutic school shall expel a client who exhibits high risk behavior or conditions, including but not limited to a client who:
A. attempts suicide or makes serious self-harm gestures (requiring medical or therapeutic treatment),
B. has a psychosis, schizophrenia, severe depression, mental retardation, or a severe mental illness (requiring medical or therapeutic treatment),
C. is violent, highly combative, or physically or sexually aggressive,
D. presents substantial security risks,
E. requires medical detoxification,
F. lacks the ability to engage in a rational decision-making process or exhibits severely impaired judgment,
G. runs away or attempts to runaway more than two times,
H. uses or attempts to use illegal substances (including but not limited to drugs or alcohol) more than two times, or
I. exhibits any other behavioral or emotional conditions that require more intense supervision and treatment than that permitted in a therapeutic school;
~~
Anonymous:
I'm the one with the daughter at Aspen. Sorry for not following up more, I lost the link to this place.
The Milk Gargler's Bullshit sign is merely troll behavior.
Our daughter has now ben at Aspen for 7 months and has made the "Greenhorn" level, which allows her to go on overnight visits inside Utah with parents. She had just made it when I recently visited, so she was limited to 12 hour visits for the first round.
I almost (well, actually did) cry. She was back to her giggling, silly, snowball throwing, 16-year old self, rather than the withdrawn, drug-hazed, psychotic person who we first enrolled there. Like many, she was a victim of (non-family) abuse and trauma, with depression and PTSD. Her therapist is absolutely wonderful and treats her with respect and friendship, as does the residential staff.
She's blowing thorough her high school studies, and to ensure it's "real" school her home district did some testing - she was beyond her normal Junior-year level. I did some poking around with colleges, and most consider Aspen Ranch as a private school with high expectations, and it looks good on college applications.
Most interestingly, while she really want to be home to see her "normal" friends she LIKES it there. It's a beautiful place, and she's fallen head-over-heels in love with the horses. She's taking training classes so when she comes back she can work part-time at a stable (we have a connection through our oldest son's girlfriend, luckily), train and teach riding, and go to either a junior college of local State University.
She has goals, she's sober, she has finally opened up to others about her problems, and Aspen HAS SAVED HER LIFE. She would be DEAD if we had not somehow gotten her there.
Put THAT in your bullshit meter and choke on it.
Yes, they have staff and director changes. The whole county has 2700 people in it, and employees often find what they thought would be an idyllic lifestyle is too limiting. Others just have not worked out, and they do have a limited amount of people looking to work in a remote area...plus their requirements are apparently pretty high for teachers AND staff, as except for a few marginally strict people everyone is caring, kind, and all, based on my observations, are well qualified.
I can't adress other places like Provo, Aspen Acheivement, Swift River etc. - but I can tell you I sat in a 6-month review meeting yesterday with the state (where we live) department of mental health, our school district, my wife and I, and 6 Aspen education and therapeutic staff on the phone and when it was over our district folks and the state (who share much of the cost) were extremely happy about her progress and the overall attitude and intelligence of the Ranch people. They agreed that it saved her life, is just tremendous, and ar working already with Aspen staff for continuing education and aftercare plans.
Since our daughter went there two other girls from the district have also started there based on our daughter's success, and talking to them while I was there they had the same outlook as our daughter - it's not "fun" being sent away, but after the initial resentment is gone they all realize it's what they needed, are enjoying the accellerated and personal-attention school system, the equine therapy (which I have not spoken enough about - the equine therapists are truly some of the most amazing, caring, loving, and perceptive humans I've ever met) is not so much an "activity" as REAL therapy, and also have goals and dreams now.
I will continue to support Aspen Ranch somehow after our daughter graduates from the program, even though we will never be allowed to visit again for privacy reasons. But we will remain in contact with people. FWIW one of the part-time residential staffers left to simply work less hours and is working in a local restaurant owned by family. She specifically asked to be allowed to come to our daughter's graduation and speak (which has been approved); she sat with us at breakfast and was continuing her care even though she doesn't even work there any longer. THAT'S the type of people that work at Aspen Ranch.
So post all the meaningless, no-backup BS signs you want. But I will be happy to answer any REAL questions at silverface@gmail.com.
Happy Holidays to all
Anonymous:
Hmm, it's an old thread.. the actual person with a daughter at ASR... let me see if I can find it...
--- Quote from: ""Amarige"" ---I thought is seemed like punishment for her problems. The day we came home she got back on cocaine.
--- End quote ---
I'm sorry if I inadvertently offended... ah, wait, never mind. You're not her, you're that troll. And with a new song, too.
So do they pay you by the word for this, or what?
Nihilanthic:
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---I'm the one with the daughter at Aspen. Sorry for not following up more, I lost the link to this place.
The Milk Gargler's Bullshit sign is merely troll behavior.
Our daughter has now ben at Aspen for 7 months and has made the "Greenhorn" level, which allows her to go on overnight visits inside Utah with parents. She had just made it when I recently visited, so she was limited to 12 hour visits for the first round.
I almost (well, actually did) cry. She was back to her giggling, silly, snowball throwing, 16-year old self, rather than the withdrawn, drug-hazed, psychotic person who we first enrolled there. Like many, she was a victim of (non-family) abuse and trauma, with depression and PTSD. Her therapist is absolutely wonderful and treats her with respect and friendship, as does the residential staff.
She's blowing thorough her high school studies, and to ensure it's "real" school her home district did some testing - she was beyond her normal Junior-year level. I did some poking around with colleges, and most consider Aspen Ranch as a private school with high expectations, and it looks good on college applications.
Most interestingly, while she really want to be home to see her "normal" friends she LIKES it there. It's a beautiful place, and she's fallen head-over-heels in love with the horses. She's taking training classes so when she comes back she can work part-time at a stable (we have a connection through our oldest son's girlfriend, luckily), train and teach riding, and go to either a junior college of local State University.
She has goals, she's sober, she has finally opened up to others about her problems, and Aspen HAS SAVED HER LIFE. She would be DEAD if we had not somehow gotten her there.
Put THAT in your bullshit meter and choke on it.
Yes, they have staff and director changes. The whole county has 2700 people in it, and employees often find what they thought would be an idyllic lifestyle is too limiting. Others just have not worked out, and they do have a limited amount of people looking to work in a remote area...plus their requirements are apparently pretty high for teachers AND staff, as except for a few marginally strict people everyone is caring, kind, and all, based on my observations, are well qualified.
I can't adress other places like Provo, Aspen Acheivement, Swift River etc. - but I can tell you I sat in a 6-month review meeting yesterday with the state (where we live) department of mental health, our school district, my wife and I, and 6 Aspen education and therapeutic staff on the phone and when it was over our district folks and the state (who share much of the cost) were extremely happy about her progress and the overall attitude and intelligence of the Ranch people. They agreed that it saved her life, is just tremendous, and ar working already with Aspen staff for continuing education and aftercare plans.
Since our daughter went there two other girls from the district have also started there based on our daughter's success, and talking to them while I was there they had the same outlook as our daughter - it's not "fun" being sent away, but after the initial resentment is gone they all realize it's what they needed, are enjoying the accellerated and personal-attention school system, the equine therapy (which I have not spoken enough about - the equine therapists are truly some of the most amazing, caring, loving, and perceptive humans I've ever met) is not so much an "activity" as REAL therapy, and also have goals and dreams now.
I will continue to support Aspen Ranch somehow after our daughter graduates from the program, even though we will never be allowed to visit again for privacy reasons. But we will remain in contact with people. FWIW one of the part-time residential staffers left to simply work less hours and is working in a local restaurant owned by family. She specifically asked to be allowed to come to our daughter's graduation and speak (which has been approved); she sat with us at breakfast and was continuing her care even though she doesn't even work there any longer. THAT'S the type of people that work at Aspen Ranch.
So post all the meaningless, no-backup BS signs you want. But I will be happy to answer any REAL questions at silverface@gmail.com.
Happy Holidays to all
--- End quote ---
Hey, uh, you got any... verification of what it is you say?
Yanno, something to demonstrate that you're not just lying through your teeth? :wink:
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