Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Aspen Education Group
ASR
nalex18:
--- Quote from: ""Three Springs Waygookin"" ---Tsk tsk old bean I am not finished with the questions yet.
1) What levels of education did the staff commonly have?
2) Was their a grievance system?
3) Did you have access to the state child abuse hotline?
--- End quote ---
1)I think my counselors personally held bachelors degrees. At the time when I was there we had no live-in staff. At night we had "night staff". I think the only qualification for this was a background check.
2) I am not aware of a grievance system in place when I was there. If we were complaining about the school a lot of the staff had the attitude that "Well at least you're not at Three Springs". If you complained to your parents on the phone you had some nice things coming to you in group. It was kind of a "tough shit" type thing. My parents really hate talking about it, but from what has slipped out I guess they sort of got the same response.
3) No we did not. I think if we had asked they would have laughed.
They were trying to start an after-care type thing (at the time it would have cost money) where a counselor would call you every couple weeks or so. I told my parents NO NO NO. They also signed up to talk to parents who were interested in the program, which angered me to no end. I convinced enough parents enroll their kids while I was in the program (can you say brownie points?). After I came home and everything sank in my parents began to understand. They now, especially my mom, want nothing to do with ASR.
I think my parents and I have lost a lot of faith in the mental health industry, as we had a terrible and extremely traumatizing time when I was put into a psychiatric hospital and then with ASR.
Anonymous:
Nalex,
As for the follow-up support, it is optional. We get separate calls at home. The therapist calls our son on his cell phone and he can choose if or when he wants to answer it (his choice, sometimes he takes the call, other times he doesn't). He knows that he can call them anytime. I can understand why some who graduate would want nothing more to do with the school.
For our son, being an inpatient in the rehab facility was the most traumatic thing. He actually speaks fondly of ASR and wilderness. Perhaps it will take time for the whole experience to sink in. Everyone's experience is different. It is unfortunate that there is very little out there to help teens (and parents) before it gets to the point where the only option left is wc, RTC or TBS. Losing your son or daughter for a year is painful for parents as well. The decision is after all else fails. Our son was not abused and felt cared for and safe at ASR. He is back home, catching up and credits ASR for helping him overcome or deal with his issues.
What is important is that there are some decent programs out there . None of them are perfect, but many are trying to improve.
Nalex, thanks for your insight. You have been able to provide a first-hand perspective. I hope all is going well for you. Unfortunatey, not knowing what would have happened if you hadn't gone to a program, whether you would have been better or worse is something the whole industry needs to look at.
nalex18:
--- Quote from: ""guest parent"" ---Nalex,
As for the follow-up support, it is optional. We get separate calls at home. The therapist calls our son on his cell phone and he can choose if or when he wants to answer it (his choice, sometimes he takes the call, other times he doesn't). He knows that he can call them anytime. I can understand why some who graduate would want nothing more to do with the school.
For our son, being an inpatient in the rehab facility was the most traumatic thing. He actually speaks fondly of ASR and wilderness. Perhaps it will take time for the whole experience to sink in. Everyone's experience is different. It is unfortunate that there is very little out there to help teens (and parents) before it gets to the point where the only option left is wc, RTC or TBS. Losing your son or daughter for a year is painful for parents as well. The decision is after all else fails. Our son was not abused and felt cared for and safe at ASR. He is back home, catching up and credits ASR for helping him overcome or deal with his issues.
What is important is that there are some decent programs out there . None of them are perfect, but many are trying to improve.
Nalex, thanks for your insight. You have been able to provide a first-hand perspective. I hope all is going well for you. Unfortunatey, not knowing what would have happened if you hadn't gone to a program, whether you would have been better or worse is something the whole industry needs to look at.
--- End quote ---
I'm glad that ASR was able to help your son. It looks as if they have made some important changes. I can say that I am a different person than I was prior to ASR. I learned not to act out, even if the learning came in some uncomfortable ways. ASR had its merits for sure. I really am happy that they were able to fix some things and that your son is doing better. Perhaps things would have been different if the program was the way it was now when I went.
Best wishes to you and your family
Anonymous:
my friend is currently at ASR and i miss him and very worried for him! tell me as much as you know please
Anonymous:
I call well-organized, deliberately-planned troll on this whole thread.
--- Quote ---Lots of crying, yelling, etc. Some of the things that went on in group I believe was wrong.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote ---You would receive a folder with a "truth list" and writing assignments to do things like "Why I feel I don't have to talk in group".
--- End quote ---
--- Quote ---All mail was opened, read and searched.If a counselor thought something was innapropriate you did't get the mail.
--- End quote ---
That last one is actually illegal.
--- Quote ---I think everyone to some extent lied to get out of the program. Some people went through the program having done drugs, had sex, etc but would never admit to it and were never caught. You learned to be compliant and really just to say whatever they wanted you to.
--- End quote ---
Pretty sick shit, right?
But then he says:
--- Quote ---I can say that I am a different person than I was prior to ASR. I learned not to act out, even if the learning came in some uncomfortable ways.
--- End quote ---
That's either Stockholm to the max or some serious fucking bullshit.
Nalex, if you are for real, you ought to tell this miserable "guest parent" to go eat shit and set about reclaiming who you were.
The fact that you haven't makes you a defeated little pussy and you ought to be ashamed of yourself.
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