I would have to disagree a little there Ant. When I first stumbled across this whole dirty industry one thing that stuck out like a sore thumb was how mean spirited many of even the kinder, gentler places seemed. So many used words like entitled and manipulative that to me they seemed designed to be both punitive as well as "therapeudic". I had imagined that the idea at least of a wilderness camp was a noble one and thhat the idea was to give confidence from achievement until website after website promoted the idea that this was about making the young person see the error of their ways. I had never seen such an approach or philosophy toward youth mental health, substance abuse or social issues. While wwasp was at the extreme end, they all shared the idea that the problems young people face were about the fact that the kids were not accountable for their own actions and that they were an immediate danger to themselves and the community. It also shocked me that many of the "nicer" places encouraged having a kid escorted by strangers. It struck me as inhumane and unhelpful.
What they seemed to be appealing to was the thought that a lot of normal parents probably have when their kid has done something to really piss them off which is anlong the lines of "Ill show the little bastard". If you convince someone that this line of thought is threapeudic then they dont have to calm down and think of other options.
You give parents more credit than I do. I was drawn to Fornit's after being alarmed at what I found on program websites. I still think they couch the program in misleading terms. Parents in a panic don't see through the loaded language and are sold a package without realizing exactly what it is they are buying into. Then, they are groomed into accepting it.
I like to believe that if most parents actually saw their child being restained, in isolation, or during a confrontational group session, they would immediately pull their kid out.
