Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Troubled Teen Industry
Darckenu Israel - new wilderness program abroad
Ursus:
--- Quote from: "Abir" ---Hi,
I am Shaul Abir one of the co-founders of Darckenu Israel. I have read most of the thread and i would like to invite whoever would like to, to ask me directly any question you might have and i will be more than happy to elaborate. Just to let you know, within a few days our site will be on and i am sure a lot of questions that have been raised will be answered.
Wishing you a pleaseant day.
Shaul
--- End quote ---
Welcome, Shaul. Thank you for posting. For starters, I am curious as to why you, your wife, and Einat Tzuk chose to go the route of starting a "troubled teen" wilderness program. I am also curious as to where the wording of your Darckenu Israel website (still just the one page as of now) owes its origins. It sounds very much like some of the U.S.-based programs that we are more familiar with.
Abir:
Thanks Ursus,
As to your first question, Irit, Einat & myself have been working with troubled teens (and their parents) for many years, and we were very successful (if I may say that…).
In addition, as a kid I was something like what is called today "troubled teenager". Obviously I suffered a lot and luckily enough I was able to overcome great difficulties and pull myself together.
When I grew up, I was able to study and developed a career in HR, Training, consultancy and organizational psychology and worked a lot with my wife Irit in helping families in various ways (workshops, trainings, mediations, lectures, coaching and more). May I add that in many cases we volunteered to do so…Why? Because I never forget where I came from…
In recent years we thought about developing & leading a program that fits our philosophy (in regard to troubled teens and their families). We wanted to use our experiences and know how for the benefit of troubled teens and their families.
It took us some time to develop it, check options and possibilities and finally practically doing it…
We heard a lot about wilderness programs and some years ago started to investigate it. As usually with concepts, we liked some ideas, we did not like others and we created our own wilderness program that is applicable in Israel.
And here we are ready to do things differently, not a boot camp, not a brat camp and not against the teenager's will.
How? We invite you to visit our site, look at it and I am sure things will be clear.
The bottom line: For the three of us, it is a dream that comes true!
That answers (hopefully) your first question.
As to your second question: All the materials, wordings etc… were written by us in Hebrew and translated by our copywriter- translator.
When you visit our site I am sure that you will be able to notice the uniqueness of the program we offer as well as the originality of the written materials.
If you have any other questions or doubts please do not hesitate to contact me.
Merry Christmas/happy Chanukah
Shaul Abir
Anne Bonney:
--- Quote from: "Abir" ---Thanks Ursus,
As to your first question, Irit, Einat & myself have been working with troubled teens (and their parents) for many years, and we were very successful (if I may say that…).
--- End quote ---
In what capacity and with what credentials?
--- Quote ---In addition, as a kid I was something like what is called today "troubled teenager". Obviously I suffered a lot and luckily enough I was able to overcome great difficulties and pull myself together.
--- End quote ---
As most teens do.
--- Quote ---When I grew up, I was able to study and developed a career in HR, Training, consultancy and organizational psychology and worked a lot with my wife Irit in helping families in various ways (workshops, trainings, mediations, lectures, coaching and more). May I add that in many cases we volunteered to do so…Why? Because I never forget where I came from…
In recent years we thought about developing & leading a program that fits our philosophy (in regard to troubled teens and their families). We wanted to use our experiences and know how for the benefit of troubled teens and their families.
--- End quote ---
Again, I'd like to ask in what capacity and what credentials do you have to deal with so-called "troubled teens"?
--- Quote ---We heard a lot about wilderness programs and some years ago started to investigate it. As usually with concepts, we liked some ideas, we did not like others and we created our own wilderness program that is applicable in Israel.
And here we are ready to do things differently, not a boot camp, not a brat camp and not against the teenager's will.
How? We invite you to visit our site, look at it and I am sure things will be clear.
--- End quote ---
No offense intended, but a website doesn't really give a clear picture of what actually goes on. Most of the abusive programs here (in the U.S.) have fabulous websites with wonderful pictures of happy kids just hanging out in nature and making great friends. The facts are quite the opposite.
BuzzKill:
Anne is right that what the web sites mean very little to nothing. Frankly, neither do assurances that you won't hire counselors who get their kicks tormenting kids, or that you are devoted to helping them. The fact that you are opening a wilderness program is especially troubling due to the American experience with them. The danger is in taking a pack of goof-ball kids into harsh and extreme environments, and then refusing to believe them when they complain of illness and/or serious pain. This refusal to believe sick and hurting kids all to often results in their tortuous death. The extreme and remote locations of the outdoor programs increase this risk, but the same kind of gross negligence and cruelty has killed kids in facilities in cities all across the USA.
If you truly want to avoid tragedy, please read: Help at Any Cost, how the troubled teen industry cons parents and hurts kids, by Maia Szalavitz; and pay attention.
You should also Google:
Aaron Bacon+North Star Expeditions
Michelle Sutton+Summit Quest
Ian August+Skyline Journey
Nicholaus Contreraz+AZ boys ranch
Roberto Reyes+Thayer Learning center
For a start.
Every one of these places and many more say/said just about exactly what you do.
heretik:
Abir, can you please explain what is your clinical idea of a "troubled teen". You spoke of your credentials, I was wondering if you would elaborate in more depth as to your individual and group counseling abilities. Last do you have any employment history with other programs you would like to share more on. Does your past history working at programs resemble the one you are creating and how does it.
Thanks
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