Although I don't like the term "programmie", as it sounds sort of loaded but i'd say they lie a good portion of the time, explicitly or by omission. They neglect to tell parents they receive payments from certain programs for referrals. They scare the parents, earn their trust, and then misuse it by mistreating and brainwashing the kids (parents: sounds extreme, but if you hear the evidence, it's convincing.) They lie to the kids about what the program is going to be like. They lie about what's the best options for the kids. They lie about the kid's issues. They make up stories about things. They lie to keep the kids in the program longer (knock them down levels) if they think the parents have enough money to pay for a lot longer.
They lied to my parents, saying I was in therapy and bla bla bla when in reality they were warehousing me. Sure I eventually got some freedom but that was only because I bluffed that I had retained a lawyer about a legal issue I had with them (very long story). I drew up a contract with the program, they signed it, and at that point they mostly kept to it. Behind the scenes, however, they were teling my parents lies about me. They had convinced my parents not to talk to me. They told my parents that if they took me home I would implode and do all sorts of crazy things. None of this happened, of course, but it was enough for my parents to freak out. Eventually they figured it out, however, and they came they saw and they did not approve. After that my parents never really trusted the program again, I think.
I came home, I went to college, I didn't kill myself or get a record or fail massively somehow. I graduated, I got a job. I did fine. I am fine. The program lied. Some program people lie because they are sociopaths. Some lie because they believe they have the absolute truth and are trying to spread their "truth" to others. That's beyond the scope of this thready but to the main point, overall i'd say when program representatives are talking to parents they're lying around 70% of the time. That's based on my research, personal experience, and the simple fact that the vast majority of parents looking for" Troubled Teen" help end up in the clutches of the "bad programs". The "ethical/good programs", if there are any, simply would not be able to compete against programs that pay for referrals. They would die out for lack of student population (assuming genuine boarding school). Educational consultants can legally take kickbacks for referrals and not tell the parent. Since they can do it legally, they tend to take advantage of it.