Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Mission Mountain School

the truth about it...

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Anonymous:
I lived in the San Francisco area at the time. I'm not sure what the service was called and my mom doesnt remember but the escorts also worked at the local juvenille detention center.

Anonymous:
Any others out there who have had any experiences at Mission Mountain? ANyone know if they have a website? a friend of mine thinks a neighbor of hers (in california) was sent there about a year ago. the girl's name was sarah. anyone know her? they think she's still ther but not sure.

katfish:
I attended MMS, I am 26 now.  I found the methods used to push for change were coersive at best, abusive verbally and emotionally- even physically if you include all the labor at it's worse.  

Education was sorely lacking- it has taken me many many years to catch up with my peer, although perhaps I would not have attended school anyway- left to my own devices, unless sent to a place, perhaps like 'New Haven' someone mentioned- sounds nice....  Things went from bad to worse after I 'graduated.'  From what I have heard from friend that attended MMS, some it was a learning experience, for others it has not. ( I think a lot of this also has to do with transitional period b/c MMS and the real world- going from being so isolated to living at home after only a few visits is a terribly difficult adjustment to make.)  
At MMS they pushed the AA thing, and pushed students to 'admit' they had been abused and drug problem.  truthfully I often would lie about things just to tell them something so that during group they would lay off.  
During my time at MMS I was also dealing with gay issues, so that's another point that I felt was important to have addressed if the aim of the school was in fact to be helpful, but that was ignored and it was suggested that this was displacement of feelings, as if this desire to act out was like the desire to do drugs.  Most things were considered displacement of feelings, actually.  I was often told I was too f**ked up, that's why you're hereand that my own mind couldn't be trusted.  Took about 7 years to get over that one...
The counselors were often so condescending I never felt understood or like I was allowed to question anything I felt was questionable, often downright objectionable.  That was considered being resistant and would have extreme consequences. So, intimidation play a huge role in maintaing cotrol.  Essentially I played dumb the entire time.  I repeated word for word whatever they told us to believe and after 2 years began to almost believe it- I became a very good liar, unfortunately...  
Like everyone else has posted, the work is brutal- chopping wood for all the counselors to enjoy as 'consequnece'/punishment, 'intervention' was awful, being cut of from friends whom you love is extremely traumatic, the pressure to go along with everything is unbearable...Funny, someone mentioned Colleen called them and they felt intimidated as they did while attending MMS- yea, she called me too a few years ago, I s'pose after I posted all over the web how awful and ineffective I thought the school was.  At first the wave of fear washed over me, for a moment I turned 13 again and had been caught doing something I wasn't supposed to- expressing my true feelings and criticizing this program.  I even began thinking, maybe I'm wrong and perhaps it's only me who doesn't think this program is  harmful... then I thought, damn- i must be nuts, it's been 10 years since this experience and yet the feelings of it still linger. . . I returned the call but never heard back. And, I stand by what I feel.  Too much time has passed for me too feel intimidated and for this to be anything less that a carefully considered representation of my position on MMS.  I think this school and probably many others need to be better regulation.  Years ago I would have liked to file criminal charges, but now I would like to just move. I feel strongly that their methods should, if it they are not already, be considered criminal...
 EdCon need to keep their eyes open and watch for regurgitation of words feed to the student day in and day out- the words may sound good, but I remember when they would visit us at MMS I would pray they would see the desperation I felt inside despite the bs coming out of my mouth- but nothing...

Thankfully, however, the educational consultant I dealt with will not recommend MMS anymore, Jill Porter of La Jolla after she saw that the program did not work for me and another student who was sent there by her. We both left worse than when we arrived.
Needless to say, I would not recommend this school.
I can't resist mentioning that at about 70k a year, could be- probably is- more, these couselors are make a killing off desperate parents...esp considering upkeep, maintanance is done by students. When I was there we chopped wood for the counselors personal use and built paths along the campus, not to mention daily upkeep was all done by the students.
ON a slightly positive note- I did enjoy the outdoors, learning to winter camp and x-country ski, but think I could've gotten that out of a better program at a cheaper price.

kerryberry420:
wow, you said it!!!  it hasn't changed at all!!!  except the price has gone up. my parents said it was about $83,000 a year,  when colleen called me she adamantly denied that.  it's true we did most if not all the maintenance of the the place, and not only on campus, we maintained the staff's homes as well.  we were "giving back".  you also mentioned "gay issues" when i was there there were a few girls who were obviously true lesbians (not just because they were in an all girls school for two years) and the staff just flat out ignored it or said they were displacing their feelings by trying to focus on other issues.  the weird thing was NO ONE ever kissed there or anything.  i have been in a lot of all girl programs and there was always an element of girl girl attraction (which in that circumstance is pretty normal even if they aren't "gay") but at mms they stressed how much we shouldn't be sexually active and told the girls who masturbated that they were sex addicts.  i still feel a little twinge of guilt when i masturbate or have sex with my boyfriend.  they also pushed the 12 step thing hard, i had never done drugs (i drank and smoked pot sometimes) but they didn't belive me so i eventually "admitted" to all my drug use and started working the "steps".  then on homevisits i had to go to aa meetings (i was like 16) and be around all these drug addicts and alcoholics.  well those meetings had the opposite affect on me.....i started doing drugs.  subconsciously my philosophy was "i've done the time i might as well do the crime".  the other thing that mms did to me was pretty much kill my abilty to stand up for myself and what i belive in.  everyutime i did it there i was accused of being "defensive" or trying to "justify" so eventually i just shut up and did what they said.  i belive this was one of the main things that led to my getting hurt in relationships, drug use, and being raped.  i am just now learning how to stand up for myself again.  but still if people talk down to me and stuff i always think "what did i do?  how can i make them happy?"  it's awful.  i have a boyfiend now and this is the healthiesat reltionship i have evr had but it is still messed up, i have no idea how to interact with him in a "normal" way.  mms took me about as far from society as i oculd have gone and i missed critical years of social interaction and dating and when it was over got throw in, i had no idea what to do.  i think these programs should have like level which over a year or so introduce girls baqck into society step by step.  like first have to stay on campus, 2 months later allowed to go out with staff and other girls, 1 month later allowed to go out with just other girls, 1 month later go to the local school, 1 month later allowed to hang out with kids from school, 1 month later allowed to date....etc.  reintegration is key.  anyway, any comments e-mail me khambleton18@yahoo.com

Anonymous:
Thanks to all of you for posting about MMS. Someone very dear to me is currently a "student" there, so I am interested in learning as much as possible about what goes on way out there in the wilds of Montana. I have been suspicious of the secrecy, and now I am finding out why it is so necessary for them to keep a low profile. If parents knew what was happening to their daughters, the place would be out of business. They are trying very hard to appear more like a legitimate boarding school, when in reality they are every bit as bad as the notorious WWASPS programs. The more former students who come forward with their personal experiences, the sooner places such as MMS will be out of business. I personally would be thrilled to see their doors close for good. Please spread the word about the forum so others will speak out!

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