Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones => Benchmark Young Adult School / Benchmark Transitions => Topic started by: Deborah on October 10, 2007, 11:03:15 PM
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This fine NATSAP program, unlicensed, unaccredited, chooses "Coaches" over therapists.
Benchmark Young Adult School
Redlands, CA
Benchmark's Primary Coaches
Receive ICF Life Coach Certificates
Shelley Skaggs
Marketing & PR
714-963-4148
www.nextstepforsuccess.com (http://www.nextstepforsuccess.com), or read the recent articles about coaching on Strugglingteens.com website under "Essays" in the August issue at (www.strugglingteens.com (http://www.strugglingteens.com)).
NEXT STEP FOR SUCCESS
http://www.nextstepforsuccess.com/ (http://www.nextstepforsuccess.com/)
EVER HIGHER LLC
http://everhigher.com/our_clients.htm (http://everhigher.com/our_clients.htm)
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Izzy Zehnder is probably looking for a coaching gig.
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I particularly love how the course to receive this dubious certification is only 39 hours.
Why hell, that's only two propheets worth of info there, boy. Gotta go thru all seven n' the two worky-shops ta really know what goes on in folks' noggins.
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This is typical program behavior. Program gets threatened with licensing... so program changes wording to comply with law while still continuing with the same old behavior.
Instead of "counselors" benchamark counselors will now be known as "coaches". They've taken a cue from Isabelle Zehnder... congratulations Izzy, you once again provide a valuable contribution to the fight against this industry (sarcasm very much intended).
HOLY FUCKING SHIT:
http://everhigher.com/our_clients.htm (http://everhigher.com/our_clients.htm)
CEDU was a client!
What it's supposed to do in black and white:
http://everhigher.com/PLworkshopdescription.htm (http://everhigher.com/PLworkshopdescription.htm)
http://everhigher.com/PersonalLeadership.htm (http://everhigher.com/PersonalLeadership.htm)
Anybody know about these guys?:
http://everhigher.com/about_us.htm (http://everhigher.com/about_us.htm)
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Yeah, seems Izzy has hitched her wagon to the congressional hearings while at the same time distancing herself from the role she apparently played in assisting in the placement of youth into unregulated private programs through Sue Scheff of PURE.
:puke:
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We are especially indebted to: Mel Wasserman, the founder of emotional-growth education, for providing us with the experience of the power of transparent personal relationships;
This is their selling point? Ah.. mah.. gahd...
They seem to like to fling that term around... transparent... interesting euphemism for the same things we learned.
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We are especially indebted to: Mel Wasserman, the founder of emotional-growth education, for providing us with the experience of the power of transparent personal relationships;
This is their selling point? Ah.. mah.. gahd...
Source please? Oh the idiots at Benchmark keep making it easier and easier...
They seem to like to fling that term around... transparent... interesting euphemism for the same things we learned.
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We are especially indebted to: Mel Wasserman, the founder of emotional-growth education, for providing us with the experience of the power of transparent personal relationships;
This is their selling point? Ah.. mah.. gahd...
Source please? Oh the idiots at Benchmark keep making it easier and easier...
They seem to like to fling that term around... transparent... interesting euphemism for the same things we learned.
It was on the link you gave me, silly!
http://everhigher.com/PLworkshopdescription.htm (http://everhigher.com/PLworkshopdescription.htm)
First sentence of the second paragraph.
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Anybody know these clowns?
http://everhigher.com/nextstep/certifiedcoaches.htm (http://everhigher.com/nextstep/certifiedcoaches.htm)
Penelope Valentine, CC, is founder of NEXT STEP FOR SUCCESSSM and is a CTA Certified Coach.
Penelope brings a solid professional background of more than thirty-five years working in areas as diverse as airlines, corporate, private sector and non-profit administration, treatment center, and private education. Her educational background includes language studies, counseling, and alcohol and drug studies.
In 1987 Penelope made a major career and life-style change - moving from the corporate world to working with at-risk adolescents, young adults and their parents. She found a sense of fulfillment working in some of the country's premier emotional-growth schools and programs where she was instrumental in creating and developing a pioneer parent support and educational services department for parents of children enrolled in these specialty schools and programs. She has an in-depth knowledge of specialty school curriculum and teachings, of the challenges faced when making the decision to enroll a child or when transitioning out of these schools, and of the recovery process.
As a CTA Certified Coach Penelope brings her passion and expertise to her coaching so that each client can realize their goals and achieve fulfillment. It is her background as a counselor, teacher and administrator, along with her ability to guide, motivate and mentor, that gives Penelope unique skills.
Penelope is also co-founder of Ever Higher LLC and is responsible for the company's finance, marketing and logistics. Her talent for organization and logistical administration has supported more than a hundred workshops and seminars for Ever Higher LLC.
After growing up and living in five foreign countries, Penelope has put her roots down in Redmond, Oregon. Penelope is a step-mother and step-grandmother. She and her husband, Bill, live in beautiful Central Oregon, where she enjoys gardening, the great outdoors and her pets.
Bill Valentine, PsyD., CC, is founder of Ever Higher LLC. In 1987, after a successful thirty-year business career in fields as diverse as grain merchandising, publishing, advertising and outdoor adventure, Bill Valentine began a quest for opportunities to combine personal growth with service to others.
His search led him to a group of private, residential schools serving at-risk youth. It was here, in his work with hundreds of young people and their families as counselor, director of wilderness programs, academic dean, parent educator and Executive Director of California Operations, that Bill learned first hand of our children's greatest need - for models of healthy, growing adults.
Modeling his belief that "if you're not dead, you're not done", Bill obtained his Master of Arts degree in Education, his Doctor of Psychology degree, his professional Coach Certification, completed three marathons and numerous triathlons, climbed more than 20 major mountains, and is 1800 miles into his walk of The Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada - all after the age of 40.
In 2000, he started his third business, Ever Higher LLC, offering coaching, consulting, seminars, workshops and outdoor adventures to adults wanting to increase their successes as leaders, parents, partners and friends. Bill has challenged and led thousands of growing adults to personal summits through his workshops and seminars.
Dr. Bill Valentine has 17 years sobriety. He is a father and a grandfather, and lives in Redmond, Oregon, with his wife Penelope.
Vicki Jones, MS, CPC, is an Associate Coach with Next Step and has worked as a personal growth facilitator for the past 25 years. She has advanced degrees in Psychology and Education, and decades of experience counseling teens, young adults and adults in self discovery and personal empowerment.
Since 1986 she has worked in the field of private secondary education with children and their families facing emotional and social adjustment challenges. The past eight years have been devoted to creating and delivering personal growth and parenting workshops as a professional trainer, facilitator, and coach for parents as well as counselors and other staff. In 2001 she completed her Professional Coaching Certification through the Academy for Coach Training and is a licensed Living Your Vision® workshop facilitator. Vicki is committed to offering safe and supportive opportunities for her clients to be challenged to deeper levels of self-knowledge so they may experience greater fulfillment and life satisfaction.
On a personal note, Vicki is an adventurous traveler, a voracious reader and a slow, but committed, runner.
OK. I'm gonna go eat some brekkie, come back, and start raking mud...
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:o
Oh my fucking god, Vicki. She was my challenge family head.
Since 1986 she has worked in the field of private secondary education with children and their families facing emotional and social adjustment challenges.
Yeah, that was called RMA, you moldy yam-sacks.
Wow.
Time....has...not...been...kind...to...her.
Saw something a while back that had her webpage for her own private "practice", but what I'm seeing here is all new.
***runs off to tell dishduty and idaho****
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This should get you started.
http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?p=43357#43357 (http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?p=43357#43357)
Mail order PhDs are not uncommon at CEDU In fact, they are very common at CEDU. Bill Valentine (in charge of parent services PhD) has a mail order Degtee that he braggs about on the CEDU website. I checked. The college doesn't offer the unacredited mail order PhDs anymore.
After meeting him, I couldn't understand how a PhD could be so ignorant - now I know.
http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?p=134814#134814 (http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?p=134814#134814)
As a result of our family's experiences at RMA, not only has my son done well, but I was inspired to change my fown field of interest. I was a biologist and MBA ,and on the basis of my RMA interactions with Bill Valentine and with Mel Wasserman in the last Advanced Workshop that he gave at RMA, I entered the field of psychology. I was just granted my Masters' and am working on my Doctorate, and it is my hope to start a school of my own someday, keeping intact the ideas that Mel and his compatriates developed.
Ottawa5
http://www.strugglingteens.com/news/let ... 50403.html (http://www.strugglingteens.com/news/lettertoeditor/ex-cedu-staff-ltr050403.html)
CEDU closing
March 28, 2005
Gentlemen:
I write this with no thought of impressing upon you the impact your abrupt, insensitive and callous handling of the CEDU closure has had on hundreds of families across the country. If you were emotionally capable of being affected by this tragedy you have unleashed, you would have handled the incident compassionately - at least professionally. But then, CEDU, its families and staff have apparently always been just another business for you.
I was not surprised that Bob Naples and the revolving door of outside "experts" ran CEDU into the financial ground. However I was, and am, stunned by the total cowardice displayed by your organization in abandoning unpaid staff to safely see YOUR clients off the campuses and to their homes.
You may have firewalled yourselves from the financial ramifications, but you will forever be the objects of scorn, anger and - perhaps with the passage of time - pity.
Bill Valentine PsyD, CC
Bend, Oregon
[email protected]
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Bill was at RMA? When? I don't ever remember him. He must have gotten there in 90 or later. Or... I just don't remember him.
But seriously, this is so fucking great. Self-regulation at its most ridiculous. Fuck it, man, let's just certify ourselves!
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Coaching was big in Lifespring
http://www.lifespringnow.com/pages/about.htm (http://www.lifespringnow.com/pages/about.htm)
Landmark Education
http://www.landmarkeducation.com/section.jsp?top=21 (http://www.landmarkeducation.com/section.jsp?top=21)
A sponsor’s job is to help guide you through the 12 Steps. A coach’s job is to support you in creating and living a great life. A coach isn’t limited to referring to the steps and traditions of A.A. but can utilize those tools and many others to help you effectively find solutions to everyday occurrences. Coaching focuses your attention on manifesting your dreams and desires to aid you in accessing your highest values.
IS COACHING JUST ANOTHER FORM OF THERAPY?
Coaching was born as a result of great advances in psychotherapy and counseling, then blended with consulting practices and organizational and personal development training trends (such as EST, PSI Seminars, LifeSpring, LandMark Forum, Tony Robbins and others). Coaching takes the best each of these areas has to offer and provides a now standardized and proven method for partnering with people for success.
Unlike therapists, counselors and psychiatrists, Life Coaches focus on making changes for the future, rather than looking into the past to deal with issues or to understand human behavior. Coaching is about deepening the learning, forwarding the action, creating intentions and letting life feel fulfilled.
The ICF is a consortium of professional coaches and organizations that have joined together under it's auspices to shape and govern the profession of coaching. With more than 11,000 members in 82 countries, the skills sets, competencies, ethics and standards are a collective agreement between coaches from all over the world who have made the commitment to maintain the very highest standards you would expect from any other profession.
http://www.dreamliving.org/faqs (http://www.dreamliving.org/faqs)
The Evolution from Therapy to Personal Development Coaching
http://www.support4change.com/change/co ... ution.html (http://www.support4change.com/change/coach/support/evolution.html)
http://board.rickross.com/viewtopic.php?t=1203 (http://board.rickross.com/viewtopic.php?t=1203)
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Coaching is big with Premier Education as well (WWASP).
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Interesting..
Bill Valentine, CEDUs Parent Services Director, claims to have a PhD from Southern California University. I checked it out. It's a distance learning degree in Business and Management, unaccerdited, and currently they don't offer PhDs.
source: http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?p=22926#22926 (http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?p=22926#22926)
Interesting. Anybody know what it takes to run a background check on a person?
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/cedu/
This is my website...
I was there 89-91 at Cedu RS.
Some of the people in my pictures below were in Discovery in 91. So it's possible they might have been in Source in 93.
91-93 marks a CRITICAL time at Cedu RS.
A few points of interest.
- Tim brace leaves and Bill Valentine takes over. (Very different leadership styles and directions, not to mention Bill was a raging alcoholic!
source: http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?p=283120#283120 (http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?p=283120#283120)
Given they were both there at the same time, it sounds like Jayne and Bill Valentine would likely have known each other.
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Fake Ph.Ds abound - one, Rich Geiger, (PhD in theology - previous experience as a mental health technician) - (you don't even need at BA for that). He used to run clinical services for CEDU in the Northwest and the current CEDU National Director of Family Services has one. Ever heard of Bill Valentine and California Coast College. They no longer offer PhDs at CCC, but lots of CEDU managers have them still. Many got them with no previous degrees and with qualification based almost completely upon work experience at CEDU rather than academics.
source: http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?p=92156#92156 (http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?p=92156#92156)
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Apparantly bill is also executive director of the "Pretty Shield Foundation", a 501c "non-profit":
Pretty Shield, a highly respected medicine woman of the Crow Nation, had visions of the future and of the trials that her posterity would face.
Her insight has inspired the establishment of the Pretty Shield Foundation, dedicated to helping youth and families overcome the challenges that today's society presents.
The Pretty Shield Foundation (PSF) administers programs so powerful that they define a whole new level of results in the transformation of troubled youth, their families and their communities.
PSF is a 501(C)3 organization comprised of three divisions: American Indian Division, General Services Division, and the Fund Development Division.
PSF offers wilderness treatment programs, emotional-growth boarding schools, equine therapy, and residential treatment centers for at-risk youth and adults of any ethnicity, dedicating proceeds to Native American causes, scholarships, and other worthy foundations.
source: http://www.prettyshield.com/home.htm (http://www.prettyshield.com/home.htm)
OOH... and Listen to this blurb on one of the schools of this "non-profit":
Spring Mountain Academy
Spring Mountain Academy is Pretty Shield Foundation's emotional growth boarding school. Located in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains overlooking Mount Pleasant, Utah.
The 12 to 18 month curriculum provides accredited secondary and college prep academics.
Equine Therapy is central to the emotional growth portion of the academy, with each student training their own horse under the direction of master horsemen and the nations only Ph.D. in Equine Therapy. ::roflmao::
Other experiential therapies include ropes courses, high adventure activities, community service, art and music.
Traditional therapy at Spring Mountain Academy makes cognative the lessons learned through experiential therapies and academics, weaving them together into real-life applications.
From their "Fund Development" Division:
The Pretty Shield Foundation is funded through private donations and grants.
Start-up capital is used to purchase the land and build the emotional-growth boarding school campus in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, and the family therapy campus in Torrey, Utah, also to fulfill the contract to acquire a highly reputable and successful wilderness program. Construction of the campuses is slated for completion in the summer of 2005.
The ensuing revenue from program operations allows for reciprocal donations* on behalf of contributing parties who assist in the start-up phase of the Pretty Shield project.
*maybe this has something to do with all those donations the IECA pays out to programs (remember that pie chart). Do any of these "reciprocal donations" end up in the hands of ed-cons? Because "reciprocal donations" sounds a little like what Sue Scheff had going on with her generous program friends.
As an IRS designated 501(c)3 organization, all contributions to the Pretty Shield Foundation qualify for all of the tax benefits of charitable contributions.
Individuals and organizations that provide funding, are participating in the noblest of causes::unhappy::, for they are empowering Pretty Shield Foundation to boldly confront and successfully fulfill the needs of at-risk youth across the nation. As these youth emerge from the revolutionary PSF program as healthy, productive leaders, they will over time, positively affect the life quality of millions of people for generations to come.
An Executive Summary and detailed Business Plan are available for interested parties.
501c, heh... Well. I'm not a financial person so there is probably somebody better to look into whether they deserve their non-profit status... HEY... I got an idea. Let's play the IRS game. The first person to find proof of tax fraud gets a free coffee mug!
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Bump
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BUMP
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If you read the original post you will see that this thread is built on a misconception. There is no intention on the part of Benchmark to replace Therapists with coaches. What Benchmark has done is taken their existing employee base and sent them out for training.
They sent their primary counselors out for training and also their resident counselors. There was no replacement of personnel done. Corporations typically send their employees out for training, 40 hours typically being a good intensive course.
...
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That implies that they had any accredited therapists to switch out in the first place.
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If you read the original post you will see that this thread is built on a misconception. There is no intention on the part of Benchmark to replace Therapists with coaches. What Benchmark has done is taken their existing employee base and sent them out for
cult indoctrination.
Oh wow.. a 36 hour marathon workshop and a certificate from people who worked for CEDU and openly thank Mel Wasserman as a source of their inspiration... I'm sure their coulselors.... er... i mean "coaches" are now far more confident in their ability to "help" people... Whether they actually learned anything useful is another story entirely...
This is simply an attempt to ignore licensing requirements for "counselors" as the heat starts to build.
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If you read the original post you will see that this thread is built on a misconception. There is no intention on the part of Benchmark to replace Therapists with coaches. What Benchmark has done is taken their existing employee base and sent them out for
cult indoctrination.
Oh wow.. a 36 hour marathon workshop and a certificate from people who worked for CEDU and openly thank Mel Wasserman as a source of their inspiration... I'm sure their coulselors.... er... i mean "coaches" are now far more confident in their ability to "help" people... Whether they actually learned anything useful is another story entirely...
This is simply an attempt to ignore licensing requirements for "counselors" as the heat starts to build.
I am not arguing on how effective the training is because I am not familiar with it. But it was stated that the coaches were going to replace therapists and this is inaccurate information. All the existing staff is being trained... many training courses typically are 40 hours. Any longer and it would not be cost effective to have staff out that long. Any shorter and it becomes LGAT type training which many people do not like. So the 40 hours is a good balance.....
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36-40 hours is LGAT training, btw... And it is my understanding that Benchmark is philosophically aligned with LGAT methodology. Correct me if I am wrong here, I obviously did not attend.
Coaching is the new name for "providing therapy at a cheaper rate and with no responsibility whatsoever for what might happen to the client down the road in time."
This may also be strictly a liability issue for Benchmark. The next time they get their asses hauled into court, or someone effects another George-maneuver, they have a piece of paper with everyone's signature on it signifying that they attended "Life Coach Training," or whatever bullshit name they have for it. So Benchmark has proof that they did their part, and "provided training" for their employees. Must be the defective client's fault.
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If you read the original post you will see that this thread is built on a misconception. There is no intention on the part of Benchmark to replace Therapists with coaches. What Benchmark has done is taken their existing employee base and sent them out for training.
They sent their primary counselors out for training and also their resident counselors. There was no replacement of personnel done. Corporations typically send their employees out for training, 40 hours typically being a good intensive course.
...
Once again you missed the point. Benchmark were calling ppl without adequate training therapists. This was illegal as they did not have enough qualification. So they gave them a fancy new title to make their unprofessional tactics legal. It is like money laundering with ppl
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To summarize:
THE MISCONCEPTION:
There is no intention on the part of Benchmark to replace Therapists with coaches. What Benchmark has done is taken their existing employee base and sent them out for training.
They sent their primary counselors out for training and also their resident counselors. There was no replacement of personnel done.
THE REBUTTAL, aka CLARIFICATION:
That implies that they had any accredited therapists to switch out in the first place.
This is simply an attempt to ignore licensing requirements for "counselors" as the heat starts to build.
Coaching is the new name for "providing therapy at a cheaper rate and with no responsibility whatsoever for what might happen to the client down the road in time."
Benchmark were calling ppl without adequate training therapists. This was illegal as they did not have enough qualification. So they gave them a fancy new title to make their unprofessional tactics legal. It is like money laundering with ppl
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If you read the original post you will see that this thread is built on a misconception. There is no intention on the part of Benchmark to replace Therapists with coaches. What Benchmark has done is taken their existing employee base and sent them out for training.
They sent their primary counselors out for training and also their resident counselors. There was no replacement of personnel done. Corporations typically send their employees out for training, 40 hours typically being a good intensive course.
...
Once again you missed the point. Benchmark were calling ppl without adequate training therapists. This was illegal as they did not have enough qualification. So they gave them a fancy new title to make their unprofessional tactics legal. It is like money laundering with ppl
So they were calling people without adequate training "Therapists" and then sending them out for training and renaming them "Coaches"? Is there someplace where it says this? I haven’t read that on this thread.
In the report they mentioned they were sending "Primaryâ€
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(http://http://blog.kir.com/archives/oreillyconfused4.jpg)
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If you read the original post you will see that this thread is built on a misconception. There is no intention on the part of Benchmark to replace Therapists with coaches. What Benchmark has done is taken their existing employee base and sent them out for
cult indoctrination.
Oh wow.. a 36 hour marathon workshop and a certificate from people who worked for CEDU and openly thank Mel Wasserman as a source of their inspiration... I'm sure their coulselors.... er... i mean "coaches" are now far more confident in their ability to "help" people... Whether they actually learned anything useful is another story entirely...
This is simply an attempt to ignore licensing requirements for "counselors" as the heat starts to build.
I am not arguing on how effective the training is because I am not familiar with it. But it was stated that the coaches were going to replace therapists and this is inaccurate information.
You're right. They only state that they have therapists to prospective parents. On their website they used to claim they were "counselors" so if you want to split hairs that it would be "benchmark replaces 'counselors' with 'coaches"
All the existing staff is being trained... many training courses typically are 40 hours.
Yes... in things other than medicine/psychology, like flipping burgers. There's a reason why it takes a very long time to get a PHD, Doctorate, or any type of qualification to be able to practice psychology or counseling. Practicing medicine without a license is dangerous... Now that they're not called "counselors" any more you're probably going to tell me that somehow this is safer...
Any longer and it would not be cost effective to have staff out that long.
Well.. why not hire staff that ALREADY HAVE DEGREES rather than giving them "on the job" training. This isn't McDonalds.
Any shorter and it becomes LGAT type training which many people do not like. So the 40 hours is a good balance.....
40 hours is about the length of a good LGAT, but it depends.
Riddle me this: what were they trained in? What exactly did they learn? Other than making grandiose claims of what "Next Step" can do, I don't see any specific examples of what exactly is taught...
Is this "coaching comporable to psychology"... When I interviewed Jayne Longnecker she told me psychologists were "in their heads"... Given that there is an actual science behind psychology, there is accountability, requirements to practice, etc... I don't see what it is that makes this "coaching" in any degree equivalent.. I see it as reckless.
A recent testimony on Benchmark's newsletter (a "success story") by Laura Ballou stated
“I’ve been in my head for a
long time,â€
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You're right. They only state that they have therapists to prospective parents. On their website they used to claim they were "counselors" so if you want to split hairs that it would be "benchmark replaces 'counselors' with 'coaches"
That was my only point, thanks. The title of the thread should be In Lieu of "Counselors", Benchmark Opts for "Coaches". If they want to tell parents that they have therapists, when they don’t, that is a problem, but I don’t think many parents will fall for it for very long. I had my daughter’s therapist at ASR speak directly with her therapist at home and she had a private practice also. Plus they need someone to distribute meds etc. all the parents would discuss the various counselors, therapists, their backgrounds, schools etc. as we all sat together at dinner... if there was a therapist without a degree it would had surfaced fairly quickly.
...
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So I called Penelope Valentine this morning and asked her a few questions on the phone about coaching. I don't think she knew who I was, otherwise I doubt she would have talked to me at all.
Among other things I did confirm that Mel Wasserman definitely created his workshops/seminars from est/Lifespring material (Yes, I know we all knew this long, long ago, but one more confirmation isn't a bad thing).
About coaching, I asked her a few questions about this page of hers (http://http://www.nextstepforsuccess.com/training.htm). Among other things, I wanted to know the purpose of this skill that is taught:
"Revealing the Barriers to 'What Is'"
she responded:
"one of the skills when we do our coach training talks about the barriers of parents seeing what is actually in front of them. Parents who have a struggling teen and young adult often are not able to clearly see what is right in front of them so... when we talk about revealing the barriers that's what we do, we talk about what the problem may be, we look at it objectively, how they can assess it... we look at some of the barriers that might, um, be in place which could be, um, expectations that they have for their child... It could be, um. Negative self-judgements, um, it could just be fear of change."
What didn't surprise me at all was that the coaching seemed to be, as she was explaining this, more oriented at coaching the parents than the students.
It's good she paused so much during her speaking... gave me ample time to type it down word for word.
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"one of the skills when we do our coach training talks about the barriers of parents seeing what is actually in front of them. Parents who have a struggling teen and young adult often are not able to clearly see what is right in front of them so... when we talk about revealing the barriers that's what we do, we talk about what the problem may be, we look at it objectively, how they can assess it... we look at some of the barriers that might, um, be in place which could be, um, expectations that they have for their child... It could be, um. Negative self-judgements, um, it could just be fear of change."
I bet at no time does it ever come up that the problem lies with the parent.
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FUCK COACHES! OATS
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yo. whats up. i went to benchmark for over 2 years. the counsilors, thats what we had to call them when i was there, dont know shit. coaches?! half of them could coach young criminals. dont get me wrong, some of the people there are all right. but the company and the way they conduct their buissiness is just plain wrong. not to mention technically illegal. :ftard: i just thought that was kool.
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yo. whats up. i went to benchmark for over 2 years. the counsilors, thats what we had to call them when i was there, dont know shit. coaches?! half of them could coach young criminals. dont get me wrong, some of the people there are all right. but the company and the way they conduct their buissiness is just plain wrong. not to mention technically illegal. :ftard: i just thought that was kool.
Were you there recently?
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chuckAluck came on the shout box around the same time that he/she made that post. My memory might be failing me on this, but I recall that the period of time they spent at Benchmark was 2004-2006.
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Theresa Valade, A "Pathway Family Center" associate ( on the NWI Board Of Directors) lists "The Growth Coach - entrepreneur and principal partner of a professional coaching enterprise" as her occupation.
Seems like another CULT - tie to me. She is probably a program parent also.
Here is the Growth coach website:
http://www.thegrowthcoachfranchise.com/ ... nAodbxMN5w (http://www.thegrowthcoachfranchise.com/ec/17_gwo/GrowthCoachBusinessCoaching.asp?gclid=CMuBvLWspZYCFQGbnAodbxMN5w)
I just thought it interesting to the topic of coaching.
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According to a cult expert I consulted, "coaching" is the new thing when it comes to getting away with practicing "therapy" without a license.
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They told my parents right off the bat that they where people who had delt with our issues, and though they had psychologists (brian was one when i was there) they where not certified. In all honesty, i learned alot from them. Some where completely full of it, and where pretty lousy, where some gave me advice that i use to this day. Enlight of that, i remember some of them having troubles. I know tom got busted with a 24 pack of beer and was fired. I think Don went back out again. Not sure on that one. I think most where genuinly concerned and wanted to help us out. I also think that the tough love approach was warented on some of us. Some of us just did not function well in society. Some of us where so negative that it was hard to be around us, while others where legit drug addicts. I do feel that i was coxed into alot of things...AA, NA, etc... not that i didnt benifit from them, but looking back, it did kinda mess me up, and point me in the wrong direction. The only problem i have with the 'there not therapists' is that most of us had therapists. They where either easy to manipulate, were people you just talked to, or tried to cox you into things and misdiagnose you. I've had a bad therapist, and would of traded him for the worst of the staff (IMO Tom) any day.
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I think most where genuinly concerned and wanted to help us out.
Yeah, but even the best of intentions can be disastrous when there isn't the training. It's also illegal to sell services such as "counseling" or "behavior modification" (both terms from benchmark's 2001 website) when one is not licensed to practice those services. As I understand it, to this day, while Benchmark sometimes refers to outside licensed professionals for things such as prescriptions, they employ no licensed personnel directly (other than the "coaches" now... which anybody can claim to be if you've ever seen the episode of Penn and Teller's "Bullshit" on "Life Coaching").
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Some of us where so negative that it was hard to be around us
But what does that really mean ("negative")? Does it really have an objective meaning or is it just something a program labels something it doesn't like. It's like "evil" or "bad". It all depends on the point of view.
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They told my parents right off the bat that they where people who had delt with our issues, and though they had psychologists (brian was one when i was there) they where not certified.
That was not the case with my parents. I'm very surprised they would tell your parents that right off the bat.
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They told my parents right off the bat that they where people who had delt with our issues, and though they had psychologists (brian was one when i was there) they where not certified.
That was not the case with my parents. I'm very surprised they would tell your parents that right off the bat.
Well, i did come earlier. I just remember there selling point was that they where people who have delt with the issues i had and got better so they knew what to do. Infact dina always said 'i wouldn't ask you to do something that i haven't already done myself'. Even on there site they have councelers and psych's.
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I've had a bad therapist, and would of traded him for the worst of the staff (IMO Tom) any day.
But you could, and probably did (quit him). You had the choice in that situation. The therapist works for you and if he does a bad job you can fire him. The situation is reversed in the case of staff in which they have authority over you. And not just authority over what you do, authority over who you talk to, what you can say, what you can read, and by controlling all that, what you can think. Their intent was to change how you think without your explicit knowledge and consent. I believe that is wrong, even when it is done for the best of intentions.
It's different than education when you know what you're getting and are free to reject and accept. If you disagreed and expressed disagreement at Benchmark you were "negative" or what have you and given "consequences" (punishment). You had to accept everything they said and ordered unconditionally if you wanted to ever progress. Big difference than therapy.
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Well, i did come earlier. I just remember there selling point was that they where people who have delt with the issues i had and got better so they knew what to do. Infact dina always said 'i wouldn't ask you to do something that i haven't already done myself'.
I remember that being said as well. I just don't remember them telling myself or my parents (or anybody i've talked to) that they weren't licensed. That would have been the end of it right there for me if they had. I mean... from a marketing point of view it's a kinda stupid thing to say regardless of what you're selling, especially if it isn't asked.
Even on there site they have councelers and psych's.
They have "coaches" working directly for the program (they stopped using the word "counselors" on their website a month before they sued me (and lost, and are going to have to pay attorney's fees for filing a frivolous and baseless lawsuit)). As far as I know, the psychs on their site are not employed directly by the program and are instead paid directly by the parents. That was the case with Mauer and Nelson when I was there and I doubt the practice has changed.
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Vicki Jones was at Rocky Mountain Academy when I was there from 1991 to 1993. She bought into the Rocky Mountain Academy therapy methods in raps. The tone in raps was loud that Vicki and other RMA Staff facilitated. It created an environment of "compliance in program through fear."
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Paul "Steve" Ornelas, A.A., Ret. USMC
Primary Life Coach (ACSTH Certified)
Steve originally worked for Benchmark from May, 2002 to August of 2005. After a year in Texas as Director of Operations for Transitions of Galveston Island, he returned to Benchmark in July, 2006. He brings over 12 years experience in the field of emotional growth, which he attained at both Benchmark Young Adult School and through CEDU Family of Services. Along with his work experience, Steve brings with him an honorable military background where he went to the official school of hard knocks – the United States Marine Corps. Steve holds an A.A. Degree in Criminal Justice. His experience also includes raising four children, further adding to his qualifications. He has been working with young people for over 20 years in other realms such as coaching high school baseball and football. As a Primary Coach, he is responsible for managing a peer-group of approximately 10-12 students, facilitating their emotional growth and independent living curriculum, coaching the skills necessary to make significant changes in their lives, develop life skills and overcome drug/alcohol addiction. He also participates in extra-curricular activities, such as AA/NA meetings and off-property leisure activities. With his experience in coaching, Steve also runs the fitness program for Benchmark, teaching the students the importance of staying fit and having a well-balanced diet.I
I worked with Steve at Transitions of Galveston Island. He was respectful to students but didn't demonstrate knowledge/teaching methods to help students with drug/alcohol addictions.
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http://www.nextstepforsuccess.com/ (http://www.nextstepforsuccess.com/)
Next Step for Success
Re: Questions about coaching training
Sunday, April 26, 2009 5:09 PM
From:
"Penelope Valentine" <[email protected]>
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To:
"Bob Peterson" <[email protected]>
Hello Bob:
The recognition that the student receives from Next Step is a stand alone certification that permits one to have the designation of certified coach and has been approved by the ICF. If a coach chooses to continue their training, they may apply our approved hours towards a higher degree recognized by ICF. Much like the analogy of having an AA and then applying a transcript towards a higher degree. To view what those are, please see the ICF website at www.coachfederation.org (http://www.coachfederation.org)
No, we do not train in crisis intervention. That is more of a therapeutic model that is not used by coaches - the ICF code of ethics governs that a coach would refer a client to a clinician should that be indicated.
Penelope
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Peterson
To: Penelope Valentine
Sent: Sunday, April 26, 2009 9:18 AM
Subject: Re: Questions about coaching training
Is the certification by the International Coach Federation equivalent to an AA degree or Bachelors degree? Do participants in Next Step for Success receive training in crisis intervention?
Re: Questions about coaching training
Saturday, April 25, 2009 9:33 PM
From:
"Penelope Valentine" <[email protected]>
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To:
"Bob Peterson" <[email protected]>
Hello Bob:
Thank you for inquiry regarding our coach training.
I am not quite sure I understand your question. We have set a passing score of 80% for the written. We have two other factors that play into the final overall score: the weekly assignments and practicum throughout the course, and the final practicum exam. To clarify, are you not in agreement with the 80%? We are equally interested in someone's demonstrated skill base as well as their book knowledge .
To date I have not had anyone score below 90 on the written and we have had close to 60 who have completed the course.
If you are interesting in learning more about our training course, I would love to have a conversation with you. Just contact me to schedule a call. Our next training is scheduled for September 2009.
Again, thanks for your inquiry. Regards, Penelope
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Peterson
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 1:29 PM
Subject: Questions about coaching training
I am interested in becoming a Certified Coach and I currently work for a therapeutic boarding school. However, I believe participants should pass the written examination at 92% or above. Does your company plan to adjust the passing written examination score in the future?
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Vicki Jones was at Rocky Mountain Academy when I was there from 1991 to 1993. She bought into the Rocky Mountain Academy therapy methods in raps. The tone in raps was loud that Vicki and other RMA Staff facilitated. It created an environment of "compliance in program through fear."
That woman was downright creepy and annoying. Even when she screamed at you, you just kind of had to roll your eyes. She always struck me as the quintessential LGAT drone. Naive, impressionable, hypocritical.
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As far as I know, the Benchmark staff never received any sort of actual coaching license from the ICF (not that a "life coach certificate" means anything, as evidenced by penn and teller's bullshit episode on the subject). All they did was take 30 hours of coursework which they seem to have invented a fancy abbreviation for ("ACSTH Certified") which stands for "Approved Coach Specific Training Hours".
Also, Bill Valentine, if you remember correctly, was good buddies with Mel Wasserman at CEDU. He helped develop the parent seminars with Mel (from est and LifeSpring), according to a phone conversation I had with Penelope. Their website used to credit Mel Wasserman for their phillosophy until I pointed it out, after which it was promptly deleted (but I have a screenshot).