Fornits

Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => New Info => Topic started by: rayjax on September 24, 2007, 07:40:00 PM

Title: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: rayjax on September 24, 2007, 07:40:00 PM
Does anyone have any information about Gateway Academy in Salt Lake City or Draper Utah, or about Melissa Hickman, Julie Barbero, Karen Flynn, or Jeffrey Hintze?
Title: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Rachael on September 24, 2007, 09:15:30 PM
Do you have any information on the kid's name or where in Canada they came from?
Title: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: rayjax on September 24, 2007, 10:51:37 PM
.................
Title: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Anonymous on September 27, 2007, 05:59:33 PM
Gateway Academy

(Residential Treatment Center)
   
     

Gender:    Males Only    Phone:    (801) 463-7888
Ages:    14-17    

   

Grades:    8 to 12    Fax:    (801) 463-7030
Enrollment:    40    Email:    www.GatewayAcademy.net (http://www.GatewayAcademy.net)
Founded:    2002         
          Admission Contact:    Melissa Hickman, LCSW
Address:    2487 South 700 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84106    Executive Contact:    Julie Brown, LCSW
     
               
 

Gateway Academy is a residential program designed to give young men every advantage in their transition back to family, relationships and life. Gateway Academy is resolute that each young man receives an individualized balance of intense therapy, accredited schooling and recreational ventures. Parents can rest assured that their son is learning to create a life where he feels worthwhile, connected and in control.

Gateway Academy has two homes: a 16-bed Victorian home, and a 24-bed Ranch style home. Each home is intentionally small in size so as to impact each young man on a rare and individual level. Gateway Academy serves boys ages 14 to 17 struggling with depression, anxiety, oppositional behaviors, impulsivity and attention problems, social problems, diminished self-esteem, substance abuse difficulties at home, relationship problems, identity and developmental issues academic deficits and other comparable difficulties. Young men with these issues are mentored in personal, social and intellectual development.

Gateway Academy’s intensive treatment and recreational program is run by highly credentialed clinicians that ensure the disciplines of academics, therapy and experiential activities are dynamically integrated. Specifically, each young man receives weekly individual and family therapy, as well as daily specialized groups according to their individual needs. These groups include: Adolescent Male Development, Trauma Resolution, Anxiety and Depression, Substance Abuse, Competency and Skill Development, and Transition. Additionally, Gateway Academy utilizes an integrated recreational and wilderness approach to provide a well-rounded cognitive, emotional, and physical growth experience. Each young man is also provided on-site psychiatric services as needed. Gateway Academy also offers a fully accredited individualized education program structured to assist each youth to attain their academic potential. The academic program is administered by Woodland Hills School and is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. The therapeutic and academic components are augmented by community service projects, independent living skills, community resource networking, and a fine arts program.
     
Individual Psychotherapy Available:    Yes
Accreditation, Licensure, Approval:   State of Utah, Office of Licensing, Department of Human Services, Residential Treatment; Northwest Association of Accredited Schools through Woodland Hills School
Professional Affiliations:   NATSAP-Full Member
Title: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Anonymous on September 27, 2007, 06:18:08 PM
Is Gateway Academy one of the bad boarding schools?
Title: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Anonymous on September 27, 2007, 06:20:25 PM
Our Team
     

Part of Gateway’s uniqueness, flexibility and commitment to excellence stems from the fact that Gateway continues to be operated and directed by its founders: Melissa Hickman, Julie Barbero, Julie Brown, M. Michelle Gourley and Karen Flynn. These owners have served youth in need for over 20 years. Gateway’s continuing development as a state-of-the-art treatment provider is of paramount importance to the owners and the committed staff they have assembled. Gateway’s staff is highly trained, dedicated, experienced and fully licensed and/or certified. Additionally, Gateway has an onsite Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists who meet with each youth one to four times per month as needed, as well as onsite Registered Nurses.
The entire treatment team meets and reviews each youth’s progress every week in order to tailor treatment interventions to each youth’s individual needs and abilities. The clinical and medical teams meet an additional time each week to review every youth’s progress and treatment objectives.
               
     Administrative Team
               
     
Julie Brown, LCSW
     Administrative Director and Co-Owner
   - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 20 years adolescent Residential Treatment experience
- Program Manager over 6 adolescent residential mental health units
- Adolescent clinician
- Substance abuse program developer/ therapist
- Gender-specific trainer/clinician
- Behavior de-escalation (MANDT) trainer
- School Liaison for youth residential treatment center
- Adjunct Faculty/Clinical Supervisor University of Utah and Westminster   College
               
Claudia Reese, SSW, M.Ed.
     Program Administer
   - Educational Counselor and Social Worker
- 9 years adolescent Residential Treatment experience
- 2 years educational counseling experience
- Specialized sensitivity training for families and youth
- Gender specific training
- Supervised Individual Education Plan (IEP) conferences
- Student Educational Occupational Planning (SEOP’s)
- Experience in high school accreditation review process
               
Clinical Team
 
Julie Barbero, LCSW
     Clinical Director and Co-Owner
   - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 17 years adolescent Residential Treatment experience
- Specializes in treating adolescents and their families
- Gender-specific clinician/trainer
- Adolescent substance abuse therapist
- Past Director over 3 adolescent psychiatric hospital units
- Trainer in best practice guidelines and effective treatment strategies
- Adjunct faculty/Clinical Supervisor University of Utah graduate   students
               
Susan M. Curtis, LPC
     Primary Therapist
   - Masters in counseling psychology
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- Residential Clinician
- 11 years adolescent treatment experience
- 5 years adolescent Residential Treatment experience
- Expertise in treating adolescent trauma, substance abuse, teen   parenting and independent living issues
- Gender-specific clinician
- Worked on state wide research project focused on adolescent suicide
               
Mark X. Dunn, LSAC, CPC-I
     Primary Therapist
   - Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor
- Certified Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselor
- 17 years adolescent Residential Treatment experience
- Expertise in working with adolescent dynamics and family systems
- Developer of addictions treatment program based on adolescent
  developmental milestones
- Developer of programming, policy, research and development of   adolescent residential treatment center
- Masters in Counseling
- BA in Psychology
               
Emily Faber, MSW, CSW
     Primary Therapist
   - Masters in Social Work
- Clinical Social Worker
- 4 years adolescent Wilderness treatment experience
- 3 years Residential Treatment center experience
- Expertise in treating adolescents and their families
- Outreach Counselor with at-risk families and youth
- Counselor and Case Manager for adults with developmental disability
- Structured Studies in India focused on the self-soothing techniques of
  meditation and yoga
               
Jeffery R. Hintze, Ph.D, LPC
     Primary Therapist
     - Masters in Counseling Psychology
- Doctorate in General Psychology
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- 20 years experience working with adolescents
- Adolescent Substance Abuse Therapist
- Expertise in treating adolescents and their families with substance   abuse problems
- Expertise in treating adolescents with depression, anxiety, oppositional   defiance, and dual diagnoses
- Expertise in working with parent-child relationship issues
- Previously an Executive Director for a residential treatment facility
- Member of psychological Chi Sigma Lota honor society
               
Stokes Smith, LSAC, MSW Intern
     Substance Abuse Counselor
     - Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor
- Master of Social Work Intern
- 15 years adolescent Wilderness/Residential Treatment experience
- Implemented Substance Abuse counseling component for Residential
  Treatment
- Expertise in treating adolescents and their families in Substance Abuse
- Residential Treatment Line Staff/Substance Abuse Counselor
- Wilderness Guide Counselor
- Positive Control Systems Instructor
- Institute of Change PRN Clinician
- Inn Care PRN Clinician
- Bachelors of Social Work
               
Clinical Consultation and Assessment Team
 
M. Michelle Gourley, MFT, LCSW, JD
     Assessment and Consultation Director and Co-Owner
     - Masters in Social Work, Masters in Marriage &Family Therapy, Juris   Doctorate
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 22 years Residential Treatment experience
- Specializes in treating adolescents and their families
- Developer, Director and clinician for Residential Treatment of youth   who engage in sexual misconduct
- Forensic evaluator and assessor for the State of Utah Judiciary
- National and State Certification as sex-specific clinician
- National Trainer/Consultant juvenile sex-specific therapy, sex abuse,
  trauma and adolescent developmental treatment techniques
- Consultant/Clinician for an adolescent day treatment substance abuse
  program
- Expertise in structured experiential and psychodrama therapy   techniques
- Adjunct Faculty/Clinical Supervisor Brigham Young University and   University of Utah graduate students
- Attorney specializing in juvenile, family and mental health law
               
Academic Team
 
Woodland Hills School www.woodland-hills.com (http://www.woodland-hills.com)
     Tara Sinquefield, Program Director
Jamie Brough, SPED Coordinator
Joyce Hansen, Principal
          - Expertise in academic curriculum tailored to individual needs/learning   styles
- Integrates scholastic performance with character development
- Creates structured programs for continual educational support and   guidance
- Emphasizes improved self-esteem, organization skills and heightened
  self-awareness
- Encourages independent thinking and self-reliance
- Examines underlying issues that interfere with academic performance
               
Outdoor Recreation Team
 
Tom Zimmer, MS
     Outdoor Recreation Manager
   - Master of Science in Recreation
- Ph.D. Candidate
- 10 years experience instructing/guiding mountaineering adventures,
  whitewater rafting, mountain biking, skiing, kayaking, backcountry   skiing
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Member Ski Patrol
- Certified in Avalanche 1 and 2 training
- Certified in Swift Water Rescue
- Certified in CPR
               
Psychiatric / Medical Team
 
Arden L. Weintraub, M.D.
     Medical Director
   - Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
- 20 years experience practicing child and adolescent psychiatry
- 18 years of experience treating troubled youth in residential settings
- Graduated from the University of Utah School of Medicine in 1981
- Internship in Pediatrics
- Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Utah
  and Primary Children’s Medical Center
- Clinical instructor in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University   of Utah School of Medicine
- Honored for teacher of the year award for 2001-2002 at the   University of Utah School of Medicine in Child and Adolescent   Psychiatry
               
Rachel Weir, M.D.
     Associate Medical Director
           - Board Certified in General Psychiatry
- Board Eligible in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Medical Degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin
- Completed residency training in General Psychiatry at the University of   Utah
- Completed fellowship training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the
  University of Utah
- Served as Chief Resident for General Psychiatry and Child and   Adolescent Psychiatry programs
- Honored with the Outstanding Resident Service Award and Outstanding   Senior Resident Award during residency training
               
Judy McCormick, RN
     Registered Nurse
          - 18 years of pediatric, adolescent, psychiatric nursing experience
- Nurse Manager for children’s unit
- Specialty in Infection Control and Diseases Nursing
- Medical surgery experience
               
RaeAnna Kirk, RN, BSN
     Registered Nurse
          - 10 years of psychiatric, pediatric and home health nursing experience
- Experienced in adolescent psychiatry
- Nursing Director for residential treatment facility
               
Admissions Team
 
Melissa Hickman, LCSW
     Admissions Director and Co- Owner
   - 20 years combined Residential Treatment, private therapist experience
- Specializes in treating adolescents and their families
- Clinical director of adolescent treatment program
- Therapist in a wilderness program
- Substance abuse therapist for out-patient adolescent program
- Developer/Clinician of residential program for youth completing   wilderness
               
Kathryn Ellison, BS
     Admissions Assistant
   - Bachelor in Family Science
- Supervisor for Residential Treatment center
- Staff for Residential Treatment center
- Group Facilitator with adolescents
- Worked in Romanian orphanage with special needs children
               
Business and Finance Team
 
Karen Flynn, JD
     Business Director and Co-Owner
   - 16 years licensed member of the Utah State Bar
- Director of the Office of Administrative Hearings, Department of   Human Services, State of Utah
- Experienced in office budgeting, business practices and policies and   staffing
- Administrative Law Judge, Department of Human Services, State of  Utah, specializing in family law and adolescent issues
- Managing Attorney, the Guardian Ad Litem’s Office, State of Utah,  representing adolescents within the jurisdiction of the Utah Courts
- Developed Utah Juvenile Court substance abuse prevention and   treatment model
- Practicing Attorney with national firms based in Philadelphia and  California, specializing in business litigation, transactions and financing
- Law Clerk, U.S. Federal District Courts, State of Utah
               
Patricia Benn
     Financial Manager
          - Masters of Organization Behavior
- Bachelors of Sociology
- Master Program Licensed Professional Counselor
- Trainer and developer for national finance company
- Specializing in financial organizational and implementation for business   entities
- Experienced in office budgeting, business practices/policies, and   staffing
Title: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Anonymous on September 27, 2007, 06:53:15 PM
If the program is located in Utah, it is probably fucked up. Utah has to be the epicenter of the world for fucked up boarding schools.
Title: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: glaceau on October 16, 2007, 05:44:58 PM
Gateway Academy charges $10,000 per month and has barely qualified people, some of whom appear not to be licensed. As programs go, it probably looks the best, but figure your kid is going to spend 99% of his time with ski bums who are just there for the minimum wage job while they ski.

As far as any real therapy going on, you have to be joking. It is a Gulag, just like all the other Gulags.
Title: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Lain the Odd on December 24, 2007, 05:33:50 AM
Gateway survivor here... I can basically confirm everything being said. 'Staff' at Gateway have pretty much no training whatsoever, my therapist, one Jeff Hintze, was fired for reasons unknown to me (but.. Fired. From a job as a program therapist. You have to try pretty hard for that), et al. It was standard program fare, more or less. They were VERY heavy on the 1984 aspects - largely in turning 'students' against each other.. the only way to advance was to 'hold boundaries', which was a not-so-nice way of saying play Thought Police.

A major note I think might be worth pointing out, though, is that they were also very much offenders of the program tendency to take people with completely unrelated problems (or none at all) and put them in the same mold. The bit about 'specialized groups' is bullshit. Their groups basically consisted of daily indoctrination (or, if there was any dirt they could use, bringing up private problems to be attacked by the more thoroughly brainwashed kids, another characteristic tactic). But getting to the point... all the references to the 'young men' in their very Newspeak descriptor?

I'm a transitioning MtF transsexual.

Part of the plan as prescribed by my none too supportive parents seemed to be to use this as an opportunity to shit on me whenever possible. I was, as if being there wasn't alienating enough, forced to go by my birth name, threatened upon trying to even note that hey-there's-a-mistake-here and then accused of 'isolating' when I got more depressed than I'd already been as a result. Of course, it was my fault for being transsexual in the first place.

I'd prefer not to dredge up too much more.. I'm still trying to block out the memories. But in the hopes that I can be of some help... I noticed the reference to a kid from Canada. He was a friend of mine, the other least-brainwashed there... I remember that he was trying to get in touch with an embassy, as under Canadian law he was of age and couldn't be held there - not that they cared, of course. I don't know if what I remember about him would be enough to help if someone's trying to find him, but drop me a line if so. I'll do whatever I can.

Anyway, um.. yeah, that's Gateway in a nutshell. Standard NATSAP torture facility with a flair for dragging stays out to milk more money and incompetent staffers with control issues. Any other questions, i'll try to answer them as they come.

Cheers,
Lain
Title: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Che Gookin on December 24, 2007, 07:36:19 AM
You are gonna love meeting Try Another Castle and welcome to fornits.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: neelpandey on September 22, 2009, 09:59:38 AM
adolescent residential treatment

Yes the treatment are very effective for kids and and parents are preferring the adolescent residential treatment nowadays visit the site for more information http://http://www.residentialtreatment411.com
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Ursus on October 03, 2009, 11:12:54 AM
Quote from: "neelpandey"
adolescent residential treatment

Yes the treatment are very effective for kids and and parents are preferring the adolescent residential treatment nowadays visit the site for more information http://http://www.residentialtreatment411.com
The above noted post is blatant program spam. Source would appear to be the Baisden family. Clicking on the website link brings you to a marketing site for Turning Winds Academic Institute.

From the Turning Winds (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=24316) thread:

In December of 2003, John Baisden's enterprise was called Turning Winds/Family Solutions Network, Inc. and he was now based in Hayden, Idaho. He or another member of his family "purchased all of the Ryan Kohler's EMS sites under the name of Family Help 411, Inc."

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=24316&p=298765#p298765 (http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=24316&p=298765#p298765)[/list]
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: TroubledParent on June 01, 2010, 11:58:16 AM
This post has been removed
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: TroubledParent on June 01, 2010, 12:09:54 PM
This post has been removed
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Pile of Dead Kids on June 02, 2010, 10:44:46 AM
Wait, you sent your kid to this shithole and you're actually going to get on here and complain about the fucking money you lost?!

And then you're going to just ship him off to another, presumably similar, shithole based on some Potemkin-village tours?

What the fuck is wrong with you?  Are you honestly looking for sympathy for doing this? The only thing you deserve is buckshot to the back of the head.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: TroubledParent on June 10, 2010, 09:17:28 PM
This post has been removed
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Whooter on June 10, 2010, 10:18:42 PM
Welcome, TroubledParent, Sorry about how you have been treated here.  Many of the posters here did not do well in programs and therefore have a very negative view of them.  They have very little tolerance for parents seeking help outside the home for their children so you may receive some harsh words.
Hopefully your son does well in his second placement.  It would be nice to keep us updated on how you are all making out as his stay there progresses.



...
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: DannyB II on June 10, 2010, 10:28:45 PM
Quote
Quote from: "Pile of Dead Kids"
Wait, you sent your kid to this shithole and you're actually going to get on here and complain about the fucking money you lost?!

And then you're going to just ship him off to another, presumably similar, shithole based on some Potemkin-village tours?
 
What the fuck is wrong with you?  Are you honestly looking for sympathy for doing this? The only thing you deserve is buckshot to the back of the head.



and you have the right to do this.......why??????????
Do you really think your reaching people when you talk like this. Ya know I talk like this but it is with you folks not with folks who come here looking for help. Pile you rail against abuse coming from programs but have no problem doing it to folks who most need your help. You sound like a ASs. Director from a program, right out of Elan. You would be great there, sign up.
One of Piles famous signature behavioral modification technics, beat them down first then hope they come back, if not fuck'em, just thro'em on the pile.
Pile at his best,  
"What the fuck is wrong with you?  Are you honestly looking for sympathy for doing this? The only thing you deserve is buckshot to the back of the head".
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: DannyB II on June 10, 2010, 10:40:45 PM
Yes please excuse the outburst from one poster, there are many here that care about the security of your sons wellness. Please be careful with his placement, I am not a big advocate of treatment centers but I also don't propose that I know everything about what exactly your son needs. I know there are folks here that have information that can help with your search for help, your son deserves the best. Please carefully investigate each program. Sounds like your son has special needs.

Danny
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Eliscu2 on June 10, 2010, 10:44:21 PM
Quote from: "DannyB II"
Yes please excuse the outburst from one poster, there are many here that care about the security of your sons wellness. Please be careful with his placement, I am not a big advocate of treatment centers but I also don't propose that I know everything about what exactly your son needs. I know there are folks here that have information that can help with your search for help, your son deserves the best. Please carefully investigate each program. Sounds like your son has special needs.

Danny

THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY CHILD ABUSER DANNY BENNISON OF THE ELAN SCHOOL IN POLAND SPRING MAINE, WERE HE ABUSED CHILDREN AND HAD POWER 30 YEARS AGO.
LOOK:
Will you ever have that power again? NO
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=30611&p=365349&hilit=Cartoon+Croch#p365333 (http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=30611&p=365349&hilit=Cartoon+Croch#p365333)
*Insert-"Shut up Felice you dirty filthy whore evil crazy satan girl with CARTOON CROTCH I dream of."
Danny :shamrock:  

Look I REACTEDfor you.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Out of options on July 25, 2010, 10:10:03 AM
Dear Troubled Parent,

Our son recently completed 10 months at Gateway Academy.  Our experience was quite different than yours.  I am sorry about how things worked out for you and I definitely empathize with the horrible feelings you must have faced while watching and trying to help your son in such difficult circumstances.  Our son too has severe impulsive anger issues, anxiety, depression, the whole range.  As a result of some pretty intensive efforts of our son and his therapists, he seems to be much better now.  He seems to be better equipped to handle his impulsivity so that he displays much, much, much less rage when he gets anxious and he has tools to help ease anxious and depressing moments.  Of course he still has the emotions, but he seems better able to recognize and deal with them.  We found Gateway's management and staff to indeed be very caring and committed.  The administrators were not always great at communicating with us and it was frustrating at times as matters seemed to slip through the cracks.  But the therapists themselves were wonderful to us and our son.  I do not know anything about what happened to you and your family and I would not challenge your view of things.  It is so tough for parents to get good information especially with the raging input from so many troubled kids that populate this site.  I just wanted to let you and and parents who may be in urgent circumstances and searching for options know that our experience with Gateway was excellent.  Our son credits Gateway with giving him a second chance to have a life when he was very doubtful previosuly that he could survive in his prior state.  There is no substitute for investigation and I know how hard it is for parents to try to find the right people and places to help our kids and our families.  So, by all means parents ought to be careful and heed Troubled Parents' words.  But they should also know that others have had a very different and very positive experience at Gateway Academy and would recommend it with little hesitation.  If I were a parent looking for a place, I would show the post by Trouble Parent to Gateway and ask them to explain.  I would also ask for names of other parents who are willing to speak about their family's experiences.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Ursus on July 25, 2010, 10:30:02 AM
Quote from: "Out of options"
If I were a parent looking for a place, I would show the post by Trouble Parent to Gateway and ask them to explain.
Do you seriously believe Gateway Academy will be forthright in their explanation?  :D
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Pile of Dead Kids on July 25, 2010, 12:04:05 PM
Ursus, do you seriously believe that last post was made by anything resembling a human being? Actual people don't use that kind of combination of marketing-speak and platitudes.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Ursus on July 25, 2010, 01:20:33 PM
Quote from: "Pile of Dead Kids"
Ursus, do you seriously believe that last post was made by anything resembling a human being? Actual people don't use that kind of combination of marketing-speak and platitudes.
Ya never know...  ;D  

I guess I was more worried that some subsequent parent might read it and take it seriously.

This statement, however, was clearly made by someone who has not read very much of fornits, and/or has damage control on their mind:

"It is so tough for parents to get good information especially with the raging input from so many troubled kids that populate this site."[/list]
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Out of options on July 25, 2010, 09:33:05 PM
I am not in marketing and am indeed a parent with a child who has suffered severe rage, depression and anxiety that threatened his life.  I actually reviewed Fornits many times while my son was away.  While there is informaiton available on the site that helped us be on our guard and excercise vigilance, the immature and outrageous postings by unhappy teens denuded the posts of credibility and merely provided evidence that the authors still need help.  We know that the statistics regarding teen treatment are very uncertain, but our son would not have survived if we had waited and done nothing.  The medical community where we live is over-burdened at best and ill-equipped to deal with teen concurrent disorders in any event.  The psychiatrists at our local university hospital told us to throw our son out of our house and hope that he got arrested before he got killed in a rage on the streets or killed himself.  As to whether Gateway would respond truthfully to inquiries, I can only say that every parent ought to be quizzing any institution to which they entrust the care of their child and must be satsfied with the responses.  In addition to visitng Gateway ourselves, we spoke to parents whose children had been there; spoke to some former residents; and we spoke to a clergyman in Utah who works with kids at several different facilities who had some very helpful insights.  I did ask Gateway about another issue that I saw raised online and I was satisfied with their repsonse.  I would not have believed them if they claimed that they have miraculous results or that with a houseful of teenaged boys with a whole ranage of behavioural and psychological problems, there are not  major issues that can and do arise.  Even the very best organizations still suffer from the fact that they are run by fallable people.  The issue isn't whether problems ever arise, but rather when management learns of problems, how did they deal with them and do the get repeated?  I have read some of the horror stories of some of the horrible places referred to on this site.  I can tell you that Gateway is not such a place.  It gave my son a supportive, safe environment, with about 20 hours of therapy a week plus in-house high school and a great outdoor athletic programme.  Family therapy benefited my son, my wife and me and our other sons.  Our lead therapist has remained in touch with us since our son left Gateway and cares about our family.  Is Fornits so cynical that there is no room for belief that there are parents and therapists who truly care and do their best without being part of a conspiracy of evil?
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Pile of Dead Kids on July 26, 2010, 06:10:40 AM
Yup, definitely damage control.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: scanlonsherwood on December 14, 2010, 02:42:28 AM
To all troubled teen parents-

       I was at gateway for 7 1/2 months back in 2003 during my sophomore year of high school. Before that I attended a number of different boarding schools, residential treatment facilities and wilderness programs. my parents probably spent around $500,000 on programs for me, and god knows how much more on therapists, doctors, psychiatrists, etc. I am now 23 and a recovering heroin addict/alcoholic. Speaking for myself, I can only say that my time at gateway, and in treatment as a whole when I was a teenager, was nothing but detrimental to my long term mental health. Basically I did what I had to do to get out, said all the right things and pleased the right people. When I got out all I gained from being in treatment was a complete loss of trust with people in general, and massive amounts of resentments and remorse. Be careful before sending your son to a place like this, make sure it is the right decision. Keep in mind, beneath all of the "fluff", therapeutic jargon, enticing tours, and websites, they're a business and like any other business there number one goal is to make money.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: seamus on December 14, 2010, 10:37:53 AM
hey welcome to fornits
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: NYC_Mom on December 31, 2010, 02:49:45 PM
I’ve read nothing about educational consultants in this thread. Did know one hire one? I cannot imagine finding a residential program for my son by myself. How would I, a single Mom working a full time job, be able to make a decision based on my own internet research for what I think was best for my 16-year old son—who dropped out of school twice.  His next phase, if there wasn’t a drastic change, was self-medication—I knew it in my soul—and dropping out of school for the last time. I could not make the decision by myself so I hired an educational consultant who spends her time visiting the places she recommends.

This educational consultant was recommended two me twice, once in 2007 by a psychologist and then again in 2010 by my son’s psychologist. Based on his background, she knew he had significant learning issues and a history of anxiety and depression. After meeting with him she identified him as a “soft” kid and recommended a therapeutic wilderness program.  She then worked with the wilderness program team and recommended Gateway Academy. My son has been at the Draper house for four months and he went through the stage of saying what everyone wanted to hear (he had become an expert at convincing many of those around him that he was okay, that he just didn’t care about school). He also did this at the wilderness program. He was doing whatever he could to get out but I can tell you he left the wilderness program with 100% more self–esteem than when he entered the program.

For those who said the weekend staff at Gateway Academy are just there for a job I can tell you first hand and through my son’s response to them that they care for the individuals that are there. My son has had for this first time in his life caring male role models. They not only plan the most exciting outdoor activities but truly care about his success with the programs they plan; they plan these great activities with the goal of seeing the boys having fun and succeeding.

As for his therapist, she may not have a lot of experience, but like teachers you either have it or you don’t and she has it. She’s there for my son, holds him accountable, and is like a second mother figure—someone he knows that cares about him and he therefore trusts.

Not every place is for everyone so I highly recommend hiring an educational consultant.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Oscar on December 31, 2010, 03:48:50 PM
There is only one major problem with educational consultants in general and that is a 20 years+ tradition for referring a child to the residential program which pays the consultant most. It is the sad fact. I am not stating that Gateway is a better or worse option for your child compared to many of the residential programs, which are on the database (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Main_Page). But based on the problems with referrals I fear that other options were ignored due to the economical concerns.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: afterall on January 02, 2011, 02:12:44 AM
In response to the reply from the parent whose child got kicked out of Gateway 2010.  I was at gateway from Late 09 to mid 10.  I spent six months at the program which is relatively short.  Most people I knew would stay from 8-11 months.  Fortunately I turned 18 and graduated high school so I had much leverage to leave.  I spent 9 weeks at a wilderness program before being taken to Gateway.  I got driven directly from wilderness to gateway by my wilderness therapist.  Arriving at Gateway I was really happy not to have to sleep outside anymore.  From then on I started noticing how messed up the place was.  Everything was on a schedule and there was no flexibility and little to no freedom.  In the mornings we would wake up and do "morning rec".  This consisted of either dancing to "Sweating to the Oldies" or following a workout plan created by one of the obese Grave staff babysitters.  This would be a anything ranging from step-ups to pseudo-yoga.  You would have to follow every activity with a smile on your face or you would receive a lower grade on your shift sheet.  Ranging from 1-4. (Shifts sheets help determine which level you could apply for).

After the morning rec you "line up in silence" and then go upstairs to shower.  Someone who wanted a "4" on their shifts sheet would volunteer to time showers.  A shower would be 3 minutes with the water on. As I said before everything is based on a schedule and routine.  You would make your bed, get dressed, and then line up to go downstairs for breakfast.  Most of the time that I was at Gateway there would be someone who would throw a tantrum and wouldn't leave their room so everyone would have to wait till another staff would arrive so we could all go downstairs.

School is three classes a day at 1.5 hours a day Monday-Friday.  Many of the teachers seemed qualified and it's extremely difficult to not do your homework when you have so much support.  I am happy for that one aspect of Gateway as I left with better grades that look good on a college transcript.

There's a mid-day "Mat Class" which is run by which-ever student wants a good score on their shift sheet. More yoga nonsense.

After school there is a 10-20 minute recess and then a 2 hour group.  The group includes a check-in and then focuses on whichever inmates are the most fucked up that day/week.  Includes "negative confrontations" aka some kid has beef with another kid, and "negative contracts" some kids talk shit or talk about not gateway appropriate topics.  The entire program shapes the community into policing each other by "holding boundaries" aka  tattle tailing anytime someone breaks any of the hundreds of rules.  

So groups over, now its a recess and a study hall. Dinner. Then a study hall/freetime and after that a Evening group (I forgot what they call it.) People check-in, give feedback (tattle tale), and then write down a some shit about their day.  Then off to bed.

The schedule at gateway is like that Monday through Thursday.  Fridays have more groups and activities. Saturdays and Sundays we would go skiing, rock climbing, or to the recreation center.

Random shit: A lot of the time we could not go to the recreation center or out of the house due to one of the boys throwing a tantrum.  There is a strict 1-4 staff-student ratio.  All conversations must be heard by a staff "staff earshot"--- some staff were bigger dicks about that rule than others.

Phases:

Orientation: first week or two of arriving. No book reading, no social call with parents, can't talk to students Under Mapping with trust, no playing games without a staff.  Can't be alone ever.

Mapping: Can play games, can't talk to students Under Mapping with trust, no books besides self-help, 10 minute social call with parents (with staff on phone), on campus parent visits.

Mapping with Trust: Takes a month to 6 months to make. 15 min social calls w/ staff.  Can read books. Can talk to any student. 6 hour off campus parent visits.

Cairns: 2 months to 6 7 months to make. Can "roam" with staff permission (walk around house alone). Walks outside of house. 20 minute parent calls without staff. Ipod. Overnight visits. Go on facebook with therapist.

Path: No shift sheet. Longer Parent calls. Can talk to the public.

Gateway: Final phase. Other random privileges.

Punishments:
Block: Piece of paper with punishment on it.  You swear= you write a paper. Punishment up to staff discretion. 4 blocks=off phase.
Off Phase: Can only talk to the upper phases, lose some privileges.
Off track: if you mess up.  Can't talk to anyone even staff. Sometimes kept in room all day with a staff. Have to do assignments to get back on track. Can be put off track for going on the internet, fighting staff, relapsing, or constant negativity. Basically a solitary/segregation punishment.



Finally: So that was probably a shit ton to read. I probably left a bunch out.  These type of programs put the parents against their child.  You don't know what to do with your kid so you sent them away, so who do you trust? The therapist or the kid?  The therapist will try to keep your child as long as possible and even suggest a Transitional Living Program if your child is not committed to being sober.

My aftermath. I was at Gateway for six months. I made the Cairns phase but left the program "off-track" as I had been involved in an incident a week before.  I threatened to leave the program when put off track as I was 18. My therapist called the Transitional Living I was supposed to go to and had them tell me I would not be accepted if I left gateway before my release date a week later. My parents would not let me come home.  Well two months down the line I had been at the Transitional Living and was told I would have to stay 4 months longer.  So I left and went on a drug binge. I was sent to a wilderness again. Now I live at home a smoke marijuana a bunch, and do not work or go to college as of yet.   If you're rich Gateway is good daycare/jail and can lead to more money down the drain.  Is your "marijuana addicted teen" worth 150k? I think not....
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: darkcloud47 on January 19, 2011, 04:52:01 PM
as a past gateway student, i know a lot about the school. it is an awful place, the staff are poorly trained and never legitimately cared about my, or any of the students well being. they are typically rude and controlling of the students. Restraints happen frequently, and students are pinned to the ground, crying out in pain as their arm is twisted back.  Many staff gave a student shit for having turrets because they didn't believe him.  at 6:30 in the morning you have to wake up and are ordered to exercise by grave staff, who care even less then day staff. Punishments are frequent and exaggerated. If someone tries to go on email, the punishment is at least a few days in their room, without being "allowed" to talk to anyone. Completely disproportionate.  My therapist has Gateways best interests in mind, not mine. I would specifically ask for help with my issues, and i would have my questions evaded. I tried to tell my parents what was going on, but my 10 min a week phone call was listened to, and when i let a gateway"secret" slip, the staff would hang up the phone, and i would get some type of consequence, on the grounds of being "negative" letters were also read by therapists before they were sent out.  Eventually, I did what I had to in order to get out. I had to enforce rules upon other students to advanced in the humiliating phase system.  I left with no friends to speak of, but was considered some kind of "success" in the program. I am completely shamed by my experience there and by all the things i had to do to leave. My therapist kept me way longer than necessary, then stuck me in a "transition" Gateway program for another 6 months, on top of my previous 8 and a half. When I finally talked to my parents about reality, it was too late, for the transition program has a 6 month contract. This entire thing was hands down the worst experience of my life. I don't trust anyone, I have very little self- worth, and am depressed and anxious now more then ever. What do I need? More treatment for horrible treatment experiences? How ridiculous.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Redditorsubmod on March 26, 2011, 11:23:36 PM
Is this the Gateway that Matthew Woolley, PhD is associated with?
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Redditorsubmod on March 26, 2011, 11:26:45 PM
Quote from: "NYC_Mom"
This educational consultant was recommended two me twice, once in 2007 by a psychologist and then again in 2010 by my son’s psychologist. Based on his background, she knew he had significant learning issues and a history of anxiety and depression. After meeting with him she identified him as a “soft” kid and recommended a therapeutic wilderness program.  She then worked with the wilderness program team and recommended Gateway Academy.

Was your Ed Con Lexy Spett or with Bodin Associates?  They don't call these people Ed Con Artists for nothing.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Redditorsubmod on March 26, 2011, 11:44:50 PM
Quote from: "Out of options"
I am not in marketing and am indeed a parent with a child who has suffered severe rage, depression and anxiety that threatened his life. . . . It gave my son a supportive, safe environment, with about 20 hours of therapy a week plus in-house high school and a great outdoor athletic programme.  Family therapy benefited my son, my wife and me and our other sons.  Our lead therapist has remained in touch with us since our son left Gateway and cares about our family.  Is Fornits so cynical that there is no room for belief that there are parents and therapists who truly care and do their best without being part of a conspiracy of evil?

I call bullshit  on "20 hours of therapy a week."  A kid in Gateway usually gets 1 hour of individual therapy a week, which is the minimum requirement by the State of Utah for residential therapeutic facilities.  Kids can go as much as 8 weeks or more without individual therapy.   They wind up being in 'Group' possibly 20 hours a week; but, if you really are a parent who had a kid at Gateway, then you sat through 'Group' when you visited your kid. If you think 'Group' is therapy after having sat through it even once, you are an idiot.

As far as "in-house high school" goes, if you call having the instructor handing the kid a manila envelope full of worksheets and then drinking a soda while reading a newspaper the rest of class session "high school" you are an idiot.  You also forgot to mention that your child did not graduate from high school per se, but had to get a GED as his high school diploma.

And "a great outdoor athletic programme" is a complete joke. Hiking the kids in single file over to a city park once or twice a week doesn't count as 'great.'

There is no way that you are a real parent who had a child at Gateway. You have to be an industry shill.
Title: Dr. Matthew Woolley aka Dr. Matt
Post by: Ursus on March 27, 2011, 12:22:56 AM
Quote from: "Redditorsubmod"
Is this the Gateway that Matthew Woolley, PhD is associated with?
There is no mention of him on their website, nor on Struggling Teens. But that doesn't necessarily rule out Gateway Academy's making use of Dr. Woolley's services as an "independent mental health professional."

Fwiw, there *is* a Dr. Matthew Woolley, psychologist, currently practicing in the Salt Lake City area. He even has a website:

Ask Dr. Matt Woolley (http://http://www.askdrmatt.com/)

(http://http://www.askdrmatt.com/sites/askdrmatt/images/matt.jpg)[/list]
There are answers, let me help you find them.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Dr. Matt[/list][/size]
Title: Re: Dr. Matthew Woolley
Post by: Ursus on March 27, 2011, 01:28:35 AM
From another page of Woolley's website:

About Dr. Matt (http://http://www.askdrmatt.com/node/1)[/list]
About Dr. Matt
Dr. Matt Woolley is a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah and a private practitioner. His training and current practice have an emphasis on the treatment of children, adolescents, and families.

Clinical Practice
Dr. Woolley is trained in the use of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and specializes in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders. Additionally, he has a strong interest in techniques of applied positive psychology to assist clients in discovering strengths as well as areas of improvement to maximize an individual's potential for change. By utilizing proven methods (Best Practices) individuals and families are more effective in making personal changes, meeting goals, and improving their relationships.

What Else?
Dr. Woolley is trained in the psychological assessment of learning disabilities, ADHD, personality and psychopathology, and other cognitive disorders and impairments. For further background information regarding Dr. Woolley's training and experience please click the link below to view his Curriculum Vitae.[/list][/size]
Unfortunately, I was not able to find the above noted link for Wooley's CV. I was, however, able to locate it on another website. This latter site appears to be, or at least was at one time, his private practice website.
http://www.profamilyresources.com/vitae.html (http://www.profamilyresources.com/vitae.html)

From a separate page linked to the main page of Matthew Woolley's CV, here are the three most recent entries noted under his professional clinical experience:

PROFESSIONAL & CLINICAL EXPERIENCE: (http://http://www.profamilyresources.com/PROF_CLINICAL_EXPERIENCE.html)[/list]
Faculty Instructor, Clinical:  Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah
Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health Clinic
650 Komas Drive, Suite 208
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
October 2004 to Present
Duties: Responsible for providing psychological services, including individual and family therapy and psychological assessment to children, adolescents, and young adults and their families on an outpatient basis. Duties also include providing lectures on the topics of psychotherapy and psychological assessment to psychiatry medical students and residents.

Adjunct Psychologist: Department of Psychology, University of Utah's Neuropsychiatric Institute
University Neuropsychiatric Institute
501 Chipeta Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
October 2004 to Present
Duties: Responsible for providing psychological services, including individual and family therapy and psychological assessment to children, adolescents, and adults in an inpatient psychiatric hospital on an as needed basis. Duties also include providing lectures on the topics of psychotherapy and psychological assessment to psychology doctoral interns.

Post-Doctoral Resident: University of Utah's Neuropsychiatric Institute
University Neuropsychiatric Institute
501 Chipeta Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
October 2003 to October 2004
Duties: Responsible for providing psychological services, including individual and family therapy and psychological assessment to children and adolescents and their families on an inpatient psychiatric hospital unit as well as for patients attending outpatient day treatment. Duties also include performing on-call therapy and psychological assessments for four adult inpatient psychiatric units.[/list][/size]
=> Does Gateway Academy ever make use of "psychological services, including individual and family therapy and therapy and psychological assessment to children, adolescents, and young adults and their families on an outpatient basis" from the University of Utah's Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health Clinic?

=> And, for that matter, does Gateway Academy ever make use of "psychological services, including individual and family therapy and psychological assessment to children, adolescents, and adults in an inpatient psychiatric hospital on an as needed basis" from the University of Utah's University Neuropsychiatric Institute?
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Redditorsubmod on March 27, 2011, 03:00:45 AM
It is my understanding that Gateway does not have any employed PhD psychologists. I understand they refer the parents of students outside for psychologists.

For a while, Jeff Hintze was an independent contractor with Gateway. Dr. Hintze had a Ph.D. in Psychology, but it was the wrong type of degree to allow him to be licensed as a psychologist in Utah. He was licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist. That has been a long time ago. I think he was fired by Gateway two or three years ago.

At least a couple of the owners of Gateway are LCSWs. The kids all laughed about them being given peanut butter sandwiches to eat while the owners were driving porsches. They thought it was funny that the porsches would disappear when a parent visit was scheduled.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: kickthedeadhorse on May 13, 2011, 10:44:21 PM

:flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:
DO NOT SEND YOUR SON HERE!!!!

I am another gateway survivor, and i can tell you that this place is psychologically traumatizing.
The staff and therapists use a harsh, shock therapy approach.
There is no love here, no care, and horrible individual food policies to accommodate dietary needs.
The verbal blackmail, brainwashing, extortion and pontificating that goes on here on a daily basis is nauseating.
The mornings here send shivers, the nights end in sweat and frustration from being misunderstood, and degraded.
Finally,
One of the students that i was in gateway academy with shot himself in the head a few weeks after getting out of gateway.
Please save your child from this Nazi infested holocaust.

Thanks & Good Luck,
Y
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: kickthedeadhorse on May 13, 2011, 11:12:19 PM
Quote from: "rayjax"
Does anyone have any information about Gateway Academy in Salt Lake City or Draper Utah, or about Melissa Hickman, Julie Barbero, Karen Flynn, or Jeffrey Hintze?

:flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:  :flame:
DO NOT SEND YOUR SON HERE!!!!

I am another gateway survivor, and i can tell you that this place is psychologically traumatizing.
The staff and therapists use a harsh, shock therapy approach.
There is no love here, no care, and horrible individual food policies to accommodate dietary needs.
The verbal blackmail, brainwashing, extortion and pontificating that goes on here on a daily basis is nauseating.
The mornings here send shivers, the nights end in sweat and frustration from being misunderstood, and degraded.
Finally,
One of the students that i was in gateway academy with shot himself in the head a few weeks after getting out of gateway.
Please save your child from this Nazi infested holocaust.

Thanks & Good Luck,
Y
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: water on December 07, 2011, 10:03:56 PM
I don't know where to begin. I have read the past few posts, and almost cannot believe the experiences some of my fellow Gateway-ers say they've had. I'm am really sorry your experiences were so bad. I know how it feels not to have some last resort program do no good for you, and it is an awful feeling. I'm sorry.

That being said I would like to put in my own two cents. It is true Gateway is not for everybody. Let me outline, through my experience of going through the program (and even briefly working there) my thoughts on the matter. As there is no other means but to believe me through my own word, I would like to say I will be as unbiased and I can be, which I think can be objective.

1) Your child must have a strong sense of yearning to get better (whether shown inside or not.)
2) Your child must not be overly aggressive.
3) Your child must have some sense of social skills within their conscience.
4) Your child should be agreeable to some extent in character, since he will be living in such close quarters with other students.

These are the major things I can think of, and here I will elaborate what necessitates each.

1) No matter what the staff says or the help the therapists offer, or the medication the psychologist prescribes, if your son has not even shown an ounce of a desire to get better, again, no matter what is done, he will not improve. I would again like to reiterate these are just thoughts, as much as the other poster's are. In a program so in depth as Gateway, each helping hand can be interpreted real easily as an attack on character, or personal rights, or whatever justifies they're anger. I have seen many students drown and go down in a spiral this way, as once you do bad, it's real easy to continue to do so because of the punishment system that is involved. It is just too easy to think, "I'm doing do fucking bad, there's no point to trying in this place anymore." Now that I think about it, as crude and unfortunate as this is, this program is almost a luck of the draw, of whether your son is compatible or not. If he is, then he WILL get better, in one way or more or maybe even turn out a new person. But on the other hand, as behavioral disorders and other problems are so complex, the program may only scratch the surface. In other ways, kids may even turn out worse, but if this is the case, he will most likely be taken out of the program by management because it is so obvious the place isn't working for him.

With even an ounce of a yearning to get better, the programs offers -- and almost forces -- tools for the student to improve. It is largely a process dependent on the son. Your son should also be patient to a degree, because it does take time for the rules and other things to settle in actually have a chance for it to improve him. I will say this with concreteness, however; the management and staff, at least most of them, do care for the kids. However, let me also add this. The staff changes  in quite a quick term, due to their own educational reasons and such, that this too is a luck of the draw. If your son takes a liking to a particular staff and the staff seems to really help him, this one staff can potentially make all the difference. Remember, the staff there, however temporary, are the ones supervising and guiding the students to follow the rules. They are the ones that do directly influence the students, other than the other students themselves. This also is almost a luck of the draw, that is, the other students there. I learned as much from the staff, maybe even more, from the other students. They taught me qualities I admired in them; they taught me about their home towns, their unique skills; their whole being. Remember the students spend 24/7 with the other students. They live and breathe the other students. They eat together, sleep together, time each other's showers, make sure they follow rules, and almost a militaristic comradeship is born between them. It can also act in reverse. I've seen many students not succeed in the program because  they had trouble with one other students -- either a feud/nemesis or maybe a buddy to ruminate and retaliate against 'the system' with.

It is, unfortunately, largely luck, again. I will try to highlight aspects that were not concerned with luck however, pertaining to the program.

2) If your son is overly aggressive, and against any form of 'superior' being, and hates all living things, etc. etc., it may be difficult for him to adjust in a setting consisting mostly of rules, rules, rules, and some more rules. However, in between the spaces of rules there is a community, a culture built of a relational web between the house, the staff, the students, the therapists, and time. The long period of impending ten months, or just about, or just over, or who knows how long. This is scary stuff. My first day, I was pooping in my pants, metaphorically speaking of course. Imagine being faced with a prison, surrounded by more than a dozen unfamiliar faces, and even more unfamiliar rules, and even more unfamiliar adult faces, and maybe add to the fact the last few months were spent possibly in a wilderness program or another in-patient program. It is enough to make Clint Eastwood shed a fearful tear. It is enough to make him squeak at least.

To go back to the topic of aggression, verbal aggression or physical aggression is the easiest way to fail in this program. To have such a heavy problem that the student can't get (in any sense) in touch with himself is the worst thing I've witnessed in the place. It is so sad I feel something in my chest thinking about it now. One good indicator is, if the student has improved during the stay at wilderness or the previous program before Gateway, there is a good chance, I'm guessing here, that he will continue to improve at Gateway. Gateway is more of a soft program than other inpatient places that seem like wards compared to it, but it is quite condensed either way. If your son is retaliatory and has no desire to get better, and quite frankly, is immature, he will not succeed at Gateway.

Gateway program in my thoughts, requires a disciplined student, almost so much so that it is scary to think they request that from a person so troubled as to have to be sent here. But at the same time perhaps that is the point -- to implore discipline to your son that you could not. To hope that someone, or something else could get through to your son in a way that you could not. Discipline to avoid trouble, to get used to the rules, to somehow get better, to somehow enjoy even the slightest of joys (however slim) offered in the program, to make best of the situation, to make healthy friendships in light of the circumstances: This is almost too much to ask for a student. But to those who can handle it, they will transform. Maybe in a small way, but for me, it was in small enough way to become a literal gateway to trying to solve my problems. It gave me a platform to leap from, to build upon, to get to higher ground.

3) and 4) Your child must be to some extent agreeable. Other wise, he will not make friends here, and without being liked or liking another as a friend here in this program is detrimental. It can become very lonely, very easily here in this program. It is real easy to say to oneself, "These people suck, I want to be with my old friends, I don't need this place, no one likes me here anyway, I'm getting out no matter what." As normal as this is in the beginning stages, this thought process will continue if he doesn't make friends, or if he doesn't get along with the others. In fact, not getting along with others most certainly compounds the issue. Even one friend, better yet two, can make a huge difference in accepting the program as barely a necessity. And once that door is open within his mind, somehow he becomes accustomed to the program, and he gradually sees himself rising in phases, and quite faster than he realizes, has graduated and witnessed a tear flowing from his father's eye, a tear of relief and joy. I'm describing my own circumstance here, of course, not everybody's, but just mine, and a few other students as well, whose graduations I've witnessed.

I don't know a lot about the program from a management perspective, but only from an emotional one, and that tends to be subjective, which I apologize for, but that's how my mind works, and the above I think is my attempt at putting those to words. One should be extremely cautious of placing their son anywhere, but at the same time, they should think of the risk of not putting their son anywhere. For me, it took a suicide attempt, an hospital in-patient program, a teen in-patient program, an out-patient program, and me quitting the out-patient program, and a few forced visits to an educational consultant for me to suddenly be forced awake at 2 am in the morning to fly to Utah state, where at the time I had no idea was on the map. This wasn't to gateway though, it was to another, more extensive in-patient program. Then finally I went to gateway. In less words, it took quite a while for my destination to be chosen, almost I think by Chaos Theory more than anything, to have, in my opinion, the good fortune to land in Gateway. I was relatively calm, had severe depression, had severe social anxiety, and some OCD and slight ADD I was not aware about at the time. I came out with a few close bonds and experiences in nature I probably can't forget even if I wanted to; canyoneering, whitewater rafting, hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, bouldering, camping, snowboarding, and many other activities with companions I lived with and breathed with for ten months. Of course many graduated, many were kicked out, and many new ones [students] came in, until I found myself to be the most-veteran there. I was lucky enough to be among those where the program succeeded, persay, in that I graduated with one block the whole program and was fortunate enough to get to Gateway phase. The rules of the program were succinctly and trivially detailed in a previous post, and I thank him for that, as those were similar guidelines to the situation I was put through. The rules do change, however, and so do the countless other factors, for better or for worse. The program does have a marginal amount of flex on account for every student, as each is radically different most times.

It is true, the Richard Simmons did get on my nerves. I cringe every time I hear "Peggy Sue" thanks to the experience.

I think what kept me different from the other kids there was my strong desire to improve, to know I could improve, maybe, if I tried hard enough. I cried many times, I thought of death many times, I went crazy in my head a couple times, I lost a sense of self and control of myself as well. It was largely a battle with myself. Luckily I was disciplined enough toward myself where i had relative ease following the rules. I actually didn't mind them that much at all. I was also not too greedy either, which helped allow things to flow around me more than create waves. -- life in Gateway was in many ways tough enough as it was to create any new drama.

Now that i think back on it, there was just an over-abundance of time. And to a person who isn't dedicated, that is as deadly as a two-sided scalpel. Essentially ten months of time, other kids with problems, random adults, a some-what qualified (but definitely dedicated) therapist (although this position too could change [and let's face it, the therapist is a HUGE part of the success or recovery],) random outings (sometimes lasting a week straight,) long group therapy sessions almost every day, more time, eating around a huge table, chores, time, school, time, time, sleep, time. I'm not listing the schedule here, I'm trying to express the significance of emptiness one may feel at the program. It's not that nothing is being done, it is that it feels as if everything being done is nothing, as life is largely routine, and you're directed to activities and the next part of the day like a herd of sheep. It is what the student decides to do with the time he has to himself, and to self-preservation within the program, that largely dictates his success, I think. I feel like I'm using pretty words here with little concrete meaning, and I think I'm absolutely right; my words have little meaning. It's almost as if I want to say, you'll never know until you put your child behind the facilities walls, whether he will 'make it' or not. It's quite an expensive risk, to further confuse the matter. Is your situation dire enough to constitute the risk? I suppose I'll leave this post with that question, as I could go on and on about this place, as it seems I have already droned. So; is your situation dire enough to constitute the risk?

Let me add one last point; the managers of the program I believe will stay the same, despite the frequent changes in other member of the faculty. And I honestly know very, very little about them. At times, it is as if they don't quite care directly what the progress within the program is, but this is purely speculation based on the fact that the managers -- or should I say owners -- are rarely on site of the facility. While I was there, early in my stay, they were running a decent place. I suppose that is all I can say.

Note: I was at the Salt Lake house. The "Victorian" house. The house makes a large difference, more than one would expect, but that is also speculation, as I haven't really spent any significant portion of the program at the other house. I could say this however; the large Draper "ranch" house seemed a lot more "institution" rather than "home" (I spent one night there, as well as many, many short visits) while the Salt Lake house's almost too-confined quarters made for more rapid social interaction, which could be a good or bad thing, but it was more home-like. It does many times feel quite stuffy, however.

It does pain to me stop reminiscing of those days spent in there, as it was an intense experience and there's so much more to say, but that may very well be my OCD speaking. Okay good bye.

P.S.; these are opinions, my thoughts, but my experience is as real as the pulse in your heart. Take it for a grain of salt; better yet, a pinch of salt; maybe even a bag of salt, if you are so kind as to let these few words guide you in anyway. Agree or disagree, thank you for the giving me your time in reading. I hope at least one of you gets something out of this post -- I sure did.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Xelebes on December 07, 2011, 11:32:47 PM
Quote
1) Your child must have a strong sense of yearning to get better (whether shown inside or not.)
2) Your child must not be overly aggressive.
3) Your child must have some sense of social skills within their conscience.
4) Your child should be agreeable to some extent in character, since he will be living in such close quarters with other students.

I find these conditions highly suspect.

The child must yearn to get better.  Away from his parents.  Away from his friends.  Away from his colleagues.  With new colleagues.  With new family.  With new friends.  Do you see the issue?

The child must not be overly aggressive?  Is there any effort to discern the aggressive and have a plan to deal with them appropriately?  IS there any effort to say that something might be beyond your control, that something is beyond your capacity to deal with?  Are there individuals like this who are mixed with the non aggressive patients?

The child must have some sense of social skills within their conscience?  What does that mean?  That they must be capable of attaining social skills?  Are you accepting autistic students while holding that condition?  What about if the pre-concieved notion of what a social skill is not matched?  What are the social skills demanded?

The child should be agreeable?  Or do you mean pliable?  Plastic?  What does agreeable mean?  Does that mean the child is not troubled and does not have addictions?  What in the good world does that even mean?  Agreeable?  This is supposed to be a therapeutic community?
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: Anonymous on December 08, 2011, 12:11:32 AM
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Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: cmack on December 08, 2011, 12:13:58 AM
Quote from: "water"
I don't know where to begin. I have read the past few posts, and almost cannot believe the experiences some of my fellow Gateway-ers say they've had. I'm am really sorry your experiences were so bad. I know how it feels not to have some last resort program do no good for you, and it is an awful feeling. I'm sorry.

That being said I would like to put in my own two cents. It is true Gateway is not for everybody. Let me outline, through my experience of going through the program (and even briefly working there) my thoughts on the matter. As there is no other means but to believe me through my own word, I would like to say I will be as unbiased and I can be, which I think can be objective.

1) Your child must have a strong sense of yearning to get better (whether shown inside or not.)
2) Your child must not be overly aggressive.
3) Your child must have some sense of social skills within their conscience.
4) Your child should be agreeable to some extent in character, since he will be living in such close quarters with other students.

These are the major things I can think of, and here I will elaborate what necessitates each.

1) No matter what the staff says or the help the therapists offer, or the medication the psychologist prescribes, if your son has not even shown an ounce of a desire to get better, again, no matter what is done, he will not improve. I would again like to reiterate these are just thoughts, as much as the other poster's are. In a program so in depth as Gateway, each helping hand can be interpreted real easily as an attack on character, or personal rights, or whatever justifies they're anger. I have seen many students drown and go down in a spiral this way, as once you do bad, it's real easy to continue to do so because of the punishment system that is involved. It is just too easy to think, "I'm doing do fucking bad, there's no point to trying in this place anymore." Now that I think about it, as crude and unfortunate as this is, this program is almost a luck of the draw, of whether your son is compatible or not. If he is, then he WILL get better, in one way or more or maybe even turn out a new person. But on the other hand, as behavioral disorders and other problems are so complex, the program may only scratch the surface. In other ways, kids may even turn out worse, but if this is the case, he will most likely be taken out of the program by management because it is so obvious the place isn't working for him.

With even an ounce of a yearning to get better, the programs offers -- and almost forces -- tools for the student to improve. It is largely a process dependent on the son. Your son should also be patient to a degree, because it does take time for the rules and other things to settle in actually have a chance for it to improve him. I will say this with concreteness, however; the management and staff, at least most of them, do care for the kids. However, let me also add this. The staff changes  in quite a quick term, due to their own educational reasons and such, that this too is a luck of the draw. If your son takes a liking to a particular staff and the staff seems to really help him, this one staff can potentially make all the difference. Remember, the staff there, however temporary, are the ones supervising and guiding the students to follow the rules. They are the ones that do directly influence the students, other than the other students themselves. This also is almost a luck of the draw, that is, the other students there. I learned as much from the staff, maybe even more, from the other students. They taught me qualities I admired in them; they taught me about their home towns, their unique skills; their whole being. Remember the students spend 24/7 with the other students. They live and breathe the other students. They eat together, sleep together, time each other's showers, make sure they follow rules, and almost a militaristic comradeship is born between them. It can also act in reverse. I've seen many students not succeed in the program because  they had trouble with one other students -- either a feud/nemesis or maybe a buddy to ruminate and retaliate against 'the system' with.

It is, unfortunately, largely luck, again. I will try to highlight aspects that were not concerned with luck however, pertaining to the program.

2) If your son is overly aggressive, and against any form of 'superior' being, and hates all living things, etc. etc., it may be difficult for him to adjust in a setting consisting mostly of rules, rules, rules, and some more rules. However, in between the spaces of rules there is a community, a culture built of a relational web between the house, the staff, the students, the therapists, and time. The long period of impending ten months, or just about, or just over, or who knows how long. This is scary stuff. My first day, I was pooping in my pants, metaphorically speaking of course. Imagine being faced with a prison, surrounded by more than a dozen unfamiliar faces, and even more unfamiliar rules, and even more unfamiliar adult faces, and maybe add to the fact the last few months were spent possibly in a wilderness program or another in-patient program. It is enough to make Clint Eastwood shed a fearful tear. It is enough to make him squeak at least.

To go back to the topic of aggression, verbal aggression or physical aggression is the easiest way to fail in this program. To have such a heavy problem that the student can't get (in any sense) in touch with himself is the worst thing I've witnessed in the place. It is so sad I feel something in my chest thinking about it now. One good indicator is, if the student has improved during the stay at wilderness or the previous program before Gateway, there is a good chance, I'm guessing here, that he will continue to improve at Gateway. Gateway is more of a soft program than other inpatient places that seem like wards compared to it, but it is quite condensed either way. If your son is retaliatory and has no desire to get better, and quite frankly, is immature, he will not succeed at Gateway.

Gateway program in my thoughts, requires a disciplined student, almost so much so that it is scary to think they request that from a person so troubled as to have to be sent here. But at the same time perhaps that is the point -- to implore discipline to your son that you could not. To hope that someone, or something else could get through to your son in a way that you could not. Discipline to avoid trouble, to get used to the rules, to somehow get better, to somehow enjoy even the slightest of joys (however slim) offered in the program, to make best of the situation, to make healthy friendships in light of the circumstances: This is almost too much to ask for a student. But to those who can handle it, they will transform. Maybe in a small way, but for me, it was in small enough way to become a literal gateway to trying to solve my problems. It gave me a platform to leap from, to build upon, to get to higher ground.

3) and 4) Your child must be to some extent agreeable. Other wise, he will not make friends here, and without being liked or liking another as a friend here in this program is detrimental. It can become very lonely, very easily here in this program. It is real easy to say to oneself, "These people suck, I want to be with my old friends, I don't need this place, no one likes me here anyway, I'm getting out no matter what." As normal as this is in the beginning stages, this thought process will continue if he doesn't make friends, or if he doesn't get along with the others. In fact, not getting along with others most certainly compounds the issue. Even one friend, better yet two, can make a huge difference in accepting the program as barely a necessity. And once that door is open within his mind, somehow he becomes accustomed to the program, and he gradually sees himself rising in phases, and quite faster than he realizes, has graduated and witnessed a tear flowing from his father's eye, a tear of relief and joy. I'm describing my own circumstance here, of course, not everybody's, but just mine, and a few other students as well, whose graduations I've witnessed.

I don't know a lot about the program from a management perspective, but only from an emotional one, and that tends to be subjective, which I apologize for, but that's how my mind works, and the above I think is my attempt at putting those to words. One should be extremely cautious of placing their son anywhere, but at the same time, they should think of the risk of not putting their son anywhere. For me, it took a suicide attempt, an hospital in-patient program, a teen in-patient program, an out-patient program, and me quitting the out-patient program, and a few forced visits to an educational consultant for me to suddenly be forced awake at 2 am in the morning to fly to Utah state, where at the time I had no idea was on the map. This wasn't to gateway though, it was to another, more extensive in-patient program. Then finally I went to gateway. In less words, it took quite a while for my destination to be chosen, almost I think by Chaos Theory more than anything, to have, in my opinion, the good fortune to land in Gateway. I was relatively calm, had severe depression, had severe social anxiety, and some OCD and slight ADD I was not aware about at the time. I came out with a few close bonds and experiences in nature I probably can't forget even if I wanted to; canyoneering, whitewater rafting, hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, bouldering, camping, snowboarding, and many other activities with companions I lived with and breathed with for ten months. Of course many graduated, many were kicked out, and many new ones [students] came in, until I found myself to be the most-veteran there. I was lucky enough to be among those where the program succeeded, persay, in that I graduated with one block the whole program and was fortunate enough to get to Gateway phase. The rules of the program were succinctly and trivially detailed in a previous post, and I thank him for that, as those were similar guidelines to the situation I was put through. The rules do change, however, and so do the countless other factors, for better or for worse. The program does have a marginal amount of flex on account for every student, as each is radically different most times.

It is true, the Richard Simmons did get on my nerves. I cringe every time I hear "Peggy Sue" thanks to the experience.

I think what kept me different from the other kids there was my strong desire to improve, to know I could improve, maybe, if I tried hard enough. I cried many times, I thought of death many times, I went crazy in my head a couple times, I lost a sense of self and control of myself as well. It was largely a battle with myself. Luckily I was disciplined enough toward myself where i had relative ease following the rules. I actually didn't mind them that much at all. I was also not too greedy either, which helped allow things to flow around me more than create waves. -- life in Gateway was in many ways tough enough as it was to create any new drama.

Now that i think back on it, there was just an over-abundance of time. And to a person who isn't dedicated, that is as deadly as a two-sided scalpel. Essentially ten months of time, other kids with problems, random adults, a some-what qualified (but definitely dedicated) therapist (although this position too could change [and let's face it, the therapist is a HUGE part of the success or recovery],) random outings (sometimes lasting a week straight,) long group therapy sessions almost every day, more time, eating around a huge table, chores, time, school, time, time, sleep, time. I'm not listing the schedule here, I'm trying to express the significance of emptiness one may feel at the program. It's not that nothing is being done, it is that it feels as if everything being done is nothing, as life is largely routine, and you're directed to activities and the next part of the day like a herd of sheep. It is what the student decides to do with the time he has to himself, and to self-preservation within the program, that largely dictates his success, I think. I feel like I'm using pretty words here with little concrete meaning, and I think I'm absolutely right; my words have little meaning. It's almost as if I want to say, you'll never know until you put your child behind the facilities walls, whether he will 'make it' or not. It's quite an expensive risk, to further confuse the matter. Is your situation dire enough to constitute the risk? I suppose I'll leave this post with that question, as I could go on and on about this place, as it seems I have already droned. So; is your situation dire enough to constitute the risk?

Let me add one last point; the managers of the program I believe will stay the same, despite the frequent changes in other member of the faculty. And I honestly know very, very little about them. At times, it is as if they don't quite care directly what the progress within the program is, but this is purely speculation based on the fact that the managers -- or should I say owners -- are rarely on site of the facility. While I was there, early in my stay, they were running a decent place. I suppose that is all I can say.

Note: I was at the Salt Lake house. The "Victorian" house. The house makes a large difference, more than one would expect, but that is also speculation, as I haven't really spent any significant portion of the program at the other house. I could say this however; the large Draper "ranch" house seemed a lot more "institution" rather than "home" (I spent one night there, as well as many, many short visits) while the Salt Lake house's almost too-confined quarters made for more rapid social interaction, which could be a good or bad thing, but it was more home-like. It does many times feel quite stuffy, however.

It does pain to me stop reminiscing of those days spent in there, as it was an intense experience and there's so much more to say, but that may very well be my OCD speaking. Okay good bye.

P.S.; these are opinions, my thoughts, but my experience is as real as the pulse in your heart. Take it for a grain of salt; better yet, a pinch of salt; maybe even a bag of salt, if you are so kind as to let these few words guide you in anyway. Agree or disagree, thank you for the giving me your time in reading. I hope at least one of you gets something out of this post -- I sure did.

Welcome to fornits. Thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Gateway Academy Salt Lake City Utah
Post by: AuntieEm2 on December 08, 2011, 11:26:49 AM
Quote
1) Your child must have a strong sense of yearning to get better (whether shown inside or not.)
2) Your child must not be overly aggressive.
3) Your child must have some sense of social skills within their conscience.
4) Your child should be agreeable to some extent in character, since he will be living in such close quarters with other students.


....aaaand if your child possesses these characteristics, then the rationalization for locking them up and isolating them far from loved ones would be...what?

Don't abandon your child with stragers in a strange land. Find help close to home.

Auntie Em