Wilderness Programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No local mental health day program wouls take my kid because she wouldnt attend voluntarily. She didnt qualify for a psych bed---once we boarded in the ER for four days waiting for a bed and the only thing abailable was the state
hospital in Staunton, which chemically restrains kids with heavy antipsychotics and discharges ASAP. Our county was wiling to pay for RTC but no one would take her. We didn't do wilderness but if you haven't been in a place where there is literally no help for your child, you have no idea.

I'm really sorry. I've had struggles with my kid but know it could be much worse. Hugs.

I would love the pp who is anti-wilderness could share some of the great alternatives available to this family. Please, share.

In my brother’s case, he literally just needed a parent to pay attention to him. Possibly individual therapy. That’s it.

And you are being totally illogical here. Just because you feel there are no other alternatives does not make an abusive quasi-imprisonment ok.

The point is that just because one program was abusive does not mean an entire industry is bad.

And, if you are right that your brother just needed attention, then it might not have been the right placement for him. But I honestly can’t imagine a sibling actually understanding the reasons for such a complicated decision and you might be minimizing your brother’s situation and blaming your parents unfairly because you miss him. I am sure that my other kids don’t know the entirety of the circumstances and events that led to me placing my son. That would have been too big of a burden for them to carry.

At this point, concluding that the “troubled teen” industry is uniformly bad is totally reasonable. That doesn’t mean there are not good wilderness programs like Outward Bound and Nolls, and medically appropriate residential therepeutic centers. But yeah, any program that has the following characteristics is bad:

- children sent against their will
- children physically restrained
- children not given physical privacy
- children not allowed to communicate freely with parents
- a “tough love” or group-confrontation like approach
- absence of correct ratio of mental health professionals
- physical punishment/discomfort used as a purported therepeutic tool
- no accounts of abusive behavior online

and of course, your are 100% wrong about my brother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No local mental health day program wouls take my kid because she wouldnt attend voluntarily. She didnt qualify for a psych bed---once we boarded in the ER for four days waiting for a bed and the only thing abailable was the state
hospital in Staunton, which chemically restrains kids with heavy antipsychotics and discharges ASAP. Our county was wiling to pay for RTC but no one would take her. We didn't do wilderness but if you haven't been in a place where there is literally no help for your child, you have no idea.

I'm really sorry. I've had struggles with my kid but know it could be much worse. Hugs.

I would love the pp who is anti-wilderness could share some of the great alternatives available to this family. Please, share.

In my brother’s case, he literally just needed a parent to pay attention to him. Possibly individual therapy. That’s it.

And you are being totally illogical here. Just because you feel there are no other alternatives does not make an abusive quasi-imprisonment ok.

The point is that just because one program was abusive does not mean an entire industry is bad.

And, if you are right that your brother just needed attention, then it might not have been the right placement for him. But I honestly can’t imagine a sibling actually understanding the reasons for such a complicated decision and you might be minimizing your brother’s situation and blaming your parents unfairly because you miss him. I am sure that my other kids don’t know the entirety of the circumstances and events that led to me placing my son. That would have been too big of a burden for them to carry.

At this point, concluding that the “troubled teen” industry is uniformly bad is totally reasonable. That doesn’t mean there are not good wilderness programs like Outward Bound and Nolls, and medically appropriate residential therepeutic centers. But yeah, any program that has the following characteristics is bad:

- children sent against their will
- children physically restrained
- children not given physical privacy
- children not allowed to communicate freely with parents
- a “tough love” or group-confrontation like approach
- absence of correct ratio of mental health professionals
- physical punishment/discomfort used as a purported therepeutic tool
- no accounts of abusive behavior online

and of course, your are 100% wrong about my brother.

I completely disagree with a number of things on your list. Kids don’t voluntarily go into hospitals or programs. That is a parental decision. Physical restraint is sometimes necessary for safety. Limits on privacy can be necessary to prevent self harm and runaways. Unfettered access to communication with parents is u reasonable. Limitations on communication are necessary simply to get things done.

Also it would be impossible to find any program with no accounts of abuse online. People can post whatever they want. Verified abuse by regulators is another story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to all the parents posting about your positive experiences. I’ve been watching this thread all day. I’ve started so many responses but I just can’t seem to put into words how it feels to have no options. Even though DCUM is anon the judgement from people that cannot fathom the experiences that parents who turn to WT are going through angers me. So if you were able to post and be respectful, I appreciate it. Because I couldn’t do it.

you have options, though. there’s nothing forcing you to send your child to an abusive program.

Really? Please share the options. Of course you are aware that a parent doesn’t select WT as a first resort. So the options I’ve been through include community based therapist, inpatient therapy, PHP, IOP, wrap around in home service, and therapeutic boarding school. Please share what other options are available?

It's nonsensical to claim that your only option is an abusive option. If what you're saying is that you just need respite and wilderness is the only way you can get that where you can pay to have your child detained - that's at least honest. Given that these programs last 3 months it's absurd to claim that they are going to cure such severe mental health issues anyway. What I'm sure DOES happen is that these programs market themselves as the only option to desperate parents, though.

DP. I'm still waiting for you to list the options - please include the age/gender of your kid whose behavior was a danger to themselves and others and how the place/therapists you are recommending were able to help your kid. TIA

That is a nonsequitur. Something is not better than nothing.

In many cases it is. Where “nothing” could result in your family being killed, your child killing themselves or your child in jail, something is better than nothing.

I mean, if your motivation is literally that you need your kid to be in private detention for 3 months, at least that is honest. I hope you are informing these programs that your child is *homicidal.*

My motivation was treatment not warehousing. My son got excellent treatment and is doing well thanks to these type of programs. It was not private detention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No local mental health day program wouls take my kid because she wouldnt attend voluntarily. She didnt qualify for a psych bed---once we boarded in the ER for four days waiting for a bed and the only thing abailable was the state
hospital in Staunton, which chemically restrains kids with heavy antipsychotics and discharges ASAP. Our county was wiling to pay for RTC but no one would take her. We didn't do wilderness but if you haven't been in a place where there is literally no help for your child, you have no idea.

I'm really sorry. I've had struggles with my kid but know it could be much worse. Hugs.

I would love the pp who is anti-wilderness could share some of the great alternatives available to this family. Please, share.

In my brother’s case, he literally just needed a parent to pay attention to him. Possibly individual therapy. That’s it.

And you are being totally illogical here. Just because you feel there are no other alternatives does not make an abusive quasi-imprisonment ok.

The point is that just because one program was abusive does not mean an entire industry is bad.

And, if you are right that your brother just needed attention, then it might not have been the right placement for him. But I honestly can’t imagine a sibling actually understanding the reasons for such a complicated decision and you might be minimizing your brother’s situation and blaming your parents unfairly because you miss him. I am sure that my other kids don’t know the entirety of the circumstances and events that led to me placing my son. That would have been too big of a burden for them to carry.

At this point, concluding that the “troubled teen” industry is uniformly bad is totally reasonable. That doesn’t mean there are not good wilderness programs like Outward Bound and Nolls, and medically appropriate residential therepeutic centers. But yeah, any program that has the following characteristics is bad:

- children sent against their will
- children physically restrained
- children not given physical privacy
- children not allowed to communicate freely with parents
- a “tough love” or group-confrontation like approach
- absence of correct ratio of mental health professionals
- physical punishment/discomfort used as a purported therepeutic tool
- no accounts of abusive behavior online

and of course, your are 100% wrong about my brother.

Well let’s see…my kid has spent time at Shephard Pratt—one of the most renowned mental health hospitals.

children sent against their will—-yes this happens at SP. Children/teens don’t want to go there
- children physically restrained—-yes this happens at SP. Staff are trained how to do this safely
- children not given physical privacy—-yes this happens at SP. When you are a danger to yourself and others, observation is important
- children not allowed to communicate freely with parents—-yes this happens at SP. From my sons perspective, he was not allowed to freely communicate with me—-there are phone call hours when communication is allowed.
- a “tough love” or group-confrontation like approach —-yes this happens at SP. Being accountable for your actions is part of accepting that you have a part in your behavior
- absence of correct ratio of mental health professionals—-ha ha ha. Every facility that supports mental health is faced with this issue
- physical punishment/discomfort used as a purported therepeutic tool—again this is similar to your phone call requirement. Kids in these programs are properly outfitted. Sure, camping is less comfortable than a bed but that doesn’t mean it’s bad
- no accounts of abusive behavior online—-right—because everything you read online is true

I’m still waiting for someone to post the options available to parents that have tried all the traditional modalities. Since you feel so strongly that WT is inappropriate, list the alternatives. I won’t make you go back to pg 5 so I’ll list what I’ve tried again—-community based therapy, inpatient, IOP, PHP, wrap around service, and therapeutic boarding school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am also sorry OP that you are going through this. My nephew did Elements in Utah and it changed his life. We are a very loving, close family and researched it thoroughly. He was transported - we laughingly refer to it as “kid napping” now but that was not what it was. He would not have willingly gone so we had no choice. But the transport was thoughtfully done and prepared for. The experience turned him completely around. The discharge plan included therapeutic residential school where he absolutely thrived and he’s now off at a very competitive college living independently and has a recurring paid internship in his field (biomedical engineering) for summers. It’s not all roses and perfect, he still struggles sometimes. It was heartbreaking for all of us to send him to Wilderness and we have since heard some of the horror stories, but no regrets. None.

I posted below about my son’s Ph.D therapist. Elements is where our son went. Incredible program, great family component. It totally changed our son’s trajectory.

Oh wow - yes I’m not the parent so I don’t know what degree my nephews therapists had, but I know it was a great experience for him. Not easy, especially at the beginning, but it really helped him.

would be interesting to hear what your nephew actually has to say.

He just came to visit me for a long weekend from college 2 years after doing Wilderness - and my daughter did a paper on the abusive industry, so we talked about it. He does not think he was abused or traumatized and he acknowledges that the program helped him to turn things around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No local mental health day program wouls take my kid because she wouldnt attend voluntarily. She didnt qualify for a psych bed---once we boarded in the ER for four days waiting for a bed and the only thing abailable was the state
hospital in Staunton, which chemically restrains kids with heavy antipsychotics and discharges ASAP. Our county was wiling to pay for RTC but no one would take her. We didn't do wilderness but if you haven't been in a place where there is literally no help for your child, you have no idea.

I'm really sorry. I've had struggles with my kid but know it could be much worse. Hugs.

I would love the pp who is anti-wilderness could share some of the great alternatives available to this family. Please, share.

In my brother’s case, he literally just needed a parent to pay attention to him. Possibly individual therapy. That’s it.

And you are being totally illogical here. Just because you feel there are no other alternatives does not make an abusive quasi-imprisonment ok.

Are you saying your brother went from no therapy at all while in the home directly to WT? Your parents made this decision without the guidance of any medical professional?

That is correct. Are you under the impression that there are some kind of actual standards for admission? Ha ha ha.

From my admission experience 2 years ago—yes, there are standards. Programs want successful outcomes. A cohort is both the therapist AND also the kids currently in the program. That’s why educational consultants are so important. Today, admissions is a thoughtful process about fit—fit for modality, fit with the therapist, and fit with the existing group. A child with ASD who functions 3 yrs below their chronological age will not do well in a group with kids who self medicate.

Today, a recommendation package has to be put together. If the treating therapist/psych is not submitting a recommendation, the child isn’t getting in.

Yeah I’m sure a place like Trails or Elements has a high rejection rate … these are for-profit programs, not selective schools.

Oh, they definitely reject some applicants. My son was rejected from a program because his processing speed was too low and they didn’t think he would be able to keep up with the academic part of the program (there was a lot of journaling involved). I know of other programs that reject if a kid is too aggressive, has more than mild drug use, or has actually attempted suicide (rather than just suicidal ideation). Also, sometimes a kid won’t be accepted if there is not a group with the right therapist available at the time, or a group with similar issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No local mental health day program wouls take my kid because she wouldnt attend voluntarily. She didnt qualify for a psych bed---once we boarded in the ER for four days waiting for a bed and the only thing abailable was the state
hospital in Staunton, which chemically restrains kids with heavy antipsychotics and discharges ASAP. Our county was wiling to pay for RTC but no one would take her. We didn't do wilderness but if you haven't been in a place where there is literally no help for your child, you have no idea.

I'm really sorry. I've had struggles with my kid but know it could be much worse. Hugs.

I would love the pp who is anti-wilderness could share some of the great alternatives available to this family. Please, share.

In my brother’s case, he literally just needed a parent to pay attention to him. Possibly individual therapy. That’s it.

And you are being totally illogical here. Just because you feel there are no other alternatives does not make an abusive quasi-imprisonment ok.

Are you saying your brother went from no therapy at all while in the home directly to WT? Your parents made this decision without the guidance of any medical professional?

That is correct. Are you under the impression that there are some kind of actual standards for admission? Ha ha ha.

From my admission experience 2 years ago—yes, there are standards. Programs want successful outcomes. A cohort is both the therapist AND also the kids currently in the program. That’s why educational consultants are so important. Today, admissions is a thoughtful process about fit—fit for modality, fit with the therapist, and fit with the existing group. A child with ASD who functions 3 yrs below their chronological age will not do well in a group with kids who self medicate.

Today, a recommendation package has to be put together. If the treating therapist/psych is not submitting a recommendation, the child isn’t getting in.

Yeah I’m sure a place like Trails or Elements has a high rejection rate … these are for-profit programs, not selective schools.

I posted earlier about my mentally ill child. We could not find a well-regarded wilderness therapy that was willing to accept her. They are very selective with the kids they take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No local mental health day program wouls take my kid because she wouldnt attend voluntarily. She didnt qualify for a psych bed---once we boarded in the ER for four days waiting for a bed and the only thing abailable was the state
hospital in Staunton, which chemically restrains kids with heavy antipsychotics and discharges ASAP. Our county was wiling to pay for RTC but no one would take her. We didn't do wilderness but if you haven't been in a place where there is literally no help for your child, you have no idea.

I'm really sorry. I've had struggles with my kid but know it could be much worse. Hugs.

I would love the pp who is anti-wilderness could share some of the great alternatives available to this family. Please, share.

In my brother’s case, he literally just needed a parent to pay attention to him. Possibly individual therapy. That’s it.

And you are being totally illogical here. Just because you feel there are no other alternatives does not make an abusive quasi-imprisonment ok.

The point is that just because one program was abusive does not mean an entire industry is bad.

And, if you are right that your brother just needed attention, then it might not have been the right placement for him. But I honestly can’t imagine a sibling actually understanding the reasons for such a complicated decision and you might be minimizing your brother’s situation and blaming your parents unfairly because you miss him. I am sure that my other kids don’t know the entirety of the circumstances and events that led to me placing my son. That would have been too big of a burden for them to carry.

At this point, concluding that the “troubled teen” industry is uniformly bad is totally reasonable. That doesn’t mean there are not good wilderness programs like Outward Bound and Nolls, and medically appropriate residential therepeutic centers. But yeah, any program that has the following characteristics is bad:

- children sent against their will
- children physically restrained
- children not given physical privacy
- children not allowed to communicate freely with parents
- a “tough love” or group-confrontation like approach
- absence of correct ratio of mental health professionals
- physical punishment/discomfort used as a purported therepeutic tool
- no accounts of abusive behavior online

and of course, your are 100% wrong about my brother.

I completely disagree with a number of things on your list. Kids don’t voluntarily go into hospitals or programs. That is a parental decision. Physical restraint is sometimes necessary for safety. Limits on privacy can be necessary to prevent self harm and runaways. Unfettered access to communication with parents is u reasonable. Limitations on communication are necessary simply to get things done.

Also it would be impossible to find any program with no accounts of abuse online. People can post whatever they want. Verified abuse by regulators is another story.

Hospitals are highly-regulated and staffed with actual medical professionals and do not rely on punitive tactics. Completely different. That’s not to say that inpatient psych stays are wonderful, but absolutely a different thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to all the parents posting about your positive experiences. I’ve been watching this thread all day. I’ve started so many responses but I just can’t seem to put into words how it feels to have no options. Even though DCUM is anon the judgement from people that cannot fathom the experiences that parents who turn to WT are going through angers me. So if you were able to post and be respectful, I appreciate it. Because I couldn’t do it.

you have options, though. there’s nothing forcing you to send your child to an abusive program.

Really? Please share the options. Of course you are aware that a parent doesn’t select WT as a first resort. So the options I’ve been through include community based therapist, inpatient therapy, PHP, IOP, wrap around in home service, and therapeutic boarding school. Please share what other options are available?

It's nonsensical to claim that your only option is an abusive option. If what you're saying is that you just need respite and wilderness is the only way you can get that where you can pay to have your child detained - that's at least honest. Given that these programs last 3 months it's absurd to claim that they are going to cure such severe mental health issues anyway. What I'm sure DOES happen is that these programs market themselves as the only option to desperate parents, though.

DP. I'm still waiting for you to list the options - please include the age/gender of your kid whose behavior was a danger to themselves and others and how the place/therapists you are recommending were able to help your kid. TIA

That is a nonsequitur. Something is not better than nothing.

In many cases it is. Where “nothing” could result in your family being killed, your child killing themselves or your child in jail, something is better than nothing.

I mean, if your motivation is literally that you need your kid to be in private detention for 3 months, at least that is honest. I hope you are informing these programs that your child is *homicidal.*

My motivation was treatment not warehousing. My son got excellent treatment and is doing well thanks to these type of programs. It was not private detention.

If he was actually homicidal, I hope he was in a locked ward with intensive services provided by an MD. Right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No local mental health day program wouls take my kid because she wouldnt attend voluntarily. She didnt qualify for a psych bed---once we boarded in the ER for four days waiting for a bed and the only thing abailable was the state
hospital in Staunton, which chemically restrains kids with heavy antipsychotics and discharges ASAP. Our county was wiling to pay for RTC but no one would take her. We didn't do wilderness but if you haven't been in a place where there is literally no help for your child, you have no idea.

I'm really sorry. I've had struggles with my kid but know it could be much worse. Hugs.

I would love the pp who is anti-wilderness could share some of the great alternatives available to this family. Please, share.

In my brother’s case, he literally just needed a parent to pay attention to him. Possibly individual therapy. That’s it.

And you are being totally illogical here. Just because you feel there are no other alternatives does not make an abusive quasi-imprisonment ok.

The point is that just because one program was abusive does not mean an entire industry is bad.

And, if you are right that your brother just needed attention, then it might not have been the right placement for him. But I honestly can’t imagine a sibling actually understanding the reasons for such a complicated decision and you might be minimizing your brother’s situation and blaming your parents unfairly because you miss him. I am sure that my other kids don’t know the entirety of the circumstances and events that led to me placing my son. That would have been too big of a burden for them to carry.

At this point, concluding that the “troubled teen” industry is uniformly bad is totally reasonable. That doesn’t mean there are not good wilderness programs like Outward Bound and Nolls, and medically appropriate residential therepeutic centers. But yeah, any program that has the following characteristics is bad:

- children sent against their will
- children physically restrained
- children not given physical privacy
- children not allowed to communicate freely with parents
- a “tough love” or group-confrontation like approach
- absence of correct ratio of mental health professionals
- physical punishment/discomfort used as a purported therepeutic tool
- no accounts of abusive behavior online

and of course, your are 100% wrong about my brother.

Well let’s see…my kid has spent time at Shephard Pratt—one of the most renowned mental health hospitals.

children sent against their will—-yes this happens at SP. Children/teens don’t want to go there
- children physically restrained—-yes this happens at SP. Staff are trained how to do this safely
- children not given physical privacy—-yes this happens at SP. When you are a danger to yourself and others, observation is important
- children not allowed to communicate freely with parents—-yes this happens at SP. From my sons perspective, he was not allowed to freely communicate with me—-there are phone call hours when communication is allowed.
- a “tough love” or group-confrontation like approach —-yes this happens at SP. Being accountable for your actions is part of accepting that you have a part in your behavior
- absence of correct ratio of mental health professionals—-ha ha ha. Every facility that supports mental health is faced with this issue
- physical punishment/discomfort used as a purported therepeutic tool—again this is similar to your phone call requirement. Kids in these programs are properly outfitted. Sure, camping is less comfortable than a bed but that doesn’t mean it’s bad
- no accounts of abusive behavior online—-right—because everything you read online is true

I’m still waiting for someone to post the options available to parents that have tried all the traditional modalities. Since you feel so strongly that WT is inappropriate, list the alternatives. I won’t make you go back to pg 5 so I’ll list what I’ve tried again—-community based therapy, inpatient, IOP, PHP, wrap around service, and therapeutic boarding school.

Shephard Pratt is a hospital in this area. Not a poorly regulated “wilderness therapy program” halfway across the country.

[Anonymous]

Another huge issue is that in most states, at age 13/14 kids can refuse mental health treatment and check themselves out. In Utah, they can't check themselves out until age 18.

My 14 year old son was in Dominion for a week, discharged against our approval (insurance would not pay for longer) enrolled at Kellar IOP and just ran out one day, they legally couldn't stop him, called the police, the police couldn't find him, and he was missing for several days until he showed up back home. Kellar refused to take him back and no other day program would take him after that. No one would admit him inpatient b/c he wasn't an imminent threat to himself or others. However, he refused to participate in any kind of therapy or take his medication. You can't force a 14 year old to swallow a pill.

People are OUT OF OTHER OPTIONS when they choose these programs. I really don't understand why that is so hard for some people to understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No local mental health day program wouls take my kid because she wouldnt attend voluntarily. She didnt qualify for a psych bed---once we boarded in the ER for four days waiting for a bed and the only thing abailable was the state
hospital in Staunton, which chemically restrains kids with heavy antipsychotics and discharges ASAP. Our county was wiling to pay for RTC but no one would take her. We didn't do wilderness but if you haven't been in a place where there is literally no help for your child, you have no idea.

I'm really sorry. I've had struggles with my kid but know it could be much worse. Hugs.

I would love the pp who is anti-wilderness could share some of the great alternatives available to this family. Please, share.

In my brother’s case, he literally just needed a parent to pay attention to him. Possibly individual therapy. That’s it.

And you are being totally illogical here. Just because you feel there are no other alternatives does not make an abusive quasi-imprisonment ok.

Are you saying your brother went from no therapy at all while in the home directly to WT? Your parents made this decision without the guidance of any medical professional?

That is correct. Are you under the impression that there are some kind of actual standards for admission? Ha ha ha.

From my admission experience 2 years ago—yes, there are standards. Programs want successful outcomes. A cohort is both the therapist AND also the kids currently in the program. That’s why educational consultants are so important. Today, admissions is a thoughtful process about fit—fit for modality, fit with the therapist, and fit with the existing group. A child with ASD who functions 3 yrs below their chronological age will not do well in a group with kids who self medicate.

Today, a recommendation package has to be put together. If the treating therapist/psych is not submitting a recommendation, the child isn’t getting in.

Yeah I’m sure a place like Trails or Elements has a high rejection rate … these are for-profit programs, not selective schools.

I posted earlier about my mentally ill child. We could not find a well-regarded wilderness therapy that was willing to accept her. They are very selective with the kids they take.

Name the programs that declined. the problem is that there are many programs and consultants who would have accepted her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to all the parents posting about your positive experiences. I’ve been watching this thread all day. I’ve started so many responses but I just can’t seem to put into words how it feels to have no options. Even though DCUM is anon the judgement from people that cannot fathom the experiences that parents who turn to WT are going through angers me. So if you were able to post and be respectful, I appreciate it. Because I couldn’t do it.

you have options, though. there’s nothing forcing you to send your child to an abusive program.

Really? Please share the options. Of course you are aware that a parent doesn’t select WT as a first resort. So the options I’ve been through include community based therapist, inpatient therapy, PHP, IOP, wrap around in home service, and therapeutic boarding school. Please share what other options are available?

It's nonsensical to claim that your only option is an abusive option. If what you're saying is that you just need respite and wilderness is the only way you can get that where you can pay to have your child detained - that's at least honest. Given that these programs last 3 months it's absurd to claim that they are going to cure such severe mental health issues anyway. What I'm sure DOES happen is that these programs market themselves as the only option to desperate parents, though.

DP. I'm still waiting for you to list the options - please include the age/gender of your kid whose behavior was a danger to themselves and others and how the place/therapists you are recommending were able to help your kid. TIA

That is a nonsequitur. Something is not better than nothing.

In many cases it is. Where “nothing” could result in your family being killed, your child killing themselves or your child in jail, something is better than nothing.

I mean, if your motivation is literally that you need your kid to be in private detention for 3 months, at least that is honest. I hope you are informing these programs that your child is *homicidal.*

My motivation was treatment not warehousing. My son got excellent treatment and is doing well thanks to these type of programs. It was not private detention.

If he was actually homicidal, I hope he was in a locked ward with intensive services provided by an MD. Right?

Not my child but LOL! Are you kidding me? Those don't exist until your child has actually murdered someone, and then they are just locked up with very little treatment.
Do you think there are these mythical magical mental health facilities to help aggressive kids? I assure you, there are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another huge issue is that in most states, at age 13/14 kids can refuse mental health treatment and check themselves out. In Utah, they can't check themselves out until age 18.

My 14 year old son was in Dominion for a week, discharged against our approval (insurance would not pay for longer) enrolled at Kellar IOP and just ran out one day, they legally couldn't stop him, called the police, the police couldn't find him, and he was missing for several days until he showed up back home. Kellar refused to take him back and no other day program would take him after that. No one would admit him inpatient b/c he wasn't an imminent threat to himself or others. However, he refused to participate in any kind of therapy or take his medication. You can't force a 14 year old to swallow a pill.

People are OUT OF OTHER OPTIONS when they choose these programs. I really don't understand why that is so hard for some people to understand.

You need to stop repeating the “options” line because it makes no sense. Lots of things are options that are unacceptable. You could just leave your kid in a homeless shelter - presumably that’s not an option.

[Anonymous]

Its the kind of parenting situation where until you have a child like this, you have no idea WTF you are talking about.