Meg Appelgate

Well, to be honest, it's not far off from the truth. They rely heavily on deceptive marketing tactics. They target people who are truly just desperately looking for help. Many programs have websites with quizzes you can fill out online to find out if you have a troubled teen that will ultimately recommend their program regardless of your answers.

Exactly. I actually did that once for a program called Shepherd's Hill Academy. They have this 10-question quiz to help parents determine if they have a troubled teen. I took the quiz as a hypothetical parent, but instead of indicating my teen had issues, I put disagree to all of the behaviors they deemed were problematic. And guess what?

Exactly. I actually did that once for a program called Shepherd's Hill Academy. They have this 10-question quiz to help parents determine if they have a troubled teen. I took the quiz as a hypothetical parent, but instead of indicating my teen had issues, I put disagree to all of the behaviors they deemed were problematic. And guess what?

Exactly. I actually did that once for a program called Shepherd's Hill Academy. They have this 10-question quiz to help parents determine if they have a troubled teen. I took the quiz as a hypothetical parent, but instead of indicating my teen had issues, I put disagree to all of the behaviors they deemed were problematic. And guess what?

Even with all my answers being disagreeing, the quiz results still said, and I quote, it sounds like your teenager is experiencing moderate... to high levels of disobedience, anger, or risky behavior. They then, of course, go on to claim that Shepherd's Hill Academy was a solution to my non-existent problems.

Even with all my answers being disagreeing, the quiz results still said, and I quote, it sounds like your teenager is experiencing moderate... to high levels of disobedience, anger, or risky behavior. They then, of course, go on to claim that Shepherd's Hill Academy was a solution to my non-existent problems.

Even with all my answers being disagreeing, the quiz results still said, and I quote, it sounds like your teenager is experiencing moderate... to high levels of disobedience, anger, or risky behavior. They then, of course, go on to claim that Shepherd's Hill Academy was a solution to my non-existent problems.

Exactly. It's completely rigged. Using only 10 vague questions, and even when my answers were all disagree, they recommended their 12-month residential treatment program for a team they've never met. If that doesn't scream rigged, I don't know what does.

Exactly. It's completely rigged. Using only 10 vague questions, and even when my answers were all disagree, they recommended their 12-month residential treatment program for a team they've never met. If that doesn't scream rigged, I don't know what does.

Exactly. It's completely rigged. Using only 10 vague questions, and even when my answers were all disagree, they recommended their 12-month residential treatment program for a team they've never met. If that doesn't scream rigged, I don't know what does.

Yeah. If the mattress guaranteed a lifetime warranty of psychological trauma.

Yeah. If the mattress guaranteed a lifetime warranty of psychological trauma.

Yeah. If the mattress guaranteed a lifetime warranty of psychological trauma.

Yeah, what's really happening in these programs is far from what they advertise, I'm sure you can imagine. Instead of giving kids individualized, evidence-based treatment, many of these places are just hotbeds of abuse. You've got physical abuse, degrading punishments, and all sorts of inhumane discipline. Kids are also often subjected to dangerous seclusion and restraint practices.

Yeah, what's really happening in these programs is far from what they advertise, I'm sure you can imagine. Instead of giving kids individualized, evidence-based treatment, many of these places are just hotbeds of abuse. You've got physical abuse, degrading punishments, and all sorts of inhumane discipline. Kids are also often subjected to dangerous seclusion and restraint practices.

Yeah, what's really happening in these programs is far from what they advertise, I'm sure you can imagine. Instead of giving kids individualized, evidence-based treatment, many of these places are just hotbeds of abuse. You've got physical abuse, degrading punishments, and all sorts of inhumane discipline. Kids are also often subjected to dangerous seclusion and restraint practices.

This can mean being physically restrained, tied up with devices like zip ties, or even drugged to keep them in line. In my first program, if anyone was having an attitude or acting out of line,

This can mean being physically restrained, tied up with devices like zip ties, or even drugged to keep them in line. In my first program, if anyone was having an attitude or acting out of line,

This can mean being physically restrained, tied up with devices like zip ties, or even drugged to keep them in line. In my first program, if anyone was having an attitude or acting out of line,

You would see this group of staff come running in and they would throw the kid to the floor on their face and have a staff member holding each of their arms and legs down and a staff with their knee lodged in between their shoulder blades. Then another staff member would come by, pull the kid's pants down and give them some shot of a tranquilizer or another sedative to make them pass out.