By Sasha: 2007 My name is Sasha Oates and I am a survivor of multiple abusive programs. When I was 14, I was struggling with self harm, depression, and an eating disorder. In April of 2007, I was taken from a psychiatric hospital by two transporters, put on a plane, and arrived in Salt Lake [...]
WinGate Wilderness
By Anonymous: 2015 Hello this is my story. I attended Wingate Wilderness in the summer of 2015. I was taken from my bed by two men and transported to southern Utah to attend Wingate. The transporters told me I was going to a “fun summer camp for about a week”. After I arrived, I realized [...]
SUWS of the Carolinas and Lake House Academy
By Anonymous: 2020-2021 Before I was sent to SUWS of the Carolinas, I was a troubled kid with terrible trauma. Riddled with anxiety, depression, and undiagnosed autism, I could barely take a shower once a month. I was struggling with school and was too depressed to do any work. In December of 2019, I was [...]
Trails Carolina
By Ellie: 2021 I was sent there after years and years of trying to get my depression managed. It was my parents' last resort. They believed it would help. While I was there I witnessed many extremely distressing things. Such as: one girls hip would pop in and out of place most hikes causing excruciating [...]
Franklin Academy
By Anonymous: 2018-2020 I wasn’t sure whether I was a victim of the troubled teen industry or not. My experience was not as terrible as others but I then realized that comparing traumas is detrimental to anyone’s mental health. It takes away the ability to allow yourself to face what you went through, because you [...]
Copper Canyon Academy
By Ashley: 2010-2011 I was sixteen years old when I woke up to two people in my room, a retired police officer and beefy woman. I was very confused, I did not have a top on and was only wearing bottoms. The man threw a shirt at me and told me to put it on [...]
Aimee’s Testimony – Uinta Academy
2018-2021 I was 12 years old when I entered the TTI and my first official residential program was in Cache Valley, Utah—known as Uinta Academy. I was initially told I was going on a vacation to see my dad's girlfriend’s (at the time) friend, “Sam.” We flew to Utah from Arizona because I had to [...]