Academy at Ivy Ridge Survivor

Parents, do you have a troubled teen?  Are you thinking of sending her to a therapeutic school?  Are you sure that's the best alternative?  Read the words of a girl (below the fold).

This comment deserves its own post.

Another Academy at Ivy Ridge student's story.

I was sent to Ivy Ridge a few months after it opened in '02, when I was 14 years old, (and at that point, the youngest student). I spent 12 months there, before my parents took me home. I was re-enrolled there at the age of 17.

I will attempt to accurately describe the abuse and mind- control that i endured there.

First of all, I was not given a buddy because i was labeled "defiant"; Therefor I was expected to learn all the rules by trial and error. Because of this, I spent months in Isolation (otherwise called Observational Placement), which back then was nothing more than a small, dirty closet, without any light or windows. I was forced to lie on my face for days, while I was watched by a couple of the male staff, who laughed at me and sexually harassed me non- stop. I was given 2 pieces of bread, 2 slices of cheese, and one cup of water 3 times daily while in O.P. I was disciplined and restrained by a fellow student who was higher up in the "level system", so she had earned the right to discipline her peers who were on a lower level than her.

I was restrained by [AIR's owner] who whispered sexually abusive things in my ear while he restrained me, and slammed my skull repeatedly into the floor and into the walls made of cinderblock.

I wasn't allowed to see or speak to my parents over the phone. Letters were read and censored. I wasn't allowed even the least bit of privacy. In Seminars, I was sexually harassed by the faciliator, who also forced the male students to say sexually abusive things to me as well. This was supposed to purge the sexual deviant inside of me, and thereby "cleanse" me.

I was brainwashed; They convinced me that I was a slut, because I was sent to Ivy Ridge for having sex with my boyfriend.

They told me I was a sinner, I was undeserving, I was a manipulator, had no morals or values, and they also convinced me that I had sex with numerous men, and that I'd had sex for money. I had come to believe these things, which seem ludicrous to me now in retrospect.

They forced me to write my parents a letter, telling them that I was a prostitute and that I was not with 1 but many men, and that I was with all these men while with my boyfriend. My parents were shocked, and probably should have realized that this couldn't possibly be true. If you knew me then , you'd probably understand what I mean; I was very innocent.

The first time I had sex with my boyfriend, I told my parents right away. I felt like I could trust them. They overreacted, and in the time it had taken them to enroll me in Ivy Ridge, I'd had sexual intercourse with my boyfriend twice more. We never did anything but kiss, fondle, and actual intercourse. Excuse the graphic details, but I feel it's important to write them to emphasize my point that I was merely a curious girl who was in love for the first time, not some dirty, desperate, whorish person, like they made me believe I was.

I guess the question most people would be asking at this point is "why did your parents even believe your letter?" Well, just like the "Program" coercively persuaded my parents to send me there by telling them I was at risk of losing my life, they also convinced my parents that I was a devious, manipulating liar, who was a lot less innocent than they believed me to be. So, naturally, they believed what I wrote in the letter.

I also wrote in the letter "thank you for giving me this opportunity to change my ways around by sending me to the program. I don't know where I would be if not here; I don't even want to imagine-- Probably some gutter somewhere, with dirty, warm evidence dripping from between my legs"...It's almost ridiculous, but I actually believed these things I was telling my parents. The program had rewired my entire thinking and behaviors.

The program convinced my parents that my friends at home were bad, and that my parents should move. With hardly any hesitation, my parents put their gorgeous [city] house up for sale, and moved to Upstate New York. At the time, I praised them, saying I was so proud that they were working their program, and were complying as I was. Now, we all realize we were brainwashed as in a cult.

When I returned home I abided by a Home Plan, that had a level system within the home. It had rules and consequences outlined if the rules were broken. The program warned my parents to send me right back at the slightest sign of sexually devious behavior.

And so, 13 months after leaving that wretched place, I returned. Things were different this time. The rules had become much stricter (I didn't know that was possible), the residents now did school work from a computer (but we were denied access to the internet), 2 special, albeit small, rooms had been set aside as Observational Placement rooms (instead of the closet), and Observational Placement students were given regular meals, not slices of bread and cheese. We were still denied access to the outside world in the form of internet, phones, newspapers, magazines, TV, etc. We were still not allowed to talk to each other or look each other in the eyes. We were still watched when we showered or used the bathroom. We were still treated coldly and callously. We still suffered emotional distress. We were still brainwashed.

And then something snapped inside of me..Me; the girl who had complied with all the program rules, the program poster child, who had never even raised my voice in my entire life, much less hurt a fly, beat up a staff member.

And then I was sent to Tranquility Bay. I won't attempt to describe my time in Ivy- Ridge's sister program, located in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. But I'll say this much: After coming home, severely traumatized and with bruises, scratches, cuts, and a terrible rash, something started to seep into my parents' heads,  where there was once nothing but support and trust in the "program". Now my parents understand what was done to them, and we are healing now. But unfortunately two years of my life were waisted in a place that damaged my self- image and self- esteem. I now suffer from PTSD, and social anxiety, as well as countless other things, including sexual dysfunction.

I no longer have any savings in my college account, and my parents even dipped into their retirement savings to pay the amount of $160,000 charged to them in tuition fees.

Comments

[Chuck McKay]

One can only hope there is truly a special place in Hell....

[alex]

I went to Ivy Ridge as well in 2003 for 11 months and definitely feel for you. I saw a lot of abuse happening every day there that could have been resolved with much simpler measures... Many things should have been different and the entire daily process was maybe 10% productive. Again sorry for what you had to go through

[alex]

I went to Ivy Ridge as well in 2003 for 11 months and definitely feel for you. I saw a lot of abuse happening every day there that could have been resolved with much simpler measures... Many things should have been different and the entire daily process was maybe 10% productive. Again sorry for what you had to go through

[Brionna]

I went to AIR in Dec. of 04 and was there for 8 months my father sent me home on the bus in Aug. of 05, While I was there I saw some of the same things.

[Joyce Myers]

I have a daughter that was put in one of these programs by her father and step mother. I believe these programs are abusive and need to be shut down. In my case, they will not allow any contact and monitor all of her calls, cutting me off when I ask questions they do not want me to ask. They practice not only abuse but brainwashing. I cannot believe they do not have cameras in these place to monitor what really goes on. Where is Big Brother when he really needs to be there. I know my daugter is at the point of collapse there and these programs all need to be stopped.

[d]

i hear ya im dan kutcher went to courage for liek 7 and a hlaf months shti sucked i saw some fucked up shit

[Chad]

These programs are self pace. What you choose is what you get. I myself was enrolled at AIR in 2007, it was a place of change, a place or reflection a time to think of my past non-working decsions to move forward in my future through excellence.
Now it isnt that I dont agree, while I was at AIR people where restained, but as a precaution to keep other students and staff safe. When a student is "restrained" it is because they are causing a large destraction, attempting to harm themselves or others.
I am not saying the things written here are lies, simply that AIR and other facilities have made changes to benefit students and families for long term valued based change.

[Tina]

I am a concerned parent of a 16 year old male, I am looking into AIR for my son. They gave me references that I have requested. I don't know if they are legit though. Can any parents who have children in AIR currently or within the last year, please let me know of their experiences with AIR?
Thank you

[michelle]

Dont send your kids to these kids of programs unless you do lots of research on them,, and there back rounds,, they are harsh and mentally abusive.. i was at academy ivy ridge and i was refusing cause i felt the program was horrible and abusive,, and i was in a room for about 3 months until my parents trasferred me, ivy ridge told my parents to keep me there and that she will soon work the program,,,they just want your money, they will tell parents anything,, and i mean anything..they tell the paretns be careful you kids will manipulate you,,but the staff manipulates the parents be careful

[Ashley Pfotenhauer]

i went to ive ridge in 03, i understand what you are saying they did more damage than good! kids were so scarred to go back there after leaving that of course they were good when they got home, parents thought it was a good place! i was beat-in and restrained, and emotionally abused! Ms sissy a 200 lbs woman restrained me and sat on my back because i was sick and throwing up and couldnt sit straight at my table! told me to shut up and stop crying!

[Erica]

So I was sent to air in july2004 just a few days before my birthday... I was depresses and suicidal... Let me just say that the experience made things worse... I was level 1 with no privileleges for 95% of my stay and as soon as u turned 18 I took my exit plan and got out... But I was worse off after than before I went.... I deopped out of school experimented with drugs.and had sex with numerous partners...the only thing that place did was make, me want to get out and do whatever I could however destructive so I could be in control ofmy own life again... It was the one of the worst years of my, life