Something Was Wrong - S24 Ep7: For-Profit Money-Grabbing Bullshit Places

Host: Broken Cycle Media
Release Date: August 14, 2025
Episode Title: For-Profit Money-Grabbing Bullshit Places
Description: Something Was Wrong is an award-winning docuseries exploring survivors' journeys through trauma and recovery from crime and abuse. In this episode, a survivor shares their harrowing experiences within the troubled teen industry, shedding light on the for-profit institutions that often exploit vulnerable youth.

1. Introduction

In this poignant episode of Something Was Wrong, host Tiffany Reiss delves into the dark underbelly of the for-profit troubled teen industry. The episode features a compelling interview with Cap, a 35-year-old musician from Chicago, who recounts their traumatic experiences at two therapeutic boarding schools—Copper Canyon Academy (CCA) and Aldrin Academy. Through Cap’s narrative, the episode exposes the systemic issues, abuse, and profiteering prevalent in these institutions.

2. Background of Copper Canyon Academy and Related Institutions

Tiffany Reiss sets the stage by providing an in-depth history of Copper Canyon Academy (CCA), a therapeutic boarding school for girls in Rimrock, Arizona.

• Founding and Ownership:

  • CCA was established in 1998 by siblings Tammy Berman and Darren Prince, with Patty Bowman also recognized as a founder.
  • In 2002, Aspen Education Group acquired CCA, which later became a subsidiary of CRC Health Group, focusing on addiction and dual diagnosis treatment.
  • By 2006, CRC was purchased by Bain Capital, a private equity firm co-founded by Mitt Romney, linking CCA to the WASP Network—a consortium of for-profit educational and support services for troubled teens.

• WASP Network Influence:

  • The WASP Network connected various for-profit services, including educational consulting and adolescent transportation.
  • Although reportedly defunct as of 2010, many existing programs continue using WASP’s controversial models, indicating lasting influence.

• Transition to Sedona Sky Academy:

  • CCA closed in 2014, and Sedona Sky Academy was established under Lake Montezuma RTC LLC.
  • Both entities maintain active business statuses but are listed as temporarily closed, now operating as Emoti Home Rimrock, a facility launched by Emoticare in 2024.

3. Cap’s Personal Story

a. Early Life and Family

Cap opens up about their tumultuous childhood, marked by their father’s frequent Navy deployments and their brother’s severe health issues requiring numerous surgeries. This instability led to Cap spending significant time with grandparents, fostering early independence and coping mechanisms.

b. The Incident Leading to CCA Enrollment

At 14, Cap experienced their first sexual assault at a beach condo during a family vacation in June 2004. This traumatic event was never disclosed to their parents initially, leading to internalized trauma and subsequent behavioral issues.

• Notable Quote:

  "I was trying to act older than I was as a 14-year-old. Unfortunately, that ended up leading into me getting sexually assaulted."
  — Cap [06:50]

c. Arrival and Initial Impressions at CCA

In July 2006, Cap was forcibly sent to CCA under distressing circumstances. The abrupt transition involved being handcuffed and transported while heavily medicated, leaving Cap disoriented and fearful.

• Notable Quote:

  "I was beyond angry. I was in tears. I didn't think there was any way I could have anticipated what I was walking into."
  — Cap [18:13]

d. The Level System Explained

CCA employed a rigid level system to categorize and control students:

1. Level One: Seeing
   Initial integration phase where students were processed and evaluated.

2. Level Two: Choosing
   Granted minimal freedoms, such as wearing shoes and using tampons, with a transition to semi-independent living.

3. Level Three and Four:
   Increased privileges and responsibilities, culminating in eventual graduation from the program.

• Notable Quote:

  "Level one being referred to as seeing... You've accepted that you're here and you're not going anywhere, so maybe you can start working on stuff."
  — Cap [23:07]

e. Education and Therapy at CCA

Cap describes the educational system at CCA as severely lacking:

• Structure and Quality:
  Classes were held in cramped trailers without adequate resources or qualified teachers. Special education needs were largely ignored, leaving students like Cap struggling academically.

• Therapeutic Practices:
  Therapy was superficial, often misdiagnosing conditions like ADHD and autism, leading to overmedication without addressing underlying issues.

• Notable Quote:

  "The educational system and setup they had there was not good. They didn't have access to the Internet, so they're doing all of this on their own for like college credits."
  — Cap [25:49]

f. Seminars and Staff Interactions

Seminars at CCA, led by a figure named Mike, were intense and manipulative, utilizing sleep deprivation and emotional manipulation to break down students’ resistance.

• Seminar Techniques:
  Forced emotional expression, repetitive tasks, and music were used to elicit emotional breakdowns, mirroring militaristic psychological tactics.

• Impact on Cap:
  These seminars left lasting emotional scars, making it difficult for Cap to process experiences and maintain a sense of self.

• Notable Quote:

  "Seminars is another tool to break you down and control you. Those things had a lasting effect too."
  — Cap [30:44]

g. Relationships with Other Students

Despite the harsh environment, Cap formed bonds with fellow students, though there was also competition and betrayal as some sought to gain favor with staff.

• Notable Quote:

  "When you're in all this shit together, you're absolutely going to bond and look out for one another in the best way that you can."
  — Cap [48:24]

h. Graduation and Aftermath

Cap graduated from CCA in July 2006 but faced challenges reintegrating into the outside world, feeling disconnected from friends and family who had moved on.

• Continued Struggles:
  The lack of aftercare and the lasting psychological impact made it difficult for Cap to regain a sense of normalcy.

• Notable Quote:

  "Actually, my dad made a speech talking about how he was scared about me leaving the house... But I was so confused and lost and had no idea who I was other than what was dictated to me."
  — Cap [55:45]

4. Insights and Critique

Cap’s narrative highlights several systemic issues within for-profit therapeutic boarding schools:

• Profit Over Welfare:
  The transition from CCA to Sedona Sky Academy and eventually Emoti Home Rimrock underscores the for-profit model prioritizing financial gains over genuine therapeutic outcomes.

• Lack of Qualified Staff:
  Many staff members lacked proper training or qualifications, often relying on punitive measures rather than constructive therapy.

• Overmedication and Misdiagnosis:
  Students were frequently misdiagnosed with conditions like ADHD and borderline personality disorder, leading to unnecessary and heavy medication regimes that impeded their ability to advocate for themselves.

• Emotional Manipulation:
  Techniques employed during seminars were akin to psychological warfare, eroding students' autonomy and sense of self.

• Notable Quote:

  "You have no business yelling at children. It is in no way, shape, or form a helpful mechanism to progress any sort of treatment whatsoever."
  — Cap [47:48]

5. Conclusion

This episode of Something Was Wrong serves as a powerful exposé on the for-profit troubled teen industry, through the harrowing firsthand account of Cap. It underscores the urgent need for oversight, regulation, and support systems to protect vulnerable youth from exploitative and abusive practices. Cap's story is a testament to the resilience of survivors and a call to action to dismantle the broken systems that perpetuate such cycles of trauma.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Cap on Sexual Assault Incident:

  "I was trying to act older than I was as a 14-year-old. Unfortunately, that ended up leading into me getting sexually assaulted."
  [06:50]

• Cap on Arrival at CCA:

  "I was beyond angry. I was in tears. I didn't think there was any way I could have anticipated what I was walking into."
  [18:13]

• Cap Explaining Level One:

  "Level one being referred to as seeing... You've accepted that you're here and you're not going anywhere, so maybe you can start working on stuff."
  [23:07]

• Cap on Seminarians:

  "Seminars is another tool to break you down and control you. Those things had a lasting effect too."
  [30:44]

• Cap on Staff Behavior:

  "You have no business yelling at children. It is in no way, shape, or form a helpful mechanism to progress any sort of treatment whatsoever."
  [47:48]

Final Thoughts

Something Was Wrong continues to shed light on the pressing issues within institutions meant to help vulnerable populations. Through survivor stories like Cap’s, the series advocates for accountability and reform, ensuring that no child endures the trauma that Cap courageously shared.