S24 Ep8: You Are Not Alone

Summary

Podcast Title: Something Was Wrong
Episode: S24 Ep8: You Are Not Alone
Host: Tiffany Reiss
Release Date: August 14, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode 8 of Season 24, titled "You Are Not Alone," Broken Cycle Media delves deep into the harrowing experiences of survivors from therapeutic boarding schools. Hosted by Tiffany Reiss, the episode features candid conversations with survivors who recount their journeys through institutions like Aldren Academy and Copper Canyon Academy (CCA). The episode sheds light on the enduring trauma, abuse, and complex aftermath faced by those who endured these environments.

Background of Aldren Academy

Tiffany Reiss begins by providing a comprehensive background of Aldren Academy, a private therapeutic boarding school in Seiler City, North Carolina. Established in 2001 and later acquired by Sequel Youth and Family Services in 2009, Aldren Academy marketed itself as a trauma-informed, college preparatory program. However, the institution faced widespread allegations of abuse, leading to its closure in February 2021 amid declining enrollment and increased scrutiny.

Tiffany Reiss [01:00]: "In 2009, Three Springs, Inc. was acquired by Sequel Youth and Family Services. Aldren Academy remained operational for nearly two decades before it was closed in February 2021."

Experiences at Aldren Academy

Catt, one of the primary guests, shares her personal journey through Aldren Academy, highlighting the stark differences and similarities compared to CCA.

• Initial Impressions and Living Conditions:

  Catt describes Aldren as a "step down" from CCA, offering more freedoms such as wearing personal clothes and having individual rooms instead of bunk beds. Despite these perceived improvements, the environment remained oppressive and manipulative.

  Catt [06:24]: "At first, I thought it was gonna be a pleasure cruise compared to Copper Canyon, but it doesn't matter if you get more freedoms. It was still a pretty awful place."

• Psychological Manipulation and Abuse:

  The institution employed "attack therapy," psychological mind games, and coercive tactics to control and isolate students. Instances of staff turning students against each other and enforcing strict punitive measures were common.

  Catt [12:32]: "I felt like I was constantly walking on eggshells and ostracized. That's not the only instance that they've literally had us turn on each other."

• Violation of Privacy and Betrayal of Trust:

  Catt recounts an incident where discovering a HIPAA violation led to her being accused of hacking, resulting in her emotional breakdown and temporary placement in a psych ward.

  Catt [10:40]: "I was showing the girls in the Internet cafe... but they then accused me of hacking their network."

Comparison with Copper Canyon Academy (CCA)

Both Aldren Academy and CCA exhibited strict and abusive practices, but their methods varied:

• CCA's Punitive Measures:

  Punishments at CCA involved "work hours" where students were made to perform strenuous labor for extended periods.

  Catt [17:04]: "We had over 12 hours of cleaning. That meant you got up at 5 in the morning and... scrub grout with a toothbrush."

• Aldren's Psychological Tactics:

  Aldren employed more psychological manipulation, including forcing students to betray one another and creating an environment of distrust and fear.

  Catt [22:21]: "There was a wild accusation scene where some girls drank a beer... it's unethical."

Life After the Programs

Catt discusses the tumultuous period following her time at Aldren Academy:

• Military Service and Subsequent Struggles:

  Seeking structure, Catt joined the military but found it traumatic, leading to depression and further challenges during her service.

  Catt [24:57]: "I was between homelessness and couch surfing. Then I joined the military because I needed structure."

• Homelessness and Addiction:

  Post-military life was marred by homelessness, substance abuse, and lack of life skills, leading to a prolonged period of instability.

  Catt [28:36]: "From age 19 to 20, I was between homelessness and couch surfing... I learned how to dissociate really well."

• Recovery and Relocation:

  Moving to Chicago in 2017 marked a turning point, where Catt achieved sobriety from heroin and alcohol, reflecting on how her past influenced her present.

  Catt [28:36]: "Living in this city has been the best thing that has happened to me. I've been almost nine years clean from heroin."

Relationships with Parents

The strained relationships with parents, exacerbated by the time spent in therapeutic boarding schools, are a recurring theme:

• Parental Estrangement:

  Catt expresses resentment towards her parents for sending her away and the lack of meaningful communication and support.

  Catt [22:29]: "I don't blame them entirely, but they kind of created a monster in that aspect."

• Reconciliation Efforts:

  Following her mother's passing, Catt attempts to redefine her relationship with her father as peers, finding some comfort in this new dynamic.

  Catt [35:55]: "It was nice because she jumped on that and it was kind of like having a mom again."

Incidents of Sexual Assault and Breach of Trust

The episode addresses the grave issue of sexual misconduct by staff members within these institutions:

• Abuse of Power:

  Catt shares distressing experiences where trusted staff members violated her boundaries, leading to lasting trauma and trust issues.

  Catt [31:46]: "It's something you don't want to hear when it's a trusted individual... It absolutely shatters your trust."

• Peer Betrayal and Gaslighting:

  Survivors were often discouraged from speaking out, facing disbelief and victim-blaming, which compounded their trauma.

  Catt [32:21]: "Who’s going to believe you? Me, a staff member, or you a troubled teen?"

Reflections and Healing

The conversation culminates in reflections on healing, resilience, and the importance of support networks for survivors:

• Empowerment and Support:

  Catt emphasizes the strength and resilience of survivors, urging them to seek support and reminding them that they are not alone in their struggles.

  Catt [43:27]: "You are not alone. And please reach out. If you are ever going through something... there's a bunch of people who have been through this who are going to be there."

• Message to Perpetrators:

  Catt addresses those responsible for the abuse with a powerful condemnation, highlighting the long-term impacts of their actions.

  Catt [42:22]: "Shame on you to each and every one of them... People who ran the programs, fuck you. I'm still here and I'm doing great."

Conclusion

Episode 8 of "Something Was Wrong" offers a raw and unflinching look into the lives of survivors from abusive therapeutic boarding schools. Through the voices of Catt and her friend, listeners gain insight into the pervasive trauma, manipulation, and the arduous path to healing. The episode serves as a testament to the resilience of survivors and underscores the critical need for accountability and systemic change in such institutions.

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Notable Quotes:

• Catt [06:24]: "At first, I thought it was gonna be a pleasure cruise compared to Copper Canyon, but it doesn't matter if you get more freedoms. It was still a pretty awful place."

• Catt [22:21]: "There was a wild accusation scene where some girls drank a beer... it's unethical."

• Catt [43:27]: "You are not alone. And please reach out. If you are ever going through something... there's a bunch of people who have been through this who are going to be there."

• Catt [42:22]: "Shame on you to each and every one of them... People who ran the programs, fuck you. I'm still here and I'm doing great."

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This episode serves as a crucial platform for survivors to share their stories, fostering a sense of community and validation for those who have endured similar hardships. It also calls for introspection and reform within institutions tasked with the care and rehabilitation of vulnerable youth.

Transcript

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[Tiffany Reiss]

Something was wrong is intended for mature audiences and discusses upsetting topics. Season 24 survivors discuss violence that they endured as children, which may be triggering for some listeners. As always, please consume with care. For a full content warning, sources and resources for each episode, please visit the episode Notes. Opinions shared by the guests of the show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Broken Cycle Media. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Responses to allegations from individual institutions are included within the season. Something Was Wrong and any linked materials should not be misconstrued as a substitution for legal or medical advice. After Catt left Copper Canyon Academy in 2006, they attended Aldrin Academy, a private therapeutic boarding school In Seiler City, N.C. aldern markets itself as a trauma informed college preparatory program that combined academic instruction with behavioral therapy for young women struggling with emotional and psychological challenges. Founded in 2001, the school was initially operated by Three Springs Incorporated, which also operated other youth behavioral facilities in Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. In 2009, Three Springs, Inc. Was acquired by Sequel Youth and Family Services. Alderin Academy remained operational for nearly two decades before it was closed February 2021. Sequel Youth and Family Services stated that the decision to close Aldren Academy was due to declining enrollment and shifting demand. But the closure came amid broader scrutiny of Sequel's network of youth programs following numerous reports of abuse across multiple facilities. At one point, Sequel Youth and Family services had over 40 facilities in 21 states by February 2021. Cequel closed a dozen facilities in 2024, two former students filed a federal lawsuit against Sequel Youth and Family Services, representing abuse survivors from programs including Aldrin Academy in North Carolina and other facilities in Alabama. In the complaint, a former Aldrin resident detailed how Aldrin's community service requirement extended far beyond light chores involving strenuous on campus labor, such as moving heavy boulders for 12 hour days, maintaining multiple buildings and cleaning campus grounds, effectively using students as unpaid staff. Allegations also included physical abuse by staff, including tackling, hitting or restraining students, and punitive disciplinary measures like refusal of class credits, forced isolation, removal of privileges, and deprivation of meals for non compliance. The lawsuit also characterizes these practices as cutting costs through coercive labor. At a broader organizational level, Sequel Youth and Family Services has been named in numerous state and federal investigations, lawsuits and and high profile media investigative reports. According to APM reports, Sequel underwent multiple closures of facilities, including Aldrin in February 2021, citing declining enrollment and reputational concerns after widespread allegations of abuse. Investigations revealed frequent improper use of physical restraints, seclusion and understaffing, as well as cases of sexual misconduct, neglect and even death, such as the tragic restraint related death of a resident at Lakeside Academy in Michigan in 2020. After many travesties, several states including Washington, California, Oregon and Minnesota stopped sending children to Sequel owned facilities. However, some Sequel facilities continued operations under new ownership. According to American Public Media, most of the former Sequel treatment centers that remain open are now controlled by Vivant Behavioral Healthcare, which was founded in 2021 by one of three people who founded Sequel in 1999. I'm Tiffany Reiss and this is Something was wrong.

[Catt]

I went home for a couple weeks preparing to go to Aldern Academy that was in North Carolina. It was described as a quote unquote step down program. So less restrictive than Copper Canyon, but also a college preparatory school. I actually read the brochure this time, but I don't really think you can get a lot of good information from a brochure because of course they're marketing it to make the parents inclined to send you there. My parents drove me to Aldern. Pretty much no one was there when we got there because everybody was coming.

[Friend]

Back from like their little summer break.

[Catt]

It was a night and day difference. At first I thought it was gonna be a pleasure cruise compared to Copper Canyon, but it doesn't matter if you get more freedoms. It was still a pretty awful place. I could wear my own clothes. But the funny thing is is when you've worn uniforms for so many years, you don't know how to dress properly. So I looked kind of dorky, but I didn't care. I was just Happy to wear whatever. I could listen to music again. I could go walk around the campus at night if I wanted to. Within a certain hour, this place also four people to a room. Not bunk beds. It's more spread out. Everybody has their own dresser. There's a mirror and a sink in the room. We had closets. We could put our pictures up. My roommates were cool. They had been there a while. We were actually allowed to talk to whoever we wanted there. What I liked about that is I could see everybody's personalities a lot more and individuality compared to Copper Canyon. It kind of made it feel more like a normal high school in the sense of like you've got your preppy people, you've got your grunge people. I think it was probably about 30, 40 of us. Kind of like CCA was at first. On the weekends they would put up little signup sheets. We had to do at least one off campus activity. Usually it was like a trip to Target or something. Imagine like a gaggle of 16, 17, 18 year old girls who put on so much makeup and their best outfits to go to Target because we never get out. That's what it is was. I feel like 99% of the people there had been to a more restrictive program before. So there was the sense that it's still a therapeutic boarding school, troubled teen industry. But there are people like me and people who came around the same time as me who were like, oh, this isn't this bad. But they had just changed directors of the whole program. So I came at a very, very weird time. This woman who took over to school tightened up the restrictions. So a lot of those people who had been there longer than me were very unhappy with the situation and very vocal about it. One of my friends there, she had been there for like two years and because of her seniority, she was allowed to take an extended trip back home for the summer and they took that away from her. I do remember hearing about more therapeutic elements being enforced, more structure. Also I saw it progress into a lot stricter than when I arrived. I thought it was relatively chill in comparison to CCA when I got there, but it ended up becoming slightly different than cca, but still very strict.

[Tiffany Reiss]

Looking over the schedule that you sent us, they really had every second of the day planned for you guys from 6am until 11:30pm yeah, not a whole.

[Catt]

Lot of downtime, but when you do have downtime, you really make use of it.

[Tiffany Reiss]

Did you have to participate in any kind of seminars while at Aldern?

[Catt]

No seminars, but we did have the group therapy. It was different than CCA's group therapy. It had teachers and dorm staff members. And the therapists, they had a lot more attack therapy there. I'm thinking of a specific instance that happened to me. At Aldern, the second level, you were allowed to have Internet access. They had a little, kind of like a gazebo shaped building that had Internet and it was Ethernet. They turn it on for 30 minutes a day. It's connected to their server. I had found that on their Internet network. Our dorm staff members had been writing their observations and treatment notes for everybody and putting it on a folder on a public network that anybody could access it, which was a HIPAA violation. So I was showing the girls in the Internet cafe. I'm like, oh, my God, what are we gonna do? We could sue these people. But it ended up instead transpiring into a therapy session one day where I was a topic of conversation. One of the girls ratted on me. It's not my fault that I stumbled across this. But they then accused me of hacking their network. Instead of the staff members taking responsibility, they're encouraging these girls to yell and scream at me. I remember digging my fingernails into my skin, feeling so, like, small. I was so upset, and I was just like, seeing red. And I ended up breaking down. I couldn't handle that. After that incident, I told them I needed to go to the psych ward. And, I mean, they took me. I was there for a whole week, and it felt like a vacation.

[Friend]

It was amazing.

[Catt]

But nothing was the same after that. I felt like I was constantly walking on eggshells and ostracized. And maybe a lot of it could have been in my head, but things like that happened quite often. And I just happened to be in the hot seat that one day, if we turn on each other, either you get rewarded or the world of hurt being rained upon you stops. That's not the only instance that they've literally had us turn on each other. They pulled us in the middle of a school day and sat us all in our cafeteria and told us if we didn't come clean for what we did on our spring break, none of us were going to graduate. It was because some girls drank a beer and told one of the other girls they were just trying to find out who did it. So they threatened us and then kept us from school all day. After that, I did not want to be there anymore because that was insanely unethical. There was not a lot of resolution. It caused a lot of trust issues. You don't want to talk to anybody about anything going on because you don't know when that's going to be weaponized against you for someone else's benefit or because the staff is literally threatening you. We had a therapist at Aldern who actually got fired for having a sexual relationship with one of the girls. Granted, she had turned 18, but she was still a student there. And under his career, they found out and they banned him from the campus. The girl was ostracized and removed as well. But it's a really big theme with these programs. I don't care if that girl was 18. Yeah, she is old enough to legally make her own decisions, but it is so unethical and predatory. But they turn it on the girl. And he was a therapist that I thought I could trust. I'm in therapy now and I even told this to my current therapist that I have a really hard time trusting therapists because that happened. And having changed therapist, I think like four times while I was there. Whatever work you may have done, it's down the drain. My therapist, before I left, I only had him for about two months and we did not get along. He was very argumentative with me and very much like everything your parents say is right. And that's also a common theme with all the therapists. Everything your parents say is right. And I don't really understand how that's beneficial if you have to go by whatever the parents say 100% of the time. Because you gotta understand, this is a whole family unit. You're not the sole reason for every single issue within that family unit. Because there's so many different dynamics that come into play. Before I got sent away, I had a psychiatrist who was prescribing medications and then other medications to combat the side effects of those medications. And then that continued at CCA and Aldern. They both had their on campus doctors who would visit and give you a brief evaluation. I'm talking maybe like 10 minutes tops. But I was on so many medications that I actually developed tardive dyskinesia, which causes involuntary facial ticks and facial movements. I remember I had brought it up to them and they're like, oh, that's no big deal. The fuck you mean it's no big deal? Like I'm actually getting made fun of right now because I can't control my face if I felt a certain way. I couldn't just schedule a doctor's appointment. I had to wait to get the doctor to come for his once a month thing. And then there's never enough time to disclose what's going on with me, my thoughts and my concerns. And I don't have a true adult to advocate for me and help me vocalize my concerns other than what I personally can notice.

[Tiffany Reiss]

What do you think was the hardest part about being at Aldearn in juxtaposition to Copper Canyon?

[Catt]

I think it was a lot more difficult with the psychological mind games. Granted you had these freedoms that you did not have at the other school. But the style of the attack therapy, the taking away of privileges, the punishments, that was tough at Copper Canyon. When you got punished, you had what we would call work hours. We had focused reflection. That meant they took you out of school for the day and you still had to do these cleaning tasks. But it was an all day thing. It was from the start of your school day and it went until 9 in the evening. So that's over 12 hours of cleaning. That meant you got up at 5 in the morning and you and whoever else had work hours would go and do things like sweep dust in the parking lot or move rocks from one location to the next or scrub grout with a toothbrush. I did things like clean stains with magic erasers. I remember cleaning a bathroom of a part of a building that hadn't been used in years. I picked up the plunger. There was a pile of shit under there. I don't know how long it had been under there.

[Friend]

I had to clean that.

[Catt]

And you couldn't talk to anybody. They put you in an empty bedroom with just the mattress. And then you had to write a paper and finish your schoolwork for the school day you missed. You write like a 3,000 word paper on why what you did is wrong and how you recognize that. Then it has to be reviewed by.

[Friend]

Like staff and therapists.

[Catt]

I would take work hours over that. I was only on focus reflection twice. But it was really tough. I kind of felt like the family's dirty little secret. They had their picturesque house in their suburban neighborhood. When I come around, it's there's the problem child. Nobody really knows why. And I don't have the time to sit there and tell everybody my backstory. Nor does anybody deserved to hear it all the time. It was very isolating. I got to go home more frequently when I was at Alder and I got to go home for like holidays and spring break, summer briefly. That was nice. But when you've been trying your damnedest to do all this therapeutic work and your parents went to one or two seminars and poof, they're done, there's no real progress. So that same issue still exists. You have more time to really see how dysfunctional your family truly is. As long as I was in those schools, I absolutely felt like the black sheep of the family. I continued to be the black sheep of the family until recently.

[Tiffany Reiss]

Ultimately, you ended up spending almost two years at each facility. You were in these types of environments from age 14 to 18.

[Catt]

Correct. I stayed there when I was 18, even though I thought about leaving. I was going to graduate high school. I wanted to go to college, especially because I didn't feel like home with my parents was a good option.

[Tiffany Reiss]

How much do you think your parents were paying to have you attend school there?

[Catt]

The initial first month deposit I think was non refundable $10,000. I'm not really sure about the monthly tuition there, but I imagine it's similar to Copper Canyon. So in like the $5,000, $6,000 a month range, I didn't have much money in my account each month. College applications are expensive, so I only applied to the one school that gave me application fee waived and I got into that school. That was Virginia Commonwealth University. I was prepping to go there, but when I turned 18, that's when the whole attack therapy thing about me potentially hacking happened. I was so upset. I had packed all my things and I was ready to walk off campus. But the only thing that deterred me is if I had left, some of those credits wouldn't have transferred. So I stuck it out. I ended up graduating high school and I came home until college and went off to college. I ended up dropping out after the first year. It was just too much for me to handle. The school I went to was a very large university. So I had a lot of trouble with the schooling because getting one on one time with a professor is impossible when you have a classroom of 400 people. After college, I tried to briefly live with my parents, but I wasn't really welcome. I got kicked out. I was so angry. And to a certain degree, I don't blame them. And I'm sure they were scared of how I was going to behave or conduct myself, but they kind of created a monster in that aspect.

[Friend]

When I got out of the program, it was really hard having a relationship with my mother.

[Catt]

I had a boyfriend at the time and I know my mom wasn't too fond of him. I had so much anger and resentment build up because I had gone from four years of these programs straight to college and I failed miserably. It's another culture shock I was not prepared to go from someone dictating your day to day life and every move to having complete independence. All I wanted to do was feel freedom for once. Unfortunately, that did lead to some bad decisions on my end. I did get involved in drugs and drinking and I unfortunately experienced sexual assault again. I saw that my mother was weaponizing it against me, and I felt so frustrated because I didn't know where to begin to tell her, hey, I am so screwed up from four years of not having my own voice and not having nurturing care from the people I need it from most.

[Friend]

It was really hard when it came to my mom. We didn't really have much of a relationship. It was constantly trying to bend over backward to please her in some way while she still told her friends or anyone who would listen about how I was upsetting her in whichever way. I wasn't really necessarily interacting with her a lot, maybe because of how angry I was. But also, when your mom is saying not so nice things about you, why would you want to continue talking to them and subject yourself to that? I think one thing about the program that made it insanely difficult to have a relationship with my mother was the fact that there's not a whole lot of direct communication. So there's not a lot of resolution with issues that have been happening. There's no closure on either side for parents or for kids. So if you are to approach these things later in life, it can be really difficult and it may be really uncomfortable. And that's how it felt for me.

[Catt]

From age 19 to 20, I was between homelessness and couch surfing. Then I joined the military because I was like, I need some structure and I need, need a roof over my head. I did a couple years of that and it was very traumatic. It was difficult in the sense that was familiar to me with the psychological mind games and the sleep deprivation. I was really depressed when I was in basic training. Granted, I was also going through a divorce at the time, so it was a lot of shit at once. But at the same time, you know, it's like, I've done this before. This is really familiar. I got out of the military. I was stationed in Germany. So I came back to the States, and it was unfortunately a really very long period from age 23 to about 28 of homelessness, on and off, drug addiction, alcoholism, not having any proper life skills to feel like I could really get anywhere in life. Doing a lot of grunt work jobs and trying to get by. There were times that I did sex work because it was A way to pay the bills. I learned how to disassociate really well. But it hurt having to put myself through that, not having my parents I could lean on. I moved to Chicago in 2017 on a whim, but with a plan in mind. Living in this city has been the best thing that has happened to me. I've been almost nine years clean from heroin. I finally stopped drinking this year. It's been 102 days. It always makes me wonder, if I hadn't have gone to these schools and had a normal teenage life, could I have been on a different life path? I feel like this put me behind on the learning curve. I'm 35 and I still feel like there's a lot of work to be done. I'm in the right direction. There are times where I still break down crying thinking about these schools because it was so isolating. And you feel like you're the bad kid and it feels like a mark on your record, like this person's bad, they went to bad kids school. It's still a constant everyday struggle to try to pick up the pieces. And I don't think that I ever will. Unfortunately.

[Friend]

Another thing that it did is it.

[Catt]

Caused a lot of abandonment issues with me. When parents signed that initial contract in 2004, they gave up custody of me. They also said they would not sue if I died in these people's care and other horrid things they consented to me being strip searched if I needed to be.

[Friend]

Things like that.

[Catt]

Like what parent would do that, knowing that they were putting their trust in strangers who they don't even know. Unfortunately, abandonment issues cause a lot of psychological trauma, especially later down the road. I came out having much more complex and adult issues that as someone who's almost 40, I'm having to navigate. And I feel like a child doing it because I'm working through issues that were forced upon me during my childhood, in my developmental years.

[Friend]

Back in 2011, I did go back to CCA to visit. Why? I don't know. I was 21. I had just graduated basic training from the Army. Maybe it was also to go back and be like, fuck you. Look how good I'm doing. You guys said I couldn't and here I am. Either way, I did go back and I didn't really have anywhere to stay. All of a sudden I'm just stranded in Arizona. I'm not going to name names here, but there was a staff member, he said that I could feel free to stay with him and his wife at his house. I was like, sure, I'll take you up on the offer. So went to their little cabin in the middle of Arizona. I remember we all watched a horror movie together. And then he's feeding me alcohol, lots of whiskey. At some point, his wife goes to bed, and it's just me and him watching this horror movie. I think it was I spit on your grave, which has got a pretty violent rape scene, which was a little triggering at the time. Really weird choice of a movie. But he ended up getting really close to me, and I was pretty inebriated at this point. Like, I in no way, shape or form could safely drive away if I wanted to. He's definitely putting his hand on my thigh and getting close to me. That's when I'm like, I have to go to the bathroom. And I just locked myself in the bathroom for the rest of the night. Did not come out. And then in the morning, just acted like everything was okay when I went to go visit the campus. But I think a part of me also was trying to convince myself that it didn't happen. You're like, oh, yeah, you were just drunk. Cap, maybe you're remembering this wrong, but based on how uncomfortable I felt the next day, I know I didn't remember that incorrectly. I can remember it sitting here now talking about it. And that was another person that I was supposed to trust who knew a lot of information about me and put me in an extremely vulnerable position where I had no way to get out of it. And I'm glad I locked myself in the bathroom. But imagine if that opportunity weren't available. What would I have done?

[Tiffany Reiss]

Did you feel like that reopened a wound after that visit?

[Friend]

It really did. And it really made me regret going out there, too. I don't know what I was expecting, but certainly not that. When you trust somebody and they know everything about you and everything that you went through, and they knew about me being raped when I was 14, that absolutely hurt. And I have since told a couple of people about it, but it was really, really hard to tell other people about it because I was afraid of what they would think because it was someone who was well regarded. Once I did say something, a couple people noticed. He's always liking my pictures on Facebook, where my cleavage is out or something like that. Put two and two together.

[Tiffany Reiss]

There's power dynamics at play here. Several. The fact that you were a former student, the fact that he knew all of this personal information about your history. It definitely sounds like grooming behavior.

[Friend]

It absolutely is. I'm not a unique story. It just seems like they wait for you to turn of age and all of a sudden they prey on you because of your vulnerabilities. It almost feels a little more dirty knowing that they played you in that way for years.

[Tiffany Reiss]

Some of the survivors that were sexually assaulted by staff while in program often have reported being told that if they didn't comply or if they told anyone that they would be harmed or that no one was going to believe them. Who's going to believe you? Me, a staff member, or you a troubled teen?

[Friend]

Exactly. And the whole who's going to believe you because of the troubled teen thing, unfortunately, that's such a big thing with these documentaries and things coming out, even the comments, it perpetuates that. Where it's like, oh, who's going to believe these girls? They're lying. They're troubled teens. How hurtful is that? You're trying to really invalidate us. And just because we went to these schools does not make us troublemakers or problems or liars. It doesn't invalidate our experiences. It's hard enough for me to talk about these things. Why would I subject myself to that? What would I gain out of that? It's terrible. I had a staff member from Aldern who reached out to me when I was in College. I was 18 at the time. And he would message me some pretty suggestive and flirty things about how I looked and sex and things of that nature. It made me wildly uncomfortable. It's something you don't want to hear when it's a trusted individual. You thought they were maybe one of the good ones, but it turns out they aren't. And it absolutely shatters your trust. Because here's somebody. When you're in a really vulnerable state, you think that you can trust them with stuff, and especially a male figure. It's hard to do that. When they turn around and say things to you that are suggestive in nature, it absolutely breaks your heart. I had two incidents of that happening, one from each school. It was a really tough pill to swallow, and it definitely made me have more severe trust issues. I never really got the closure that I wanted and needed from my mother because there was never really an opportunity to talk about it. My mom is no longer with us six months before she died. I propose that we look at our relationship together as less of a mother daughter relationship and more as peers. It was nice because she jumped on that and it was kind of like having a mom again, but not in the same regard that I would have hoped it didn't feel like it should, but I was grateful to be talking to her. Even with her gone, there's still a lot of unresolved feelings and anger that I feel toward her, and I don't think that's ever going to go away. I think if I hadn't been sent to these programs, we may have had more of an opportunity to work through our issues, maybe in a more therapeutic setting where we could talk to each other. I will forever be sad that I didn't have that chance to do that.

[Tiffany Reiss]

It was maybe helpful for you to think of her as a peer, and I've heard other survivors mention this methodology. Why do you think for survivors of these programs, that approach could be especially helpful?

[Friend]

It could be helpful in the sense that maybe your parent is potentially looking at their own life and being mother, father to a survivor. Maybe they're looking at themselves as being a failure in that aspect because either they sent you away or they view you in a certain way because of that. And if you eliminate the position and title of mother, father, whatever, I think it takes away a lot of pressure that they may feel. It just made it so much easier. It was like, okay, we can talk to each other and we can be open and honest about things. And that is exactly what happened. It wasn't quite what I wanted, but to be able to talk to somebody and have that tension taken away, it makes life so much easier.

[Tiffany Reiss]

You mentioned your dad's now in his 70s and that he's struggling with memory issues. What's that been like for you?

[Friend]

It's really hard to grieve someone while they're still alive. My dad was always very close to me, so seeing him go through that and have to be put into a memory care unit at a facility, that's really tough. No one really prepares you for having to deal with that. Granted, I only saw bits and pieces because I would fly home to Virginia from Chicago and try to help out as much as I could. But at this point, I haven't seen him since March of last year because the last time I saw him, he tried to proposition me sexually. He didn't recognize me. And it's really hard to take a step back and realize, okay, this is the disease and this is very normal. But I am his kid. I don't want to think about him like that. I get regular updates on things. We have a wonderful person that goes in and checks on him. And my brother is back home taking care of him as well. So he's in good hands. But it definitely is difficult Mourning someone who's still alive and doesn't remember who you are. We hadn't been the closest, but my brother lived not too far from my parents. My mom was constantly calling him over to help with things and be there for whatever. So he essentially had a full time job and that was my mom. We didn't feel like we could speak freely when she was alive as well. But since my mom has died, we've actually become a lot closer going over things and how we felt. In certain events over the years, he's been one to actually discuss the aspect of me getting sent away. He said that he absolutely protested to my parents that that was a terrible idea. When he came to visit me at cca, he was really weirded out. He said it was a very strange situation. He actually visited me for Thanksgiving of last year and I made him watch the program. He said, oh my goodness, I did not realize it was this bad and how could he? I'm really grateful for him living so far away. It hasn't really posed much of an issue. We are definitely sure to like check in on each other every now and then. We're essentially all each other has left since my mom is dead and dad is a little too far gone. So it does bring me some comfort to have that relationship with him. It kind of opened my eyes to realizing that I wasn't the only one who went through a lot with my mom. He did as well. It was just a whole different ball game. Being able to talk openly and freely now, it allows for the chance for healing. That's all I hope to continue to do with him, because I love him so much and I am so happy to finally have a better relationship with him that I don't think either of us felt comfortable having before.

[Tiffany Reiss]

You mentioned part of the reason that you were happy that you were participating in the podcast and sharing your story was so that you could share it with your partner. How do you feel like being in these types of programs can affect survivors in intimate relationships?

[Friend]

Unfortunately, going through these things can cause you to have a lot of PTSD and a lot of trauma responses. Sometimes navigating those, especially in a relationship, can be really hard. I think the more that they understand what you went through, the more that they can be like, well, this makes sense and this makes this easier to deal with next time. I do try my best to recognize in times where maybe I'm freaking out over for no reason or something's bothering me, or times where I'm reminded of my time sent away, he's been nothing but supportive and he tries his best to understand, especially as someone who didn't go through that his childhood was a lot different than mine. But the more he learns about these places, the more he really gets to dig deep into the dynamic between myself and him and helping navigate my family. After my mom died, he was there not only for me, but my family. Understanding and having a good idea of what's going on has been really helpful. Even when we were going through the paperwork and stuff to prepare for this podcast, he was really helpful and really validating and helping me truly realize, hey, like, you didn't really need to go through all this. I love that about him.

[Tiffany Reiss]

What would you say to the people who run these programs?

[Friend]

First of all, I'd like to say shame on you to each and every one of them because I don't know how anybody who works for these programs can truly sleep at night because they are both directly and indirectly affecting my life even years later. Some of these people have children as well and I want them to really evaluate if they would even be comfortable with their kids being in places like this. And I already know the answer would be no. But it's really hurtful to know that these people were okay with a huge money grab situation from our parents and then mistreatment of us and not really thinking about the long term consequences of underdeveloped brains going through such traumatic times. People who ran the programs, fuck you. I'm still here and I'm doing great.

[Tiffany Reiss]

What do you want survivors who are listening to this to know and remember in their own healing journeys?

[Friend]

I definitely want them to remember that it's okay not to be okay. We've all been through so much and it's really hard for an average person who hasn't been through these schools to understand or comprehend. And I also want them to know that it's okay to have moments where you do feel defined by your trauma, but do not let it rule you. I know it's easier said than done. It definitely still impacts my day to day life, but I've made a really good effort in taking the negative experiences that I've had and letting it help me grow as a person. I definitely am a really strong and resilient person. I know a lot of survivors are and unfortunately we've lost so many of them too. I additionally need them to know that there is such a huge network of support. I've experienced it firsthand with talking to people I went to school with and people listening to me when we're going through tough times. We all know how hard it is and how hard life can be after going through schools like this. No one is alone and I want to really drill that fact in. You are not alone. And please reach out. If you are ever going through something and you feel like there's no one who's going to listen, I guarantee you there's a bunch of people who have been through this who are going to be there in a heartbeat.

[Tiffany Reiss]

I appreciate you being willing to be so real and raw and vulnerable. And I think that a lot of survivors are going to feel extremely validated in the things that you've shared. So thank you. Thank you.

[Friend]

You are very welcome. And thank you for having me. It means so much to me.

[Tiffany Reiss]

Next time on Something was Wrong.

[Future Guest]

I was feeling lost and completely helpless. Because you speak up that you don't want to go, you're seen as defiant and potentially you could be put somewhere worse or for longer. The school part was kind of a joke because I was 18 years old and having to take the same math class as a 14 year old. Everyone got on the ground, laid on the couches, cuddling, giving massages, but it would be staff and students cuddling in piles on the floor. If you don't participate, you stand out or you get in trouble. Once I left these programs trying to stimulate back in the real world, it's constant loneliness.

[Tiffany Reiss]

Something was Wrong is a broken cycle. Media Production created and produced by executive producer Tiffany Reese Associate producers Amy B. Chesler and Lily Rowe with audio editing and music design by Becca High. Thank you to our extended team. Lauren Barkman, our social media marketing manager Sarah Stewart, our graphic artist and Marissa and Travis from wme. Thank you endlessly to every survivor who has ever trusted us with their stories. And thank you each and every listener for making our show possible with your support and listenership. In the episode notes, you'll always find episode specific content, warnings, sources and resources. Thank you so much for your support. Until next time, stay safe, friends.