Help for Teens in Crisis
Programs that can help your teen and your family


Testimonials
I graduated from the Program in 1995. I am 21 years old and recently graduated cum laude from San Jose State University in Behavioral Science and Psychology. I also made the Dean's Scholar list while at SJSU. I am grateful to my family for funding my education, allowing me to return home, and tolerating my sloppy room. I enjoyed living with them this past year. Many staff members continued to offer their support following my graduation from the Program.

What I gained from the Program prepared me academically and emotionally to succeed in life. I learned to discipline myself, fulfill responsibilities, and set and attain goals. The seminars were especially helpful: They assisted me in my transformation from a depressed, angry convicted felon into a free, special, powerful, and loving young woman. My friends today are incredulous when I describe my teenage years to them. It seems as if it were all just a bad dream now. Again, I am thankful to everyone who has supported my interesting journey.

~ Dani Brigadier
Our teenage daughter ran away from home. Prior to this event, she was incorrigible, seldom did what was asked of her, always gone, angry and nasty to us, cruel to her little sister, failing in school and so forth. The day she ran away we made it our business to find out everything that was going on! What we discovered was our daughter was an excellent actress and had fooled the school, her therapist, us and all her 'clean' friends too! She had been leading a hidden separate life! We realized that if we didn't get her help immediately, the next time we saw her would probably be on a slab in the morgue. We were scared to death.

We began researching different programs. A friend told us about the Program. They had a program that made sense, instilling integrity, honesty and self-esteem. All very important characteristics that were missing for our daughter. They were compassionate and caring. They also are committed to the child continuing to do well once out of the Program by offering follow-up programs.

Our daughter graduated the Program. We are so proud of her! She now possesses honesty, integrity, self-esteem and is a caring, warm person. Not anything like the stranger she had become before. She also finished high school, on the Honor Roll, the year after returning home. We are very grateful to have our daughter back better than she was before. This experience has changed our family in such an incredible way. We are so much closer and happier that we ever were before.

~ Tom & Robyn Liebner
When I entered the Program, I was a very quiet, timid fellow. I rarely talked because I was so scared about what others were going to think of me if I said something wrong. I was very lost and confused. I thought the cool thing to do was to sit and do nothing. Just wait out until I turned eighteen. But as my eighteenth birthday approached I had some talks about whether I wanted to stay or not. I honestly felt it would be the best thing for my life. And it turned out to be just that. The reason I stayed after I turned 18, and then 19, was so I could complete something positive for the first time in my life, and because I have learned to love changing! After that I became more accountable for my life. I learned to always keep learning and growing and use every moment to the fullest. In my leadership program in the upper levels I had some of the biggest learning experiences of my life, such as what to do in my free time.

I have been through a lot, and the most important thing I have learned is I am in control of my life in every aspect. I am a Real, Free, Loving Young Man and Proud of it!

~ Eric Anderson
When our two boys were young, my husband, Larry and I checked everything out before involving our children with someone new. This included baby-sitters, schools, teachers, and friends. That is why it seems so amazing to us, that we sent our son off to the Program without ever being to the facility.

Our faith and trust in the Program was just reinforced after our first visit there. When we arrived that morning, all the staff that we met seemed to be as excited as we were to see our son, after months of being apart. After our surprise, joyful, tearful reunion, I looked up to see that so many of the staff were crying right along with us.

As for the 'physical' setting, it is in a beautiful, peaceful place. The classrooms and dorms are all separate buildings so the kids get lots of clean fresh air. Everything is clean and neat. The mountains are gorgeous. It is such a calming atmosphere.

Brent was so anxious for us to meet everyone and I could tell that he really felt loved by the staff. Everyone took a few minutes to welcome us, and share honestly of their feelings for our son. Any questions we had, were answered. One of our concerns, of course, was Brent's education plan. We were shown right where Brent stood and what he needed to do to graduate.

Our over all impressions could be described in these words: CARING, HARDWORKING, SUPPORTING. Everything that we saw and experienced in this visit reinforced to us what a great program this is and that it is a terrific facility.

~ Marsha Thiele
When I entered the Program I was 17 years old, and have since turned 18. From my first month I began working on my anger issues. I dealt with issues about not feeling wanted or loved. I have worked hard, showing a strong commitment to working and finishing the Program. Through my program I have built relationships with both my parents – relationships that were not there before. I did this by showing an unconditional love for my family, for I was too prideful to show this before becoming open and honest with my parents and myself. Now, I can truthfully look in the mirror and say to myself the three most important words, 'I LOVE YOU!' I have come so far and completed so many things. More that I had ever dreamed.

The staff are phenomenal. They are always willing to assist me and take time to sit down with me, no matter what time it is. There are times I have been very down, and they have always shown a caring compassion. There's always a hug or pat on the back when you need one.

~ Brennan Patton
Do you suspect your child lies to you every time you ask them if they are on drugs? Do they stay out partying for days, never coming home? When weekly therapy and short term rehabs fail, it may be time for a different solution.

About a year and half ago I was running away from home, fighting with my parents, experimenting with drugs and alcohol, cutting school and I was only 14 years old. My parents relationship was deteriorating, as well as my relationship with them. I felt alone and outcast from 'regular' kids. So I sought out the crowd I knew would accept me . . . the 'weird' crowd.

Though I was just getting into all these things, my parents realized that more was going on with me then I let them see. Yes, they tried therapy and short term rehab but it just only fed into the beliefs as I viewed myself . . . 'crazy, different and hopeless'. I'm glad my parents decided not to wait to send me. For I learned that there was hope for me and my family. Now we're working through our problems.

This program can work for others, just like me. It's done a lot for me and my family. I've learned to accept myself and love who I am, and how to lead a successful and fulfilling life for myself. Before I couldn't even let others love me. I pushed everyone away. Now I can love and be loved by others. I have learned to trust me and shut my brain up when I get stuck up there. I am a realist. I don't need to do big things, or be loud. All I need to do is to trust myself. Someone once told me that there aren't very many people who can just be calm and strong inside and be okay with that. I have learned I am one of those people. I am finally learning to just be free.

~ Rochelle Doty
Words cannot express enough how thankful I am that such programs exist. Before entering the Program my daughter had no self-esteem, or awareness of how much she was hurting herself and her family. She got involved with the wrong crowd and headed down a destructive path filled with truancy, drug abuse, dishonesty and running away. Yet only a couple of years prior, this same child had been president of her class, an all star soccer player and a solid B student. We tried everything to get her back on track; increasing consequences for bad behavior, tough love and counseling . . . nothing worked.

She now values herself and family. The letters I receive from her are assurance that I did the right thing. I feel as though I'm getting my old daughter back; the caring, thoughtful and loving child she once was. I am grateful that these programs exist, and so is my daughter. She thanked me for saving her life after being there for just one and a half months. She realized that she was on a downward spiral and needed help getting out.

~ Julie Kruczynski
My trouble began in seventh grade, when I started smoking cigarettes. That was my 'bridge', my 'crutch'. Those cigarettes let me think drinking was OK, then pot, then sex ... all at 13. Yet, those were not the real issues. The real problems were happening in my family. We never talked. We did yell and we ignored each other, but we didn't talk. I have come to understand that we were all hurting really bad inside for love, but instead we just pushed each other away.

I entered the Program when I was 15 years old. The staff were very loving and helpful. I learned a whole lot about life in 'beautiful, downtown La Verkin'. The Program gave me a gift that I couldn't give myself a new chance at my life. With that chance, I made new choices, and I learned to love myself. I learned to be self-confident and trusting. To give to myself. To give, and not take from others. As for my family, we are doing awesome. We talk all the time, my parents are my best friends. I go to them with hard decisions, with my problems. And the weirdest thing happens ... we actually TALK. It's so great.

If there was one thing I could say to parents. I would say, "Don't wait. There is no message in the world that is more powerful than the message that your parents love you enough to want more for you, than you want for yourself."

~ Vanessa Scharer
Before I came to the Program I was into substance abuse, running away and being defiant. I was not happy, and if I would have stayed that way for a while longer I know I would have ended my existence.

I have a new respect for what I have now. I will treat my mom with respect now, not like trash, as 1 once did. Yes, there are times when things will go wrong or when we do not agree, but there is never going to be a 'perfect' family. This experience has helped prepare me for appreciating my family at home. This place has made me a much stronger person, and I am grateful for that.

For all the parents out there that care enough about their kids to give them a new life and chance ... THANK YOU!

~ Chad Ross
A friend of mine told me about The Program. We had tried everything we knew how to do to help Bill, but nothing was working. My son was totally out of control, living in Golden Gate Park and generally headed for big-time trouble. It wasn't hard sending him to the Program, as I new he was now going to be safe and would get the help he needed.

This is a program for change, and it has changed, and greatly enhanced our entire family's life. Finding the Program saved my son's life and has brought my whole family to a new level of trust, understanding and love. Something we never thought could be possible. I have participated in all the seminars the Program has to offer, and so have my two daughters. As a result, they are both making better choices which have enhanced their lives as well. The bottom line is that calling the Program saved our family's life and I am thankful every day that I found it.

~ Carol Grieve
Are you sure you have sent me the right child??? We sent you a 15 year old scrawny, dirty, self-centered, long haired, rude, defiant child. A child with not an ounce of self-respect nor integrity. We picked up a clean cut, muscular built, high school graduate, family oriented, with high self esteem, who now has goals for his life. Even after all this time since his return home things are better than we could have ever imagined.

Nick is 19 years old now, and has been home for nearly two years. He has proven over and over again that he can be trusted and will do whatever he states he is going to do. He is a joy to be around. He has completed his college classes now at a local community college and will be transferring to a university soon.

Our son is a wonderful young adult and is an asset, and a joy to our family.

~ Maria Thulin


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