Exposing the Harrowing Reality: Inside the Cults Traumatizing Troubled Teens

Outside the quiet town of Mayer, Arizona, a troubling practice once thrived at Spring Ridge Academy. Fourteen-year-old Katie Farran and other teens were drawn into a ritual termed “Feedback Group.” This supposed therapeutic exercise involved participants hurling grievances at each other, often resulting in public humiliation. The teens, facing issues like substance abuse and eating disorders, were pushed to vocalize their frustrations.

“It was something you had to do,” Farran, now 39, shared in a recent interview. “It was really humiliating to be called out in front of everybody.” This method of therapy traces its roots back to a cult from the 1950s, linked to a series of violent crimes.

The institution is now embroiled in legal battles. A mother recently won a $2.5 million federal lawsuit on grounds of fraud, seeking justice for her child. Yet, Spring Ridge Academy, which shut down in 2023, represents only a fraction of a vast network of similar facilities. These establishments have their origins in Synanon, a contentious organization founded by Charles “Chuck” Dederich in 1958.

Initially a drug rehabilitation program, Synanon garnered substantial attention, even inspiring a feature film. However, Dederich’s brainchild deteriorated, leading to practices like “The Game,” where members attacked each other’s weaknesses. Such “attack therapy” has been debunked as harmful, with studies revealing lasting psychological damage.

By the 1970s, Synanon’s control intensified, leading to forced vasectomies and abortions among its members. Legal troubles compounded, with Dederich eventually instigating violent attacks on critics. Synanon collapsed in the 1990s following substantial tax penalties and Dederich’s probation for attempted murder. Its legacy, however, birthed numerous imitators who adopted similar abusive tactics under different guises.

In December 2003, a 16-year-old named Nora Ash encountered one such method known as “gooning,” a euphemism for sanctioned kidnapping. She was transported from her Salt Lake City home amidst a blizzard to a remote facility in Utah. At Outback Wilderness, children had to endure harsh conditions and bizarre rituals to “earn” privileges, an experience Ash described as grueling and dehumanizing.

Arizona has seen its share of these controversial wilderness programs. Mesa-based Anasazi, for instance, gained notoriety linked to the child abuse cases involving family vloggers Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt. Such programs bear striking similarities to the practices pioneered by Synanon.

As the troubled teen industry faces increasing scrutiny, survivors like Farran and Ash are speaking out. They emphasize the traumatic aftermath and the insidious nature of these institutions, often likened to cults. Farran described trying to navigate the manipulative environment at Spring Ridge Academy, a facility she likened to a cult. The founder, Jeannie Courtney, held significant influence over the girls, reminiscent of Synanon’s dynamics.

Courtney’s background and connections to organizations like LifeSpring, described by some as a pyramid scheme or cult, shaped Spring Ridge Academy’s operations. Despite the school’s closure, Courtney appears poised to establish a new program in Prescott, Arizona.

Multiple violations were found by the Arizona Department of Health Services, including failures to prevent a teen’s suicide attempts. These revelations are part of a wider movement calling for accountability in the troubled teen industry. Recent high-profile testimonies, like that of Paris Hilton, have shed light on systemic abuses, fueling public and legislative interest.

Advocates, alongside survivors, continue their fight for reform, aiming to dismantle harmful practices and replace them with scientifically backed, compassionate care. Despite the legal pushback from industry lobbyists, the drive for significant change persists.

Photo via Getty Images

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