Discovery Ranch South – Cedar City

In shear honesty the ranch helped me very little in the almost 3 years I was there. I under went abuse when all I wanted was a normal childhood. When I consistently cried and begged to go home. When I prayed each night… that they would let me leave because at the end of the day I was just a kid that needed to be loved. I met a small group of outstanding women who changed my life and they happened to be those same women being abused beside me. Those women were hurt just as bad and felt very little love. I watched this place drain the life out of my friends and myself and beat me down to an unrecognizable version of me. Please please please, do not send your children here. Do it for the survivors. For Biruk Silvers who died at the boys ranch. There are so many other places that can help your kids with their mental health. Just not this one.

HATED IT! I was traumatized from that place! Do NOT send your kids there! They didn't believe I had a disability, that I DO in fact have and am diagnosed with it. I was told I was faking. Staff also tried to convert me… to be a member of the LDS. DO NOT GO THERE!

I went here from 2015-2016. I have heard that certain pieces have improved about DRA (DRG at the time I attended). Testimonials form students and parents, in my opinion are not reliable. I came out of DRG feeling… empowered, strong and like my issues were healed. The real reality? My survival mechanisms kicked in to get me out of that program after months of being stuck and seeing no other option other than to comply to the program. Nothing healed. I experienced medical neglect, medical gaslighting (I had bed wetting issue and instead of pursuing further medical evaluation it was chalked up to anxiety despite having been an issue as a teenager for years (I have now been diagnosed and treated for two bladder conditions and no longer struggle with these issues), uninformed therapeutic treatment (that did not address my trauma, the core root of pretty much of everything), poor medication oversight (was blamed for requested otc pepto with my ibs medication because they interact. I was not allowed to see my med bottles or labels and was not overseeing my med regimen, that was a staff overnight who gave me the pepto when I asked). They also completely missed a bipolar diagnosis and had me on SSRIs). They used a system called plate check for eating disorder treatment, but did not provide proper support, only punished you for not eating. At one point a level was with withheld from me due to being underweight (despite passing most of my plate checks, I requested additional ensure but it was refused until after the level was denied and they finally approved it. The food was often portioned for us and although salad and fruit were unlimited, the fruit would often be eaten in the first few days and not be available, additional snacks and food were a privilege). Despite all of that I left DR on top of the world, years of legitimate trauma therapy that was complicated by the amount of stuffing down of emotions and psychological brain washing that occured at DR that only compounded the trauma I was already grappling with are the reason I am alive today. I am alive despite DR, despite the fact that multiple of my friends from this facility are no longer alive. If your daughter is struggling, she doesn’t need more. Keep her within your state, check the state regulations on facilities for your state, take the reviews seriously. Keep her close so you can visit her often. And any program that does not allow unmonitored communication is a BIG red flag. My parents didn’t know what to do, they were afraid to lose their daughter, instead I completely lost myself. Just some things to consider.

I went to DRG when I was 15 from 2021-2022. I don't know if they still have this protocol I hope to the God I don't believe in that they don't. I was put on "review" for almost 3 months. That basically meant I was… locked in a room with two staff members at all hours of the day. I was force fed insane amounts of drugs, many of which I don't even know the names of including ativan at least 5 times a day. Which is insane and definitely shouldn't be legal. I wasn't allowed to do anything. No talking no reading no drawing, you name it I couldn't do it. I resorted to self harm a lot during these times just to feel a sense of control. My parents have videos of me from the parent seminar in June 2021 with open lacerations while working with my calf which is probably not sanitary. While on review I would have to carry my mattress across campus to sleep in the living room of another cabin I'm not sure the purpose of it besides torture honestly. I weigh less than 100 pounds to this day, carrying that mattress was really hard for me, and I told them I would rather sleep on the floor they still made me do it. I was eventually brainwashed to the point where I genuinely believed that this place had cured me. I was crying at my graduation telling my friends and family that I was saved. One of my friends from my previous treatment center came to my grad and she told me I wasn't cured, I was brainwashed I didn't believe her. A few days later after I had left I realized she was right. I wasn't cured. I was more lost than I had ever been. I overdosed and ended up in the hospital for weeks about 1-2 months after I had left, and ended up getting sent to Heritage. There is so much horrible stuff that goes on in this place. It took me a few years to realize how much this place messed up my life. The ranch honestly reminds me a lot of a cult. There is so many obscene and oddly specific rules, and there are a bunch of kids out there working for free out of fear of punishment if they stop working. This place is financially benefiting from keeping the kids there for as long as possible. In many cases I could recognize that some of my friends had been there for far too long, and didn't honeslty seem to have severe mental health struggles or issues they were working through. They were just being kept because they weren't following the rules of the program, which isn't right. If you're a treatment center and not treating a person, then they shouldn't be there. There are some wonderful and kind staff members that were good to me when I was there. There is more I would like to say, but if you take one thing from this, please do not send your kids or loved ones here. Out of all the treatment centers I've been to, this one scarred me the most.

I was a student at DRS for 11 months, from February 2022 - January 2023, and in that time I endured more trauma than anyone should ever have to go through. This rating is not solely for DRS, but for the industry as a… whole. Please do not send your kids here.

My daughter attended DRS for one year from March 2023 to April 2024. No place or people are perfect. But DRS was truly incredibly healing for her and our family. She had struggled for years with various issues. This… team was the very first to break through to her and help her move forward. Due to the structured but nurturing environment, my daughter not only thrived but soared. The Therapeutic team, Equestrian team, Advanced Recreational team, Educational team, as well as the daily staff, all looked out for my kiddo. The Calf Program was so special. And the campus is just beautiful. Homey. Warm. Clean. Every child is only going to "get out" of the program as much as they put into it. My daughter was encouraged every step of the way. And when she went backwards, she was appropriately gently disciplined, taught about cause and effect, and encouraged to move forward again. My daughter is home now and DRS was not a "fix it all". Her journey continues. But they gave her a great foundation to allow her to succeed in her life. Many people post negative comments about RTC's and TBS's and there is definitely work needed to be done. However, everything we experienced at DRS, only proves they are the exception. Of course, there is always room for improvement. DRS is absolutely one of the good ones!

For many years, I credited the Ranch for saving my life. While I still maintain some of that gratitude, I can now see this program for what it is. Another residential treatment center that strips away teenager’s basic… rights, labels them as “troubled”, punishes them for expressing their emotions “incorrectly”, and fosters inappropriate relationships between staff and clients. I am just beginning to unpack how this program truly affected me. As I have gained an education in psychology and social work, I have realized that this program is not ethical or humane. If you are a parent thinking about sending your child to a facility like this one, seek community and not-for-profit mental health resources for your child. This program corrects behaviors for some and leaves scars for all #breakingcodesilence

this place absolutely traumatized a very close friend of mine and I will never ever condone the actions it promotes. the only people that need help are the leaders of such a twisted organization. this is discusting.

this place was a hell house. i got everything striped from me and witnessed so much unethical behavior from staff in this institution. i am discussed by this place and the practices it allows.

I'll admit, when I was going to DRG all I wanted was to go home. I'd cry for hours to my therapist or my cabin staff begging them to let me call my mom, I lived in California my whole life and now I was so far away from… my biggest support system. But the ranch helped me in more ways then I can put into words. In short; DRG saved my life. In 2021 I moved to Utah, being the most depressed I've ever been. It was the best decision I could've made. It's not easy, you cannot expect to get out in less then a year. And you cannot expect that the meds are going to do it for you. I think most people know this fact but don't want to acknowledge it because "why would I want to get better I'm doing just fine." Obviously the ranch isn't perfect but who can confidently say they are? I wasn't and I'm still not. I fell in love with Cedar City so much that I'm currently going to SUU, and am still very connected to the staff and friends I made connections with throughout my year there. If you know you are going here or sending your child here, as hard as It seems it is possible. It felt impossible every step of the way, but in the end I still did it. I still graduated and am still alive to this day. Its been a little over 2 years since I graduated and I miss the ranch so much. isn't that crazy? I begged and pleaded to go home my entire stay but now all I want to do is go back.

I believe the little girls speaking out

Treatment centers in general are receiving extraordinarily bad press. While vigilance is always necessary and reform essential to ensure individual employees and centers follow protocols, making blanket statements about… all providers is inaccurate and damaging. The need remains: Many young people who cannot be safe in their family homes need appropriate, therapeutic treatment - not just containment. This is what our family ultimately had to face - and it was the hardest decision ever. After bouncing through hospitals and being turned down elsewhere, our daughter landed at DRS for 17 months. It took her longer than some, but she came out healthier than when she went in. She made life-long friends, cared for baby cows, went on excursions, rode horses, improved with therapy, and attended school. While this road is long and still full of challenges, I can honestly say DRS saved her life during those months she lived there. I am still in touch with the staff, who care enough to check in with us even years later. True, no one wants to need a place like DRS. But, thank God they are there.

This was a very helpful for our daughter. She benefited a lot from equestrian therapy and radical DBT and Rashell was the best therapist she's ever had.

So obviously no treatment center is perfect there's flaws in every single one. That being said Discovery Ranch is no exception there's definitely room for improvement, but they are trying. I went to the ranch from… January 2021-22, and from the beginning of my time there to my end there were so many things that changed and improved. Even now from what I've heard its a completely different program for the better. If you're looking for a program to send your kid. DRS is an amazing place, most of the staff really do care and they want to help you. When I came to the ranch for the first time I was not doing great, I wasn't eating, drinking, or even talking. I couldn't even go a few hours without trying to harm myself in any way I could. I didn't even have any hair because I had pulled it all out. By the end of my year there I had friends, I had hair, I was even eating and drinking. The ranch saved my life I would not be here today without them. Another thing I love about the ranch is how fun it is. They truly give you a chance to just be kids. My favorite memories from the ranch are all the bracelet making parties we had, when we would go outside and play red rover, play concentration, all the impromptu water gun fights in the summer, the snowball fights in the winter, going sledding in the winter, the lake days with a giant water trampoline, going trick or treating on Halloween, getting to go off campus during christmas, getting hot chocolate, and looking at christmas lights. I'm 21 now and I still miss the ranch and all the friends I made. Its not perfect, but to me it felt like home for that year.

Discovery Ranch South is an amazing experiential and relationship-based program for adolescent girls. I personally love their incredible equine program and the baby cows! They utilize experiential therapy to help… students but into the program and their future. I mean really, who wouldn’t want to snuggle a baby cow?

I am a local clinician and I have toured DR South many times and have known many of the people who work there for years. I believe this program is not only beautiful in its location and facilities, but also a solid… program with data driven treatment. Recommend.

please watch the program before sending your kids here. it was almost the exact structure

My daughter was at Discovery Ranch South for 8 months from August 2021 - March 2022 following 11 weeks at wilderness. She had struggled with mental health for years, was in and out of local treatments that were not… successful (and in fact, caused set backs), was self harming and had a suicide attempt. We started with wilderness which was transformative and where she learned to value life. Discovery Ranch was the necessary step to her success as it was a safe place that helped her develop and practice using the skills she had learned which was necessary to her growth. She would not have been able to do this work while home, and needed the wrap around support that she received at DRS. Her therapist, Amanda, was exceptional and was the perfect combination of warm and caring and thoughtful and impactful in her approach. My daughter learned so many important skills, and the deep work we, as parents, did, truly helped our relationship blossom. In addition to the work we did with Amanda, DRS has quarterly Parent Seminars which were great opportunities for us to spend time with our daughter and to learn new skills. My daughter met many friends and participated in many activities, her favorite of which was the Advanced Recreation Program led by Dave who is amazing, where she went rock climbing and developed a love of snowboarding. I chose DRS for several reasons. First, it is beautiful and clean and felt like the perfect setting to help her heal. The cabins were clean, there is a beautiful lodge where they eat, a pond, and huge pastures for the animals. The animals were a big part of why I selected DRS as my daughter loves animals and the calf program, where each student gets their own baby calf that they need to bottle feed 3 times a day, helps them understand attachment and boosts confidence in doing a job and taking care of something, I also wanted her to do equine therapy, and the program that is led by Lee is excellent and taught her a lot. I liked the structure of the day which began with exercise and felt that was a good habit for her to get into and also helped boost endorphins. I also felt the structure of their phases that they need to work thru made sense and were fair. As they get thru the phases and closer to graduation, there is a lot more autonomy and independence, including having the privilege of going to the "club house" where the kids can hang out, I felt this was an important step as once she was home she was going to have more independence and this was a good way to practice that. I also liked the structure of how often we could see our daughter, and when she would progress to being able to have home visits. In addition to individual therapy, there is group therapy with many different focuses. School is the second half of the day which I felt was good as the focus was on doing the therapeutic work at the beginning of the day (it also was incorporated in other ways throughout the day). While school was not our focus in sending her, I didn't feel that the school worked well for her, especially as she has a learning disability. I had a feeling when we made the decision that this would be the case, and was correct, but made the decision because our focus was on her mental health which I felt DRS would have the most impact - and that was the case. If I had to do it again, I would absolutely choose DRS. My daughter has now been home for 2 years, and I know that DRS was imperative to my daughter's success.

Please don't send your children to residential treatment

this place was… decent. I was only at discovery for about a month (july-august 2023), and it was traumatizing. i thought it was going to be a great experience since i had trouble at another treatment facility that i… went to, but i was wrong. being at discovery was the first time i actually self harmed. i would use mechanical pencils to self harm, and the staff didnt do much about it. mechanical pencils never got taken away from me. One of the only good things about this place, was that i got to make genuine friends for the first time. my peers were able to support me, which was surprising nonetheless. i also got into a relationship, which none of the staff really cared about until there was mentions of kissing. staff invaded my privacy and looked through my journals and sketchbooks, which was very odd to do. i would not recommend this place for therapy AT ALL.

Realize that the staff and parents are the only ones giving this place positive reviews!! I have been to the ranch in 2016 and have been triggered in too many ways to count. They conditioned me to believe I was the… problem. Without realizing it... Maybe. I see through it and I chose this program over another program in Utah... This ended up being a source of trauma I am now exploring and actively accepting and processing. I felt lost at 24 and still seeking other programs for help.. do NOT send your child here... The staff mean well but they aren't here at the end of everyday for your child. Therapists maybe!??? You're paying out of pocket though ... Any tool they give you they use against you or are "for your own good"... Stories I hear from people unable to speak out are horrendous. Please. Do not. Send any girl. Especially a young woman here. I saw some terrible things they did and heard the cries of girls and I won't ever forget it.

Horrible, worst year of my life seriously. I can’t forget it although I’m trying my best to. With the exception of a couple, all of these 5 star reviews are from the staff there. Please do more research and really… consider whether to send your child into a facility like this. There were a few success cases, but they seemed to all be from teens who were willingly there to improve themselves. I have nightmares of DRG and fear that I will forever.

Discovery Ranch is life changing and life saving! Our teenage daughter had been struggling for years with increasingly deeper levels of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and cutting. Despite years in therapy, she… was withdrawn, unable to function in school and couldn't keep a friend. She had been hospitalized and had attended wilderness therapy, both of which were helpful, but she could not seem to stay on track. We were desperate and knew she needed more. We are now two weeks away from our daughter's graduation from DRS and are thrilled to say that our bright, talented, capable daughter is back! She is excited for her future and believes in herself, something we haven't seen since elementary school. She credits the staff and the program for steadily guiding her from phase to phase, building her confidence and helping her heal. She adores her therapist, is close with much of the staff, and has made friends. She can't wait to start back in school this fall and once again to be a great student! As parents, we have felt included every step along the way. Parent seminars have been invaluable in helping us all heal and move forward. I have enjoyed meeting other families and seeing the growth in all of the girls over the months, not only my own. The facilities are beautiful, the equine, performing arts, & adventure therapies add such fun diversity, and my girl has loved her calves. We have watched as our daughter has learned so much about herself, her struggles, and how to self-regulate. We will forever be grateful for the time our daughter has spent at Discovery Ranch, and can't wait to see what her future holds!

I was here from june 2017-april 2018. first i want to say, almost all of the 5 star reviews are from staff. DRG taught me how to mask what was wrong to survive. i temporarily felt better because i had coping skills but… it left me more traumatized than before. there were lower level staff that cared but were not trained at all. while i was here i observed my peers in pure distress, being kept in rooms alone for weeks, harming themselves, begging to speak with parents, etc. if you’re a parent with a child there and you have gone for parents seminar, they put on a face for it all, better food, drinks, treatment, activities, everything. as soon as parents leave it’s back to the bad treatment. i was one of the “good” results. i graduated the program as a level 5 in less than a year and seemed better after it. but i saw the intense harm it did and continues to do to my peers. 5 years later, i’m 23 and struggling just as much but with different vices than before. there are better options for your child. the troubled teen industry is a profit machine, it’s not made to help. look into “breaking code science” before you choose this or any similar program for your child.

i was there as a student from sept2020-feb2022, 519 days. i struggle with cptsd now, and i will never be able to forget what i went through there. don’t believe the website or your ed consultant or the google reviews… written by staff, from personal experience and all of the other girls i was there with drg is not a healing place.

five star reviews on here are from the staff