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Introduction...

 

I have dedicated over a decade to exposing institutionalized child abuse.  In that time, I have had the opportunity to know many survivors of behavior modification programs.  My heart breaks daily for the seemingly endless pain I see in many of you.  I am offering this "conversation in healing" as a fellow survivor with hope that my experiences and thoughts may help you heal.

 

I am not a counselor or therapist.  I see therapy as similar to religion.  It takes a margin of faith for either to be effective.  And, for me, my faith in both therapy and religion has been broken.  That is not to say I lack faith in humanity or even "God".  But, the manmade institutions that dictate what is true, best, or right for humanity have in no way proven themselves to be effective in protecting or guiding others to ethical living. 

 

How I lost my religion...

 

In a bit, I'll describe the process I went through to come back from trauma and reclaim my life.  But, first, I think it may help you to know my experiences in trauma and hope that if we have survived similar pains, that the healing process may also be similar.

 

I was born in 1973.  By the time I was 3 years old, my parents had been divorced twice and I had lived in California, Montana, New York, and Washington.  In the initial custody arrangement (divorce #1), my father retained custody.  However, he was in the military and moved from California to New York (a continent away from my mother) and left me in the care of my paternal grandparents.  I was a toddler at this time.  My parents reunited briefly and in the second custody arrangement (divorce #2), my mother retained custody.  After this, I rarely saw my father or his side of the family.  And, when I did see my father it was more a curse than a blessing.

 

My father was neglectful and abusive.  I always felt like I just wanted his love and acceptance.  I did everything I could to be the "best" I could be and could never understand why he never seemed to care about who I was or what I needed.  I thought if I could just make him see that he had the wrong idea (because, I thought that was the problem) that he would understand that it was okay for him to love me and provide for me (because, I was a "good kid").  It took a lot of support from caring male role models to teach me that I was lovable and that if my father wasn't fulfilling my paternal needs, that it was his fault/responsibility, not mine.  I still couldn't shake the desire to be loved and have my needs be mutually respected by my father.  And, around 1995, my father wrote me a letter bragging about his new job at a "troubled teen" program in Missouri.*  He never named the program.  But, he bragged about how he abused children at the facility.  He knew I had been traumatized by my experience at Provo Canyon School in 1989 and this letter was the end of any latent desire I had for his love and acceptance.

 

My father is also an evangelical "Christian" and has tried to sell me on everything from his latest church to his latest money-making scheme for most of my life.  It is in part, my experience with my father that has left me with an overall distaste for religion.

 

In 1979, at age 6, I was orally sodomized by a babysitter's son.  He also left bruises and tearing on the exterior of my vagina.  I was then given my first pelvic exam by a pediatrician, which, felt like being violated all over again.  The prosecutor allowed for a plea-bargain so I would not be forced to testify as my therapist and family thought it would further harm me.  I went to individual and family counseling twice a week from the time I was molested in 1979 until I was fourteen. 

 

When I was fourteen, my mother remarried.  My step-father was physically, psychologically, and sexually abusive to me.  My mother worked night shift and he worked day shift.  I rarely saw my mother and spent too much time alone with my step-father.  The abuse became so bad that I called my mother at work and begged her to come home.  She said we would talk about it later.  But, in the end, she did come home early that day.  I told her about the abuse.  I showed her the bruises and cuts.  And, she didn't believe me.  I broke down.  And, soon thereafter I attempted suicide as I felt it was my only escape from that particular hell.   

 

In spring of 1989, I took an overdose of tranquilizers that had been prescribed to treat my nerves and assist with curing my stress-related ulcers.  I slept for over 36 hours.  When I woke up, I was both relieved and afraid.  I called my grandmother and told her what had been happening and that I had attempted suicide.  She called her therapist and the therapist recommended voluntary in-patient care at Fairfax Psychiatric Hospital in Kirkland, WA.  At Fairfax, they had me on anti-depressants and I was soon "magically cured" of my depression and suicidal thoughts.  However, being "cured", I was told I was going to be discharged.  At the time, I knew of no other option except returning to the abusive environment that had inspired me to attempt suicide.  I asked my assigned psychiatrist what other options were available because I did not want to return to an abusive home.  The psychiatrist showed me a video-tape advertisement for Provo Canyon School in Utah.  The video showed a beautiful campus and stated it was a college-prep boarding school that provided counseling 24-hours a day for victims of trauma and abuse.  I thought it would be a place to heal.  But, it was the worst trauma I have ever experienced. (see: www.provotruthexposed.com)

 

Provo Canyon School, like most, if not all, behavior modification programs, uses a level system.  The level, phase, or step systems used by behavior modification programs are often broken up into a variety of labels and numbers.  However, they are all based on the following method:

 

Phase 1. Deny all contact with outside world. Deny interaction between “students”. Deny basic needs as punishment (food, sleep, clothing, heat, water, etc.). Create confusion and use physical and mental exhaustion as a tool to breakdown “old behaviors”. This causes a complete mental breakdown in the child. (Forced betrayal of one’s self.)

 

Phase 2. Once a child becomes “agreeable” to submission, small “rewards” are given for obedience and the risk of being returned to the earlier phase is held out as the worst punishment one can receive.  Children are persuaded to make up stories (false confessions) about themselves and others in the program in order to get rewarded for their “honesty”. (Forced betrayal of one’s peers.)

 

Phase 3. The child has no more opinion of him/herself based on own self-image or the reflection of his/her peers. The child completely loses and disassociates between “old life/old behavior” and “new life/new behavior”.  (Complete mental/emotional breakdown and intentional creation of dissociative disorder.)

 

Phase 4. The child is completely submissive and brainwashed. The child hates everything they once were or knew. The child only feels safe in the program and only credits the program with his/her success. Child is given “responsibility” to “lead” other children. (Child is now brainwashed and actively aiding his captors in brainwashing others.)

 

In order to undo the damage done by these programs, it may be necessary to retrace our steps back through the process and take healing measures as we go.  Many survivors effectively reject the program and acknowledge that the program has caused harm.  This, in my experience, is the initiation of the healing process.  Unfortunately, most of us get lost between rejecting the program and learning to accept ourselves.

 

The programs typically misuse language and say "respect" when they actually mean "obedience".  Respect, respect for authority, and obedience are very different concepts.  They are defined or explained as follows:

 

• Respect: 1 : a relation or reference to a particular thing or situation <remarks having respect to an earlier plan>  2 : an act of giving particular attention : consideration 3 a : high or special regard : esteem b : the quality or state of being esteemed

 

• Respect for Authority: Add "respect" and "for" to: 1 a (1) : a citation (as from a book or file) used in defense or support (2) : the source from which the citation is drawn b (1) : a conclusive statement or set of statements (as an official decision of a court) (2) : a decision taken as a precedent (3) : testimony c : an individual cited or appealed to as an expert 2 a : power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior b : freedom granted by one in authority : right  3 a : persons in command; specifically : government b : a governmental agency or corporation to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise <the transit authority>  4 a : grounds, warrant <had excellent authority for believing the claim> b : convincing force <lent authority to the performance>

 

• Obedience: 1 a : an act or instance of obeying b : the quality or state of being obedient  Obey: 1 : to follow the commands or guidance of 2 : to conform to or comply with <obey an order>

Respect means to give consideration to or to have high regard for yourself and/or others.  Respecting others does not mean agreeing with them or even obeying their orders.  People who demand to be recognized as authorities over the behavior and actions of others that are not recognized legal authorities (law enforcement, police, government, etc.) and that do not provide evidence or support for respecting their claims of authority do not understand respect or equality.  All human beings are created equal.  This is the sentiment of the Declaration of Independence.  And, that equality demands that each individual is respected for who they are and given equal voice in a democratic society. 

 

Obedience is a very dangerous requirement to impose on any human being by another human being.  "I was just following orders" has been used to defend the indefensible acts of thousands of war and civilian criminals throughout history and today.  It is important that we, as individuals, obey ourselves and question authority to insure that we do not participate in criminal activities and/or crimes against humanity.  Teaching blind adherence, conformity, and compliance as opposed to critical thinking, problem solving, independence, and innovation is a serious problem and not supported by American values.

 

As you will see in the article following the "peeling the onion" section, self-respect is about self-acceptance and allowing yourself the freedom to be who you are and express yourself without fear and with confidence.

 

Next, we find ourselves in need of reclaiming who we are and what we want for our lives.  Here is that process:

 

I had a pretty severe PTSD episode in 2003 at the UW.  The TA for my Women and Law class was a raving lunatic.  She screamed at me about paper margins and failing and threatened me with academic dismissal (she did not have that power, btw) and it was simply because my old printer wasn't apparently printing the 1" margins properly.  I had the printer set correctly and followed the directions for the paper requirements to a "t" but she was wholly unreasonable and blaming me for a technical error beyond my control.  I felt like I was back at PCS.  In fact, I really, for about half an hour, thought I was at PCS.  I was really disoriented and in a semi-state of shock.  I was shaking and nearly collapsed.

 

Anyhow, I took a hardship withdrawal and went to a therapist (once).  Her office was in a maze of a structure and I felt high anxiety about being there.  She was nice enough, but, I felt trapped and forced into seeing someone.  But, I never wanted to have that kind of episode again, so, I went.  I explained the situation to the therapist and she wrote the letter I needed to obtain the hardship withdrawal for that quarter.  I ended up spending about 6 months in isolation.  Meaning, I stayed home.  I didn't see any friends, didn't talk to anyone on the phone.  And, basically hermitted (if that's even a word) myself and I believe healed myself psychologically without any outside help.

 

I did a few things.  I sat quietly and asked myself a number of questions slowly but surely to get to the root of my anxiety and trauma and then reclaimed my heart and mind.  Basically, I had to teach myself to care about myself and my needs and undo all the damage done by adults during my "developmental" years.  I had to re-establish my sense of autonomy, independence, and confidence.  I had to learn to trust myself completely.  I think it may take separating yourself, briefly, from those who think they know you, and letting yourself know you again.  I really don't think therapists can help with that.  But, if you find solace in therapy, I support that.

 

Peeling the onion goes something like:

 

What am I feeling?

 

Anxiety

 

Why?

 

Because I'm afraid of losing control.

 

Why?

 

Because I've had my control taken from me in the past.

 

How?

 

I was raped.  I was institutionalized.  etc.

 

How did I feel?

 

Helpless and hopeless, desperate to survive but praying to die.

 

Who made me feel this way?

 

My neighbor.  My father.  My step-father.  Provo Canyon School. etc.

 

Okay, then...

 

I connected with the memories of the moments of despair and self-doubt created by the way I was treated by those in positions of "authority" and "trust" (this may include you, your "old self" (who you truly are) may need to be reclaimed from your "new program-created self") one by one (those that left noticeable mental scars) and shouted out:

 

"You have no control over me."

 

"You have no right to my body or mind."

 

"You have no control over me."

 

"You will never have control over me again."

 

"You only had an illusion of control because I was foolish enough to believe you over myself."

etc. etc.

 

It was a long process.  But, in the end, I feel confident.  I know myself heart, body, mind, etc.  And, I am making it my mission to be free and help others be free.  Free from self-doubt and shame and despair.  Free to live, love, and be loved.

 

I hope this helps.  It helped me.  And, it was all on my own.

 

After reclaiming myself, I made commitments to myself.  This in part was necessary for me to maintain my commitment to who I truly am and not what anyone else thinks or wishes I would be.  Once I reclaimed myself, I needed to find a way to be my own best friend and self-advocate.  Below is an article on understanding self-esteem and self-respect:

 

Self-esteem vs. Self-respect

 

(Source: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199911/self-esteem-vs-self-respect)

 

I have committed myself to the principles of truth, beauty, freedom, and love.  And, through a commitment to empathy, kindness, acceptance, humility, and self-analysis, I have been able to maintain my self-esteem and self-respect. 

 

As a co-founder of HEAL, a survivor, and an activist I have been repeatedly attacked by those working in or in charge of behavior modification programs.  I have been called names and harassed.  I have had passersby spit in my face at protests and have witnessed those I care for and respect attacked in similar ways by the same or similarly situated people.  An elderly woman was slapped in the face by a passerby at a protest I attended in 2000.  She had done nothing to provoke that attack.  And, none of us have done anything to warrant our being abused, then or now, by behavior modification programs or their supporters. 

 

I am able to keep fighting because of the commitments I have made to myself to allow myself the freedom to be me and to express my thoughts and feelings without fear.  Many people do not understand or allow themselves such freedom.  And, many survivors, like most of society, allow social norms and peer pressure to prevent self-actualization or self-expression. (Behaviorists say the opposite extreme of behavior modification is the allowance of self-expression.)

 

Once I reclaimed myself and made a commitment to the values I have always believed in, I was ready to begin healing my relationships with others.  I recognize that nobody is perfect.  And, that a free world is far better than an isolated world.  I allow myself to accept myself and others.  I allow for social awkwardness, eccentricities, and idiosyncrasies.  In this world, we are exposed to so many cultures, religions, ideas, and individuals that it is nearly impossible to safely navigate without a firm foundation in ourselves as individuals.  It is easy to get lost in the sea of consciousness and find ourselves without a voice.  This is why healing takes self-knowledge, self-actualization, self-acceptance, self-esteem, and self-respect.  And, healing our relationships takes a commitment to ourselves and our desires.

 

Here are some additional resources on healing:

 

BOOKS

Toxic Psychiatry by Dr. Peter Breggin

Reclaiming Our Children by Dr. Peter Breggin

 

ARTICLES

 

Self Esteem vs. Self Respect (full article above)

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199911/self-esteem-vs-self-respect

 

Self-Actualization (full article below)

 

Maslow on Self-Actualizing Persons
 

Maslow, on the basis of a study of persons (living and dead) selected as being self-actualizing persons on the basis of a general definition, described the self-actualizing person as follows, as compared to ordinary or average people (Maslow, 1956):

 

1. More efficient perception of reality and more comfortable relations with it. This characteristic includes the detection of the phoney and dishonest person and the accurate perception of what exists rather than a distortion of perception by one's needs. Self-actualizing people are more aware of their environment, both human and nonhuman. They are not afraid of the unknown and can tolerate the doubt, uncertainty, and tentativeness accompanying the perception of the new and unfamiliar. This is clearly the characteristic described by Combs and Snygg and Rogers as awareness of perceptions or openness to experience.

 

2. Acceptance of self, others, and nature. Self-actualizing persons are not ashamed or guilty about their human nature, with its shortcoming, imperfections, frailties, and weaknesses. Nor are they critical of these aspects of other people. They respect and esteem themselves and others. Moreover, they are honest, open, genuine, without pose or facade. They are not, however, self-satisfied but are concerned about discrepancies between what is and what might be or should be in themselves, others, and society. Again, these characteristics are those which Kelly, Rogers, and Combs and Snygg include in their descriptions.

 

3. Spontaneity. Self-actualizing persons are not hampered by convention, but they do not flout it. They are not conformists, but neither are they anti-conformist for the sake of being so. They are not externally motivated or even goal-directed- rather their motivation is the internal one of growth and development, the actualization of themselves and their potentialities. Rogers and Kelly both speak of growth, development and maturation, change and fluidity.
 

4. Problem-centering. Self-actualizing persons are not ego-centered but focus on problems outside themselves. They are mission-oriented, often on the basis of a sense of responsibility, duty, or obligation rather than personal choice. This characteristic would appear to be related to the security and lack of defensiveness leading to compassionateness emphasized by Combs and Snygg.

 

5. The quality of detachment; the need for privacy. The self-actualizing person enjoys solitude and privacy. It is possible for him to remain unruffled and undisturbed by what upsets others. He may even appear to be asocial. This is a characteristic that does not appear in other descriptions. It is perhaps related to a sense of security and self-sufficiency.

 

6. Autonomy, independence of culture and environment. Self-actualizing persons, though dependent on others for the satisfaction of the basic needs of love, safety, respect and belongingness, "are not dependent for their main satisfactions on the real world, or other people or culture or means-to-ends, or in general, on extrinsic satisfactions. Rather they are dependent for their own development and continued growth upon their own potentialities and latent resources." Combs and Snygg and Rogers include independence in their descriptions, and Rogers also speaks of an internal locus of control.

 

7. Continued freshness of appreciation. Self-actualizing persons repeatedly, though not continuously, experience awe, pleasure, and wonder in their everyday world.

 

8. The mystic experience, the oceanic feeling. In varying degrees and with varying frequencies, self-actualizing persons have experiences of ecstasy, awe, and wonder with feelings of limitless horizons opening up, followed by the conviction that the experience was important and had a carry-over into everyday life. This and the preceding characteristic appear to be related and to add something not in other descriptions, except perhaps as it may be included in the existential living of Rogers.

 

9. Gemeinschaftsgefuhl. Self-actualizing persons have a deep feeling of empathy, sympathy, or compassion for human beings in general. This feeling is, in a sense, unconditional in that it exists along with the recognition of the existence in others of negative qualities that provoke occasional anger, impatience, and disgust. Although empathy is not specifically listed by others (Combs and Snygg include compassion), it would seem to be implicit in other descriptions including acceptance and respect.

 

10. Interpersonal relations. Self-actualizing people deep interpersonal relations with others. They are selective, however, and their circle of friends may be small, usually consisting of other self-actualizing persons, but the capacity is there. They attract others to them as admirers or disciples. This characteristic, again, is at least implicit in the formulations of others.

 

11. The democratic character structure. The self-actualizing person does not discriminate on the basis of class, education, race, or color. He is humble in his recognition of what he knows in comparison with what could be known, and he is ready and willing to learn from anyone. He respects everyone as potential contributors to his knowledge, merely because they are human beings.

 

12. Means and ends. Self-actualizing persons are highly ethical. They clearly distinguish between means and ends and subordinate means to ends.

 

13. Philosophical, unhostile sense of humor. Although the self-actualizing persons studied by Maslow had a sense of humor, it was not of the ordinary type. Their sense of humor was the spontaneous, thoughtful type, intrinsic to the situation. Their humor did not involve hostility, superiority, or sarcasm. Many have noted that a sense of humor characterizes people who could be described as self-actualizing persons, though it is not mentioned by those cited here.

 

14. Creativeness. All of Maslow's subjects were judged to be creative, each in his own way. The creativity involved here is not special-talent creativeness. It is a creativeness potentially inherent in everyone but usually suffocated by acculturation. It is a fresh, naive, direct way of looking at things. Creativeness is a characteristic most would agree to as characterizing self-actualizing persons.

 

(From Patterson, C. H. The Therapeutic Relationship. Monterey, CA. 1985. Dr. C. H. Patterson)

Source: http://www.personcentered.com/selfact.html

 

I sincerely hope this helps everyone heal.  You all deserve and have always deserved to be treated with acceptance, love, kindness, compassion, and respect.