I attended when I was 16 and stayed for about six months before I ran away shortly after turning 17. Even now, over a decade later, the things I experienced and witnessed there still stick with me. During my time there, I saw staff treat kids in ways that I would consider physically and mentally abusive. I also heard numerous stories from other students that were deeply disturbing. These weren't isolated incidents--it felt like part of the environment. What made it worse was how administration handled everything. From my perspective, there was a pattern of misleading parents, likely to keep kids enrolled and continue collecting money. Meanwhile, what was actually happening inside did not reflect what families were being told. I consider myself lucky that I was able to get out when I did. Not everyone had that option. I don't write this lightly. These experiences have had a lasting impact on me, and I believe people deserve to hear firsthand accounts when making decisions about places like this. If you're considering sending your child here, ask yourself if you're willing to risk them coming home with scars you can't see--but they'll carry for life. read more

Allegations of abuse, teen death...I'm appalled that this "school" is still running. A family member of mine attended West Ridge and was subject to both witnessing and experiencing mistreatment of the children there. An organization that harms children and charges parents an outrageous amount of money, claiming they will "fix" their troubled teen. read more

Deaths have happened there and is not safe for kids. The way they keep kids in order is by restraining their arms so far back and up between their shoulder blades that one kid had gotten a broken arm because of it. I was there when it happened sitting in the window of the neighboring house. read more

I am a student studying Psychology. My sibling went to West Ridge for suicidal issues. They were dealing with schizoaffective disorder and had multiple personalities. Now, 5 years later they have trauma that causes them to stay in their house. While they were there, they shared a room with another kid, and at some point their window had broken and west ridge said they didn't have the money to fix it or something like that. Staff ended up taping a plastic sheet to cover the whole. My sibling said that the plastic sheet didn't last long and it was the middle of winter and they only had one of those cheap plastic-like blankets. At some point in those weeks, the heater in their room broke. For the rest of the winter season they would get a water bottle warmed in the microwave and cuddled that to stay warm until our parents decided to take them out of the program. There was a younger boy there that my sibling came to know. Somewhere between the age of 9-11, this young boy was placed at West Ridge because his parents had lost their other child which caused a divorce. The parents decided they didn't want to have this boy anymore and couldn't legally put him up for adoption because it was expensive and they had no valid reason for doing so. So this young boy was broken hearted that his younger brother had died, and his parents clearly didn't want him so they found a way to keep him at West Ridge. Another bigger boy who was a bully and had some Conduct problems for some reason wanted to kill this little boy. My sibling is a caretaker and made it their job to protect this innocent kid. Through these experiences, my sibling has developed an anxiety that people are out to get them. They constantly have to be aware of people's intentions and asses threats in their normal life. A person shouldn't have to live this way. A person should be able to have a peace of mind and space to learn and grow. I hope this place gets shut down. I would be distraught if anyone else had to go there. read more

I worked their BS drug program taught by "therapists" who had no understanding of how drug therapy is actually administered, I was arguably the most well-behaved client at the time yet I'm still traumatized and wake up from nightmares weekly from my experiences a decade ago.. The manipulation tactics these CROOKS use to milk our parent's or the state for money is simply deplorable. I've witnessed abuse and have been physically abused myself by literally the administrators who moved me into their home the last 6 months of my 1.5 year stay. Of course never a word of it was spoken about due to fear of being held there longer, and of course their favorite rule "What happens at the Keefer's house, stays at the Keefer's house", right Jamie and Nat?? Save your precious children from this pitiful program, find another way for the love of your child.. Do anything, but don't trust these savages. Remember its your duty as a parent to love your child and to provide them with safety and shelter; to these staff* it is only a paycheck. read more

AVOID!! We hired an educational consultant, known for their high ethics, to place our son. We were dealing with an adopted teen on the spectrum ("high functioning") with strong reactive attachment issues, aggression, and ADHD/low executive functioning. I wish we hadn't trusted her advice. This place was straight up behavior modification. It had inappropriate policies for attachment (earned/lost time to call family), no video calling for child or therapy sessions, and never hired the specialized biofeedback staffer whose position was vacant at time of registration. The program failed to educate and support our family on maintaining, much less building, attachment during this time of separation (we were in California, not visiting often enough as it turned out). Our son came home with the survival ethics of having been in prison, including how to manipulate people better in order to survive and allegiance only to self. He won't talk about the more abusive aspects but did mention having to sit and face a blank wall (I don't know for how long) and remain in silence for a week at a time. The ropes course was dismantled instead of used, which was another big plus attractive for our kid, who was wanting to become a ropes course certified instructor after his fantastic experience at wilderness therapy with Aspiro). I'm grateful for his being able to participate in Scouts (which they never told us he was doing) and working with the athletic teams--activities he never wanted to do at home due to social challenges. But beyond that, I'm disgusted with the whole program and pray that nothing more egregious happened to my precious son fending off peers amd staff. read more

I was a resident of the Utah boys ranch (now known as west Ridge Academy) I was there from 97-99 I was beat. And molested by Chris buttars and chis McMaster. I was locked in a room and beat by Mike rios a therapist on numerous occasions. I was slapped and held down with a chair by Mike keen. This place caused me so much trauma in life. I was molested by having my pants pulled down and spanked by Mike rios. A therapist. He touched me and tried to shove dry erase markers up my butt. He hurt me and he and Chris mcmasters would hold me in the therapist office and Chris buttars took all my clothes leaving me for days to walk around in underwear and just a blanket. All three of them abused me and beat me and molested me. At a 10 year old boy. read more

I came out of this hell hole with more trauma then I came in with. Staff lied and gaslighted alot, there was a staff that was accused of assaulting one of my peers ( I was in the co Ed) and they MOVED HIM TO THE OLDER GIRLS UNIT. They had cameras but never checked them, night staff slept through their shift, yelled at daily, not a healthy place to heal. This place will not help you or your child. It will lie and cheat to get your money and move on. They told my parents that it would likely be only a month, which- isn't realistic in the slightest. I was then told insurance would only cover three months, and only after a month in the program I found out that the average stay ie 6-8 months. Staff were emotionally abusive and rude. They always played favorites and the punishments were often disproportionately placed. I promise there are better places and after I got out of this residential I went to three other mental health facilities that were impatient. TLDR: look up the news that has to do with WRA. this place isn't a healthy place. Not to heal. Find somewhere else. read more

I got hit on the head with a pece of a vacuum cleaner and was rushed to the hospital staff are bullies and I got mad when the supervisor did not do anything about this problem and I got food poisoning 2 times none of the staff helped me and and I did not like it I had to also witness a person get restraint and they got a fractured arm I would not recommend sending your kid here it hurts and I came out of more trauma than I had when I came in do not recommend unless your kid wants more trauma I lived here and it is trash read more

If I could give this place ZERO stars I would. My parents put me here after my mom passed away and my dad remarried only 6 months later. I was 15 and it was in 2012. This place should be shut down for everything they do here they say they are Mormon based but the people in charge clearly don't know what it means to be Mormon. The girls I went here with did horrible things and I would have been better off not going after going here I knew more about drugs and and everything else they taught me girls were sent here to become straight yet are put in rooms with other girls that are lesbian... they force fed me every day. I've never had an eating disorder at all I'm just a very tiny person and don't eat a lot I snack all day and eating a huge meal makes me feel nauseous because my stomach gets so full but I would get in trouble if I didn't get everything they were serving and eat every last bite... I went in there at 100 lbs and 2 months later I was 200lbs. This is not healthy at all and then they keep you from going to the restroom for at least 45 minutes. You have to ask to sit and stand and talk to others unless your shirt color says otherwise. My step mom put on my file that I was a compulsive liar and so when I got there no one would believe me of how I didn't know why I was there... there where girls there that got sent there when they were 8 because they threw a temper tantrum a few times... or complained and there where girls there that were addicted to meth and some have been to jail 15 times as for me I was just having sex with my highschool boyfriend. Yes too young but not nearly as bad as some of these other things. And yet I was put in a room with them. I would never recommend you putting your child here. Just think is it really as bad as I think. I am the only active member of the church of all the girls I went to the school with there and I was married in the temple and have 3 beautiful little girls. I love them and no matter what I would NEVER put my girls there. They should be shut down and I am shocked they aren't yet! read more

What's up West Ridge Academy staff member you guys help me a lot appreciate your help I love you guys I hope you guys have a good Christmas holiday and be happy always and West Ridge Academy the place to get help read more

Worst place ever they say they are Mormon based and yet I wanted to die each day I was there which was 4years and still I am surprised they are still opened but that will change soon so if you are considering your own child going here and you want them to be successful this place is not for them because they will only learn to be worse than they are so before you choose this place think "do I have any continuation to how my son is acting" and if you think this then it means yes you are blame by his outbursts for your problems so don't send them or anything here it is dangerous I mean I saw a kid when I was there get picked up and thrown in the air 10 feet into a brick wall for something that he did not do so yeah this place is bad and needs to be shut down ASAP these people are a joke they don't help they corrupt read more

The staff show great respect and love toward their students. And the therapists really understand and want to help you for you. I learned so much here and was given great opportunities. They have great activities including Concerts, sporting Events and much more. I was given the chance to play high school basketball and baseball. read more

The true colors of West Ridge Academy doesn't come through when BOTH parents are at wits end in what to do with a troubled teen but rather shines brightly when one parent refuses on the basis that the child should first be given a chance to be raised by the noncustodial parent. WRA is supposed to know that it is best for the parents to raise their child but in my situation they neglected the best interests of the child. This reveals a lack of knowledge of what is best for a child OR they were looking out for their financial best interests at the costs of the best interests of children. I have reason to believe the latter is correct. In my case WRA failed to recognize the real intent behind the mother's institutionalization of our child. That failure again works against the best interests of the child. WRA took the liberty of filing a police report that contained a blatant lie. Lying reveals a dysfunction rather than being mentally healthy. How can they help others when they don't know themselves what is mentally healthy? By exercising hypocrisy? WRA has consistently violated my visitation and parental rights. Apparently they don't know the difference between a right and privilege when it comes to protecting their financial interests. WRA claimed that when my child was first taken into custody that depression was observed. They apparently did not realize that their imprisonment of the child would do that... And these guys are supposed to be able to offer mental health assistance?!? WRA has given me multiple reasons to distrust them from overlooking the best interests of my child to being dishonest with the police. Perhaps they might do some good as a last resort but I will not trust them given their current track record. read more

Its a great place for kids WILLING to work to better themselves. I went here for almost 2 years and i managed to graduate early and become a licensed barber all while getting the support and help i meeded from staff. If u use ur time wisely and apply yourself u can acomplish alot during ur stay read more

I escaped from this hell hole in the nineties after only 2 months of being there I had had all I could take. It truly was like a Soviet work camp for boys with added psychological and emotional torture. If your child is having difficulties that's fine if you want to get them help but don't get it here! Start with a family counselor most problem children are a product of their environment. If your child is acting out there's probably issues with in your home known or unknown to you that need to be addressed. read more

It's a great place for therapy, counseling, as long as you take full advantage of the opportunities, it provides. Good schooling, kind staff, great people. (: read more

West ridge is a great program. The main reason is because of the staff and what they do for you. There are many other facilities for troubled youth but you will never get the kind of love, support and trust from those staff as you do at west ridge. You also have many privileges during your stay depending on your level. Which I think is more motivation and encouragement to do well. Therapy is great there too and very helpful for yourself and family. There is also no reason to worry about school during your stay at west ridge. The teachers there are amazing and the classes are small which gives you more one-on-one time do advocate for help and get caught up, or ahead. Great program and if you work the steps you'll find yourself to be a different person when you depart. I was there for 7 months and miss both the program and the people very much. read more

Sorry guys but I lost access to my old account so had to make a new one. Hi my name is Emily and I was at West Ridge Academy For almost a year. The staff and other students do not care about anyone but themselves. I was there for my 18th birthday and on my birthday I started cutting and trying to commit suicide. One of the staff had seen my wrists and put my on SCC (self contained classroom) and told me that I would not need to be hospitalized for my depression, the cutting, or suicide attempts and had told me " Just be on SCC for a while and you will feel better after we get your medications upped or completely changed." I told them "No I will not sit in here for days and just feel bad and let y'all mess with my medications." It took me having the director come down and tell them that they had to take me to the hospital. I remember at one point another female I new had started cutting and trying to commit suicide was immediately taken to the hospital to be evaluated and put into the psych ward. But also I had to remember that she was LDS. I was told when I left the hospital that there would be someone to take me back to the campus but there wasn't. I had waited just about all night for someone and no one ever showed. That same night I had gotten onto one of the buss in Provo and the driver had called 911. Paramedics and the police were on scene in no time. They had asked me where I was supposed to be and I had told them how someone from West Ridge Academy was supposed to come and pick me up from Provo Canyons Behavioral Health hospital and no one ever showed up. They ended up taking me to the Roadhome in Salt Lake City, UT. I have been homeless since November 2015 because of West Ridge Academy. When I called to see if they still had my belongings they said " No I am sorry when we found out you 'were not coming back' we threw it all away." I had things there from the program I was in before West Ridge that can never be replaced. Come to find out they had taken a plate that I got from my previous program and threw it to the ground and shattered it and the rest of it they gave to the other female students. Thank you for allowing me to write this review and I hope that parents y'all will do research on this place before you send your children there. read more

the principal has choked me out during their so called restraints and has verbally abused me the staff are generally nice but the academic team are abusive the therapists don't help at all read more

Our son was suffering from severe depression and anxiety and had tried to take his own life several times. After hospitalization he was recommended to attend West Ridge Academy for further treatment. We toured the campus and were impressed with what appeared to be the kindness and effectiveness of the staff. Then we saw the cost. Our insurance would only cover 60 days of treatment, and West Ridge was planning to take 9-18 months to treat our son. They off-handedly suggested we take a second mortgage out on our house. Their callousness was disturbing, but they still seemed so kind. When we read the rules we were concerned, because they seemed to be geared toward kids with major attitude problems, and were very discipline driven. Our son was suffering, not rebelling. We discussed this with them and they said they would make accommodations for him to help in his healing. They lied. They treated him like a delinquent every day. He called us the first night (he had to get special permission to even call us--after we had made it clear to him that one of his major coping mechanisms was family involvement) and begged us to take him out. The house parent assured us that it was normal for him to be homesick and that they would take special care of him. Their special care was to make him sleep out in the living room while two night guards chatted all night long, keeping our son awake. He dealt with it for about a week, then he accepted some Tylenol from some kids were passing out and overdosed. He was obviously depressed, and being in the hospital helped, but they couldn't keep him long-term, and we didn't know where else to place him (he was not ready to be safe at home). So he agreed to go back to West Ridge to keep getting treatment. They put him back to the highest discipline level (yellow) and took away all his privileges, "because he violated our trust." A week later he was getting violent and trying every way he could to harm himself. At a family therapy session he was more angry than we had ever seen him, and kept telling us he wanted to leave, that they weren't helping him, and afterward I told the therapist this was not my son, and she told us it was classic drug addiction behavior and that he was pulling our strings to get him drugs. He had only ever tried marijuana and had been off that for over two months. The next day they called us to say he had tried to cut himself again and they had checked him into the hospital again. Their aggressive and punitive approach had pushed him over the edge. We decided then and there to never let West Ridge touch him again. It was the best decision we ever made. We learned about Wasatch Canyons Mental Health and put him in there. Their approach was truly caring and sympathetic, with the strictness reserved for the routine. He quickly improved and healed enough to come home safely, and he is very healthy today. If your child needs intense mental health therapy, don't put them into West Ridge. Check out Wasatch Canyons instead. read more

Hi my name is Emily and I was at West Ridge Academy For almost a year. The staff and other students do not care about anyone but themselves. I was there for my 18th birthday and on my birthday I started cutting and trying to commit suicide. One of the staff had seen my wrists and put my on SCC (self contained classroom) and told me that I would not need to be hospitalized for my depression, the cutting, or suicide attempts and had told me " Just be on SCC for a while and you will feel better after we get your medications upped or completely changed." I told them "No I will not sit in here for days and just feel bad and let y'all mess with my medications." It took me having the director come down and tell them that they had to take me to the hospital. I remember at one point another female I new had started cutting and trying to commit suicide was immediately taken to the hospital to be evaluated and put into the psych ward. But also I had to remember that she was LDS. I was told when I left the hospital that there would be someone to take me back to the campus but there wasn't. I had waited just about all night for someone and no one ever showed. That same night I had gotten onto one of the buss in Provo and the driver had called 911. Paramedics and the police were on scene in no time. They had asked me where I was supposed to be and I had told them how someone from West Ridge Academy was supposed to come and pick me up from Provo Canyons Behavioral Health hospital and no one ever showed up. They ended up taking me to the Roadhome in Salt Lake City, UT. I have been homeless since November 2015 because of West Ridge Academy. When I called to see if they still had my belongings they said " No I am sorry when we found out you 'were not coming back' we threw it all away." I had things there from the program I was in before West Ridge that can never be replaced. Come to find out they had taken a plate that I got from my previous program and threw it to the ground and shattered it and the rest of it they gave to the other female students. Thank you for allowing me to write this review and I hope that parents y'all will do research on this place before you send your children there. read more