The Crossroads Program stays with you forever.
The Crossroads Program Survivor Story: 2016 - 2017
I was in the Crossroads program in Columbia, Missouri from the summer of 2016 to April Fools of 2017. I had known people who went through Crossroads and had really great things to say about it. Intensive outpatient was ideal, because I wanted to continue getting my bachelors degree. I met with the head counselor, who made it immediately seem he understood the way I was feeling.
Rock Bottom Was The Only Answer
Palmer Drug Abuse Program Survivor Story: 2015 - 2016
A majority of PDAP was the "younger group" which was comprised of the ages 12-17 years old, literal children, being told that their experimentation with drugs and alcohol labeled them addicts and hopeless without intervention. Not one bit of harm prevention is taught, just fear mongering that using will inevitably kill you.
Enthusiastic Sobriety Enablers
Although they’re often seen as lone predators - charismatic cult leaders, strict authoritarians - manipulative spiritual leaders cannot function without enablers. Enablers are those who support abusive leaders by excusing their behavior, legitimizing or normalizing abuse, and/or abusing others to preserve a leader’s power.
Staff Survivor Story
The Insight Program Staff Survivor Story: 2015 - 2019
I joined the group when I was 16. For the first couple of years, it seemed like my salvation. It felt like after years of trauma and abuse I had finally come home. For the first time, I felt like I belonged and I fell head over heels for that feeling. I had spent almost every day of the last 5 years not wanting to wake up the next morning and now it felt like my world had filled with color again. I did whatever I wanted and had hundreds of friends who all loved me, just so long as I complied with the rules and expectations imposed on me.
Insight might actually breed drug addicts instead of helping them.
The Insight Program Survivor Story: 2018 - 2021
My story is similar to everyone else’s who dealt with the horrors of Insight. I joined when I was 17. I was only smoking weed (never really touched anything else) when I started the outpatient program. By the time I finally left the group for good, there was about 6 new drugs added to my list. Was it my choice to do them? Yes. I almost feel, however, that insight might breed drug addicts instead of helping them.
An Open Letter to Current Staff
I wanted to reach out to let you know that you can walk away from the program today. I assure you nothing I write here is meant to harm or cast judgement on you as an individual; I’ve been in your shoes. You are not “fucked up” for exploring this message, you have every right to hear this, to ask questions, to challenge your own thinking. I know you don’t think you’re in a cult, I certainly did not when I was there.
Topher Bayless Tells All
A Crossroads Program Survivor and Insight Program Outpatient Counselor tells his story of being a Group member, going to The Meehan Institute of Counselor Training, and becoming an Enthusiastic Sobriety Counselor. Topher spent 12 years in the Enthusiastic Sobriety Cult and has plenty to say about Bob Meehan, mind control and undue influence.
Synanon and Enthusiastic Sobriety
A conversation with David Cherry. He spent 15 years under Enthusiastic Sobriety's undue influence and mind control, which is a cult disguised as a drug treatment program.
Enthusiastic Superiority
It would be nearly impossible to discuss all of the ways in which the program views itself as better than the remainder of the world. While elitism is fundamental to any cult, it’s a trait of Enthusiastic Sobriety that often goes unnoticed by parents, who are so desperate to save their children, that they inadvertently hand them over to an institution that will likely damage them.
Steering Committee Purpose
The Insight Program Survivor Story
Four of us were on Steering Committee; myself and my roommate were the two females and there were two males. Before a Purpose, I had felt the energy shift with Steering Committee and the counselors - that my roommate was ‘not healthy’ or ‘not being honest.’ And before she arrived I recall Staff giving us a heads up in what was coming and how and what could we contribute about her being ‘fucked up.’
I Never Received the Help I Needed.
The Cornerstone Program Survivor Story: 2007 - 2012
My mother found the Cornerstone when I was 13. I had two previous psych hospitalizations for my mental health and they were not going to release me without an Outpatient program in place. Basically, the only place available because of my age was Cornerstone. My mother was able to take me on a day trip from the hospital to see Cornerstone. I was so young and all the freedom seemed so exciting.
The Group is a drug I’m still withdrawing from.
The Cornerstone Program Survivor Story: 2011 - 2013
I remember sitting in the lobby of Cornerstone in January of 2011. Arms crossed like I didn’t want to be there. The truth was, I did, and that was even before I was love-bombed. I was losing friends, I hated my school, and my parents were keeping close tabs on me. Then, when the kids came running through the hallway, so excited to see me, to show me around, to get to know me, to give me cigarettes, my dreams came true. No one was going to take me away.
A Personal Account of the Program’s Approach to Sex and Sexual Orientation
The program not only intrusively dictates the sex lives of their clients, but has proven itself to be particularly unloving toward those who are LGBTQIA+. It is a cultural issue that can not be reduced to a few examples of bad counseling. It is clear that they see no reason whatsoever to change this.
From a FullCircle Parent
FullCircle Program Parent Survivor Story: 2021
I was referred to this program by a family member. Not one that’s gone through the program themselves, but just word of mouth. I was desperate, but didn’t feel like I was completely helpless (yet.) I felt relieved bringing my son to FullCircle.
The Only Way.
The Insight Program Survivor Story: 2017 - 2019
While in The Insight Program, I cycled through manic and depressive episodes as a result of being stripped of all mental health medications and therapy. June of 2019, at almost 11 months sober, I has reached absolute rock bottom with my mental health after a chaotic visit home. I felt I was incapable of even closing my eyes without triggering a trauma flashback.
Trapped
The Cornerstone Program Survivor Story
Content Warning: Mention of Rape and Sexual Assault
Two male Staff members admitted, even boasted, about raping women. They just didn’t use the word rape. The Staff would routinely talk about how “fucked up” they were in the past, but often in this really arrogant way like, “I was so cool, I did the most drugs and fucked the most girls. But also it was bad and ruined my life. But damn, I was so cool…” Once I had announced I was leaving the Program, I was told I first had to complete an exit interview with the head of the Program.
I never found any real solution.
The Insight Program Survivor Story
At 16, I was recommended by a psychiatrist to join The Insight Program. I was told it was a short term support group and it was not mandatory for me to attend. I did not think I needed to go whatsoever, but that was against my will. I was pretty open to joining once I had arrived, because of the amount of kids hanging out and smoking cigarettes. I didn’t even smoke.
How do you talk about a cult?
The Pathway Program Survivor Testimony: 2017 - 2020
How do you talk about a cult that killed so many people you loved and exploited you as a vulnerable teenager for their own profit? How do you talk about a place that practices conversion therapy and tells you that your sexuality isn’t valid? That blames you for your sexual assaults and your traumas?
Rosy Tint of Nostalgia
The Crossroads Program Survivor Testimony
I long considered my involvement in the Group to have been more personally beneficial than detrimental. On the occasions that I thought back on my time in Crossroads, which became more and more seldom over time, it was almost always with the rosy tint of nostalgia.
The “Cure” Will Do More Damage Than The Disease
Palmer Drug Abuse Program Survivor Story: 1975 - 1980
I was one of the very first kids involved with PDAP when it came to Denver Colorado in 1975. I spent 5 years in the program and I had a lot of good times. I felt like I was "sticking with winners in order to grow." I was surrounded by my friends. I lived with PDAPers, hung out every evening with PDAPers.