Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy

Terp Talk 

on Google

7 years ago

Thank god this placed closed, money scheme to the fullest. Their business model is getting thousands of dollars from parents to take their kids on a 3 week starved/forced hike. Then afterwards they tell every parent their kids need more help and tell you to send them to boarding schools, in which they will get a kick back for the refferal. I wasn't eating and throwing up for 5 days from the stress and they still kept me marching on. 

Kathryn Hunter 

on Google

10 years ago

I attended this program 10 years ago at a very troubled time in my life. My parents forced me to go and i did not want to. Being in the wilderness and snow for a good chunk of time really helped save my life at that point. We learned how to cook for our selfs, make shelter for ourselves and basically fend for ourselves to become self supporting adults. The hiking was very difficult but as far as me and the other kids there we needed a lot of structure and to be pushed to do things that were out of our comfort zones. I did at... read more

Chad Worthy 

on Google

10 years ago

I was sent here in 04, a week before Summer Break. Ended getting held over because I focused too much on wanting to go home during my solo. This place was terrible! There was no actual therapy, just hunger and hiking. I ended up going to Mount Bachelor Academy, an "emotional growth" boarding school for 20 months, Walk-A-Bout wilderness for 7-8 weeks and Turn-A-Bout ranch for 3 months. Catherine Freer was by far the worst and the program I got the least out of. Fear is a great short-term motivator, but does not work when tryi... read more

Ashley C 

on Google

11 years ago

I went through this program 13 years ago and I would never in a million years send my kids here. A peer of mine who also was in the program fractured her ankle the 3 rd day on the trip and the camp counselors yelled at her to keep moving. They rigged her ankle up an forced her to complete the uphill hiking for the next 18 days. I would say we were near death on 2 different occasions because our instructors got lost and we ended up at the bottom of a treacherous ravine, having to climb almost straight uphill about 200 feet wi... read more

L. Heather Lamberton 

on Google

11 years ago

If you're thinking of sending your child here, and you actually care about your child, just don't. The only thing that was more torturous than my three weeks spent at this program was the further two years they recommended that my parents send me to another program, which was just as bad. These people make boatloads of money from ignorant parents. They can, and will, torture and endanger your children. Do not send your child to this, or any of these so-called "wilderness therapy programs." If you care about your child, get i... read more