"The biggest gamble a parent will ever make"— Duncan Krebs, Founder, GamblingKids.org
Sending a child to a so-called transformational program can feel like hope. For some families, that gamble pays off. For many others, it leaves scars that last a lifetime. We shine a light on the patterns parents are rarely told about — and help families see the odds before they roll the dice.
We focus on identifying systemic patterns rather than targeting individual institutions.
Our approach is grounded in careful analysis and evidence-based understanding.
We provide parents with the tools they need to make informed decisions.
Programs that present a growth or character façade while relying on tactics like institutional vocabulary, peer enforcement, and conditional belonging. Results are marketed; risks are hidden.
These voices represent real experiences shared with us. To protect privacy, we present them as anonymous composites that honor the truth while respecting those who trusted us with their stories.
Survivor
"I thought I was the only one who felt this way about my experience. Finding others who understood made me realize I wasn't crazy or ungrateful."
Parent
"We were desperate and trusted the marketing materials. I wish we had known what questions to ask before sending our daughter."
Mental Health Professional
"I've seen too many clients struggle with trauma from programs that promised healing. Parents deserve to know the real risks."
Parent
"Our son came back different, but not in the way we hoped. It took years to rebuild our relationship and his trust."
Survivor
"Looking back, so many of the red flags were there. I just wish my parents had known what to look for."
"I became stronger in spite of my program — not because of it. My responsibility now is to give voice to those who were silenced."
— Duncan Krebs