As a parent whose son attended WTC, the only weak link I observed in this otherwise stellar treatment center is the way one of the owner's sons, who is a counselor working directly with the boys, is allowed to degrade and provoke the boys. I want to clarify that the other son who works in the administrative end, presents himself in a professional manner. However, he seems to allow the other to sabotage the treatment the facility is providing. He was observed during family week dealing with the boys in a nontherapeutic, punitive, and aggressive way. I can only imagine how he treats the boys when families are not present. I am surprised he continues to have a license as a counselor. The dynamic at play reminds me of the family dynamic in an alcoholic family, in which the alcoholic, is enabled, and the family hides the disease and covers it up to keep up the family image. It was observed that the nonfamilial counselors have to do damage control and do not have the power to address this unhealthy dynamic stemming from
a family run business if they want to stay employed at WTC. When his treatment of the boys was brought up by the boys in group therapy meetings, there seemed to be an unspoken rule to redirect this discussion. The mother, who is the owner, seems to protect her adult son from consequences of his nontherapeutic, unprofessional, and unethical behaviors. It is sad that an otherwise outstanding facility continues to allow this family member to undermine the good work they are trying to do. IT IS TIME FOR HIM TO BE REMOVED FROM DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE BOYS. The other staff members seem to have learned to either keep quiet and ignore, sometimes even defend, the bullying and unprofessional interactions with the boys. Truly, I am surprised that other boys and family members have not complained more about his behaviors. He was not obseved having problems with boys who conformed to his bullying and did not oppose him. However, any boy who defied his treatment and refused to be broken, has no avenue to discuss the treatment they are experiencing. And once the mother is informed that one of the boys has cursed her son with the same words he used with them, it seems the staff rejects the boy. Just as a sick family turns on the family member who won't conform and keep the family's secret. Most of these boys have experienced trauma in their pasts with abusive adults, and his treatment, seems to add another layer of trauma. THIS PROBLEM WITH WTC NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE BOYS, THE STAFF, AND THE COMPANY.