Thank you to @kristahessey.bsky.social and the team at Global News for their brilliant investigative journalism on the Venture Academy - a therapeutic boarding school in Canada. This is a must-read.

Golightley says total control is a key "to the functionality of these programs" because it pressures kids to fall in line.

“The institutions themselves are set up in such a way that can be really traumatizing…because people are being stripped of their autonomy and they’re being coerced to comply.”

Little is known about the scale of the for-profit, or private, industry in Canada. Researcher @sgolightley.bsky.social, who likened Venture's program to other Troubled Teen institutions she's studied in the U.S., wants to change that.

hass.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

I'm launching a new study on therapeutic boarding schools in Canada. I am looking for people who have previously been enrolled in a Canadian therapeutic boarding school. Research includes a brief, confidential online questionnaire. Please spread the word!
hass.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Vancouver! I will be giving a public talk about my research on the 'troubled teen industry', including soon-to-be-launched research I am conducting on therapeutic boarding schools in Canada. Aug 13th 2pm. Please come join us and help spread the word.
www.eventbrite.ca/e/out-of-con...

Excited to be hosting Merrick Pilling at the University of Strathclyde on the 9th of June - talking about the intersections of Mad Studies and trans and queer liberation #MadStudies
merrickmadatstrath.eventbrite.co.uk

BOOM! Town begins process to revoke business license for troubled-teen [email protected] @labefana.bsky.social @sgolightley.bsky.social @yep4rights.bsky.social @againstrestraint.com @tktk.bsky.social @dawnjpostesq.bsky.social @annettesmith.bsky.social

www.waff.com/2025/04/15/c...

This may be of interest: on creative works about child sexual abuse & the cultural ramifications of creative works (& we'd appreciate a repost) @camillelw.bsky.social @maireadenright.bsky.social @drmarymcauliffe.bsky.social @ciarab.bsky.social @boddice.bsky.social @sgolightley.bsky.social

Please share our documentary on the troubled teen industry its dangerous for children especially 🏳️‍🌈queer ones like me🏳️‍⚧️. no child should ever endure this kind of abuse conversion therapy doesn’t work trust me www.thekidsarenotalrightdoc.com/blank-1

A big moment for work ending abuse in the troubled teen industry. Thank you to all the organisers and survivors who worked so tirelessly to make this happen. We can fight for justice and make a difference together.

Upcoming seminar on the troubled teen industry - I will be presenting! Free tickets, open to all.
www.tickettailor.com/events/child...

The Netflix docuseries The Program is about survivors telling their stories of abuse in ‘troubled teen industry’ therapeutic boarding schools. Here’s my take on why the show is so powerful & how institutional abuse thrives in the industry:
theconversation.com/the-program-... #TroubledTeenIndustry

Hello to the rest of you who have jumped from the sinking x! Who else is around? I’m a mad studies / critical disability studies + social work academic. I specialise in research on the USA’s so-called ‘troubled teen industry’. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...