WELCOME!
I am a mental health professional, researcher, writer, coach, and advocate, and have worked with those dealing with homelessness, mental illness, and addiction issues for over 20 years.
Some of my posts are personal stories or experiences. But, most of what I write is backed up by real, actual science and research - not the lies and manipulations perpetrated by the mental health/addiction systems and Big Pharma.
Why I Started This Site:
Starting at the age of 20, I spent four years trapped in The Seed, a cult in Florida in the late 1980s that was touted as a “people-program.” Four years of being torn down and programmed to believe I was worthless. That my old friends and family were evil, education was evil, EVERYTHING but what The Seed taught was corrupt.
They convinced me I was garbage. That I had no mind of my own. That freedom was death. That love was control. That obedience was recovery.
They made me believe I was a piece of shit. That I couldn’t trust my own thoughts. That the outside world would chew me up unless I clung to their system of control.
They were wrong.
I survived — barely. But the emotional damage? That’s forever. They stole years of my life. I dealt with terrible anxiety, night terrors, derealization and depersonalization, overusing alcohol and other behaviors to cope. They rewired my brain. And they wrapped it all in the sick, sanctimonious lie of love and betterment.
They broke me down.
But here’s the thing:
They also gave me my purpose.
My personal mission became shining a light for people trapped in these systems — cults, programs, institutions — that feed on fear and shame. To remind people that their worth isn’t something these systems get to define.
To help others see what I couldn’t see back then:
That you are not broken.
That you are already enough.
That you have the power to walk away — and thrive.
This site exists to provide people with the knowledge and courage to question, to fight back, and to reclaim their minds, stories, and lives.
Not because someone “saved” them — but because they finally realized they didn’t need saving in the first place.
References if interested to learn more about The Seed
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Miller, Judith. The Seed: Reforming Drug Abusers with Love. Science, 1973.
– One of the earliest academic profiles analyzing The Seed’s therapeutic approach and public appeal.
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United States Senate. “Individual Rights and the Federal Role in Behavior Modification,” November 1974.
– A landmark Senate investigation that compared The Seed’s techniques to brainwashing and criticized its methods as coercive and potentially abusive.
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Szalavitz, Maia. The Cult That Spawned the Tough‑Love Teen Industry.
– A retrospective critique that links The Seed to the rise of punitive “tough love” programs for teens, highlighting its psychological impact.
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Childs, Joe. “Straight Inc. New Drug Program Set for September 1.” The Evening Independent, July 27, 1976.
– Covers the founding of Straight, Inc., a spin-off that adopted many of The Seed’s tactics.
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“Drug Program Will Treat Youths.” St. Petersburg Times, July 28, 1976.
– Describes expansion efforts and how the program marketed itself to families and authorities.
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“The Seed, the only program that is spectacularly successful.” Fort Myers News‑Press, April 14, 1974.
– An example of local media boosting the program’s reputation despite early warning signs.
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“The Seed (organization).” Wikipedia entry.
– A well-referenced overview of the program’s history, operations, controversies, and eventual closure.
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“The Seed | The Sun Magazine.”
– A deeply personal essay from a former participant describing emotional damage and long-term effects.
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“The Seed, Inc – Unsilenced.”
– Survivor testimony and institutional documentation that critically chronicles the organization’s legacy of harm.
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Szalavitz, Maia. (Repeated intentionally for emphasis)
– Her investigative reporting remains the most cited and comprehensive critique of The Seed’s influence on modern teen treatment programs.