History:

Lifesteps seems to have roots in a cult called Synanon. On of the supporters of Synanon - Mel Wasserman found his own chain of schools (CEDU), where day long group therapy sessions were used. When Mount Bachelor opened - the first facility owned by what later became Aspen Education, they advertised in cooperation with CEDU.

There were 9 Lifesteps [1]

The Truth

This session consist of a listing harms inflicted by the parents, biological parents (if there is an adoption issue involved) and the detainee him- or her-self. The detainees has to finish sentences like:

I am angry at you, mom / dad / birth mom / birth dad / myself for ....

Then they have to read the sentences out during sessions called dyads. Music is put on and the detainees are brought and encouraged into a mood where they shout the anger against their relatives and themselves out.

Encouraging messages of emotional character from the relatives who have placed them at the facility are presented for the detainees, which according to survivor statements often causes emotional breakdowns and sobbing and tears throughout the participants.

The Bridge

The 24 hour (2 days according to the homepage of Mount Bachelor) workshop has to measure values as trust and friendship. Detainees has to address each participant and give reasons for why they would consider this person a Giver or Taker. Each detainee has to wear a card around their necks which should be a symbol of what people see them like. There are smiling exercises where everybody has to smile regardless of what they feel and talk about.

Forever Young

The purpose of this 2 day seminar is to force the detainees to get in touch with who they are at the core of their being. The participants has to write down everything they have ever done to hurt themselves with help from childhood pictures the parents has sent to the school.

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