Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre

Dean Vause based AARC on old, outdated models of therapy, largely lifted from the notorious conversion therapist Virgil Miller Newton. He worked at KIDS of Bergen County with Miller Newton. On the AARC website, Vause claims that he cut ties with Miller Newton's organizations due to concerns about their clinical practices. However, while other people who witnessed abuse at KIDS felt compelled to report the abuse to authorities, Dean Vause never voiced his concerns to authorities, or in any publication. In fact, he lifted many of AARC's techniques, such as using unqualified peers to counsel youth, from these programs. Conversion therapy has now been outlawed in Alberta, and with good reason. Programs such as AARC are a relic of these cruel and outdated practices. AARC also bases many claims on their own, self-funded research. They makes claims on the website like, "Program Research and Outcomes Research shows strong evidence that AARC's treatment model is an effective intervention that promotes abstinence from drugs and alcohol among a sizeable portion of addicted youth", but the evidence presented is not independent research - it is a study that AARC funded. That hardly seems unbiased, and I would be curious what a researcher who is not funded by this organization would have to say about its practices and methodologies.

I am a family lawyer and a former patient at AARC. At the age of 14, I was diagnosed as an alcoholic and drug addict by a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old. My parents were told that I would die if I didn’t receive treatment at AARC. The “therapy” I received cost my parents around $30,000 and was based on psychological abuse and humiliation. My counsellors were former patients who had absolutely no qualifications. Most hadn’t finished high school. After 16 months in the program, I became a broken shell of my former self and felt as if I had lost my soul. In order to progress within the program, I was forced to make up stories about my past that weren’t true. I received praise when I told stories about prostituting or drinking scope, but none of this was true. I had to tell these stories so often that I actually started to believe them. I fell into a deep depression, which worsened after graduation, but everyone thought I was a miracle who was “saved” by AARC because I was sober. I emphatically believed that AARC had saved my life - even after I attempted suicide 4 months after graduating. I am 38-years-old now and I still feel traumatized by my experience at AARC. I have two daughters and I would never put them in this place. Notice how everyone says they (or their family member) was “saved” by AARC and would surely be dead if not for AARC. It’s still a mantra that they repeat so often that everyone starts to believe it. AARC nearly killed me and I know many others that feel the same. I wish there were more options for teens suffering from drug addiction and/or mental health issues. AARC may get kids sober for a period of time, but the end doesn’t necessary justify the means. It took me years of soul searching to deprogram myself and figure out who I really was. I drink socially and I do not have any issues with drugs or alcohol. I’m in a good place today, but I wouldn’t wish my experience upon anyone.

AARC has not only saved my sons life but mine as well! The family treatment process is amazing! I am so grateful that we have had the opportunity to look at ourselves honestly and open up about his addiction and my co-dependency, along with other levels of emotion and life- with the help of such a knowledgeable and caring staff! I am beyond grateful to be within this community that raises addicts from the gates of hell to find themselves!

AARC saved my life, a lot of people have a lot of bad things to say about this place but I have nothing bad to say. Even though its really intense and hard, without I wouldn't be here. Most people (like me) don't go in voluntarily or wanting to be sober at all. AARC changed my perspective, helped me get sober, and taught me how to live in my own skin. Of course that process wasn't easy and I feel thats why people get so angry with the place, cause its not easy but it works. I'm so grateful for everything AARC and Dr. Vause has given me! Wish I could give AARC more than 5 stars. Definitely recommend either going here for help or sending your kid here!

Words cannot describe the ordeal I went through with my daughter and the evil that is addiction. We worked tirelessly to save our daughter within the Alberta mental health system, wading through the endless confusion and road blocks, trying program after program, literally fighting for my child’s life. I’m also not a religious man, but I can look anyone in the eye and tell them without hesitation or doubt that AARC saved my daughters life. If you’re like I was (and I truly pray no one ever is) and have tried everything and are losing hope, call AARC. This place does the impossible, saving the unsavable and bringing hope to the hopeless.

We had all but completely lost hope when we came to AARC. Government operated programs were not helping our daughter and she was slipping further and further into her addiction. We have been out of the program for almost two years and, thanks to this organization, we have a happy healthy functional family. I couldn’t be anymore great full for what AARC has done for us.

AARC not only saved our daughter's life but changed our family's lives as well. They helped us to understand the disease of addiction and how it affects the whole family. The staff are very professional and know what they are doing - they helped our whole family find recovery. We will always be grateful. Thank you AARC.

Like many other troubled teens I was forced into AARC's program (which is basically the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous) I was shamed, yet complied until I graduated. 15 years later my family and me found real help for the trauma that was inflicted at a very young age. This trauma is what causes people to 'act out' or become 'addicts'. The counselors at AARC are not qualified to do the work they do, as the focus should be on healing traumas, not forcing these traumatized teens to admit to addictions that are but just a symptom of their problems. If you really want to help your troubled teen, seek a qualified trauma therapist, not the abusive graduated 'counselors' who will guilt you and your children into admitting anything AARC wants so they can finally graduate the 11.5 month program (only to relapse shortly after because the program doesn't actually address the trauma) AARC will leave you with even more trauma, it just may take 15 years to realize!