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Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Swede Larson
You said, "GCU doesn't even offer a PhD in "Cognitive Psychology" -- Here is link for you to do just that......https://www.gcu.edu/college-of-doctoral-studies/online-phd-programs.php

Notice that there are four PhD degrees listed in Psychology, the second of which is a degree in cognitive psychology.

You have been given ample opportunity to identify yourself, but you choose not to, I am an open book and my claims are clear. I am happy to offer anyone any information they wish regarding anything I have said my email is swedehart@msn.com

Allow those here to "VET" the source that is so very critical of me, who are you and why should we listen to your negative rhetoric?


It is a "Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Cognition and Instruction," and also stated "This program does not lead to licensure; refer to your state for requirements."

https://www.gcu.edu/degree-programs/phd-psychology-cognition-instruction

I see one 8-week online course in Cognitive Science there. Whew! Now that's some "intensive training!" You have already admitted elsewhere that it is a useless degree that would not lead to employment, depicted GCU as a "diploma mill," and stated your plans to sue GCU.

But you didn't finish the program anyway -- so what's your point?

You have lied about your credentials, your expertise, your professional affiliations, and your intentions, and used these lies to take advantage of vulnerable people for profit. You misled people on THIS forum pretending and boasting to have credentials and expertise you do not possess, and only admitted that you did not earn a PhD once your cards began to fall.

Can you understand that readers are able to follow the links (posted again below) on their own to read proof of your false claims? They don't need to listen to me, they can read for themselves. My identity is irrelevant -- I have done nothing wrong -- I am on the side of the vulnerable people you attempt to dupe. Most people on this forum have anonymous user names anyway -- YOU cannot command that a user reveal their identity -- you can't even keep your own identity straight.

If you were an "open book," you would have no need to scurry about deleting incriminating information you posted on the internet and covering your tracks. Fortunately (though not for you), past info was easily archived and screen-shot before you realized you had ensnared yourself.

Did your online courses cover projection, denial, delusions of grandeur, and narcissistic thought patterns? You should ask a (real) psychologist.

A few links:

Your “book” marketed to parents of children with disabilities (see reviews and comments from verified purchasers):
https://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Parents-reasons-behind-bright-ebook/dp/B01LW6TXLT

Your failed attempt to deceive and market your “book” to parents in a disability support forum, where you were rightfully exposed and then attempted to cover your tracks:
http://www.autismweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33901&sid=edbdf4e7f2dde61bcea9eeb8148e49aa

You have been posting on this forum for at least 2 years under false pretense while soliciting personal information from others:
http://pub40.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.phpusernum=3407841501&frmid=564&msgid=861765&cmd=show

Archived link from Brain Works, LLC, site featuring "Professor Swede Larson" along with false credentials and an incoherent ramble:
https://web.archive.org/web/20161110115804/http://braintutoringutah.com/the-brain-works-programs/online-courses/guruauthor/view/1-professor-swede-larson

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

I cannot comment on Brain Works, I don't work there and am not involved with that program in any way. I never claimed to have a license to practice mental health, and am in fact not even remotely interested. The PhD program is in Psychology and if you'll notice from your own post that it is focused on cognition and instruction, that is cognitive psychology.

Again my book is an attempt to help parents avoid spending egregious amounts of money on programs that don't work. As many emails show, no one has to read my book to get my consultation...... I talk with may freely about what I know of the programs.

You keep talking about being a fraud and scamming people, what am I gaining from this other than helping. Or is it the $13 charge for a book I worked on that a couple of people didn't like on Amazon.com?

As for the PhD, I have the transcripts that show I have finished the program and achieved nearly perfect scores. That is why we (a large group of students) are fighting the school, they didn't confer the degree that we earned.

You also said, "I am on the side of the vulnerable people you attempt to dupe. Most people on this forum have anonymous user names anyway"-What anonymous user names did I use and where?

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

You continue to inject straw men to dodge the facts. While the irony of your claims to protect vulnerable people from fraud and unethical behavior – all while using fraud and unethical means yourself – is clearly lost on you, I hope this situation highlights the importance of vetting the claims of people, vendors -- and even facilities -- who offer consultation, products, or other services.

Swede Larson
Most people on this forum have anonymous user names anyway"-What anonymous user names did I use and where?


Address the facts. I said most people on this forum use anonymous user names when you demanded my identity and attempted to discredit the facts by calling into question my anonymous user name. Are you really attempting to defend your cluster of deception with so silly a defense?

Swede Larson
I cannot comment on Brain Works, I don't work there and am not involved with that program in any way.


Address the facts. You were listed on the Brain Works website as possessing a PhD in Cognitive Psychology and as a “full member” of the APA. You are listed as the instructor for Brain Training 101:
https://web.archive.org/web/20161110115804/http://braintutoringutah.com/the-brain-works-programs/online-courses/guruauthor/view/1-professor-swede-larson

Swede Larson
I never claimed to have a license to practice mental health, and am in fact not even remotely interested.


Address the facts. No one said you did. You have posed as a psychologist, having experience and expertise in psychology, possessing a PhD, being a researcher heading a team of “cognitive neural scientists,” among other silly boasts. And you used this fabricated information to sell your book and offer consultation to parents of children with disabilities. You cannot claim to be a psychologist, or market your expertise as such, without a license, as per Utah law.

As a “psychologist” with expertise in psychology – you should know that, right?

Swede Larson
The PhD program is in Psychology and if you'll notice from your own post that it is focused on cognition and instruction, that is cognitive psychology.


Address the facts: You. Did. Not. Earn. a PhD. You don’t possess a degree in psychology of any kind. You were enrolled in a 60-credit online program, comprised of an assortment of 8-week-long courses, the larger percentage of which concern conducting research and writing a dissertation, which you did not complete. In stark contrast, the usual PhD program in psychology (accredited by the APA) is probably around 6 years in length, yet not even THESE candidates receive a PhD without submitting and successfully defending a dissertation.

As a psychologist touting a PhD, you should know that, right?

Swede Larson
As for the PhD, I have the transcripts that show I have finished the program and achieved nearly perfect scores. That is why we (a large group of students) are fighting the school, they didn't confer the degree that we earned.


Address the facts: You. Did. Not. Finish. a PhD program. Conducting scientifically viable research, completing a dissertation, and successfully defending a dissertation are the primary aspects involved with earning a PhD.

Address the facts: As you have engaged in unethical and likely unlawful conduct by posing as a psychologist and making false claims -- and worse, used these for profit -- you would likely be blocked from graduation or admission in any PhD program -- or professional program of any kind.

Address the facts. You were falsely claiming to be a “Dr.” with a PhD on this forum and elsewhere long before you even finished the coursework you reference. And you self-published your book on Amazon before completing this coursework as well – as Dr. Harland Larson, PhD. You added the lame “ABD” (not a credential) to the image later – apparently when your ruse began to unravel.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

CONTINUED

Address the facts. You defend the value of your coursework in your posts here, but elsewhere, you tell quite a different story:

http://www.challengestudentdebt.com/grand-canyon-university-scam/

Da Swede Larson
“Fraud and Deception are occurring, the staff and faculty I worked with hugely mismanaged my dissertation journey, leaving me with huge debt, no degree, and even if I had finished the degree, it was not what they outlined at the beginning in my paperwork... meaning the degree would not have been useful in securing employment as a psychologist...”

“I would not be able to gain employment in a field directly related to my degree, the PhD I hold is in essence not marketable in general in the field of Psychology.”

“I am likely going to start over at the beginning of my degree, once the federal government has deemed Grand Canyon the fraud they are and refunded my money.”

“In my own personal case they have blocked my completion of the PhD dissertation on the grounds that my research is not scientifically viable.”


(^Though not surprised that your “research” was not considered “scientifically viable,” as you do not even seem to understand that collecting anecdotes on the internet is not scientifically viable research. The plural of anecdote is not data.)

Swede Larson
Again my book is an attempt to help parents avoid spending egregious amounts of money on programs that don't work. As many emails show, no one has to read my book to get my consultation...... I talk with may freely about what I know of the programs.

Address the facts. You do not have *professional* expertise or experience in the treatment of learning disorders, autism, what programs “work” or don’t work, or in the practice of psychology in general. Therefore your opinion is uninformed, worthless (obvious from your stream-of-consciousness ramble on the Brain Works site linked above), and potentially harmful. That is the purpose of laws designed to protect consumers from people who make false claims about their title and credentials.

When parents in a support forum where you peddled your book questioned your expertise, you fired back with “What are your credentials?” THEY were not trying to sell YOU anything or pretending to possess credentials they did not have. You do not appear to even know as much as the average parent about either disabilities or psychology in general.

Swede Larson
You keep talking about being a fraud and scamming people, what am I gaining from this other than helping. Or is it the $13 charge for a book I worked on that a couple of people didn't like on Amazon.com?

Address the facts: Those couple of people who gave your book negative reviews actually purchased the book (Verified Purchase). The positive reviews padding your Amazon rating are from people who didn’t. Hmmm, so how do people positively review a book they did not purchase?

And one other question: Where is your team of “researchers and neural cognitive scientists” you have boasted about on this forum and others? Who are they and where are they? If they exist, shouldn’t one of your amazing team have written the forward to your “book” instead of your elementary school teacher? Shouldn’t they step up for you here or in one of the locations you have been exposed and defend your expertise and all?

Good grief.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Dear past Vista attendant,

I was you. I was a headstrong teenager who post-Vista thoroughly believed and constantly affirmed that Vista saved my life. Like you, I experienced extreme Stockholm like effects. You are conditioned (through tactics that research correlates to overall harm across a multitude of areas rather than any type of positive outcomes) to believe that if you ever have any negative thoughts or feelings about Vista, it is somehow your fault. The seeds of self-blame are sewn so deep that they become ingrained into who you are, or who you think you are. One day you will realize what happened to you and the effect it has had on your life, and the effects it will continue to have on your future. One day you will know that it wasn't your fault.

For years I managed to run from it mentally, I believed it helped, because I had to. I mean it would be gut-wrenching to allow yourself to understand that two years of your life (extremely precious years in regards to the span of human development, but I digress) were stolen by people who claim to be helping, yet they do the very opposite. I internalized everything, because I was made to believe that my problems and my struggles must somehow be the result of some mistake that I had made at some completely unidentifiable, yet clearly significant point. You can only run for so long before it comes crashing down on you. I am not the only one of my fellow survivors with a diagnosis of PTSD. I am not the only one who self destructed completely after Vista. I am one of the very, very few who made it out and was able to piece together my life and make something from it. Although I am successful, I still struggle, the severity of the PTSD is okay sometimes and sometimes its bad and daily life becomes very difficult.

What needs to be understood is that at its very core, Vista is a business, and that's the bottom line. To ensure the $12k monthly checks (that's per child) they need to produce results. And how do you produce results to please the wallets (I mean the parents)? You grossly misuse your education in the psychology field to devise and implement behavioral modification techniques that quickly produce the desired effect. Checketts is a con-artitst, and a genuine disgrace to the profession as a whole.


Give it some time, you will be back. And there will be people to support you.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

I mean I was there a long time ago and that was not the case. They dressed up girls as prostitute and made then wear "how much" signs, made a girl push a shipping cart around to be a metaphor that she would be a homeless lady one day..etc...

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

So I have read a number of reviews
My experience with my daughter was outstanding
My wife and I travelled 500 miles interviewing RTC’s over the course of a week. We hired consultants who made suggestions. However we felt it necessary to see all facilities available to us. To be honest it wasn’t really close. Vista was the first place we visited and the other 5 were a far 2nd. We knew our daughter was ready since she just completed 100 days in the wilderness program which by the way was the best decision we made. She completed Jr and Sr year at Vista with a little less than a 4.0. She currently attends University of Utah and doing extremely well
The staff at Vista have much to do with this
Feel free to reach out to me if you need to find out more of our experience with the very painful process we went through in getting help for our daughter
Bob Linekin

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

For the protection of those who Swede Larson has asked to contact him personally regarding his "research," please be aware:

Swede Larson (aka DrSwede / Professor Swede Larson PhD / Dr. Harland Larson PhD / Dr. Swede Larson / Da Swede Larson / Harland Larson / Professor Swede Larson of Fortis College / Harland Larson PHD (ABT)) does not have a psychology degree of any kind and has been posing as a psychologist with a PhD, as having expertise in psychology, and as head of a research team, among other fraudulent claims, in order to sell a book on Amazon

He has been scrubbing the internet of these claims since his fraud was exposed in other internet locations, like this disability support forum where he attempts to sell his "research" (details and links):

http://www.autismweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33901

As always, vulnerable groups should exercise caution and vet the credentials and claims of those they interact with on the internet.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Swede Larson
I wanted to clarify here for everyone, I am PhD. in ABD status, which means I have completed all the course work for a PhD, and the vast majority of the dissertation process, research and other such materials. But have not completed the PhD with Grand Canyon University, in that the dissertation is not yet complete. Thus the title Dr. and the credentials PhD. must be understood as having completed the all course work for the PhD. but not the last two chapters of the dissertation. My data has been collected, and reported and through egregious mismanagement perpetrated by Kathryn Westbeld, and other members of the faculty at Grand Canyon University my dissertation will not likely ever be published.

Thanks,

Swede Larson, BFA, MHA, PhD in ABD status.

swedehart@msn.com


For the protection of those who Swede Larson has asked to contact him personally regarding his "research," please be aware:

Swede Larson (aka DrSwede / Professor Swede Larson PhD / Dr. Harland Larson PhD / Dr. Swede Larson / Da Swede Larson / Harland Larson / Professor Swede Larson of Fortis College / Harland Larson PHD (ABT)) does not have a psychology degree of any kind and has been posing as a psychologist with a PhD, as having expertise in psychology, and as head of a research team, among other fraudulent claims, in order to sell a book on Amazon.

He has been scrubbing and altering these claims on the internet since his fraud was exposed in other internet locations, like this disability support forum where he attempts to sell his "research" (details and links):

http://www.autismweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33901

As always, vulnerable groups should exercise caution and vet the credentials and claims of those they interact with on the internet.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

HEAL received what we believe are Harland/Swede Larson's transcripts from Grand Canyon University. You will find them posted on our site at www.heal-online.org/slarsondoc.pdf. We hope this helps clear up any confusion.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Unfortunately this transcript only shows that Mr. Larson took courses in Grand Canyon University's online PhD program, not that he earned a PhD. GCU does not offer a PhD that leads to licensure as a psychologist.

This does show that Mr. Larson has been falsely claiming to have a PhD for quite some time. Check the dates on the coursework. On this forum alone -- as far back as November 2015 -- he was representing himself as a PhD with "a team of Psychologists and neural scientists:"
http://pub40.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3407841501&frmid=564&msgid=861765&cmd=show

Mr. Larson does not appear confused about his degree elsewhere on the internet, now that he is organizing litigation against GCU for the lack of one:
(see comments posted by Da Swede Larson -- 4 months ago:)

"Fraud and Deception are occurring, the staff and faculty I worked with hugely mismanaged my dissertation journey, leaving me with huge debt, no degree, and even if I had finished the degree, it was not what they outlined at the beginning in my paperwork... meaning the degree would not have been useful in securing employment as a psychologist...[...]"
http://www.challengestudentdebt.com/grand-canyon-university-scam/

***Please use caution when interacting with people requesting information on the internet and vet sources. This is especially important in groups and forums that serve vulnerable populations.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Currently you recognize we have the most effective hack roblox rips off website around, and also you recognize that this roblox hack functions.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

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Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

I have thought a lot about concerned's response and ad hominem attack on my character and credentials. I have made no secret about my fight with the University I attended. I did indeed complete the substantial school work as outlined in the admissions paper work at that school to gain a PhD. Not only did I complete the work, all of it, I also did so with nearly perfect scores.I am happy to share those credentials with anyone interested.

Now, "Concerned" calls for us to vet our sources but offers no clear indication of who this person is. To be honest, he sounds like one of the two owners of Vista, the CEO.... Matt Checketts.

None the less the truth of the matter is in fact that my credentials are not in question or even relevant here. The abusive ad hominem attack disregards my argument altogether and simple attacks my person.

Let us get to the crux of the matter, Vista and many other RTC's in Utah are breaking with human right, and what is ethically permissible. They are doing this on the ground as outlined by Angela, and sanctioned by the government in Utah. One doesn't need any degree to see what that the behavior of these social workers is uninformed and abusive. The number of comments that I have from past clients who have undergone this treatment, is telling. I have decided to move forward with the publication of those stories. This will bring to light that since Maia Szalavitz wrote "Hep at Any Cost" little to nothing has changed in the RTC's in Utah.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

To the person who had the negative experience & said that the teachers weren't licensed in CA, are you speaking to the Vista rtc in Magna, Utah or the Vista program in California?

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

I attended Vista in the late 90's. The place was horrific. They practice "shock therapy" ,as well as, isolation. They would put kids on "RO" in which we weren't allowed to speak, embarrass us, scream in our faces for hours, and generally belittle and bully us into compliance. Please do not send your child there to be verbally abused and mentally tortured!! My mind has literally blocked out so much of what happened to me there and in the wilderness program I went too. All I remember is small flashes of what went on, which leads me to believe it was REALLY BAD there!! Like this website says, be sure you can have steady contact with your child, and be able to see th3m very frequently!!

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

It was more arounderstanding 12 years ago, so 2004 ish...

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Rachel,

Thank you for your post, these are precisely the types of posts that will help protect potential future clients from garnering negative life experiences from those claiming to offer treatment for psychological hardship/infirmity.

Dr. Swede

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

When I was there bathroom breaks were limited to two to four minutes, this place was hell. It was literally the worst experience of my life. I finished my nine month stay there ten years ago. I am a successful well adjusted adult now and have a great relationship with my parents. So no lasting damage for me but I would definitely recommend anyone considering this as an option to make a better choice

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Is this in any way related to the old "Vista" program that pre-dated the "AmeriCorps" program? Those are government youth activities that seem also to include a lot of schools, houses, etc.

They were foisted on the public as some kind of domestic "Peace Corps" but they are very shadowy programs, especially Vista. I've met some strange characters who came out of those programs.

I don't want to go off-topic, but I am curious about the name "Vista" in this context.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

HEAL has received the police complaint record regarding Vista RTC in Utah. Reported calls include rape, assault, domestic violence, child neglect, and life-threatening environmental conditions. You can download the police calls now at http://www.heal-online.org/vistapolicecalls.pdf.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Can't download the police calls..

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

The police calls file is over 280MB in size. Are you using a phone or a computer to download? If a phone, you likely don't have enough memory to download that large of a document. You will need to download it from a computer. I'm currently downloading it from http://www.heal-online.org/vistapolicecalls.pdf right now and it is taking some time due to the size of the file. But, it does download when using a system with enough memory.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Says its no longer available or the link isn't valid.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

I pulled it up just fine..... make sure you are using a computer: I bet it won't come up on a phone.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

I realize this is late to the discussion, however this is the only place on the internet that I have found which deals specifically with this treatment center. To preface, I think it's important to note that I'm currently actively avoiding divulging any personal information for the fear of backlash or being sent back. I think that speaks volumes about the environment.

I have concluded through my experiences that this, like many treatment centers, is a scam. Most of the people who leave relapse, as I've observed by checking up on dozens of people through social media and finding few, few people who seemed to be doing well.

Those who were doing well seem to be motivated by the fear of going back or the fear of being sent elsewhere. I believe that "success" through threats is inappropriate and ineffective.

Please don't misunderstand - Vista is not hell. I have met people (staff and clients) I admire and care about there, and I have felt joy/felt connected in that environment. Still, I believe that the program is fundamentally ineffective.

I would like to hear people's thoughts on this (if anyone is still around this forum) who have shared/witnessed this experience and to see if my observations hold any validity. I can also go further into the hierarchy of the milieu, the imbalance of control, and examples of my own experiences. I can also share positives about the facility as well. \

Thank you for reading.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

This program helped saved my son's life. He has been clean and sober for 2+ years. They are not abusive and CBT works if people embrace it. Statistics and our experince prove that!

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Anon
I realize this is late to the discussion, however this is the only place on the internet that I have found which deals specifically with this treatment center. To preface, I think it's important to note that I'm currently actively avoiding divulging any personal information for the fear of backlash or being sent back. I think that speaks volumes about the environment.

I have concluded through my experiences that this, like many treatment centers, is a scam. Most of the people who leave relapse, as I've observed by checking up on dozens of people through social media and finding few, few people who seemed to be doing well.

Those who were doing well seem to be motivated by the fear of going back or the fear of being sent elsewhere. I believe that "success" through threats is inappropriate and ineffective.

Please don't misunderstand - Vista is not hell. I have met people (staff and clients) I admire and care about there, and I have felt joy/felt connected in that environment. Still, I believe that the program is fundamentally ineffective.

I would like to hear people's thoughts on this (if anyone is still around this forum) who have shared/witnessed this experience and to see if my observations hold any validity. I can also go further into the hierarchy of the milieu, the imbalance of control, and examples of my own experiences. I can also share positives about the facility as well. \\

Thank you for reading.


Sounds exactly like the Swede Larson dude who falsified his credentials and has been posting here and around the internet posing "Dr. Swede Larson PhD." Please be cautious if considering your personal information.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Unfortunately this post was not written by me, but it does indeed tell a clear story; that story coincides with many that attended Vista, as well as other RTC's in Utah.

Again, we get no chance to "VET" the source of this anonymous post. Do us the favor of researching who you are please, and allow us to make a decision regarding your arguments, which incidentally regard themselves toward the individual rather than the argument being made.

I will state it again for everyone to hear, Vista Treatment center does indeed Visit many terrible and inhuman practice upon the students there. While few find help, many find disappointment, fear, demoralization, inconsistency, and even direct abuse. Those that survive these places do so despite the practices there, not because of them.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Swede Larson
Unfortunately this post was not written by me, but it does indeed tell a clear story; that story coincides with many that attended Vista, as well as other RTC's in Utah.

Again, we get no chance to "VET" the source of this anonymous post. Do us the favor of researching who you are please, and allow us to make a decision regarding your arguments, which incidentally regard themselves toward the individual rather than the argument being made.

I will state it again for everyone to hear, Vista Treatment center does indeed Visit many terrible and inhuman practice upon the students there. While few find help, many find disappointment, fear, demoralization, inconsistency, and even direct abuse. Those that survive these places do so despite the practices there, not because of them.


There is no reason to “vet” my credentials. I’m not fraudulently claiming credentials I’ve never had, claiming to be a psychologist, claiming to be a “full member” of the APA, pretending I have a “research team of cognitive neural scientists,” or claiming I am doing “research” to take advantage of vulnerable people: selling a poorly-written uninformed report to parents of children with disabilities or requesting personal information from people online who may have experienced abuse.

The facts regarding your fraud are quite easy to “vet.” Readers can do so independently. There is no debate or argument regarding your lack of credentials, nor your fraudulent claims.

Your “book” (see comments from verified purchasers):
https://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Parents-reasons-behind-bright-ebook/dp/B01LW6TXLT

Your failed attempt to deceive and market your “book” to parents in a disability support forum, where you were rightfully exposed and then attempted to cover your tracks:
http://www.autismweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33901&sid=edbdf4e7f2dde61bcea9eeb8148e49aa

You have been posting on this forum for at least 2 years under false pretense while soliciting personal information from others.
http://pub40.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3407841501&frmid=564&msgid=861765&cmd=show

You were enrolled in online classes at GCU that do not result in any licensure in anything. This program does not include contact or experience with patients. Therefore you do not and have not had “clients,” or any experience in psychology with patients, and your incoherent descriptions of disabilities and opinions on “what works” are irrelevant. You taught yoga and music at a residential facility? The residents you taught are called “students.”

If you witnessed or suspected abuse at Vista (or any other facility) while teaching yoga, you are required by law to report it to the state of Utah, not profit from it by writing a (yet another) incoherent “report” to sell using others’ personal information you gleaned online. THAT, and aggressively following up on your report, is how you “save the life” of someone who may consider the facility in question. Check Utah’s mandatory reporting laws.

You can’t put lipstick on this pig “ Dr. Swede Larson, PhD “ / “ Dr. Harland Larson PhD ” / “ Professor Swede Larson .” You have gone far beyond violating the trust of vulnerable people.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Again, as I have said several times here and else where, I offer no services to anyone online or in person as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker..... what I do offer is my knowledge of the program in question. I am interested in giving folks more knowledge to protect them from scams like Vista, or other types of programs that are not. My work is an attempt to arm parents with knowledge that will protect them, and their poor children, from these places and their abusive programs. I am not the first or the only person to make claim against this practice of "help at any cost" and I surely won't be the past.

It seems that the only thing you can focus on is my problems associated with the PhD program I completed.... and the abusive ad hominem attacks on my person, and the claim that I am preying on vulnerable people, though I don't know how.... I offer my claims against these programs freely to anyone that has emailed me. I have protected hundreds of poor teens that might be duped by the people at Vista!

Also that you will not allow anyone to get a sense of you, who you are, and where you come from..... you are merely a critic of my attempt to help! I do apologize that you have taken offense, I only want to protect our poor kids from experiencing the emotional hardship of encountering programs that put abuse in the guise of treatment. This was the reason I attended Grand Canyon University in the first place.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Swede Larson
Again, as I have said several times here and else where, I offer no services to anyone online or in person as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker..... what I do offer is my knowledge of the program in question. I am interested in giving folks more knowledge to protect them from scams like Vista, or other types of programs that are not. My work is an attempt to arm parents with knowledge that will protect them, and their poor children, from these places and their abusive programs. I am not the first or the only person to make claim against this practice of "help at any cost" and I surely won't be the past.

It seems that the only thing you can focus on is my problems associated with the PhD program I completed.... and the abusive ad hominem attacks on my person, and the claim that I am preying on vulnerable people, though I don't know how.... I offer my claims against these programs freely to anyone that has emailed me. I have protected hundreds of poor teens that might be duped by the people at Vista!

Also that you will not allow anyone to get a sense of you, who you are, and where you come from..... you are merely a critic of my attempt to help! I do apologize that you have taken offense, I only want to protect our poor kids from experiencing the emotional hardship of encountering programs that put abuse in the guise of treatment. This was the reason I attended Grand Canyon University in the first place.


umm, you DIDN'T complete a PhD program, remember? Another lapse with reality?

I am interested "in giving folks more knowledge to protect them from scams" too.

You HAVE offered "psychological services" in several locations online, posing as a psychologist with a PhD and as a "full member" of the APA. Here's one -- on the sales site of Brain Works, LLC, featuring "Professor Swede Larson," with a PhD and a "full membership" in the APA (which is impossible without a PhD). This is an archived copy which *mysteriously* disappeared online, just like the others:

https://web.archive.org/web/20161110115804/http://braintutoringutah.com/the-brain-works-programs/online-courses/guruauthor/view/1-professor-swede-larson

You also offered to consult with parents and their children in the "author" section of the book you peddle on Amazon, complete with your personal email address, as Dr. Harland Larson, PhD, claiming to have expertise in psychology. This can be seen in the "look inside" feature of the kindle version located above the image of the book (no need to purchase):
https://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Parents-reasons-behind-bright-ebook/dp/B01LW6TXLT

And you sure did try to "help" those parents in the autism support forum -- to BUY your "book" -- directing them to your sales site, pretending to be "Dr. Swede," and stating that you had credentials you did not possess. You were even nasty to them and asked why you should not be paid ("recompense") after originally offering to share if they emailed you personally (creepish). You then deleted incriminating info, but plenty of it was caught when you were quoted in other responses:
http://www.autismweb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33901&sid=b902e4a6ec3cbc34decf120da3573949


The only thing I am focused on is your scamming vulnerable people for profit by claiming to have credentials, expertise, training, and professional affiliations that you never had. I think vulnerable people and "desperate" parents deserve the truth.

Are you just entirely blind to the ethical (and potential legal) problem with your ruse? And do you believe that if you just continue to deny and minimize your deception that the facts will change and you will magically become credible?

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

jesus ******* christ i would absolutely never put my name on here just because of the kind of verbal attacks taking place right now... “concerned” ... more like concerning. honestly it doesn’t matter to me who “concerned” is or what they are claiming. it could be will smith trolling this forum and it doesn’t even matter because regardless of who it is it’s a good example of how the therapists and directors acted just overtly taking consequences or accusations way too far and being far too brashly stubborn to consider where to draw the line. as for me i sincerely don’t give a **** about swedes credentials or anything he’s “claiming” i just know that i trusted him more than 95% of the staff there most of whom just go through their shift ignoring the verbal abuse as if that’s just how people normally treat each other. there was a stark superiority complex existing among most staff members and i only care that i feel like i just found someone who i can reach out to about my experience even if this post is several years old.
i would disprove of any program that uses shock and break therapy. consequently the abuse of power running this place is honestly sickening. i swear to god i would discourage any parent from sending their kid here. i do not think that under any circumstance, that these troubled children—most of whom are struggling with things like trauma and abuse and depression and shattered self-esteem— deserve the level and incessant nature of this programs blatant disrespect towards clients. i ******* cringe at the thought of these people actually making money off of this and it’s good amount— especially adjusted for how cheap it is to live in utah.
so did this place get me to control my behavior? yes. was it conditioned into me by a tyrannical authority using fear tactics and cruel punishments? yes. would i ever endorse or recommend this program to someone based on my experience? hell to the ******* no. y’all got me ****ed up it’s been four years since i graduating and i still have nightmares about being stuck there. i can’t stop picking apart every single action i make and how i deserve the trauma i endure and if i dig deep enough why i’m responsible for my suffering. this program completely broke down my dignity and self-respect and discouraged us from speaking up about unjust practices. if you criticize the program you are punished. if you say anything negative about the programs practices on a phone call the staff will cut the line and you’d probably get dropped a level or some bs. i saw a client defend two others who he felt were being punished for prejudiced reasons and he was shamed by all the therapists in group and put on idk. you get dropped to RO if you accidentally stub your toe and a curse slips out, meanwhile the staff and therapists can cuss at you and say whatever cruel and degrading thing they want to us and everyone witnessing is scared to say anything because they’ll get torn apart even harder. and strange how it seems like the staff members who question or oppose the tyranny end up mysteriously without employment.
still i think the power hunger pulsing through this place is disturbingly predictable. take the idea of the stanford prison experiment, turn the prison guards into psychologists and replace the prisoners with misbehavioral teenagers. i don’t know what else people would expect in all honestly they are making thousands of dollars per day by simply treating clients like they are a case file with endless psychoanalytic possibility while constantly disregarding their feelings as irrational, what would stop them? they did not treat us like people and i would genuinely question the ones who say they would treat their own kids like this. it scares me that places like this exist and can have such disregard for an individuals needs. not sure how you can get a psychology degree and then just ignore things like the basic humanistic principles of maslows heirarchy. i did not feel safe physically and DEFINITELY not safe emotionally as the majority of these experiences were simply dehumanizing and lots of practices made me feel worse about myself than i could have even imagined before this kind of environment. there was no sense of trust with therapists who possessed a very offensive tact. how would this elicit any form of healing? i don’t want to think about this place anymore but the memories and associated feelings are frequent and intrusive and the actual cognitive and affective changes that resulted in me from this environment stem from fear and feeling perpetually powerless and defenseless and stripped of my right to think my own thoughts. i strongly disagree with vistas practices and i believe it’s not a healthy place for anyone to be. i’m not sure how to have any impact on regulations regarding programs like this. i just want their nasty ass facility shut down. not that this post needs anything more just thought i’d sp

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

what I went through at this mormon run institution has had lasting effects on me. Though I have worked through overcoming trauma from this institution, I feel it is my duty to share a review because if enough people come forward about an abusive environment it does make a difference and it will stop others from being harmed.

I believe Ryan Pepper is trying to help young girls. However, it is ineffective and in fact harmful for some. This method of trying to break young developing girls into submissive, subservient, cookie-cutter people is wrong. Ryan Pepper asked me in an individual therapy session if I thought he was attractive. He berated me in public displays on multiple occasions to prove his assertiveness in front of the other girls, and it was by no means effective for my self-esteem. Though I believe he has genuine helpful intentions, he is rigid in his thinking, he doesn't believe in homosexuality, he doesn't understand that people may exist on a spectrum and one size does not fit all. Overall, the man running this nightmare projects his repressed feelings and fears onto the young fragile girls who's parents money he's taking.

Over the last 10 years have learned a great deal about human physiology and cognitive development- especially in children. Using fear as a means to curb someone's behavior is not effective and can leave people with scars, like myself. I can recognize now after having studied a tremendous amount that my central nervous system was impacted by being at dimple dell. I developed PTSD from their methods of forcing us to clean, yelling at us when it wasn't good enough, punishing us for forgetting small details, body checking us, making sure no clothes could show off our neck or shoulders, reading our private journals and taking them away from us, stealing some of the only things that made us feel free, forcing us to be silent and not speak for weeks sometimes over a month, having large open group discussions where they manipulated the conversation to favor what they wanted, pitting the girls against each other, separating friendships, imposing religious beliefs, placing diet rules on us and scheduling everything we consumed to a T, not allowing us to express our true selves, using shame and embarrassment to break our souls, and convincing us that we were damaged or that something was inherently wrong with us.

The PTSD I have developed from Dimple Dell displays itself when I clean; scrub my floors, sometimes it pops up when I turn on light switches, when I shower ( our showers were timed and if we didn't make the time we would get low points on our point sheets and be punished), cleaning toilets, folding my sheets on my bed, there are certain foods that give me flashbacks as well, and I have reoccurring nightmares still after attending over 12 years ago.

Many truths can exist at once. To deny my reality would also be denying data. This was my experience here. I am a real person who developed trauma and PTSD from this place. It can become harm to inflict this type of damage on young minds. The mormon values that are pushed on innocent minds is damaging and in my opinion, disgusting.

This is a business. They are profiting off desperate parents, and in this day and age most issues with teenage rebellion can be curbed with other methods rather than sending them to a place like this that may potentially cause them life long PTSD.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

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Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

I would love to hear your thoughts, if I have not already!!!! Swedehart@msn.com I promise to keep your information anonymous, and to make sure that the public see's what you have to say along side the hundreds of others I have spoken with over the last few years!

Don't let "concerned" bully your thoughts, those thoughts may save the life of someone who would have attended Vista, before they heard what you had to say!

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Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Hi, my name is Paloma, and I am a survivor of Vista RTC located in Magna Utah. I am writing this now as a 23 year old, married with a child, and expecting another one next month. The life I lead today is uncomplicated, but that was not always the case. I was a “troubled teen” and had started drugs- my parents sent me to wilderness and Vista RTC as a way for me to get help. Only help is not what I got. The moment I was forcibly put on a plane by a company called “Crisis Interventions”, my life was changed forever. Here I am all these years later , just so ****ed up over what happened to me. There’s so much that went on I can’t even begin to tell it all today but I will outline some of the abuse I endured.
- I was not allowed to speak for weeks and weeks at a time. This is a punishment called RO (also known as re orientation) where you are not allowed to speak with any of the other kids. If you get caught talking to the other kids, they will also be put on RO. Being a young teenager and not being able to speak for weeks on end would drive me crazy. It was the worst thing they could do- take away your voice. I fought for a long time , tried to engage in small acts of defiance, but after not being allowed to speak for about 3 months I gave up and submitted. You should see my journals and how ****ed up they are. I literally prayed for anyone to come save me but no one did.
- if you try and leave they will strip you down, put you in bright pink scrubs and put you on something called “10 foot” it means you have to be 10 feet away from all the other kids at all times, no speaking and no eye contact. If you are caught looking at a 10 foot you will be dropped to RO. You can speak with your fingers only (1 I believe is bathroom , 2 is emergency, and I forgot what 3 is) oh and a staff member has to be within arms length of you at all times, to watch you ****, shower , dress, everything- for weeks , sometimes even months. My mind blanks out about some parts of vista. Another punishment they use is isolation rooms. I never recall being put into isolation but weirdly enough I have letters from staff reminiscing about how when I tried to leave and was put in the isolation rooms. It was in my graduation letter where this was mentioned- as if this would have been a fond memory or something. I remember the staff member made a joke like “all the fun times we had while you were in isolation” but honestly so much happened that I tried to block out I’m honestly not surprised.
- the way they abuse you the most is with therapy. They make you have 2 hour groups every day. These are INTENSE groups where they force you to feel sad or ashamed about things you don’t feel sad/ashamed about. They make you recount your sexual traumas even if you aren’t ready. They literally force you to cry about situations you aren’t sad about. If your not “beleiveable” enough , they have the group rip you to shreds and say they “aren’t connecting”. If people “aren’t connecting” then you can’t go up levels which extends your stay. I tried fighting and being my authentic self for a while until I realized I would literally never go home unless I played their game. You literally have to go into group and give an Oscar award winning performance, tears , snot the whole nine- about something you literally don’t even feel that way about. I would be “crying” reliving all these sexual traumas that happened to me that I really felt different emotions about , but be forced to only be sad and cry. I would literally be so focused on whether I was believed or not that I got nothing out of the “therapy” whatsoever , except for more trauma.

They train the group of girls to be like a pack of dogs, constantly berating the newer people and constantly telling other girls they “aren’t connecting” in group. This is called “holding others accountable” and it gives you extra brownie points and is necessary if you ever want to walk out that door. The girls will snitch on you for the most minute things just so they can get moved to the next level. I remember after FINALLY making it to a higher level, being dropped to RO because a girl snitched on me for sharing a spoon with my friend. We were eating a banana (separate ones) and using a spoon to put peanut butter on said banana. I was dropped to RO and not allowed to speak for weeks because of that. I’m guessing that because they were super Mormon that they think sharing utensils is like lesbianism or something- I really don’t know. They had a ton of these rules and everything we did was regulated down to the minutes we could shower.

They made us feel ashamed and terrible about ourselves at all time.
I was not allowed to see my parents for months at a time.
All out phone called were monitored and if we started asking for help they would hang up. (Like we literally had someone next to us while we got our phone call there to listen and hang up if you

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

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Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Hey I am a former client of Vista. I was formerly a heroin addict and am currently a college student at Bard college. I have been clean about 3 years now. I feel like many of the former clients I have talked to, aswell as myself have some what similar experiences. None of us enjoyed our stay. But also we recognize how it helped us. The therapists: Jason Seavy and Victor (I forget his last name) both cared about the clients. I feel that their therapy helped me beyond measure. At the same time I think Vista was designed to make money. I think the clients were silenced. We were stuck in small living rooms with 20ish people and It got claustrophobic. I've never felt more trapped in my life. I realize that I felt awful in treatment but also that adversity helped me grow and it also forced me to let go of the person I was. If I hadn't gone there my addiction would still be an integral part of my personality. One of my favorite quotes is from Baldwin's autobiographical notes, He says: "the things which hurt him and the things which helped him cannot be divorced from each other". I have experiences with other RTCs therapeutic boarding schools and woods programs. I do not think Vista is the worst place. In fact so many other treatment places are scams in some form. Vista is wayyy over priced. In that way it is a scam. Matt Chekitz is way to ******* rich off of us. Still I wanted to offer my contact info for anyone seeking information about this place or even if you've decided against it, I would like to help someone chose an effective treatment center. My # is 971 227 1899. Please text before you call so I know you're not a telemarketer. Also pro-tip about choosing an RTC, avoid ranches. Ranches were notorious in treatment for being places where people got jumped and raped.

Re: Vista RTC Utah School- any stories or reviews??

Many female students having health issues as well as beauty issues. They face acne problems during their young age. I will recommend all of them to use high-quality beauty products like Generic Latisse. Its an online store offering discounts on various healthcare items.