Sunrise Residential Treatment Center

"I graduated from Sunrise in May 2015. The aftermath of this program has negatively impacted my life every single day, nearly 9 years now since I graduated. My parents unknowingly used my college fund for my college housing (I had a full scholarship), and upon the advice of Chris Taggart, my therapist, they ceased to financially support me and provide me housing past the day I turned 18. I faced near homelessness and so many serious traumatic situations due to Chris Taggart’s advice and the effect on my life this program had. I had no idea the trauma I was about to face as a 17 year old graduate of this program. Sunrise failed me miserably and I face the aftermath everyday of serious exploitation I faced due to being on my own since the day I turned 18. Sunrise failed to give me treatment and resources for my eating disorder as Chris Taggart said I was fine since my bmi was 18. I went on to have many health complications after this program. It’s ironic that this program forces extremist Mormon values down every girls throats, and due to the trauma of this program and the aftermath I will likely never marry and I won’t bring children into this cruel world. My parents were manipulated by Sunrise into paying for home visits and every single thing they ‘recommended’ and in the end it cost me my college education (I dropped out of my full scholarship due to not being able to afford housing). One aspect to this program is level 2 is all about accountability-what accountabilty do you expect people with illnesses to take, that would be called victim blaming? I also hated the fact I was often hungry and this place rationed snacks, it only worsened my eating disorder that this program didn’t help at all. They also make everyone work like indentured servants at all the running races around Utah every weekend and clean the house, cars, and yard. There was no free time at sunrise, it was hell and a waste of my youth. I found many of the staff to be toxic and Chris Taggart was new to the field, so getting an inexperienced therapist was pretty terrible. Instead of saving my life, this program has taken 20-30 years off my life due to the trauma and financial implications of this program. My parents and I have been on and off estranged due to this program as well."

"THIS PLACE IS A SCAM. I went here in 2007 when I was 17. Sunrise destroyed me. It broke my spirit and my confidence and I’ve never recovered. I’m 32 now and I still struggle to trust anyone. I’ll never trust my parents, even though they have apologized. I still have nightmares about Sunrise. Sometimes I’ll have a random memory from Sunrise and just have a panic attack. Maybe I need therapy but I’ll never trust a therapist now. Also for any parents considering sending your daughter here, please be aware that two girls died in their care in 2010. This place isn’t safe by any stretch of the imagination. Edit 11/2023: I’m 34 now so it’s been half my lifetime since I was at Sunrise. I’m a mother with a daughter of my own. I cannot fathom paying strangers to essentially kidnap my child and take her to another state to be incarcerated and behaviorally “reprogrammed” by people none of us have ever met. This entire “troubled teen” industry needs to end."

"Please do not send your daughters here. I attended sunrise for a year and it was truly one of the most traumatizing experiences of my life. Any RTC will institutionalize a teenager within months. There are other options out there that will not break their spirit like a RTC does. I was not explicitly physically or emotionally abused but being sent away, locked up, and treated like an animal is abuse in its own sick way. Do not send your child away they will never forgive you.. I begging you for your daughters sake. My parents had the best of intentions and bought into Sunrises marketing. It’s bad, they are all bad. This was over a decade ago and it still haunts me to this day."

"I attended this school in 2010. 13 years later, I still carry scars. The nightmares of being sent back only stopped a few years ago. The homophobia, emotionally abusive staff and therapists, and manipulation of students and parents was awful. I didn’t get through a single algebra or science textbook in 11 months, the education is so awful. I can safely say at 27, that there was serious psychological abuse taking place at Sunrise. It was malicious and cruel. My parents wish they never sent me."

"Don’t believe the negative reviews. Sunrise saved our daughters life, full stop. It requires real commitment from the student the family etc… and the result in our case was life changing for the good. This place is appropriately strict and holds students accountable while literally customizing each day/ each hour to the student’ s needs. Clinical, experiential, groups, living conditions, educational… all lined up … for us, despite initial fears , was the best possible under the circumstances. If you have a daughter with needs please—- Take the time to know this place and talk to those of us have experienced it. Truly a lifesaver in every way."