Natasia Pelowski, a yoga instructor based in New York City, has shared her traumatic experience of being forcibly taken from her home by strangers hired by her parents and sent to a wilderness therapy camp. The incident occurred on November 23, 2014, when Pelowski was just 16 years old. She was awakened by the sound of boots outside her Silicon Valley bedroom, and soon found herself face-to-face with a man and a woman who demanded she accompany them.
Pelowski recalls the chilling moment when the man grabbed her arm and told her she had no choice but to go with them. She was then handcuffed and taken downstairs where her mother was waiting. The female abductor informed her that only her mother could halt the process, but all she received from her parent was a silent apology as she was led away to a waiting vehicle.
The decision to send Pelowski to the wilderness therapy program was influenced by her high school principal’s recommendation. Her parents believed that this drastic measure was necessary to help their daughter, who was battling depression at the time. During her 53-day stay at the camp, Pelowski was subjected to harsh conditions, including being strip-searched, forbidden from interacting with her peers, and forced to work in fields without shoes or electricity.
One particularly distressing incident involved Pelowski being led blindfolded to a six-foot open grave at dawn. She was then made to lie in the grave and read a eulogy symbolizing the end of her old life. Following her time at the wilderness camp, Pelowski was transferred to a residential center in Utah where she was subjected to solitary confinement and aggressive therapy.
Pelowski claims that she witnessed multiple suicide attempts at the center, which were met with harsh criticism from the staff. She developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after her release, shortly before her 18th birthday. She has since questioned why lawmakers have not taken action to protect vulnerable youth from such brutal treatment programs.
Pelowski’s experience is not unique. Many troubled teens are forcibly taken to facilities such as private youth programs, therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, religious academies, wilderness programs, and drug rehabilitation centers. The American Bar Association estimates that between 120,000 and 200,000 young people reside in such facilities, with over 50,000 of them placed there privately by their parents.
These institutions, which are known for abusing minors, receive over $23 billion in public funds annually and hold between 120,000 to 200,000 minors at any given time. They are operated by private companies, nonprofits, or faith-based groups and claim to help youth with behavioral problems, addiction, eating disorders, and issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Pelowski is not alone in her advocacy against these controversial youth treatment programs. Celebrities like Paris Hilton have also spoken out against the industry. Hilton has pushed for legislation against such treatment, claiming she was abused at the Provo Canyon School in Utah. She has supported California legislation requiring more transparency from youth treatment facilities. The Accountability in Children’s Treatment Act was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom and will take effect on January 1, 2026.