Several weeks ago, Lifetime Network aired their new reality-based TV show called Teen Trouble. The show follows "teen expert" (not an actual credential), Josh Shipp, in his quest to save strugglin youth. We follow him as he subjects the youth to grossly inappropriate, fear-based interventions in an effort to change their self-harming behavior. When his irresponsible and confrontational tactics (unsurprisingly) fail to empower the child and family to act, rather than refer families to services providing evidence-based care, Mr. Shipp instead turns to institutional placement within facilities that rely on fear-based and punitive interventions that are known to harm and abuse youth.
