Trust, Transparency, and Transformation: A Consultant’s Perspective for Parents
By Vania C. Matheus, MA, MS
V. Matheus Consulting
When families reach out to me as an educational and therapeutic consultant, they’re not just seeking a list of programs. They are placing their trust in someone who understands the nuance, complexity, and emotional weight of the journey ahead. This is not just a professional transaction — it’s a collaboration built on care, discernment, and a shared hope for transformation.
Why Families Hire Consultants Like Me
Choosing the right therapeutic or educational setting for a child or teenager is one of the most significant decisions a parent may ever face. It’s also one of the most overwhelming.
Parents often come to me after doing their own research — and feeling lost in a sea of online reviews, sensationalized media, and conflicting opinions. That’s where I step in. My role is to provide clarity, grounded guidance, and recommendations that come from nearly two decades of experience visiting programs, building trusted relationships with clinicians and educators, and tracking outcomes across the country and beyond.
My Commitment: Integrity, Not Incentives
Let me be clear: I receive no referral fees or financial incentives from any program I recommend. Every suggestion I make is rooted in one question — what is best for this child and family?
I bring to the table 19 years of visiting campuses, observing team dynamics, asking hard questions, and watching how students grow — or don’t — in different environments. This isn’t just data; it’s relational knowledge and professional discernment.
What I Ask of You: Partnership and Personal Responsibility
While I will guide you with everything I’ve got — expertise, experience, and care — this is a partnership. You remain in the driver’s seat. I urge every parent I work with to do their own due diligence: speak with other parents, ask questions, and trust your gut alongside mine.
This process works best when we co-create a plan with openness and trust. If something doesn’t feel like the right fit, let’s talk about it. I may offer other options — but I will also be transparent about why certain programs are my top recommendations.
The Online Noise: Why Reviews Are So Confusing
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the internet. Parents often stumble across deeply negative online reviews or sensational stories about programs — and understandably feel scared.
Much of this stems from the important (and overdue) public reckoning that began after Paris Hilton’s 2020 documentary This Is Paris. Her testimony of abuse at Provo Canyon School sparked the Breaking Code Silence movement, which brought survivor voices to the forefront and initiated needed reform across the industry.
This movement led to:
Increased regulation and oversight of youth programs
Greater accountability and transparency
Amplification of stories that needed to be heard
But there have also been unintended side effects:
Ethical, well-run programs have shut down under reputational harm and skyrocketing insurance costs
Families now face fewer options — especially those with kids who are aggressive, dysregulated, or need a higher level of care
Online reviews often come from people who never attended the program in question, spreading misinformation
Entire categories of programs are painted with the same brush, regardless of differences in quality and ethics
My Role in a Complex Landscape
My job as your consultant is to navigate this terrain with discernment. I am not here to ignore or dismiss survivor stories — I honor them. But I am also here to help families distinguish between harmful practices and those doing deeply ethical, healing work.
This work is human. It’s imperfect. And it is still possible to find places where young people grow, transform, and return home with stronger self-worth and a healthier sense of direction.
In Closing: The Spirit of Our Work Together
When you work with me, you are entering a relationship based on trust, professionalism, and shared purpose. I am here to walk beside you — not to direct your life, but to support you in making decisions that feel both informed and grounded.
You are not alone in this process.
Together, we’ll move forward with integrity, compassion, and hope.
