Chapter 2
The letter had come a month before, addressed to Jan Shaw, and since the
address was correct, I decided it must be for me. It was from a company named
"Dare To Grow."
The letter was signed by Beth Smith, and it described me to a tee, then
went on to solicit business. It started out by saying, "Someone who knows you,
and cares a great deal about you, has given us your name. Your admirer
describes you as far more attractive than you allow yourself to be. You are
also described as a repressed woman who would be willing to go to great lengths
to grow into the outgoing, popular and vivacious woman you wish to be."
There was more of the same, then the letter turned to vague and, at
first glance, grandiose claims for the success of their treatment program.
Pioneered by the head of their Bahama based Clinic, Dr. Edward Franks, and
having elements of intense role playing and confrontational therapy, the letter
claimed that virtually every graduate of their intensive two week initial
therapy program was not only transformed into the person they had always wanted
to be, but over ninety percent came back periodically for further therapy, or
just to rest and relax at the companies resort facility adjacent to the
treatment clinic. The envelope also contained a slick brochure picturing a
beautiful tropical facility populated by attractive smiling people.
My first impulse had been to trash the letter. Ironically, it was the
very attractive, all costs inclusive fee that probably overcame my reservations,
for true to mother's influence, I loved a bargain.
There followed several conversations with Beth Smith, who was very warm
and friendly on the phone. She sent me forms to sign with lots of fine print,
and I concluded that all the language agreeing that treatment decisions could be
made without my permission, etcetera, was standard stuff for inpatient mental
health treatment.
