Becoming Unsilenced

Surviving and Fighting the Troubled Teen Industry

By: Meg Appelgate

Narrated by: Meg Appelgate

As a 15-year-old, struggling with severe bullying, ADHD, adoption trauma, and undiagnosed autism, Meg became one of the unfortunate 120,000–200,000 youths who are funneled into the lucrative Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) every year. Over the next 3.5 years Meg was abused in two separate facilities that masqueraded as “treatment”.

Over two decades later, Meg Appelgate has evolved into an advocate, activist and passionate spokesperson for survivors across the United States. In Becoming UNSILENCED, she details the institutional abuse she and her peers suffered and what led her to where she is today.

Deeply rooted in lived experience, Becoming UNSILENCED exposes the lack of institutional accountability and safeguards within the Troubled Teen Industry. It also confronts the tendency to pathologize typical adolescent behaviors, questions the effectiveness of "tough love" approaches, addresses deeply ingrained social issues, challenges faulty belief systems, and explores more healthy alternatives for desperate families.

Becoming UNSILENCED is a highly personal and invaluable first-hand account written for survivors and their parents, as well as for decision-makers and health professionals suggesting life-altering interventions for troubled teens.

©2024 Meg Appelgate (P)2024 Meg Appelgate

the truth in the story

I absolutely loves this, not only did she tell us her story, but she told us to perspectives of the parents, and the educations staff and their misinformation that they were given as well.

Best book I have listened to this year!

Incredible work, I absolutely loved this. Thank you Meg for all you do for the community.

So Validating

What a great book! I thankfully did not experience any of TTI. though I have friends who are survivors and feel like I got a real insight into their life through this book