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Four young adults have filed a federal lawsuit alleging they were subjected to widespread abuse, coercion, and forced labor while they were minors at two now-closed North Carolina youth treatment programs, Trails Carolina and Solstice East, WSOC-TV NewsChannel 9 reported last week.
The lawsuit names Wilderness Training & Consulting LLC, also known as Family Help & Wellness, the management company that operated both facilities. The 75 page complaint claims the programs marketed themselves as safe and therapeutic environments for struggling children but instead used control, punishment, and fear to manage residents.
According to the filing, the facilities were run as profit driven enterprises backed by private equity interests and staffed largely by young, undertrained employees. The plaintiffs say they were promised “industry leading therapy” but instead experienced environments marked by humiliation, isolation, and intimidation.
The lawsuit describes a range of alleged practices, including group humiliation sessions known as “attack therapy,” invasive searches, physical restraints, and extended periods of isolation. Some of the searches, the plaintiffs say, were conducted by male staff members, which they claim added to the trauma.
The plaintiffs also allege they were forced to perform unpaid labor, including cleaning, landscaping, food preparation, vehicle maintenance, and personal errands for staff. According to the complaint, refusal to work was met with punishment, including loss of food, isolation, or other disciplinary measures.
In addition to civil rights and abuse claims, the lawsuit alleges violations of the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. The plaintiffs argue they were trafficked for forced labor through threats, physical restraint, and deprivation of basic needs.
The complaint further describes severe disciplinary practices for children who did not comply with program rules, including restricted communication with family, prolonged isolation, food deprivation, and physically exhausting exercise.
The lawsuit also references prior regulatory concerns and deaths linked to related programs. This includes the 2024 death of a 12 year old at Trails Carolina and multiple reported suicides connected to Solstice East before its closure in 2025.
According to the plaintiffs, the abuse they endured caused lasting psychological harm and reflects deeper systemic problems across the troubled teen industry (TTI).
To learn more about TTI lawsuits, visit our comprehensive guide.
