Is Wayward a true story? Creator Mae Martin breaks down the inspiration behind Netflix thriller

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Warning: Contains spoilers for Netflix’s Wayward.

Over the last few years, opposition to the “troubled teen” industry has been growing. This multi-billion-dollar industry includes boarding schools, wilderness programs, and treatment centers, all claiming to help young people with mental health and substance abuse issues. While some people report positive outcomes, concerns about the industry are increasing.

But for others, it’s a different story.

The outcry against Therapeutic Teen Industry (TTI) programs is now overwhelming, coming from many sources like documentaries, news articles, online blogs, and social media. Thousands of teens, mostly in North America, have shared their stories of serious neglect and abuse, revealing a troubling side to this often-hidden industry.

Comedian Mae Martin, famous for the hit show Feel Good, recently released Wayward, a new eight-episode Netflix series. The show explores Tall Pines Academy in Vermont, a school that presents itself as a supportive environment for teenagers struggling with difficult issues.

The reality, however, could not be further from its glossy, seductive promotional materials.

Martin stars as Alex, a police officer who meets Abbie and Leila, two best friends planning to escape from Tall Pines. Alex promises to help them break free and uncover the dark secrets hidden within the school.

I’ve noticed a huge surge in public interest surrounding the TTI lately, but for me, this isn’t a new phenomenon. My connection to it goes way back – it’s something I’ve personally experienced and been drawn to for years.

Read on for the true story that inspired Wayward, in Martin’s own words.

Is Wayward a true story?

Wayward is a fictional story, but it draws from the author’s personal experiences – being considered a rebellious teenager in the early 2000s, and the institutionalization of their close friend at age 16.

In the early 2000s, we didn’t understand mental health very well, or the reasons behind certain behaviors. At that time, addiction was often seen as a result of pleasure-seeking and self-centeredness. Now, there’s a growing understanding that many of these behaviors are actually a way people try to cope with difficult feelings or problems.

“But back then, it really was a time of Dr Phil sending kids to brat camp.”

Dr. Phil, the well-known TV host and author, often featured advice on his show about sending struggling teenagers to camps, treatment centers, and therapy programs.

While Dr. Phil is often viewed as a funny personality, he’s a common topic on Reddit discussions about the TTI, and those discussions are usually critical.

Martin explained that the person is genuinely funny, but also strange. He described it as ridiculous, but unsettling when you consider the details of ‘TTI’.

It wasn’t me who went to one of those wilderness programs or therapeutic schools. It was actually my best friend who just vanished – it was completely unexpected.

Her parents initially told her she was going to see David Letterman in New York, and she was incredibly excited. But she never returned home. They were understandably terrified and deeply concerned about her disappearance.

About a year later, Martin received a message from a friend they’d asked for advice while writing Wayward. Another writer in the room had also gone to one of those same schools.

I’ll never forget getting a call – she had gotten away and was calling from a pay phone. It was a really chaotic moment. It took two years for her to come back to us.

They said they couldn’t get the stories she told out of their head. They described the treatments as overly dramatic and strange, questioning whether they were actually therapies or more like attempts to change her behavior.

Martin admitted that they likely needed help even more than she did.

Honestly, the idea for this show really stemmed from a feeling of guilt I had. There was this character, very much like someone I knew – let’s call her Abbie – and I started to wonder how things would have played out if I’d been the one to help her, or if we’d both been in that situation together. I kept imagining how we might have reacted differently to everything that was happening.

Martin remembered learning that their drug counselor earned money for each child they referred to certain schools.

It’s understandable this happens a lot,” they said. “When money is involved and schools are trying to attract worried parents who just want what’s best for their children, those parents become easily influenced. It’s easy to see why a quick fix seems appealing when someone offers a solution during such a stressful time.

Is the ‘Leap’ real in Wayward?

The Leap is an intense therapy offered to students who have reached a crucial point in their development, called the Ascend phase. It aims to help them overcome past trauma and achieve complete well-being. The process seems to involve a ritual led by Evelyn, possibly including medication, and is described by one character, Laura, as similar to hypnotherapy.

Martin has shared that *The Leap* is a work of fiction, though they incorporated details from actual cults of the 1970s, which they researched for the show.

We developed a comprehensive guide – almost like a rulebook – for the school we imagined, filled with specific details about how things worked and the words they’d use. We also planned a final, irreversible step to complete the world-building process.

I was really struck by one part of Wayward – it reminded me of something called “Hot Seat” therapy, though it’s often known as “attack therapy.” It’s a really intense form of psychotherapy where people are encouraged to aggressively confront each other, even to the point of public humiliation, all with the idea that it will somehow lead to personal growth and healing. It’s definitely a controversial approach, and honestly, quite shocking to see in the show.

Martin explained that this moment was a key emotional turning point they specifically aimed for in the series, because it’s such a difficult and upsetting thing to consider and witness.

From everything I’ve read, the main objective when someone is under intense scrutiny – and it doesn’t stop until they crack – is to pinpoint their deepest insecurities and most shameful experiences, then relentlessly focus on those weaknesses.

You know, watching and reading about certain films, it really hits you how powerfully addictive that emotional release can be. That feeling of letting everything out must be incredible, and the relief afterward, when things start to get better… it’s just so confusing when you’re a kid trying to process it all.

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2025-09-25 22:05