The Interpreted Rock

By Stephen C. Schultz


The sun was high in the sky with a slight breeze that kept the temperature an even 87 degrees. This was a comfortable day in the West Desert of Northern Utah. It was a two hour drive just to get to this point in time.


The veins in his neck protruded and the grimace on his face matched the guttural growl that escaped his lips. A long screech filled the air as the lug nut finally moved a fraction of an inch. Yes, it had happened…a flat tire in the middle of nowhere!
Daniel Hazen was the one asked to bring me out to a team of kids in a wilderness treatment program. Daniel is the Program Director at Outback Therapeutic Expeditions. What a great guy! Well rounded and easy going, it is obvious to see how much he loves this work of assisting families and their struggling teens. I was on my way to visit with a young lady who was scheduled to attend Discovery Academy. She was anxious to learn more about where her eventual transition would take her.


I visited Jamie (Not her …

By Stephen C. Schultz

This is just a quick note to provide an update on Discovery Academy and Connections. If you have explored my blog before, you are probably aware I am involved with a group of treatment programs for teenagers. 


Please allow me to share a couple of experiences I had while at Discovery Academy. I was in Melanie Evans (Director of Admissions) office last week and she was preparing for a parent tour. She was identifying a student that would be able to assist her with the tour when she said;
“Shoot, Troy won’t be able to help us...he is at his internship at ADOBE”. 
I thought to myself; “Wow! How cool is that!” 
Later in the week I ran into a young lady enrolled in Discovery Academy who I had spoken with previously. I asked how she was doing and what she was up to. She mentioned that she was just returning from her job. I mentioned that was awesome and asked if she would share with me what she was doing. She said she was working at McDonalds on the morning shift. She gets u…

By Stephen C. Schultz


Spring is in the air and that well known feeling of wanting to get out of the house and go fishing is surging through my body. I found myself in a sporting goods store the other day perusing the fishing lure isle. I was in the yard after mowing the lawn and realized I was walking around my small 12 foot fishing boat that is still covered from winter.



I have had people ask me over the years, "What's so fun about fishing?". They usually follow that question up with, "It's so boring!". From my perspective, they couldn't be further from the truth.

Fishing represents so much more than being entertained. It's time in the wilderness with fresh air and solitude. It's time to think and ponder on life's problems.  It time to express gratitude and count your blessings. There is also the satisfaction of reading the water, observing a hatch and placing a lure or fly in the perfect spot. It's the excitement of the fish hitting th…

By Stephen C. Schultz

His breathing was heavy and fast. Mucus sprayed from his nostrils and his cheeks fought the g-forces as if he were a fighter pilot leaving the deck of an aircraft carrier in an F-16. His neck muscles strained and his face grimaced as the fight or flight response kicked in. Five; six; seven now eight steps into his evasive action that was steeped in athletic prowess and natural instinct, he thought he was in the clear. Once again, he had cheated death and the angels of mercy had looked down upon him.

It didn’t register right away. With each step, the distance grew larger between him and his immediate threat. It shouldn’t have happened this way. There was so much to live for. He was in the prime of his life with family and friends who loved and cared about him. He didn’t want it to end this way.


The pain was quick and sharp. It penetrated right in the square of his back between his shoulder blades. His chest was thrust forward and his arms flew into the air and backw…

By Stephen C. Schultz


As a clinician, just about everyone has dealt with clients who share very personal, intimate and poignant information with us. There is a trust and therapeutic alliance that we hope to establish over time. I would bet that most of us have also worked with clients who share only partial information. They aren’t quite ready to “spill all of the beans”.
I want to reach out in a helpful manner concerning conversations you may have with families pertaining to Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) and teenagers. I’ve been thinking a lot about a recent conference I attended in San Antonio, Texas. I had conversations with no fewer than seven clinicians and allied health professionals about families and students that are struggling with PSB, yet the families are hesitant to address the issues head on.


It is obvious that when a family is resistant to working on these very sensitive issues that it puts you, as the clinician, in a very awkward position concerning the family, othe…

By Stephen C. Schultz

The fire has almost died. The embers are glowing a light orange with grey ashes sneaking up around them. Some of the other students are getting ready to slip into their wiggy’s. He could sit here all night, just looking at the stars. They don’t look this bright at home. Everything seems clearer out here. He looks across the fire where Scott is sitting. Scott, or Medicine Bull as he is known, gives him a head nod and asks how he is doing on his fires. He remembers the first time he busted a fire with only his bow and drill set. Scott showed him the way. Scott never makes him talk. Through his example he simply encourages him to try.


RedCliff students learn firsthand the power of teamwork and the importance of individual contribution. They also learn they can count on their counselors. Staff members eat, dress, hike and otherwise live in the back country no differently than the students they lead. The result is the development, over time, of mutual trust and respec…

By Stephen C. Schultz



The white lines zipped passed at a strobe light pace. The song, "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey played on my car stereo. Traffic was heavy, but still moving fast at a pace between 75mph and 80mph.



I was on my way to Discovery Academy. DA is a therapeutic/clinical boarding school for students who are preparing for the transition back home. These teens have been making steady progress throughout their very personal therapeutic journey. They have all dealt with some pretty difficult concerns. Many of the teens are working through clinically complicated family situations that include depression, anxiety, self harm, trauma, attachment, substance use or any combination of these or more. These teens have demonstrated courage, determination, sacrifice, insight and resilience as they move through the process of growth and healing.

This particular day I was on my way to a meeting being held in the conference room at DA. I was walking through the parking lot…