The Interpreted Rock

 By Stephen C. Schultz Before beginning, please allow me to share the personal place this reflection and article comes from. I did not set out to write about this topic in an abstract manner. Over the past year, epilepsy and a subsequent brain surgery have reshaped the daily reality of our youngest daughter, who is now 24 years old. In a quieter, but no less profound way, the lives of my wife and I have changed as parents. We have had to confront grief, recalibrate hope, and relearn what faithfulness looks like when effort does not always lead to progress. What follows is offered with gratitude and humility. Gratitude for the many families, clinicians, and fellow parents who have helped us find language when words were scarce, and humility in knowing that we are still learning. If this article helps another parent feel a little less alone, then sharing it feels worthwhile. Helping Meaning Take Root When Physical or Mental Health Challenges Change the Story There is a moment many p...

  By Stephen C. Schultz I remember a conversation I once had while driving with an educator during visits to residential programs for adolescents. We were discussing which programs seemed to work best with the most complex clinical presentations. After a pause, she said something that stuck with me: “Some programs have a reputation for working with the most clinically complicated students—and that’s not something to shy away from. It’s something to understand.” That comment stayed with me—not because it flattered any particular program, but because it raised deeper questions: Why do certain programs develop that reputation? What actually allows meaningful change to occur with students who present with layered trauma, neurodevelopmental differences, attachment disruptions, and Problematic Sexual Behavior? What kind of treatment truly meets those needs? Those questions are especially relevant when working with adolescents struggling with PSB. These are not students lacking intelligen...

By Stephen C. Schultz Helping Families and Students Find the Right Level of Care At Oxbow Academy, our goal is to help families, schools, and communities understand exactly what kind of support an adolescent needs—and for how long. We work with both neurodiverse and neurotypical students , providing individualized care that meets each student where they are developmentally and emotionally. We also operate a specialized campus for latency-age students (ages 10–13) , designed specifically for younger boys who need a smaller environment, additional structure, and age-appropriate therapeutic support. Our evaluation and treatment process brings clarity, clinical accuracy, and peace of mind. Through structured assessment and real-world observation, we help determine whether a student needs continued residential care or can safely transition to a less restrictive environment. This approach not only supports long-term success but also ensures that families and referral partners use resources ...

 By Stephen C. Schultz 11 Common Parent Questions with Reassuring, Honest Answers When parents first become aware of concerning sexual behaviors in their child, fear and uncertainty often take over. The questions below reflect what families most commonly ask—and the answers are grounded in clinical understanding, compassion, and hope. “Does this mean my child is a sex offender?” No. Problematic sexual behavior describes a pattern of behavior , not a label or an identity. Adolescents’ brains are still developing, and behavior can change significantly with the right support. Most teens who receive appropriate, early treatment do not go on to commit sexual offenses as adults. “If we name this, will it follow my child forever?” Naming a concern clinically is not the same as labeling a child permanently. In fact, avoiding the issue often increases the chance that problems escalate or draw unwanted attention later. Addressing concerns early and appropriately is one of the strongest ways...

By Stephen Schultz (Editor’s Note: This article was inspired by a conversation I had with a mother whose son was in crisis.) The concept of Medical Necessity sits at the center of modern behavioral health insurance coverage. At its core, it is a reasonable and well-intended standard: to ensure that individuals receive the right level of care at the right time, while avoiding unnecessary or overly intensive services. When applied thoughtfully, Medical Necessity protects both patients and systems. In practice, however—particularly when authorizing residential or inpatient care for adolescents—the application of Medical Necessity can produce outcomes that run counter to its original purpose. When Cost Containment Becomes Care Shaping Medical Necessity standards were developed, in part, to reduce excessive utilization and control escalating costs. The underlying assumption is that less restrictive, lower-cost services should be attempted first, with higher levels of care approved only whe...

  By Stephen C. Schultz  When it comes to communication in families—especially between teens and their parents —a simple question can open up a surprisingly deep conversation: Which one matters most? Being right Being kind Being honest Being understood Each of these qualities carries weight. Each shapes the tone of a relationship. But if we’re looking for the one that helps families grow, heal, and stay connected through the turbulence of adolescence, honesty rises to the top. And not just the kind of honesty where we tell the truth about what happened last Thursday. I mean a broader, more courageous form of honesty— intellectual honesty, emotional honesty, and honesty with ourselves . Dishonesty and the Trust Equation Teens sometimes hide the truth—sometimes to avoid consequences, sometimes out of fear of disappointing parents, and sometimes because they simply can’t yet articulate what they’re feeling. Parents, too, may avoid full honesty in an attempt t...

By Stephen C. Schultz The language we use to describe problematic sexual behavior (PSB) is evolving. And it’s long overdue. For years, young people have been labeled with terms that reduce them to their worst moments: “Sex offender.” “Predator.” “Perpetrator.” “Aggressor.” Words that erase their humanity, ignore their developmental stage, and reinforce stigma instead of healing.                                                Here’s what’s shifting: Person-First Language Not “a sex offender” → “a teen with problematic sexual behavior (PSB).” This identifies what he is struggling with rather than defining who he is. Not “a perpetrator” → “a youth who caused harm.” This recognizes accountability without assigning a permanent or adult-level label. Not “a predator” → “a young person who needs support and intervention.” This focuses on his capacity to lea...