The Interpreted Rock

By Stephen C. Schultz RedCliff Ascent is an Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH) program for adolescents who are essentially stuck in the adolescent stages of development. They lack the coping mechanisms, competencies and discipline necessary to manage their lives at an age appropriate level. In other treatment settings, these students may be labeled by their diagnoses, which often includes ADHD, ODD, Depression, Anxiety, ASD, etc.  The RedCliff treatment protocol recognizes that the student and the illness are two distinctly separate components. A student’s life should not be defined by a diagnosis. Each is specifically addressed independently in the therapeutic process. We help the student and family understand how a specific cluster of symptoms associated with their diagnosis has impacted the student’s developmental progression.  RedCliff’s therapeutic model disrupts these unhealthy patterns of behavior and reintegrates the student into a more healthy d...

  By Stephen C. Schultz The air was crisp. The sky was a soft off-white, layered with high clouds and drifting fog. The sun slipped through a break just long enough to sparkle on the fresh snow resting delicately on a leafless shrub. At nearly 5,000 feet above sea level, snow is no stranger in winter. I grabbed my coat from the closet, slipped it on, and in just a few steps was at the back door. The snow shovels leaned against the wall, ready to spring into action at Mother Nature’s whim. This particular storm wasn’t much—just a few inches. With the sun peeking through, the sidewalks cleared quickly. While shoveling, I looked up and saw two mule deer—both bucks—gracefully scampering across the snow, over the sidewalk, and into my backyard. Hobble Creek flows less than fifty yards from my home, so they were likely headed for a morning drink. It was a beautiful morning. The work didn’t take long, and when I came back inside and hung up my coat, the phone rang. It was my daughter, two...

Editors Note: This is an article written by Kumen (Kim) Jones. He was a colleague of mine and on December 23rd, 2015 just 19 days ago, I was speaking with him in the office about this particular piece he wrote for a 50th High School Reunion. I asked him for a copy and he promptly sent it to me. I am sharing this on my blog with his permission, given just a few weeks ago. Yesterday I attended his funeral . There is hope, faith and wisdom in his writing. I thought you might appreciate this! Reflections on Our 50th (And Other Matters) By Kim Jones While there may be some who were disappointed with the way our 50 year reunion turned out, I am certainly not one of them. For me it was nothing short of a smashing success and I wish to express my sincere thanks (as I think we all should) to those who worked so hard to make the event what it was. It was such a thrill for me to renew old friendships and actually establish new ones. The meet and greet on Thursday, September 1...