The Interpreted Rock

By Stephen C. Schultz The smell of cedar smoke drifted through the evening air as a campfire crackled beneath a canopy of stars. A small group of teenagers laughed, talked, and shared experiences that only a few weeks earlier they would never have imagined telling a stranger. It looked more like a summer camping trip than a mental health program. For many parents, that picture is difficult to reconcile with reality. The families who brought their sons and daughters to RedCliff Ascent were not looking for an outdoor adventure. They were looking for hope. Many had spent months, or even years, trying everything they knew. Their child struggled with anxiety, depression, school refusal, substance use, family conflict, or other behavioral concerns that had steadily grown beyond what could be managed at home. They loved their son or daughter deeply, yet every conversation seemed to end in another argument, another crisis, or another sleepless night wondering what to do next. My first v...

By Stephen C. Schultz The sky was overcast, and there was a crisp chill in the air. The rooftops of the neighboring houses were covered in the unmistakable white, fluffy stuff so affectionately called snow. This would normally not be of any consequence at the foot of the 10,000-foot mountains. However, flowers were beginning to bloom, the grass was turning green, and we had already grown accustomed to warmer temperatures. Weather in this part of the country can be a roller coaster at best. As I stepped out of my car and into the wind, I made my way to the door of my office. I walked past the reception desk, where Andrea caught my eye and motioned me over. She mentioned that someone was on the phone seeking more information about our Wilderness Therapy Program and asked if I would be willing to speak with them. Andrea transferred the call to my cell phone, and I introduced myself. The caller, a woman from Arizona, mentioned that she had watched some videos about RedCliff Ascent on Yo...