Battling the "Revolving Door" of Recovery

By Stephen C. Schultz

Her steps were slow and steady. The red rocks beneath her feet and the azure blue sky overhead created a remarkably beautiful scene. She felt a sense of peacefulness and a calm demeanor she had never experienced before. This was an adventure she wouldn’t have appreciated were it not for her family recommending she seek help one more time. It's hard to believe it has only been three weeks.

Usually, she didn't like wide-open spaces. She craved the flurry of crowded parties, the nightlife of hanging out with friends, and the excitement that social media afforded her. She was like a cat chasing its tail, always searching for the next thrilling experience but never finding it. She found herself in increasingly compromising situations, taking unnecessary risks. The feelings of embarrassment had long since subsided, and she numbly accepted each new day.

Her family was concerned. There were regular fights and hurt feelings. They painfully witnessed the twinkle in her eyes fade and a sad hollowness consume her. It was time to intervene yet again, and they were relieved when she lowered her guard just enough to agree.

RedCliff Ascent is an adventure-based, outdoor behavioral healthcare program specifically designed for working with teens who struggle with substance use and other co-occurring issues. Participants use the wilderness to disrupt compulsive patterns of unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. In this environment, clients can focus on recovery and begin repairing the relationships they have harmed—with friends, family, and above all, themselves.

Living day to day in the backcountry allows each individual to detoxify both physically and emotionally. They are actively involved in an individualized treatment plan that may include mindfulness, narrative family therapy, the 12 steps, personal reflection, adventure-based activities, and the exploration of spirituality. A clean diet and regular exercise also contribute to a healthier therapeutic process.

If you have any questions, be sure to contact Darcy. She is here to help you learn more about RedCliff and the journey to health.

Darcy will answer your questions, inspire hope, guide you, and walk beside you throughout the process. It's not just what she does—it's who she is.

Darcy Holt

Admissions: DarcyH@redcliffascent.com

Together, we can instill hope, heal families, and help individuals flourish!

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The Young Boy and the Rattlesnake

By Stephen C. Schultz (Editors note: This is a story used in a Wilderness Treatment Program. Many come to this program having struggled with depression, anxiety and substance use.) Many years ago there was a young Native American who lived in the very land you are residing in. He decided to seek wisdom by journeying to the top of Indian Peak. As he approached the base of the mountain he came across a rattlesnake that slithered beside him. The snake coiled as if to strike and the young boy moved back quickly in fear of being struck by the snake’s deadly venom. At that instant the snake spoke to the boy saying, “Don’t be afraid of me, I mean you no harm. I come to you to ask a favor. I see that you are about to traverse to the top of Indian Peak and was hoping that you may be willing to place me in your satchel so that I don’t have to make the long journey alone.” The young boy surprised by the snake’s request quickly responded by turning down the offer, stating, ...

Measuring What Matters: Oxbow’s Edge in Predicting Progress

By Stephen C. Schultz Therapists are highly trained to guide, support, and assess progress. Yet, research continues to show that even experienced clinicians have mixed results at predicting which clients will improve, drop out, or struggle in therapy. This isn’t a critique of therapists—it’s a reality supported by data. And for those who place trust in residential treatment programs—families, school districts, educational consultants, and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)—this insight is critical. At Oxbow Academy , we take this seriously. That’s why we use validated, research-backed tools to supplement clinical intuition and track meaningful progress in real time. Research Shows: Intuition Isn’t Enough In a foundational study by Hannan et al. (2005), therapists failed to recognize which of their clients were likely to experience treatment failure—even when objective outcome data pointed to risks. Similarly, Hatfield et al. (2010) demonstrated that therapists tend to overestima...

When Emotional Pain Looks Like Manipulation: Oxbow Academy

By Stephen C. Schultz The teenage years are often full of complexity—especially for young people who struggle with impulse control, social understanding, or emotional regulation in relation to Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB). For some, this difficulty is compounded by co-occurring conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, or Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD) . These teens may unintentionally find themselves caught in compulsive, confusing, or embarrassing situations—sometimes involving inappropriate behavior with siblings, neighbors and friends or accessing dark corners of the internet. As these patterns continue, parents are often left feeling overwhelmed, frightened, and unsure of what to do next. Some worry that law enforcement or government agencies might get involved. Others have already experienced the fear of having electronics confiscated or home environments scrutinized. In the midst of this chaos, many parents recognize that their child’s behavior isn’t just a...

The Interpreted Rock

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