Skip to main content

Treatment-Resistant Students Find Healing and Connection

By Stephen C. Schultz


We’ve all been there—whether in private therapeutic practice, a hospital setting, educational consulting, or residential treatment. At some point, we’ve all worked with a student, patient, or client who is struggling and headed toward a bad outcome. Every therapeutic environment has a percentage of individuals who face significant challenges, despite the resources and effort dedicated to helping them.



One of the biggest obstacles for these students is their inability to connect—whether with peers, parents, adults, or authority figures. More importantly, they struggle to connect with themselves in a meaningful and productive way through therapy. Often labeled as “treatment-resistant,” these students frequently move from one program to another, requiring a higher level of clinical care to address their needs effectively.

That’s why Oxbow Academy was created. Since 2006, parents and professionals alike have referred to Oxbow as the best-kept secret in specialized treatment.

With minimal outreach, Oxbow Academy has grown organically through word of mouth and a strong reputation for quality care. The academy serves three distinct student populations, providing each with individualized academic support, specialized clinical care, and small, nurturing communities. In this environment, students develop self-advocacy skills that help them engage with peers, direct care staff, and the broader community.

Oxbow Academy at a Glance:

Oxbow Academy consists of four specialized milieus:

  1. Evaluation and functional assessment
  2. Neurotypical residential setting
  3. Neurodiverse residential setting
  4. Latency-age residential setting and school

Oxbow offers highly personalized care in small milieu settings with increased staff-to-student ratios.

The academy is specifically designed to engage students who are at risk of poor outcomes. Many of these students carry secrets that prevent them from fully participating in traditional therapy. They experience deep shame and embarrassment surrounding their Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB), making it difficult for them to open up and engage in treatment.

However, when students enter Oxbow’s structured and supportive environment—surrounded by peers who are also working through PSB issues—they begin to feel safe. This sense of safety allows them to let down their guard and truly engage in the therapeutic process.

Success at Oxbow is driven by a compassionate and highly trained team, including direct care staff who provide daily support and experienced therapists who specialize in PSB treatment. The academy’s customized academic program further reinforces progress, helping students build confidence and develop healthier relationships.

When students feel connected—to themselves, to others, and to their therapeutic journey—they set the stage for lasting success. They become more engaged in school, develop positive relationships, and experience personal growth that extends beyond treatment.

To learn more about Oxbow Academy, visit www.OxbowAcademy.net.

Labels:
Location: United States

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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, ...
4 comments
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
1 comment
Read more