The Interpreted Rock

By Stephen C. Schultz In my previous article— Measuring What Matters: Oxbow’s Edge in Treatment Outcomes —I focused on the importance of tracking outcomes. The idea was simple: if we’re not measuring progress, we’re limited in our understanding. But lately, I’ve been thinking about something deeper. Because the reality is—families don’t come to us asking about data. They come to us in crisis and family turbulance. A Conversation I Won’t Forget I was speaking with a parent recently who was crying. Her speech was fast—pressured. The questions came rapid-fire, one after another. There was urgency in her voice, but also frustration. At moments, it came across as confrontational. I listened. I gave her space. After a few minutes, I asked if I could share something about myself. She paused and said, simply, “Sure.” I told her that I’ve been with Oxbow Academy since the beginning. That I’m the father of four grown children. And that my hope was we could just have a conversation— parent to par...