The Interpreted Rock

By Jennifer C. Jones (Editors note: Everyone who has studied in a therapeutic or human development discipline understands that there are adolescent "Stages of Development". What I have noticed over the last twenty-five years of working with families is that there are also "Stages of Development" when it comes to career and work. Many of the students who are plagued by emotional concerns miss out on this developmental process. Developing a career path and the necessary skills and competencies is an important aspect of human development. I hope you find this piece by Jennifer Jones engaging and informative. Thank you for visiting, Stephen C. Schultz) Jared Schultz did not want to be a mortician when he grew up. No matter what the interest survey suggested, as a sophomore in high school he was sure formaldehyde was not the way to a girl’s heart; which, after all, was his primary concern at the time.  Nor did he want to be an apartment maintenance worker or...

By Stephen C. Schultz A wise man once said, “The gate of history swings on small hinges. And so do people’s lives.” Small choices can have large consequences.   With the click of a mouse your son may be stepping into a trap carefully laid to prey upon his own developing body . More than 11 million teens view pornography on line (Washington Post 2004). Oxbow Academy offers treatment options specifically designed for teenaged boys who struggle with sexual dependency . Oxbow offers a specialized environment where students can acknowledge their behaviors more quickly, then learn to overcome them. If you fear your son may struggle with sexual dependency, don’t make him fight the battle alone. Answers and information are available at http://www.oxbowacademy.net New Hope .   New Help.   No Secrets.

By Stephen C. Schultz “One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning” ~ James Russell Lowell The smell of cedar and sage is everywhere. The pack is heavy, but not too bad. She used to hate carrying that thing. Now she thinks she’s getting stronger. There’s a murmur of conversation from the kids behind her. Suddenly, the sound of hiking boots against the dry dirt is pierced by a hawk’s cry! Everyone stops…no one talks. They are all thinking the same thing…I Want to Fly! Experience is a valuable aspect of life. Individuals, families, organizations and communities all learn from experience. When working with troubled teens, RedCliff Ascent assists the teens in having healthy and helpful experiences that shape their lives for years to come. RedCliff as an organization is no different. RedCliff must also learn from experience and continue to improve. Here are some ways RedCliff Ascent practices what it preaches.

  By Beth Potier UNH Media Relations 603-862-1566 University of New Hampshire professor Michael Gass and doctoral student Steve Javorski found that adolescents participating in adventure therapy programs are at significantly less risk of injury than those playing football and are three times less likely to visit the emergency room for an injury than if they were at home. Adolescents participating in wilderness and adventure therapy programs are at significantly less risk of injury than those playing football and are three times less likely to visit the emergency room for an injury than if they were at home, a new study by University of New Hampshire researchers finds. These findings, based on an analysis of risk management data from 12 programs providing outdoor behavioral healthcare in 2011, were reported in the latest issue of the Journal of Therapeutic Schools and Programs. “After ‘Does this program work?’, the question most asked by people considering adventure therapy is ...

By Stephen C. Schultz I recently returned from a workshop in Tucson Arizona where the goal of the workshop was to connect various therapeutic schools, treatment centers and young adult transition services with educational consultants, clinicians and educators. There is obviously a societal concern when hundreds of professionals voluntarily come together to share resources and expertise on a very destructive influence on families and relationships in general. Over the last twenty-five years, I have been privy to some very traumatic and emotionally painful family scenarios. I’m an addictions counselor by training, but now work in the administration of an organization that provides therapeutic help to families of troubled teens. I see and experience first hand the sad and often poignant consequences of broken homes, substance abuse, instant gratification , and a society only concerned about “self”. Although I have never struggled with a personal addiction, I have suffered ...

By Amanda Schultz Written at age 9   You can help your brother tie his shoes, or run outside and get the news. You can help your sister read a book, and help your mother clean and cook! You can greet your family every day, even if things aren’t going your way. Do something simple, be kind and smile! Happiness spreads when you go the extra mile! Be a champion...you can do it! Helping’s easy, there’s nothing to it! (Editors note: If you like what Amanda wrote at age 9, see what she wrote at age 15 .)

By Stephen C. Schultz My youngest daughter, who is 11 years old, suffers from a seizure disorder. Despite extensive testing, we still don’t have a definitive diagnosis. Her neurologist has mentioned that she might grow out of the seizures as she goes through adolescence. However, she’s nearing adolescence now, and the seizures persist, even with medication. She doesn’t like having seizures, understandably, and sometimes struggles with anxiety because of them. The seizures are unpredictable and infrequent, which makes them all the more unsettling. As her father, it’s hard for me to imagine what she must go through, knowing a seizure could strike at any moment. While her medication helps, it does come with side effects. We try to ensure she has a fulfilling life—she plays softball and volleyball, took piano lessons, and recently started learning the guitar. As parents, we expect her to do well in school and strive to live life as a family as if everything is normal. But the concer...