The Interpreted Rock

By Stephen C. Schultz Here in the USA, young people are preparing for summer. Some students go year round with shorter summer breaks while others have three months off of school. This is the time of year that many young people look for summertime work. In today's economy, this is no easy task. For those families across the globe, the local culture and educational system may be different, but the need for teens and young adults to develop skills around work and career are just as imperative for a smooth transition into adulthood. I have collected some of my blog posts that discuss work and career development. My goal was to have this information available to parents in a single place. I hope you find these resources helpful as you guide your son or daughter down the pathway that leads to their life’s work.  Food for thought on Young Adult Career development http://www.theinterpretedrock.com/2014/10/food-for-thought-on-teen-career.html Career Planning: Is t...

By Stephen C. Schultz The banging on my bedroom door was sudden and loud. I jolted awake, my eyes wide open but unseeing. My head whipped from side to side as I tried to make sense of the thunderous noise. No, this wasn’t one of those slow, groggy wake-ups. This was the kind of wake-up that triggers fight-or-flight mode—heart racing and covers flung off in an instant! Still dazed with confusion and now sitting on the edge of my bed, I noticed the doorknob starting to turn. Moments later, my dad poked his head through the doorway and said, "Steve, get up! Get up now! You're going down to Oregon Rubber Company to work today!" I had thought my day would be spent in the back pasture, cutting up fallen trees with my dad. Groggily, I turned to look at the clock on my bedside table, wiping the sleep from my eyes to bring it into focus. Thoughts raced through my mind: 5:30 a.m.! 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday, no less! Doesn't my dad know that a sixteen-year-old boy n...

By Stephen C. Schultz “I can still remember him. He was socially awkward... always on his own. It was tough because English wasn’t his first language! He always walked alone on his way to school. He never really hung out with anyone... a real loner. I had a car, and sometimes I’d pass him on my way to school. Every once in a while, I’d give him a ride, but our conversations were strained. The day he passed away, I couldn’t believe it. Rumors had it he left a note for his parents that mentioned he just didn’t fit in.” This memory highlights the challenges some students face, particularly those who feel out of place in a foreign environment. Over the years, I’ve noticed an increasing number of international students needing the specialized therapeutic and educational opportunities offered by  Oxbow Academy . In recent years, we have supported students from diverse countries such as the UK, Australia, Singapore, Israel, Brazil, Russia, Bermuda, Dubai, Guatemala, China, and Spain, to n...

By Stephen C. Schultz Todd Spaulding, LCSW, CSAT is also the Clinical Director at Oxbow Academy. Recently he presented at the  International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals  (IITAP) conference in Arizona. Therapists from around the globe gathered to discuss and learn the latest therapeutic techniques and interventions for those who struggle with sexual trauma and addiction concerns. Todd was able to train specifically on working with adolescents. For those colleagues who specialize in adolescent treatment, Oxbow Academy represents a blending of best practices and philosophy from RedCliff Ascent ,  Discovery Academy ,  Discovery Ranch to serve the sexually dependent and reactive teen population. Oxbow Academy provides a customized and personalized intervention for students suffering with very sensitive and emotional issues. ( www.oxbowacademy.net ) Students struggling with Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) in a general therapeutic ...

By Stephen C. Schultz The weather was wonderful—about 55 degrees Fahrenheit with blue skies. The warm sun bathed my face as the sage and junipers swayed gently in a cool breeze blowing from the West. There is nothing quite like the smell of sage growing wild in the high mountain deserts of the Southwest. I was sitting on a small boulder outside the kitchen at Discovery Ranch South. DRS is a residential facility that provides personal and customized care to young teenage girls who struggle with emotional concerns. I walked up some stairs and into the lodge (kitchen and eating area), where I heard some discussions taking place. I walked in and saw five girls being instructed on how to make a cobb salad. One girl was slicing tomatoes, another had cut up celery, one was chopping lettuce, and a girl at the stove was boiling eggs and cooking bacon. They were smiling, talking, laughing, learning, feeling, and simply being "normal" teenage girls! I heard the dull roar of conversa...

By Stephen C. Schultz The large Douglas fir trees stood as black silhouettes against the cotton-like sky, which glowed as the city lights reflected off the low, billowing clouds. A January mist hung in the air—more than fog but not quite rain. The moisture wrapped around you, cool and subtle, until you stepped into a home or building and suddenly realized you were wet. I was at the home of a friend of mine who happened to be a girl. We attended the same high school, had dated a few times, and enjoyed each other's company. While it wasn’t a serious relationship, it was a relationship nonetheless. Looking back, that evening started with a phone call. You know, the kind where I was sitting on the couch in the family room, talking on the phone connected to the kitchen by a thirty-foot phone cord. We discussed what we wanted to do that night. She mentioned that she had heard about a party taking place not far from where she lived and asked if I wanted to go. Although I wasn’t mu...

Guest Blogger By Stephanie Lauren Schultz “La, la, la, la, la.” Pam was humming to herself quietly as she pedaled her tricycle around the neighborhood. She weaved back and forth across the sidewalk, sped up and down driveways, and steered her way down the street. Being four years old, Pam’s tricycle was among her top five favorite possessions. When she got bored with her parents and other adults in her life, she could always hop on her tricycle and ride around the neighborhood. One particular day, while riding her tricycle, Pam decided to try something new. The road leading into her driveway was a hill. She figured the best way to gain the most speed would be to start at the top of the hill and pedal as fast as she could into her driveway. “Ready, set, GO!” Pam said to herself. She started down the hill slowly at first but quickly gained speed. After a few yards, Pam felt like she was flying. The wind was ripping through her hair, and she experienced that rush of adrenaline that c...