The Interpreted Rock

Family Letter by Stephen C. Schultz By Stephen C. Schultz This last couple of days has been stressful for a number of reasons. I would like Stephanie, Ryan, and Amanda to share this link with your spouses. Many of the conversations, while well-meaning, have been a combination of "Caring" mixed with "Self-Serving"...this includes me. One thing I know is that we all love each other. So, let’s stop pointing fingers. This is a piece I wrote for my blog that was inspired by an interaction I had with a mother of one of the students enrolled at Oxbow Academy. She was having a hard time seeing her part in the issues surrounding her son being in treatment. This isn't just a mom thing...Dads are equally found blaming others to help themselves feel better about the situation they find themselves in. So, as we enter the Holiday Season, let’s not carry grud...

By Stephen C. Schultz The flames shot up into the air over 15 feet high. Heat scorched my hands and my cheeks as embers rose through the air on endless circular waves of heat. I used the old pitch fork to sift through the ash and scoop up rogue twigs and small sticks that still needed to burn. It was fall time in Eugene, Oregon and the weather was perfect for burning some “slash” piles from the large oak trees that had fallen last winter in an ice storm. I was at my parents home with my 24 year old son. The two of us took a weekend road trip to spend some time with my parents, help with some chores and attend a University of Oregon football game with my brother and his young son. There was nothing very exciting or earth shattering about these three days.  It was simply a father and son spending time in the car having various conversations and sharing insight on numerous topics. Then there was time spent hauling firewood with the tractor and managing the bur...

By Stephen C. Schultz Having started my career in healthcare in 1985,  I have witnessed the implementation of managed care and the standard of preauthorization. I frequently have conversations with clinicians, educational consultants, school district administrators, and parents about the critical need for residential treatment services. One question that is always discussed—but often asked last—is: "How much does it cost?" There is no doubt that privately funding treatment for your son or daughter can place an additional financial burden on your family, compounding the emotional stress of your teen's struggles. To help ease this concern, I have compiled a list of ideas and resources that parents have successfully used to fund treatment. While it often requires creativity and persistence, many families have been able to accomplish what initially seemed impossible. Most families use a combination of the options listed below. I hope you find this information helpful. Pote...

By Stephen C. Schultz Please allow me to share an experience I had at Discovery Academy . It's simply a reminder of why we do what we do! A couple of months ago, I was over at Discovery Academy walking on campus headed to the academic center. Some of the students came up to me and asked who I was. We started talking and I asked them where they were from and we simply had some casual small talk. One of the girls said; “Hey, I remember you! You came out to RedCliff and had someone with you on a tour.” I replied; “Yes, you have a fantastic memory! I must say...a much better memory than I have. Please share your name with me again." She mentioned her name was Jordan and she started sharing with me what a great experience attending RedCliff Ascent was for her. She had that wilderness sparkle in her eye as she spoke and started to monopolize the conversation a little bit. She obviously still struggled with a few social deficits, but I’m sure things are muc...

By Stephen C. Schultz Oxbow Academy has now been serving families since 2006—wow! I am writing this specifically for mental health practitioners and allied health professionals. Those in the legal profession may find this interesting as well. Please allow me to share some observations I have made over the years that may be useful as you assist the families you work with. The majority of students currently enrolled at Oxbow have come to us with some previous treatment experience. We are often contacted when these previous treatment settings fail to meet the clinical needs of the student. I’d like to share a couple of scenarios that may be helpful in understanding these students and how to assist them in working through their sexual issues: The Student in a General Treatment Program The student enters a general treatment program—wilderness or residential treatment center (RTC). They are admitted for more traditional reasons such as anxiety, depression, anger, or substance abuse. It...

Guest Blog Post by Moonstone Tiger 120 (Jordan) RedCliff Ascent Wilderness program is a place for troubled kids to work on themselves in a safe environment with an experienced group of people who want the best for each & every student as well as their families. My name is Jordan & I attended RedCliff Ascent , a wilderness treatment program. My first few weeks were rough & all I wanted was to refuse and get pulled. If you are a parent reading this... DON’T pull your child!!! It is really difficult & you really miss them at first, but it is beyond beneficial in the end. Once I was motivated & worked on myself the staff were always there to talk to me & work with me through rough times. In wilderness, everyday is a new day which is very helpful & every piece of progress you make is always recognized by those around you so you feel good about the change you’re making. Not only did RCA support me in my change, they also incorporat...

 By Stephen C. Schultz It was one of those summer days... the kind where you step out of your temperature-controlled car and the heat hits you like a dry sauna. One of those days when you instantly break into a sweat and feel your heartbeat in your forehead. On any other day, I would have made a beeline right back to the comfort of my air-conditioned car! On this day, however, I embraced the heat and started walking toward the lake. Even with a slight breeze blowing from my right to left, I could still make out the faint sounds of laughter, water splashing, and the distorted syllables of distant conversations. I knew instinctively that the next two days would bring laughter and tears, frustration and joy, disappointment and dignity. You see, this trip to the lake was not about recreation or the opportunity to cool down in the summer heat. Yes, those things did happen, but I was honored to be entering the world of families who had a daughter enrolled at Discovery Ranch South. This...