The Interpreted Rock

 By Stephen C. Schultz Supporting your teen at Oxbow Academy can be emotionally and mentally challenging for parents and family members. Here are five self-care tips to help navigate this time while staying healthy and grounded: 1. Prioritize Your Mental Health Why it matters: Having a child at Oxbow Academy can stir feelings of guilt, sadness, anxiety, or even past trauma. Addressing your emotions is crucial for maintaining balance and providing stable support for your teen. How to do it: Consider individual or family therapy to process your emotions. Join a support group for parents with children in treatment. Practice mindfulness or meditation to stay present. 2. Educate Yourself About the Oxbow Academy Process Why it matters: Understanding your teen’s treatment plan and Oxbow Academy’s structure reduces uncertainty and fosters a sense of control. How to do it: Stay in regular contact with the Oxbow therapist assigned to your family. Request reading materials or resou...

By Stephen C. Schultz Please allow me to share a case study of a student who was recently enrolled at Oxbow Academy. This student, a 15-year-old, was adopted at birth and reached developmental milestones at an average pace. The student was diagnosed with ASD Level 1 in fourth grade, and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) was subsequently implemented for the remainder of elementary school. There were occasional episodes of dysregulation and some sexually reactive behaviors with peers. Teachers and other professionals attributed this behavior to ASD and/or Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). At the age of 14, the student was referred to a residential treatment center (RTC) specializing in working with students struggling with ASD. The clinical data presented below is sourced from an email report written by the student’s therapist at Oxbow Academy and addressed to the referring professional. This communication is a standard practice to ensure continuity of care and collaboration. As y...

By Stephen C. Schultz With the holidays just around the corner, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations are making their way into stores and online sites, ready for the joyful holiday shopper! There is no shortage of creative commercial content and advertising being generated in various forms, including printed materials, online company websites, landing pages, and the ever-present social media platforms. Content is also being created in the form of reviews, third-party endorsements, and podcast advertising. The historical medium of "TV" has evolved significantly over the years, transitioning from film to video to digital recording, editing, and playback. Streaming live commercial, as well as personal video and audio content, is now commonplace in today’s world. Having been raised in the Pacific Northwest, I am very familiar with the term "evergreen," which refers to the lush trees and foliage that thrive in the temperate rainforests of western Oregon. In the worl...

 By Stephen C. Schultz This guide provides resources for parents navigating the challenges of ADHD, anxiety, and video game management in their teens and young adults. ADHD Resources The following books and websites can help you better understand and manage ADHD: Recommended Books: Russell Barkley : Taking Charge of ADHD Hallowell & Ratey : Delivered from Distraction Harvey Parker : The ADD Hyperactivity Workbook for Parents, Teachers, & Kids Bradley & Giedd : Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy!: Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind Michael Gurian : The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons from Falling Behind in School and Life Mohab Hanna : Making the Connection: A Parents’ Guide to Medication in AD/HD Helpful Websites: CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) Help for ADHD American Academy of Pediatrics American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Anxiety Resources: The following websites provide support and information for mana...

By Stephen C. Schultz Allow me to share a brief conversation I had with my brother, Jared Schultz (PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling and Department Head at VCU), which I believe might be helpful. Jared and I were discussing the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. This conversation naturally included how to support young adults in becoming self-sufficient, responsible, and productive members of society. Often, this can be a subtle yet significant challenge, especially for those who have received mental health services and various interventions over time. Many young adults dealing with complex clinical concerns—including depression, anxiety, ADHD, ASD, and other co-occurring developmental issues—have had limited opportunities to focus on career aspirations, education, or independent living skills. When therapeutic interventions are no longer the primary focus, these young adults may feel unprepared for social and career development. This can lead to discouragement and, in many...

By Dr. Stephanie Mattson “Pop!” ...The sound of a cap gun going off was barely heard over the sound of the Frankie Lane album playing on the old record player in the corner. In addition to those two consistent sounds, a new sound was added. A hollow banging; the sound of somebody tumbling down the stairs. This medley of strange sounds was coming from two young boys. Stephen and Scott, brothers, age ten and six, were playing one of their favorite games. The game was called “Stunt Man” and was a regular after – school activity for the two troublemakers. “Stunt Man” was a game designed with a cleverness that took a unique kind of genius to appreciate. Many would say the game was reckless, stupid or just a big waste of time, but to Scott and Steve, the game they had invented was first on their unspoken list of childhood pleasures. The game “Stunt Man” was played on the stairs and worked best if the staircase was narrow. The object of the game: to see which boy could fall the most realistic...

By Stephen C. Schultz This is just a quick email to share with you that after 20 years with the Ascent Companies, I am making a transition. I want you to know that the last 20 years have been more than I could have ever wished for. What a great opportunity I have had to not only work with, serve with and be friends with all who are a part of the RCA , DRG , DRB , Oxbow , Discovery Day PHP , Connections and Oasis programs. I owe such a debt of gratitude to the four original owners, Dane Kay, Steve Peterson, Scott Peterson and Jim Salsbury for seeing my potential and taking a risk on me back in 2002. Steve Nadauld, Brent Hall, Andrea Burgess, Clint Dorny, Shawn Brooks, Steve DeMille and the program teams have been like family and an absolute joy to be around.  I feel honored to have played a small role in the success you as educational consultants, private clinicians and us as treatment providers (working together) have had over the years on literally thousands of families.  #...