The Interpreted Rock

By Stephen C. Schultz The white lines zipped past at a strobe-light pace. The song "Don't Stop Believin’" by Journey played on my car stereo. Traffic was heavy but still moving fast, at a pace between 75 and 80 mph. I was on my way to Discovery Ranch South . Discovery Ranch is a clinically sophisticated residential treatment center on a beautiful sixty-acre horse property. These teens have been making steady progress throughout their very personal therapeutic journey. They have all dealt with some pretty difficult challenges. Many of the teens are working through clinically complex family situations that include depression, anxiety, self-harm, trauma, attachment issues, substance use, or any combination of these and more. These teens have demonstrated courage, determination, sacrifice, insight, and resilience as they move through the process of growth and healing. On this particular day, I was heading to a meeting in the conference room at Discovery Ranch. As I walk...

By Stephen C. Schultz Leaves fluttered to the ground as a crisp wind bit my cheeks. The tears welling up in my eyes were not based in emotion, but the chill in the air. The small creek to my left meandered down the canyon. The soft gurgling sound of running water as it crosses over ageless boulders is like music to my ears. A flock of Mallards bob their heads and glide effortlessly in the current as the water swirls into a back eddy just around the next curve. This is truly a "Place of Peace". For many families and individuals alike, finding a place of peace seems to be a fleeting proposition. Whether it's a teenager, husband or wife, addiction is no respecter of person or societal status. Addiction doesn't discriminate. Addiction will bring emotional pain, family discord and misery to everyone it touches. Addiction is a lier. It tells us there is no problem. It tells us we can handle it. It seduces us into thinking that any problems or personal issue...

By Stephen C. Schultz We’ve all been there—whether in private therapeutic practice, a hospital setting, educational consulting, or residential treatment. At some point, we’ve all worked with a student, patient, or client who is struggling and headed toward a bad outcome. Every therapeutic environment has a percentage of individuals who face significant challenges, despite the resources and effort dedicated to helping them. One of the biggest obstacles for these students is their inability to connect—whether with peers, parents, adults, or authority figures. More importantly, they struggle to connect with themselves in a meaningful and productive way through therapy. Often labeled as “treatment-resistant,” these students frequently move from one program to another, requiring a higher level of clinical care to address their needs effectively. That’s why Oxbow Academy was created. Since 2006, parents and professionals alike have referred to Oxbow as the best-kept secret in specialized ...

Blog Post By Stephen C. Schultz (Editor's Note: This is an email I received from Scott Schill at RedCliff Ascent yesterday morning. It reminded me that a very wise man and co-founder of our organization once said; "...yeah, no one comes back to visit the company that helped them...they come back to visit the people!") Hey Schultz, In the fall of 2001, I went to the field with my little boy Colton. He was 5 at the time. I came to a group hiking near Mt. Springs and we stopped to go visit with them. Colton held my finger as we walked through the sagebrush to the group. A new girl in the group wanted to talk to me so we stepped aside and she said; "Mr. Medicine Bull sir, I've been here 4 days and no one has come by to get my laundry." It was hard not to laugh. I told her she would be ok and to stay positive. In those days, the only way a student got clean clothes was by taking them off and washing them or by wearing them...

By Stephen C. Schultz I stepped out through the door and noticed a crispness in the air. The leaves are changing, the evening light is slowly fading and we are left contemplating this last year. I was on my way to visit Oxbow Academy with some therapeutic program admission professionals on a tour. We were engaged in the normal "Road Trip" banter and general conversation that makes its way into an hour long trip in the car. The conversation turned to work, job responsibilities and company culture. One of my colleagues made a statement that stuck with me. It was a normal comment that is common at virtually every place of business.  She said; "...yes, but they need to be held accountable." I thought about this for a second and then responded; "So...what is the difference between holding someone accountable and having a culture of accountability? Is there a difference?" We went on and had a great conversation. In fact,...

By Stephen C. Schultz The ’72-’73 school year was looking to be a good one! With the wind whistling through my hair, I coasted down City View Street on my green Schwynn Stingray headed to school at Westmoreland Elementary. Even though it had been a couple of weeks, I was feeling comfortable and getting settled in Mrs. Mansells third grade class. I came to a stop at the corner of 18th and City View and waited for the light to change. The school was directly across the street.   I stepped off the curb and into the cross walk. Once I was safely across, I rode on to the space behind the gym where the bike racks were.   I took the combination lock off my bike and rotated the tumblers to 9399 and pulled the green vinyl coated chain apart and ran it through the front tire and around the bike rack. I put the chain back together and rolled the tumblers to random numbers. This was the routine just about every day, rain or shine, for many of the students living in ...

By Stephen C. Schultz Every once in a while, I like to go back and read some of my older posts. I've been sharing my thoughts, experiences, and parenting insights since 2008! Wow... where does the time go? Over the years, I have watched my kids grow up, attend college, get married, and become independent, responsible adults. There have been trials, frustrations, joys, and accomplishments along the way. I have tried to write about these experiences in a way that makes them timeless. In the writing world, this is known as "evergreen content," and I believe that description fits my articles well. However, calling myself a writer couldn't be further from the truth. I'm just a guy who occasionally puts his thoughts into words, hoping that someone might be inspired by or learn something from my experiences. With that said, here are a few of my favorite posts! I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them. The Positive Influence of Books The Roll...

By Stephen C. Schultz (Editors Note: This is the written version of remarks and training I did as part of a workshop that included our residential, clinical and academic leadership. I work with a group of therapeutic residential programs . I thought it would be nice to share some of these thoughts with those who happen to view my blog. I hope this is helpful in some way.) There is a trend in business where the latest language around customer satisfaction and word of mouth referrals is the term “Advocacy”. This is where a customer actually advocates for the organization they are doing business with. I have chosen a career that specializes in teen residential treatment. Our clients include the student, their family, their therapists, their school educators and counselors and often many others just to name a few. The majority of our clients demonstrate this principle of “Advocacy” in one way or another. We see this principle in different forms at all of our tre...

By Stephen C. Schultz  Her steps were slow and steady. The red rocks beneath her feet and the azure blue sky overhead created a remarkably beautiful scene. She felt a sense of peacefulness and a calm demeanor she had never experienced before. This was an adventure she wouldn’t have appreciated were it not for her family recommending she seek help one more time. It's hard to believe it has only been three weeks.  Usually, she didn't like wide-open spaces. She craved the flurry of crowded parties, the nightlife of hanging out with friends, and the excitement that social media afforded her. She was like a cat chasing its tail, always searching for the next thrilling experience but never finding it. She found herself in increasingly compromising situations, taking unnecessary risks. The feelings of embarrassment had long since subsided, and she numbly accepted each new day.  Her family was concerned. There were regular fights and hurt feelings. They painfully witnessed the tw...

By Stephen C. Schultz The sun glanced off the window and reflected at a strange angle to the floor and up the wall. As I looked outside, it was obvious that spring had arrived. There were bright green leaves having recently unfolded on the shrubs outside. Tulips and Hyacinths stretched upward, bending occasionally in the cool canyon breeze. The boxed lunch from a local deli that included a ham sandwich on rye bread with potato chips, a cookie and a pickle stared back at me. There was the regular lunch time discussion with the laughter that rises up and then fades just as quickly. The room consisted of a large mahogany conference table with twelve plush captain’s chairs. The chairs were full of colleagues, all of us eating lunch after a morning training session. We were the sales and marketing team from two private psychiatric hospitals. We had gathered at this particular location because Melody was in town training us on the latest skills associated with Professio...

By Stephen C. Schultz Research Link – A Comparison Group Study (Time limited link) Highlights This comparison group study looked at the impact of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare longitudinally on youth participants as reported by their parents. Findings showed that youth participant’s one-year post participation in OBH treatments were functioning significantly better than youth who remained in their communities. Regression analysis showed the only significant predictor of change was participation in the treatment group. Dr. Steven DeMille ~Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Model program offers long term positive results to teens and families~ In 2007, Dr. Steven DeMille found himself working as a field guide in the back country of extreme Southwestern Utah. He was in charge of the activities of daily living for a group of nine students who were enrolled at RedCliff Ascent . Steve, as well as two or three other staff members who were r...

By Stephen C. Schultz The tears were running down her cheeks and dropping to the floor like small raindrops. There wasn’t the sudden heavy sobbing that accompanies truly despondent news, but there was some silent shallow breathing and the recognizable blurry vision that comes from the eyes slowly welling up with tears. I stepped around the counter in the kitchen and asked my 16 year old daughter what was wrong. She was obviously in some distress. Like most teens, she simply stated; “Nothing” So, I pursued it a little more; “Come on hon…what’s the matter? Obviously, something is bothering you.” She responded; “Nothing…really. It’s stupid.” She eventually opened up and confided in me. It was some pretty normal teenage drama that most parents have seen and experienced many times throughout their lives, but to the teens it is new. I asked a few questions that included the old journalist mantra of “Who?, What?, Where?, When? and Why?” During her...

 By Stephen C. Schultz The Nor’easter was rolling in, with reports predicting springtime snow! The high-pitched whine of our compact rental car filled the air as the engine strained at high RPMs, struggling to stay ahead of the storm. The roads were slick, and snowflakes struck the windshield in chaotic patterns as fierce gusts hit us broadside. Springtime in the Northeast United States can be unpredictable—one day, flowers and trees bloom in full splendor, and the next, icy winds and snowstorms return with a vengeance. Beside me in the car sat Todd Spaulding, LCSW, CSAT, and former Clinical Director at Oxbow Academy. We were en route to Massachusetts, where we planned to meet with the clinical and academic teams at Chamberlain International School that morning. Our trip’s purpose was clear: to visit Chamberlain International School and provide a staff training and workshop. We also visited with two additional schools on managing Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) in residential and...

By Stephen C. Schultz Transactional Analysis- Ego States Understanding this model will be a valuable piece of information for you as you work with colleagues, parent your children, communicate with your husband or wife and interact with others in your community. These principles will assist you in gaining insight into your own style of behavior and communication. Remember that awareness is the first key to opening the doors of maturation, refinement and growth. In the 1960s a psychological theory became available known as Transactional Analysis. The chief proponent of this new theory was Eric Berne, M.D., an Austrian psychiatrist. Transactional Analysis developed significantly beyond Berne's early theories through the work of others and has continued in its development and practice even to today. Berne recognized that the human personality is made up of three ego states. Each ego state is an entire system of thoughts, feelings and behaviors from which we interact with o...