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Helping Teens Connect in a World of High Anxiety

 By Stephen C. Schultz


This is just a quick note to provide an update on Oxbow Academy. If you have explored my blog before, you are probably aware I am involved with a group of treatment programs for teenagers.

Please allow me to share a couple of experiences I had at Oxbow Academy. Last week, we were preparing for a parent tour. I was in the middle of identifying a student who could assist with the tour when I got a call from one of our staff members. Thoughts raced through my mind:

“Shoot, Jake won’t be able to help us...he is at his internship at a local business.”

Then I thought to myself, “Wow! How cool is that!”

Jake has worked through many of his sexual issues and is now living in the independence house where he is able to prepare to return home.


Later in the week, I ran into a young man enrolled at Oxbow Academy who I had spoken with previously. I asked how he was doing and what he was up to. He mentioned that he had just been working on a career evaluation so he can explore opportunities for his future. He explores his skill sets and aptitudes in the morning and attends school in the afternoon. What a great opportunity! I happen to know some of the clinical issues this young man had worked through. What an accomplishment! What determination! What resilience!

Reminder:
Oxbow Academy provides highly specialized therapeutic support for teenage boys struggling with problematic sexual behavior. Students at Oxbow engage in therapeutic work while also participating in equine, music and outdoor experiential activities. Because of our location, our campus extends into the surrounding community, where therapists regularly participate in activities in real-world environments to help students develop healthy skills beyond the treatment setting.

Oxbow Academy also works with students who have struggled in previous placements and may need a more individualized approach to their care. Many students come to Oxbow after experiencing difficulty in larger treatment settings. Some may have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or other developmental concerns that have complicated their progress in past programs. Others have experienced treatment fatigue, having moved from program to program before arriving at Oxbow.

The goal is to connect with these students on a deeper level and help them see a path forward by fostering personal growth, accountability, and future opportunities. 

Be sure to check out our Clinical Staff. Oxbow Academy has one of the most experienced and dedicated clinical teams in the field, ensuring the highest level of care for the students and families we serve.

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