The Interpreted Rock

 By Stephen C. Schultz Please allow me to share a brief conversation I had with my Brother Jared Schultz (PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling and Department Head at VCU) that I thought might be helpful.  Jared and I were having a general conversation about the transition from teens to young adults. This conversation obviously included helping young adults make the transition to self-supporting, responsible, productive members of society. Often this is a subtle struggle after receiving mental health services and various interventions over time.  While in the process of dealing with clinically complicated concerns, that often include depression, anxiety, ADHD, ASD and other co-occurring developmental issues, these young adults have had limited opportunities to focus on career, educational and independent living aspirations. When the treatment interventions are no longer the focus, they then feel behind in their social and career development and get discouraged, often reverting...

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...