Today I spent time with the troubled teens in my therapy group at the East campus discussing some of the science behind the addicted brain.  This topic was started because we were discussing how to change deviant thoughts into thoughts that are healthy and consensual. Some of the phase work in the program focuses on…

I just tried to create a company profile for Oxbow on LinkedIn. We’re looking for as many ways as possible to let parents, private professionals, and even other programs know we’re out here – and we can help. Oxbow is committed to educating families and professionals about teen sexual behaviors. There is so much misunderstanding…

I recently spent some time with a good friend of mine who happens to be a foster parent.  This friend is currently fostering a teenage girl who was sexually abused when she was younger.  During our visit we went on a walk.  Her foster child walked next to me and casually brushed her hand and…

In a recent family therapy session, the parents of one of the clients with whom I work commented on how quickly their son was able to recognize and express the emotions that he was feeling while working on his therapy assignment.  This may not appear to be much of an accomplishment to some, but for…

Around this time of year I often reflect back to a decision that I made many years ago to leave my then current employment and begin working as a clinician at Oxbow.  As a new clinician, I felt ill prepared to help these young men whose families had entrusted me with helping their son, and…

Recently one of the clients with whom I work was able to see his sibling for the first time in a year.  Their meeting over Skype was possible due to this student’s progress in the program.  That progress consisted of working through two clinical phases, gaining insight into his behavioral patterns and making changes to…

As I have worked with Oxbow over the last six years, I always felt like we were making a difference. But I always wondered how much of a difference we were making with our boys. I wanted to be able to measure the difference between a boy when he first came through our doors, and…

When I started working with Chase he let me know up front that he was dumb and wasn’t planning on graduating from high school.  He wasn’t being defiant or belligerent……just stating the facts as he saw them.  I worked on English and History for a little while with Chase in a group setting and I…

As a mother who works full time, I have to leave my own child with someone every day. I always hope and pray that she is in good hands. That she is being protected and taught the correct things while I am away. That someone is loving her almost as much as I do (which…