Ron Christiensen , LMFT

Ron Christensen believes that no teenager is inherently “bad”—and that any harmful strategy or behavior an adolescent has learned can ultimately be unlearned. In his three decades as a clinician, Ron has found that when young people are stuck in destructive cycles, they are often weighed down by shame and the belief that they cannot change. His clinical approach removes that guilt, shifting the focus toward accountability, growth, and practicing healthy coping mechanisms.

A central pillar of Ron’s work is unifying the entire support system surrounding a student. Guided by the principle that “two heads are better than one,” Ron specializes in strategic and structural family therapy. He actively works to mend communication breakdowns, rebuild broken trust, and eliminate the “divide and conquer” dynamics teens often use when struggling. By aligning parents alongside Oxbow’s clinical, academic, and residential teams, Ron creates a clear, consistent structure. To help ease the anxiety parents feel during this crisis point, Ron walks families step-by-step through a transparent four-phase process:

• Phase 1: Telling the truth and establishing honesty.
• Phase 2: Developing genuine empathy, remorse, and emotional awareness.
• Phase 3: Making meaningful amends.
• Phase 4: Crafting concrete strategies for a healthy, self-directed future.

Ron brings over 30 years of seasoned mental health experience to Oxbow Academy, having served as a psychotherapist and Clinical Director across intensive treatment environments, primarily in the Las Vegas area. He holds a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Utah.

Throughout his career, Ron has developed deep expertise in treating complex adolescent behavioral issues and specialized challenges related to problematic sexual behaviors and compulsions. Having guided hundreds of individuals and families through these delicate issues, he brings advanced clinical insight and ongoing specialized training in sex therapy. His primary therapeutic modalities include:

• Structural & Strategic Family Therapy: Restructuring family patterns and hierarchy to support healthy boundaries and communication.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifying and reframing distorted thought patterns driving unwanted behaviors.
• Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT): Targeting practical, achievable goals that move families forward efficiently.
  

When he isn’t guiding families through therapeutic milestones, Ron is an avid outdoorsman who thrives in the sunshine. He stays grounded by spending his free time hiking, fishing, hunting, and swimming, fully embracing the restorative benefits of nature.