Oxbow Academy

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New Hope New HelpNo Secrets 2

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New Hope If your family has been impacted by a son who struggles with sexual concerns, Oxbow Academy offers a life altering chance at hope for a better tomorrow… “It was a very traumatic time in our life. As a family, we realized we had to do something different.” 4

New Help Oxbow Academy was the first residential treatment center to offer clinically intensive care for sexual concerns founded on the principles of experiential therapy. The philosophy is timeless: teens learn by doing. Therapy isn’t just reserved for specific hours or offices. It occurs as students experience the cooperative effort of equine therapy and the insight gained from imprinting with a newborn colt. It’s shoveling the snow on a widow’s driveway or attending group therapy in the mountains at 10,000 feet. Everything the students do has a therapeutic purpose. At Oxbow, we understand that sexual concerns are usually symptomatic of other non-sexual problems. These other concerns may include anxiety, depression, ADHD, ASD and adoption issues.5 | oxbowacademy.net

No Secrets We address all of the student’s issues in an environment of respect, compassion and understanding. Oxbow has been developed to allow emotional safety so that the boys can discuss their problems without the burden of shame, guilt or secrecy. “Our son is going to use the tools that he’s learned here for the rest of his life.” 6

“Music “ Music is what EMOTION sounds like. Our music program gives the boys an opportunity to learn new skills, earn school credit and connect important emotional work with musical expression. “I am able to connect the emotions I am working through in therapy with the music I am playing in the group” – Student7 | oxbowacademy.net

At Oxbow Academy, experientialtherapy is the bedrock of everythingwe do. It’s a process that takes time,training and the ability to turnexperience into understanding.Oxbow therapists and staff workside by side with the students. Theyturn daily activities into powerfullearning experiences that foster thedevelopment of healthy relationships. 8

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Research Engaging in research and evaluation allows us to track student progress, monitor change, identify intervention effectiveness, and improve the quality and scope of our practices. Students are regularly scored on the RESBA tool (Residential Emotional Social Behavioral Assessment) and daily scores are reviewed each week in treatment team in order to inform decisions regarding individual progress and treatment interventions and goals. To increase accuracy, students are also regularly tested on the YOQ, which helps us in identifying overall effectiveness of treatment, including tracking post-graduation from the program. 10

East Campus Nestled in the spectacular Wasatch Mountains, Oxbow Academy’s two campuses are perfectly situated to take advantage of many outdoor experiential opportunities. We offer one of the finest therapeutic equine environments in the West.11 | oxbowacademy.net

West Campus Students are housed in ranch and cabin style homes providing a small, personalized community. In each home, activities of daily living take place and foster appropriate relationship skills, problem solving, and organization and life skills. 12

Individual Therapy Oxbow Academy is clinically intensive. The term “Clinically Intensive” conjures up thoughts of waiting rooms and office visits. The standard practice with most residential treatment centers is a fifty-minute session in the therapist’s office. Not so at Oxbow. Individual therapy may take place on the back of a horse or on a walk through the back pasture. Individual therapy at Oxbow isn’t about fifty minutes in an office; it’s about fostering a therapeutic relationship through shared experiences. Family Therapy Oxbow Academy believes in treating the whole family. Our families will work through therapy assignments alongside their sons, attend weekly family sessions via conference calls or face-to-face software, attend quarterly onsite family seminars and participate in local and home visits when clinically appropriate. Group Therapy Oxbow offers students the chance to address specific issues in an emotionally safe group environment. Groups such as healthy sexuality, drug and alcohol, adoption and social skills are designed to provide hands-on group experiences while providing highly clinical therapy. Our boys learn the skills they need to cope while supporting one another and learning how to develop healthy relationships. Our experiential approach to groups keeps our boys engaged and creates a desire to participate in group therapy. The best part is they don’t realize they are in therapy. Experiential Therapy creates a back door approach that keeps the boys engaged and their guards down.13 | oxbowacademy.net

While individual and group therapy sessions are a regular partof each students care, therapy isn’t reserved specifically forthose time slots. Our therapists and staff harness the power ofthe present to assist each student in recognizing the parallelsin their own life. This is a process that takes time, insight anda highly trained staff that can help students turn experienceinto understanding. This is the core of the Oxbow Academyphilosophy.Our boys develop confidence and life skills through ExperientialLearning. Experiential Learning takes place all day every daythrough programs such as: • Ranch work/chores • Physical education and sports teams • Horticulture program in our on-campus garden • Project based learning in our academic/school system • Community service • Peer leadership • Music 14

Individualized Academic College Prep Oxbow Academy offers a customized academic plan for each student. In a traditional academic setting, time is the constant and learning is the variable. At Oxbow, our student paced-teacher driven modality allows the students to work at their own pace, with one-on-one teaching from certified teachers. With a competency based approach, the students at Oxbow learn how to learn and remain engaged through each school day.15 | oxbowacademy.net

Individualized Learning Therapists and educators work together to assess each student’s abilities and create an individual academic plan. These plans are developed to meet the needs of each student while keeping them on track with their peers back home. Teachers work in classrooms of 10-12 students and are able to utilize different modalities of education to meet individual learning styles. With the help of each teacher, students learn how to set and achieve goals while developing study skills that will prepare them for their next transition in life.Competency Based Learning Students must complete their coursework at 80% or higher before moving on to the next concept. Students who demonstrate subject mastery can move beyond their grade level faster than in a traditional academic setting. Those students who are behind find themselves getting caught up in a timely manner.Group Learning Each Friday, experiential activities and fieldtrips are provided to help kids apply what they are learning in the classroom. Students are also involved in current event discussions and debates, classroom lectures and project based learning. 16

As a licensed residential treatment center, Oxbow Academy has a complete clinical team with licensed therapists as well as psychiatric and nursing oversight.17 | oxbowacademy.net

Who is appropriate for Oxbow Academy? Oxbow Academy may not be right for every student. However, if your teen suffers with sexual concerns complicated by any of the issues below, Oxbow Academy may be a good fit. • Depression • Anxiety • Mood disorders • Adoption and attachment issues • Grief and loss • Suicidal ideation • Self-injurious behavior • Social struggles • Low Self esteem • Substance use • Gaming/Technology addiction • Learning disorders • Family/relational issues • Trauma/PTSD • Autism Spectrum Disorder • Non-verbal Learning Disorder We invite you to call and discuss your child and your concerns with our admissions counselors. 18

Oxbow Academy435.436.9460Tiffany Silva LCSWDirector of Marketing & Admissions801.980.0727 [email protected]