4th Quarter Newsletter, 2007

 

Happy Holidays to Valued Friends of Eating Disorder Hope!

 

ARTICLES:

• The Importance of Addressing OCD and Other Anxiety Disorders in the Treatment of Eating Disorders
• College Screening for Eating Disorders
• Athletes and Eating Disorders
• Benefits of Equine Therapy in ED Treatment

RESEARCH:

• Exciting Grant opportunities for ED Research

EVENTS:

• Happenings in the field of ED Treatment

RESOURCES:

• Top treatment centers & what they offer
• Colleagues' Specialty Products, Services & Books

SHOPPING:

• Inspirational Holiday Gifts at 20% discount

HOPE CLUB:

• Last chance to join this exciting club and be a Founding 2007 Charter Member

Female Athletes Are More Prone to Eating Disorders
Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders Reports Many Female Athletes Resort to Eating Disorders to Deal with the Stress of Maintaining High Performance Levels...

PHOENIX (November 19, 2007) ­ Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders(www.remudaranch.com), the nation's leading eating disorder treatment center, reports female athletes are more prone to eating disorders when they¹re involved in sports where there's pressure to have a certain body type, weigh a certain amount, or when success depends on their appearance as much as their performance.

As with anyone with an eating disorder, female athletes use unhealthy methods to meet legitimate emotional needs, said Juliet Zuercher, registered dietitian and the director of nutrition services at Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders.

Research shows that female athletes in judged sports have a 13 percent incidence of eating disorders compared to just a 3 percent incidence in the general population. Factors that contribute to risk for developing an eating disorder include: endurance sports, sports with weight categories, individual sports, "lean" sports and sports with revealing clothing. Additionally, in one NCAA study, a group of female athletes report wanting 13 percent body fat when the mean of the group was 15.4 percent, already below the minimum healthy range of 17-25 percent body fat for female athletes. This desire for unhealthy levels of body fat is a hallmark of eating disorders. Sport participation can complicate the identification of an eating disorder and many athletes may not admit to a problem for fear of losing playing time or displeasing others,² adds Zuercher. ³Many times, restricting calories and excessive exercise are viewed as normal in a sport. But, over time, the eating disorder will have a negative impact on the athlete's health and performance.

Athletes struggling with an eating disorder who are persistently injured or have overall declining health may be addicted to or abusing exercise and/or their training schedule. Other signs that an athlete may be suffering from an eating disorder include:

• Significant weight loss of more than 15 percent total body weight
• Chronic fatigue
• Fainting and/or dizziness
• Hair loss
• Amenorrhea
• Loss of relationships
• Lack of interest in other life activities
• Overall poor balance mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually

An athlete who struggles with an eating disorder doesn't have to automatically give up their sport, said Zuercher. We must look at each athlete individually and help them and their sport family to make an informed decision on when to return to training and competition after treatment. When we understand more about the motive an athlete has for having an eating disorder, we are better equipped to help them and those supporting them.

About Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders
Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders offers Christian inpatient and residential treatment for women and girls of all faiths suffering from an eating disorder. Each patient is treated by a multi-disciplinary team including a Psychiatric and a Primary Care Provider, Registered Dietitian, Masters Level therapist, Psychologist and Registered Nurse. The professional staff equips each patient with the right tools to live a healthy, productive life. Remuda Ranch

Rader Programs

The treatment staff at Rader Programs has been providing high-quality clinical programs for over 20 years. We specialize in the treatment of eating and related disorders. It is our mission to help save the lives of those suffering from eating disorders. The primary purpose of Rader Programs is to treat the dysfunctional behavior in a supportive environment. A staff of caring and experienced professionals, many who are recovering themselves, assist the affected individual and their family in developing a life long program for recovery. We recognize the complexity of the disorder and understand the medical, psychological, physical, and nutritional aspects of eating disorders. Our treatment approach is centered around the special needs of each individual and we are completely committed to help individuals achieve recovery.

Rader Programs

Susan B. Krevoy Eating Disorders Program

If you are struggling with an eating disorder and need more than individual therapy but less than inpatient or residential treatment, the Susan B. Krevoy Eating Disorders Program may be the right place for you. We are a low fee, individualized, outpatient program with an emphasis on working with the entire person. Food and eating patterns frequently reflect the expression of unmet needs. Our program consists of individual, group and family therapy to discover and help you work through these underlying issues. Also included is nutritional counseling to differentiate between physical and psychological hunger, art therapy, yoga and meditation, and cognitive-behavioral groups on topics such as self-esteem, body image and communication skills. Our compassionate and experienced psychologists, psychiatrists, marriage family therapists, social workers, registered dieticians, certified art therapists, certified yoga instructor, and post doctoral fellows provide a safe, nurturing environment that promotes healing. We begin with a free comprehensive assessment to determine how the disordered eating pattern fits into your life and what purpose(s) it serves. Your case manager will then work with you to devise a three or four-evening/week individualized program that will be structured to meet your needs. When you are ready to leave the program, we offer an after-care group that provides continued support during the transition period. Our goal is to support you as you discover the meaning behind your eating disorder, heal the past and develop skills that will help you create a happy and healthy future. Our program is covered by most insurance plans and we offer help to the uninsured on a sliding scale. If you feel trapped by an eating disorder, contact us today for a free assessment. There is hope. With help, you can heal. Let us help you open the door to recovery.

Susan B. Krevoy Eating Disorders Program

EVENTS ABOUT TOWN...

AUGUST...

August 11th, 2007
1ST ANNUAL EATING DISORDER RECOVERY DAY
9 am to 12 pm at Coronado Spreckels Park in San Diego, California.
Reaching Out and Uniting: Celebrating All Stages of Recovery
Join us in celebrating the 1st Annual Eating Disorder Recovery Day 2007, a day of renewal, reconnection and recovery.

• Meeting new and old friends
• Special yoga session to help reconnect the body, mind, and spirit
• Declaring Independence from Eating Disorders: A Personal Journey Presented by: Jenni Schaefer, Author of Life Without Ed
• Eating disorder discussion panel

The event is being sponsored by Center for Change & Puente de Vida.
ctct: maldis@centerforchange.com or natalie.puentedevida@hotmail.com.

SEPTEMBER...

September 15-21, 2007
A Retreat Workshop in Hawaii for Professionals in the Eating Disorder & Body Image Field with Francie White, M.S.R.D., Carolyn Costin, M.F.T., and Anita Johnston, Ph.D.
Workshop begins Saturday evening, September 15, 2007 at 7pm – ends 11am Friday, September 21, 2007.
The Hawaii workshop retreat is on! Francie, Carolyn, and Anita have planned a Six Day Retreat-Workshop designed to push the envelope of your personal and professional experience. Join us for the most unforgettable, provocative and life changing discussions on the relationships between sexuality, eating, and body image. Learn More @ www.dranitajohnston.com

OCTOBER...

October 4-6, 2007
National Eating Disorders Association Conference
San Diego, California
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

DECLARE YOUR INDEPENDENCE FROM BULIMIA & ANOREXIA
An eating disorder recovery workshop weekend
October 12-14, 2007
Nashville, TN
$495 (Pre-registration & non-refundable deposit required)
Ask About Our Early Registration Discount
Jenni Schaefer (Author of: Life Without Ed) will also participate in this workshop, as will workshop coordinator, Julie Merryman.
Learn more at: www.jennischaefer.com/workshop.php
Divorce ED retreat

Center for Change
"There is No Substitute for Experience"

Center for Change specializes in acute inpatient and residential treatment for women ages 14 through mature adulthood who suffer from eating disorders and concurrent emotional illnesses. We offer hope that everyone has the capacity for full recovery from an eating disorder.Center for Change has been operating as a specialized eating disorder treatment program for 11 years. We are well known for our high intensity of therapeutic treatment, our breadth of experiential therapy, and for our pioneering dietary approach of Intuitive Eating.

• Two 14 bed inpatient units & 28 residential treatment beds
• Fully accredited High School
• JCAHO Accredited

Therapeutic interventions include:

• Individual, group and family therapy
• Individual dietary counseling
• Psychiatric and medical care
• Art, music, dance /NIA, yoga, recreational and other experiential therapies

ANNOUNCEMENT: CENTER FOR CHANGE ANNOUNCES NEW MID-TRACK INTENSIVE PROGRAM™

Contact: Tamara Noyes, Business Development Director
Company Name: Center For Change
Voice Phone Number: 801-224-8255
Fax Number: 801-224-8301
Email address: tnoyes@centerforchange.com
Website URL: www.centerforchange.com

Center For Change now offers a specialized intensive treatment track for clients that are currently in residential treatment and will be returning to the referring facility. Clients that have recently completed an inpatient or residential treatment program are also eligible for this specialty track. We have a 45 to 60 day program designed to aggressively treat the client's eating disorder in a specialized and caring environment. Our goal is to stabilize the client's maladaptive behaviors and provide her with new approaches to food and body image that will enable her to successfully complete treatment at your facility and regain her life. Clients will receive comprehensive medical, psychiatric, psychological and dietary interventions during the course of treatment. Clients will initially have four individual therapy sessions per week with our highly trained therapists and also have weekly visits with a psychiatrist, medical doctor, and dietitian; we also provide 24 hour nursing coverage. We work in conjunction with the referring facility and have weekly updates and phone sessions with the referring facility to ensure a smooth transition of care. We provide a comprehensive aftercare and dietary plan for the client that is tailored to the environment that she is returning to. We also will be available for weekly follow-up consultations once the client has been discharged from our program and returned to the referring facility to help promote a full recovery.

The key components of our specialty program include:

• Extensive evaluation and assessment process
• Medical stabilization and monitoring
• Ongoing laboratory checks and medication evaluation
• Specialized structure for managing eating disorder symptoms and patterns
• Body image and body movement groups
• Weekly dietary sessions, real-life dining experiences, and nutritional counseling
• Intuitive eating model
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Specialty groups focusing on trauma, abuse, anxiety and depression
• 12-Step group for addictive patterns
• Life skills training including cooking classes
• Art and experiential groups

Please contact Pam Kidd, our Admissions Director, at 888-224-8250 if you have any questions or need additional information. We look forward to working together to bring hope and healing to these incredible adolescent and adult women.

Center For Change

Research

Klarman Family Foundation Grants Program in Eating Disorders Research Program Officer: Gay Lockwood 617-279-2240 ext. 702 Website: www.tmfnet.org/grantmake.html#klarman

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Klarman Family Foundation Grants Program in Eating Disorders Research. The Program's goal is to expand the number of outstanding scientists whose research explores the basic biology of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and/or binge eating disorder. The long term goal is to accelerate progress in developing effective treatments for these disorders. Examples of funding areas include but are not limited to molecular genetic analysis of relevant neural circuit assembly and function; animal models created by genetically altering neural circuits; testing of new chemical entities that might be used in animal models as exploratory treatments; and brain imaging approaches that identify neurochemical pathways in patients with these disorders. Clinical psychotherapeutic studies, medication trials and research in the medical complications of eating disorders are currently outside the scope of this Program.

Two-year grants of $400,000 ($200,000 per year inclusive of 10% indirect costs) will be awarded to investigators with a faculty appointment at a U.S. not-for-profit institution. Eligibility is not limited to those investigators currently working in eating disorders research.

The submission deadline for the LOI is January 10, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Funding begins on June 1, 2008.

More Research on Eating Disorders

Last Chance to Become a Charter Member of the Exciting Hope Club......Join Before December 31, 2007 & Be a Founding Charter Member!

HOPE CLUB PLEDGE…all members must agree to this pledge to join!

1. Commitment to maintaining healthy body, mind & spirit.
2. Willingness to seek appropriate treatment through counseling, nutritionists, doctors and other health care professionals.
3. Understanding that eating disorder recovery is a process of healing, hard work and maintaining healthful habits.
4. Desire to stop eating disorder behavior, embrace life & pursue recovery.
5. Appreciation of one's uniqueness and value in the world, unrelated to appearance, achievement or applause.

The Hope Club is a virtual support club for those recovering from eating disorders and those treating these individuals. You'll love all of the great benefits the HOPE Club offers - exclusive cool merchandise! dedicated blog/listserve for Hope Club Members with timely updates about what is happening in the field! Exclusive access to online discussions with leaders in the field of eating disorder treatment! Become an exclusive member today!

***Hope Club is generously sponsored by Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating Disorders @ http://www.remudaranch.com/

JOIN THE HOPE CLUB NOW

Center for Discovery and Adolescent Change

Nurturing Change and Assisting Growth
Locations:Downey, Lakewood, Menlo Park (Bay Area) & Whittier, CA
Phone Number: 800-760-3934
Fax Number: 714-828-1870
www.centerfordiscovery.com

Center for Discovery's eating disorders programs are the first comprehensive residential treatment programs in California to exclusively focus on the treatment of male and female adolescents ages 11 – 19 . Our JCAHO accredited, privately owned Centers are located in comfortable and spacious homes in Downey, Lakewood,

Menlo Park (Bay area) and Whittier, California. The individualizedand intensive treatment experience at Center for Discovery, under twenty-four hour supervision, is particularly

effective in identifying and addressing the destructive behaviors and underlying emotional issues of the disordered eating. Treatment includes: individual and family therapy,

group work, art therapy, emotional regulation skills, relaxation techniques, medical assessment, psychiatric consultations, and nutritional consultation and education.

Center for Discovery is a preferred provider to many insurance plans and we will assist families in verifying their insurance benefits.

Center for Discovery & Adolescent Care

Give Inspirational Gifts this Holiday Season!! Give Hope!
Inspirational Recovery Gifts for the eating disorder sufferer, family member & treatment providers...

Holiday gifts! Treat yourself & loved ones! Marketing your program ---optional customize with your own logo! Discharging or welcoming new clients! Great for staff gifts! Family Week gifts!

Choose from 6 Inspirational Logos to inspire recovery from eating disorders

Hope Hope Hope.......Beauty Comes In All Shapes & Sizes Recovery Happens......Mind~Body~Spirit.......Never Give Up.......
I Am Unique & Valuable in the World Simply as a Child of God. My worth is Unrelated to My Appearance, Achievements or Applause.
SHOP NOW! All merchandise recently discounted 20% for the Holidays!

Rogers Memorial Hospital
Eating Disorder Services of Rogers Memorial Hospital
1-800-767-4411
34700 Valley Road, Oconomowoc, WI 53066
Website

Eating Disorder Services at Rogers Memorial Hospital, a nonprofit organization, offers separate treatment programs for males, females, adolescents, and those with co-occurring anxiety disorders. The primary goals of treatment are to achieve nutritional stability, to identify and correct errors in thinking (such as body image distortions and perfectionism), and to address other obstacles to maintaining recovery. Inpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment services are available, meaning the level of care can be adjusted dynamically without major relocation. The treatment team uses a number of therapies that take place mostly in a group setting, where individuals get feedback not only from the therapist but from their peers as well. Rogers Memorial offers:

• Family therapy
• Nutrition therapy
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Pharmacotherapy
• Art therapy
• Movement and fitness therapy (yoga)
• Experiential therapy
• Substance abuse counseling
• Spiritual counseling
• Daily living responsibilities
• Community outings and therapeutic passes
• Specialized family and friends program
• One-to-one support

In spring of 2008 Rogers Memorial will expand the occupancy of its program for patients with eating disorders, focusing on those with co-occurring anxiety disorders.
Rogers Memorial Hospital

The Importance of Addressing OCD and Other Anxiety Disorders in the Treatment of Eating Disorders

Submitted by: Theodore E. Weltzin, MD; Nicolette Weisensel, MD;
Tracey Cornella-Carlson, MD; Bradley C. Riemann, PhD; and Pamela Bean, PhD.

Eating disorder symptoms can be more severe for those also struggling with a co-occurring anxiety disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder. Rogers Memorial Hospital has recently developed a residential program that specifically uses evidence-based treatment for both eating disorders and anxiety disorders. While effectively addressing anxiety disorder symptoms in eating disorder patients can be challenging, preliminary results show a significant reduction in both anxiety and eating disorders symptoms. In the spring of 2008, Rogers Memorial Hospital will open a new residential treatment center that features a specialized program for those with co-occurring anxiety and eating disorders. Substantial numbers of those diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia present with at least two co-morbid psychiatric illnesses at admission to treatment (Bean et al., 2005; Blinder, Cumella & Sanathara, 2006). The presence of anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) , have been consistently found in patients who were already being treated for eating disorders in an outpatient or an inpatient setting (e.g., Bean, 2006; Kaye, Bulik, Thorton, Barbarich, & Masters, 2004; Rabe-Jablonska, 2003). Findings indicate that OCD is present in a low of 10% (Lucka, 2006; Rabe-Jablonska, 1996), a median of 20-37%, (e.g., Bean, 2006; Rubenstein, Pigott, L'Heureux, Hill & Murphy, 1992; Thiel, Broocks, Ohlmeier, Jacoby & Schussler, 1995) and a high of 56% (Blinder, Cumella & Sanathara, 2006) of all eating disorder patients. Both conditions have a peak age of onset during adolescent years and interestingly, OCD prevalence is increased in both anorexic and bulimic eating disorder subgroups. OCD was found to be two times more common in patients with a diagnosis of anorexia (Blinder, Cumella & Sanathara, 2006; Lucka, 2006) compared to bulimia.

Connections and complications

Anxiety and eating disorders could represent a different presentation or expression of a common neuro-biological abnormality or risk factor. The expression of this biological vulnerability could relate to the magnitude of the vulnerability and/or unique environmental experiences, as well as other factors. Additionally, data suggests that patients with co-occurring eating and anxiety disorders may have a more severe and/or more treatment resistant eating disorder. Thus, the relationship between eating disorder and OCD might be of immense clinical relevance with regard to prognosis and treatment. Patients with both eating and anxiety disorders may have more severe eating disorder symptoms. Studies have shown that subjects with anxiety and eating disorder comorbidity have a longer history of eating disorder and that subjects who suffer from OCD are likely to have developed an eating disorder at an earlier age. (Milos et al. 2002) Other treatment teams have reported that no matter whether the eating disorder or OCD came first, OCD symptoms have a significant effect on treating the eating disorder. (Fisher et al., 2002). These findings were also found in a more recent study conducted at Rogers Memorial (Weltzin et al, Dec 2007, Eating Weight Disorders Journal). Eating disorder patients with co-morbid OCD exhibited a higher score in the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) than eating disorder patients without a co-morbid OCD. They found that eating disordered patients with and without a lifetime diagnosis of OCD scored highest on the subscales of drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and ineffectiveness. (Lennkh et al. 1998) Another study noted that similar subscales of the EDI - drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and perfectionism differed significantly between an eating disorder group and a control psychiatric group (Cassady et. al., 1999). The eating disorder group scored higher in all three scales. Furthermore, between three percent and 13% of adults and children diagnosed with anorexia and OCD also met the DSM-IV-TR criteria for depression, with females sustaining a higher rate of incidence than males (Rabe- ablonska, 1996; Lucka, 2006; Noshirvani et al.1991).

Aversion to change

Increased anxiety with change may reduce the efficacy of eating disorders treatment. In patients with co-morbid anorexia nervosa and OCD, introducing new foods and reinforcing typical eating patterns were much more difficult compared to patients with anorexia nervosa alone. Generalized anxiety disorder has been identified as being most strongly associated with anorexia nervosa in patients requiring hospitalization for their eating disorders (Godart et al., 2005; Lucka, 2006). While there are few studies available focusing on the impact of known treatment modalities for anxiety disorders on the course and treatment of eating disorders, effectively addressing co-morbid OCD and other anxiety symptoms should improve treatment efficacy and outcome for eating disorder patients. A follow-up study found that patients whose eating disorders were most improved at the 30-month follow-up also showed the highest reduction of obsessions and compulsions (Thiel et al., 1998).

Treatment can be challenging

Effectively addressing anxiety disorder symptoms in eating disorder patients can be challenging. As compared to depression, the treatment of anxiety disorders, (particularly in children, adolescents and young adults) relies less on pharmacotherapy and more on psychotherapy. Antidepressant medications, often used for the treatment of anxiety disorders, are associated with an increase risk of treatment emergent suicidal symptoms in this age group. Studies suggest that behavior therapy including exposure with ritual prevention is as effective for OCD (if not more effective) as compared to pharmacotherapy. Skilled behavior therapists are not often available and the time required to develop the skills to be an effective behavior therapist are often prohibitive for most clinicians. These factors, as well as the combination of eating and anxiety disorders, represent a unique challenge to the patient families and clinicians.

At Rogers Memorial Hospital we have developed a specific residential program that uses evidence-based treatment for both eating disorders and anxiety disorders. Preliminary results have been quite encouraging as we have found a significant reduction in both anxiety and eating disorders symptoms (Riemann et al, 2006). Furthermore, a recent study of length of stay seems to suggest that this combined modality may actually reduce the time needed for treatment. Results are preliminary but encouraging and support further development of specific eating disorder treatments that address co-morbid anxiety disorders.

Rogers Memorial Hospital is a nonprofit behavioral healthcare provider for children, adolescents, adults and older adults. The hospital is nationally recognized for its residential treatment centers including the Eating Disorder Center, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Center and the Child and Adolescent Center. Rogers Memorial also provides residential treatment services for chemical dependency and co-occurring OCD and other anxiety disorders. Inpatient and partial hospitalization services are also available. Rogers Memorial is licensed as a psychiatric hospital by the State of Wisconsin and accredited by the Joint Commission. It offers treatment programs at four Wisconsin locations: Oconomowoc, Milwaukee, Kenosha and Brown Deer. To learn more, please call 800.767.4411 or visit us online at www.rogershopital.org.

New Dawn Eating Disorder Center ~ Sausilito, California
New Dawn Eating Disorders Recovery Center seeks to help adults, adolescents, and children suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, obesity, compulsive over-exercising, food obsessions, disturbed body image, depression, anxiety, and other related psychiatric problems. It is our mission to provide a safe, effective, and nurturing environment in which to improve physical, emotional, and interpersonal functioning. Our multidisciplinary team of licensed professionals believes in providing empirically-supported treatments that not only help restore healthy eating behavior but also work to resolve the underlying issues that brought about the onset of the eating disorder. We offer a range of outpatient services to fit the level of severity and readiness to change of the individual seeking treatment. Our treatment modalities include individual, family, couples, and group psychotherapy, as well as nutritional counseling and supervised meal groups.
New Dawn Recovery Center

Taking Extreme Measures with Body Image?

Encourage your School to Participate in the National Eating Disorders Screening Program

Counting calories, spending hours in front of the mirror, exercising excessively...

Go to any college campus across the country and you are bound to find students with extreme attitudes, behaviors, and emotions towards weight and eating issues. In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder, and 95% of those are between the ages of 12 and 25.

For many students, maintaining a healthy weight and a positive body image can be challenging, especially when academic pressures blend with social expectations. College stress can translate into skipping meals, sleeping poorly or eating out of control.

Eating disorders can be successfully treated and often prevented when an individual seeks help in the early stages. Unfortunately, only 1 in 10 men and women with eating disorders receive treatment, often due to shame or social stigma.

To help address this serious health issue, Eating Disorders Hope encourages members to participate in the National Eating Disorders Screening Program (NEDSP). Participating colleges and universities can sign up to provide eating disorders education and screenings for students during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, February 24 - March 1, 2008 as well as throughout the year.

As part of the program, each college receives a kit that includes screening tools and educational materials about anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorders as well as healthy eating habits and exercise on campus. Colleges also receive a guide to help them implement and publicize the program in unique and creative ways, along with posters and giveaway items.

In 2007, 434 sites nationwide registered for the program and more than 9,000 people attended screening events. In addition to the in-person program, NEDSP offers colleges a unique, customizable online program that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and provides specific referral information to the college's health or counseling center. Colleges can also generate detailed utilization reports and graphs to see how many students have taken the screening and how many scored positive for symptoms of an eating disorder.

NEDSP materials can be utilized throughout the academic year by college health and counseling centers, professors, student groups, athletic teams and Greek organizations. Students interested in bringing the screening program to their college can work with their school's counseling center or health services center to register for the program.

For more information or to register for the program visit www.mentalhealthscreening.org and click on "College" or call 781.239.0071.

Learn More about College Screening for Eating Disorders

Milestones
Milestones at High Point
800-347-2364
5960 SW 106th Ave,
Cooper City, FL 33328

Milestones provides residential and intensive outpatient programs for individuals suffering with Compulsive Overeating, Bulimia, Anorexia, and related disorders. Milestones follows a "blended" approach to treatment - addressing both the "addictive" and emotional aspects of an eating disorder. Residents attend a full schedule of group and individual activities during the day as well as participate in various support groups during evenings and weekends.

Milestones

B.I.T.E. The Body Image Transformation Experience®.
Led and created by Fran Weiss, LCSW-R,BCD,DCSW,CGP
Register Now www.franweiss.com OR call (212) 362-6019

NEW 2008 WINTER SPRING B.I.T.E.® Workshop DATES
Two interconnected Workshops

Workshop I: January 8-March 11, 2008. Owning My Body My Self.
Tuesdays: 7:30 - 9:00 pm

Workshop II: March 18 - May 20, 2008. Transforming My Body My Self...Combines innovative group therapy techniques with body-oriented therapy. TUESDAYS: 7:30 - 9:30PM
Special Guest Collaborator: Dance Movement therapist:
Suzi Tortora Ed.D.,ADTR,CMA,LCAT,LMHC

• WHO IS B.I.T.E.® FOR? For those who struggle with weight regulation, weight loss, size, perception of self and body image.
• For those who appreciate that one's psychological/emotional life can get in the way of maintaining a food plan.
• For those who have lost weight, yet whose self-perception is not changing.
• For those who need to develop specific strategies for integrating intellectual and emotional understanding with weight loss and body image transformation for successful long term outcomes.
• For those who need help to find the courage necessary to move away from the familiar and onto unfamiliar ground.

***TELESEMINAR SERIES
The BITE® Practicum: An Applied Mentoring Group for Professionals
Recent advances in psychology and neuroscience research applied to the treatment of the Overweight Disordered Eating patient (ODE). series

January 14-March 3, 2008, Mondays, 1:00-2:15 EST
Register at FranWeiss.com

2008 Launch Date
B.I.T.E.® Professional Training & Certification Teleseminar series with B.I.T.E.® Manual for Professionals

More Info

Efficacy of Equine Therapy: Mounting Evidence

Edward J. Cumella Ph.D. and Sharon Simpson, Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating Disorders

Can grooming and riding horses foster recovery from mental illness? According to a recent article published in the Psychiatric Times (1), the answer is "yes." "[E]vidence has continued to accumulate, more rigorous controlled studies are being conducted, resulting in the emergence of a significant body of literature supporting the therapeutic value of the human-companion animal interaction…" An article reviewing the benefits of animal-assisted therapy has even appeared in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (2).

Benefits of Equine Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy has shown evidenced-based efficacy in patients with depression (3), anxiety (4), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (5), conduct disorders (6), dissociative disorders (7), Alzheimer's disease (8), dementia (9), autism (10), and other chronic mental illnesses (11,12).

In light of research and observational findings, experts suggest that Equine Therapy—a common form of animal-assisted therapy--may yield a variety of psychotherapeutic benefits.

• Confidence: The learning and mastery of a new skill—horsemanship--enhances patients' confidence in their ability to tackle new projects, such as recovery, and leads to improved self-esteem.
• Self-Efficacy: Learning to communicate and achieve harmony with a large animal promotes renewed feelings of efficacy. A motivated "I can do it!" replaces feelings of helplessness and amotivation, empowering the person to take on challenges in other areas of recovery.
• Self-Concept: Riding helps patients to develop a more realistic view of themselves through awareness of their size in relation to the horse. This is especially important in treating patients with eating disorders as well as those with interpersonal aggression problems.
• Communication: Horses' sensitivity to non-verbal communication assists patients in developing greater awareness of their emotions, the non-verbal cues that they may be communicating, and the important role of non-verbal communication in relationships.
• Trust: Learning to trust an animal such as a horse also aides in the development, or restoration, of trust for those whose ability to trust has been violated by difficult life experiences such as physical or sexual abuse, abandonment, neglect, or marital infidelity.
• Perspective: Through grooming activities and other types of care for a specific horse, patients are able to put aside the absorbing focus of their mental illness, such as depressive ruminations, and instead to direct their attention and interests outwardly toward safe and caring interactions.
• Anxiety Reduction: Many studies of human-animal interaction indicate that contact with animals significantly reduces physiological anxiety levels. Some patients are initially afraid of horses. But horses' genuineness and affection allay these fears, helping patients to embrace exposure therapy for their anxiety issues.

Finish Article

McCallum Place

McCallum Place provides comprehensive medical and psychiatric care, specialized psychotherapies and nutritional support for patients with eating disorders. Our state-of-the-art eating disorder treatment facility and eating disorder therapy programs, which integrate the latest findings from eating disorders research with experienced clinical practice, are designed to create an environment of structure and support.

In all we do, we strive to help individuals build the confidence and skills necessary to let go of their patterns of restrictive eating, purging, and compulsive eating. Our protocols are designed to help patients restore weight to within 90% of ideal body weight and to minimize relapse with binge eating, vomiting, and compulsive exercise. Patients practice weight maintenance and flexible eating prior to discharge. When possible, a gradual step down is recommended to ease the transition back to independent living.

At McCallum Place, care and experience give way to restorative treatment, opening new doorways of hope and possibility. Patients leave McCallum Place with the tools and strategies necessary for healthy eating and with practices useful for discovering a more balanced and satisfying life.
McCallum Place

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Montenido

Monte Nido Treatment Center and Programs for Eating Disorders: All Monte Nido programs are designed to achieve behavior and mood stabilization in a climate where destructive behaviors can be interrupted. Clients can then work on the crucial underlying issues which cause and/or perpetuate their disordered eating and other dysfunctional behaviors. In addition to individual, group and family therapy, we provide education, nutritional counseling, fitness training, life skills training, mindfulness and spiritual enhancement, all in a beautiful, serene setting.

Montenido

Journey to Peace & Balance with Food ~ Through The Way of The Horse

An Experiential Workshop for Eating Disorder Treatment Providers

We invite you to experience first hand this modality of healing and recovery for clients with eating disorders. Through hands-on activities with the horses (no riding), we will lead you through the process of identifying the thoughts and behavioral patterns that present around nourishment of our bodies.

During this workshop you will learn how the Horses reconnect us with the body, mind, and spirit. They help to identify thought and behavioral patterns that are no longer working and discover new and effective guides for communication, relationships, and life enhancement. Through this connection, the horses provide a safe and natural environment to challenge distorted beliefs about food and body image.

Date: Saturday, December 8, 2007
Time: 9:30am – 5 pm
Location: Aubrey Equestrian Center, Aubrey, TX
Cost: $75 (Includes materials and snacks. Please bring a sack lunch)
Pre-registration with RSVP to 972-467-4698 or vitalfood@aol.com
Facilitated By: Jean S. Bivona, R.D., L.D. & Sara B. Willerson, LCSW

Horses: Heart & Soul

Born to Eat: The Online Instinctive Eating Program
Who Is This Program For?

• The chronic dieter who is done with dieting and looking for a long term solution
• The recovered disordered eating or eating disorder client* who is looking for continued reinforcement of 'intuitive or instinctive eating'
• The individual contemplating or going through weight-loss surgery, who wants to address the underlying issues with food
• Anyone who has found eating and weight concerns to be negatively affecting their quality of life, and wants to make lasting changes in their relationship to food

*Please note that this program is not intended to replace the necessary treatment required to overcome eating disorders. Ideally, an individual will have a treatment team they see regularly. This program serves as a complement to current therapies already being utilized.

In a perfect world, everyone would have access to their own Nutritionist/Dietitian, and they would meet weekly/biweekly with them. However, some people do not have the time, access, or financial means to do so. This program offers expert advice from the comfort and convenience of home at a highly affordable price.

Here are a few of the many benefits you'll gain:

• Regulate metabolism
• Become attuned to internal cues
• Prevent excessive hunger
• Enjoy favorite foods without guilt
• Improve mood
• Have a better understanding of emotions
• Enhance energy levels
• Freedom from restriction or dieting
• Normalize your relationship with food

How does it work?

Step One: We will begin with an Initial Assessment done via email, which will establish the basis for our work together. This will provide me with the ability to tailor the program to best meet your individual needs.

Step Two: You will begin receiving weekly program lessons to guide you back to instinctive eating (remember, you were born knowing how to eat). Each lesson typically takes a couple of weeks to master, so the first lesson will be informative and the next week will be an active participation tool to reinforce the learning from the prior week.

Step Three: You will have unlimited email access to further enhance your progress in the program. This provides you with the opportunity to clarify concepts in the lessons, seek support in any struggles you may be having, and keep me posted with your progress.

Contact: Jennifer Pereira, RD, LD, CSCS to get started at: jenpernutrition@yahoo.com
Click Here To Get Started!

 

Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center

The Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. EDReferral.com provides information and treatment resources for all forms of eating disorders. EDReferral.com provides free referrals to eating disorder professionals, treatment facilities and support groups, etc. In addition, EDReferral.com offers general information to inform the public about the treatment and prevention of eating disorders...

More Info

Sad Loss of Beloved Colleague...

Mae S. Sokol, M.D. died November 17, 2007, after a long illness. She was a child psychiatrist who directed the Eating Disorder Program at Children's Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, and was a faculty member at Creighton Institute for Clinical Neuroscience and Psychopharmacology. She was a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders and the Eating Disorder Research Society. Her research interests were focused primarily on eating disorders and recently she had been studying the possibility that eating disorders in some patients are triggered by infections. Dr. Sokol was an outstanding clinician who will be sorely missed by her colleagues and patients. Her kindness and generosity will long be remembered by those of us fortunate to have known her.

Our community of professionals has lost an exceptional colleague. We send our condolences and deepest sympathy to her family and friends.

Flowers and gifts can be sent to the family of of Mae Sokol through her husband at the following address:

Scott Burger
916 S. 96th Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68114
***Donations can be sent in her name to the American Cancer Society.

Submitted by: Kelly L. Klump, Ph.D., FAED, Associate Professor Department of Psychology Michigan State University, 107B Psychology Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1116

Eating Disorder Hope is grateful for your support and patronage. We were fortunate to have had another successful year in 2007 and plan to share this success with you in 2008 by continuing to offer exciting new ideas, resources and information to encourage eating disorder recovery, promote wellness and build the success of your treatment program.

Sincerely,
--Jacquelyn Ekern
President @ Eating Disorder Hope, LLC