NEDA Week Activity: Reflections Event at Washington University

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   The Washington University Student Group, Reflections, seeks to promote positive body image and eating disorder education:

March 1st: Jess Weiner "Do I look fat in this?" Decoding the Language of Body- Seigle Hall Room 304 6-7PM 
Jess Weiner is this generation's go-to girl for self esteem. Jess Weiner will speak on on today's pressure to be beautiful, and motivates audiences to develop self-confidence, self-knowledge, and self acceptance. She understands the issues facing young women today because she has lived through trauma and drama herself, spending her teenage years struggling with eating disorders and low self-esteem, before finally starting along the path to recovery in college. She has chronicled her own self discovery and ultimate recovery from her disorders in her first book, A Very Hungry Girl. She serves as the Global Ambassador for the Dove Self-Esteem Fund, and serves a frequent contributor to The Today Show, CNN Showbiz Tonight, and The Tyra Banks Show. She has been featured on The View, Oprah, and in The New York Times.

NEDA Week Activity: Practice Mindful Eating

Mindful eating practices are effective in eliminating binge eating and helping one build a healthy relationship with food. By noticing and appreciating the flavors, textures, colors, aromas and anticipation of that next bite the experience of eating can become a pleasurable one -- free of guilt and shame. Start small- challenge yourself to start each meal today by taking your first bite mindfully and gradually build this practice over time!

Read more about mindful eating as "food for thought."

Contributed by Dr. Laura Bumberry, clinical psychologist at Webster Wellness Professionals, outpatient clinic to McCallum Place Eating Disorders Treatment Programs

What does it mean if a program says they "do Dialectical Behavior Therapy"?

We recently came across an article which asked the question, What does it mean if a program says they "do Dialectical Behavior Therapy"? The multidisciplinary team at McCallum Place's outpatient clinic, Webster Wellness Professionals, offers the only specialized Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) services for disordered eating in the state that have been certified by the Missouri Department of Health. We wanted to answer this question, but first, let's talk about what DBT is.

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT?

DBT is an effective treatment combining behavioral, cognitive, and supportive therapies. While DBT was originally designed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., to treat Borderline Personality Disorder, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts/behaviors, it has since been proven effective for a number of additional disorders, such as binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, substance abuse disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. DBT’s balance of acceptance, validation, and warmth with change-oriented approaches creates a supportive atmosphere for growth.

One of the main reasons people engage in desperate behaviors is to feel better or survive an overwhelming situation. Individuals with eating disorders often struggle with other self-destructive behaviors, such as self-injury and substance abuse, in addition to their eating disorder behaviors. These behaviors can become one’s primary means of coping with life because they have not learned effective alternatives that actually work. While these desperate behaviors may provide short-term relief, the long term costs to personal health, self-esteem, identity, mood, relationships, life accomplishments, and spiritual growth are far too great. It is impossible to fully experience and enjoy life while these behaviors are present. In DBT, a variety of skills are taught and practiced in each of the categories below, allowing you the freedom to break the cycle of self-destructive coping.

• Mindfulness- Being present and focused, learning to control your mind so it doesn’t control you
• Emotion Regulation- Emotional acceptance, decreasing emotional vulnerabilities, and regulating emotions effectively
• Distress Tolerance- Surviving crisis situations without making them worse
• Interpersonal Effectiveness- Handling conflict, asking for what you need effectively, and setting limits with others

Who can benefit from DBT for Eating Disorders?

If you have an eating disorder and struggle with any of the following, one of our DBT options may be right for you.

• Difficulty managing emotions
• Hiding your emotions from others
• Feeling numb or empty much of the time
• Binge eating/ Feeling out of control when eating
• Purging (self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, etc.)
• Restriction of food intake
• Recurrent self-injury or suicidal thoughts and/or actions
• Substance abuse or other addictive/impulsive behaviors
• Difficulties with relationships and trusting others

DBT for Eating Disorders (DBT-ED) Group at Webster Wellness Professionals

DBT-ED is designed for those struggling with binge eating, purging, food restriction, and potentially other self-destructive behaviors that stem from emotion regulation difficulties.
DBT-ED includes:

• Weekly individual sessions with a DBT specialist focused on support, motivation for treatment, reviewing target behaviors, and problem solving.
• Weekly skills training group to learn and practice MINDFULNESS, EMOTION REGULATION, DISTRESS TOLERANCE, and INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS skills.
• Coaching, as needed, involve contact with your individual therapist between sessions to strengthen and generalize the skills you have learned into your real life… where it matters most!

DBT for Emotional Overeating (DBT-EO)

DBT-EO is designed for those struggling primarily with binge eating or emotional overeating. It consists of an initial individual pre-treatment session, followed by weekly skills training groups where you will learn and practice MINDFULNESS, EMOTION REGULATION, DISTRESS TOLERANCE, and INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS SKILLS. Individual DBT sessions and coaching as listed above may be offered, but are not required for group participation.

To learn more about how Webster Wellness Professionals provides effective eating disorder and emotional overeating treatment from a Dialectical Behavior Therapy perspective, please call us 314-737-4070. As a leading eating disorder treatment center in St. Louis, our professional staff can help determine the best treatment for each individual by using a combination of effective, evidence-based techniques and therapies.

Washington University Student Group Hosts Eating Disorders Event "My Body, My Self" on 2/22

The Washington University student group Reflections seeks to promote positive body image and eating disorder education on its St. Louis campus. Reflections will kick off their eating disorders awareness week by hosting inspiring speaker, Caroline Rothstein, on February 22 from 6 to 7 p.m. This event is open to the public!

February 22nd: Caroline Rothstein "My Body, My Self" Ursa's Fireside 6-7 PM 

"My Body, My Self" is a spoken word poetry show and experience with performer, writer, and eating disorder recovery advocate Caroline Rothstein. In a culture where our emotional self-confidence and physical self-esteem are too often challenged, "My Body, My Self" is an effort to support and encourage college students in overcoming these obstacles. Caroline's poetry explores her personal experiences in a journey toward self-confidence and strength, and illustrates how the path towards body empowerment includes discovering and embracing our hobbies, intellectual curiosities, opinions about politics and current events, relationships, aspirations, and more. The “My Body, My Self” show includes pieces about body image, recovery, racial identity, gender and sexuality, privilege and class, and is part of a movement to help the current college-aged generation find confidence in their bodies, and passion for themselves.

McCallum Place and Webster Wellness Professionals Earns Joint Commission Accreditation

McCallum Place Eating Disorders Treatment Programs, and its outpatient clinic for obesity and eating disorders, Webster Wellness Professionals, has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in behavioral health care. The accreditation award recognizes McCallum Place’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards.

McCallum Place – offering residential, partial hospital, intensive outpatient, transitional living and outpatient services provided by Webster Wellness Professionals – underwent a rigorous on-site survey in January of 2012. Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated McCallum Place for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of individuals served and families, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.

"In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, McCallum Place has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for the people they serve," says Mary Cesare-Murphy, Ph.D., executive director, Behavioral Health Care Accreditation, The Joint Commission. “Behavioral Health accreditation is a voluntary process and I commend McCallum Place for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves.”

"With Joint Commission accreditation, we are making a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis through all levels of our organization,” says Kim McCallum, MD, CEO, Medical Director and Founder of McCallum Place. “Achieving Joint Commission accreditation is a major step toward maintaining excellence and continually improving the care we provide.”

The Joint Commission’s behavioral health care standards address important functions relating to the care of individuals served and the management of behavioral health care organizations. The standards are developed in consultation with behavioral health care experts, providers, measurement experts, individuals served and their families.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 1,700 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

Become An Activist: Make Your Voice Heard at the 4th Annual Eating Disorders Awareness Day

The 4th Annual Eating Disorders Awareness Day will take place on February 22 at the Missouri Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City, MO. Advocators will focus on educating legislators on the facts about eating disorders, and try to end the discrimination and limited access to treatment. Email star@myneda.org to register, or read more about how to make your voice heard.

Mantras for Motivation

Contributed by Erin Connelly, SLU Dietetics Student at McCallum Place
Sometimes we just need an extra push to get us back on track to acheive our goals. Below are Mantras for Motivation that can give you the jumpstart you've been looking for!

1.       “Just believe” – Researchers have found participants who went into an activity believing they would do well were better able to cope with stress and performed better than those who did not.

2.       “Finish Line” – When you’re feeling a lack of motivation, think about the end result. Picturing the reward at the end can give you a greater desire to start.

3.       “I earned it” – Plan for little pick-me-ups (for example, a cup of coffee, reading, listening to a favorite song) to follow something that is difficult for you to get through.

4.       “I run my own show” – Remind yourself that YOU are in control of your life and determine your happiness and success.

5.       “Reality check” – Keep goals concrete and attainable. If you’re setting your sights high, try breaking it up and reflecting on the achievements you’ve made along the way.