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Staff Spotlight- Deborah Hinds- Nutritionist

 

Castlewood nutritionist, Deborah Hinds, has a wonderful marriage, beautiful children and a rewarding career. She is committed to the recovery process with her clients because she has been there.   In her late teens and early twenties, Deborah was plagued with anorexia, binging, purging and hoarding food.  When Deborah went to treatment her experience was one of medical stabilization, very little therapy, and a lack of compassion and understanding. She left treatment with little insight gained, no sense of what she was eating, and negative body image. Deborah said, “I had no accurate sense of hunger and fullness.” Deborah’s road to recovery lacked the appropriate therapeutic approach to understand and treat what lied beneath the behaviors. This is what Deborah works to understand with her clients;  what no one  initially tried to understand in her.

Deborah has made it her personal mission to make sure that she never allows a client to feel the hopeless despair that she felt.  It is a priority for her to make sure each client knows they have her support and attention.  It is because of her past that she has such empathetic understanding, and a solid foundation to the successful treatment of eating disorder. She meets the clients where they are and supports them through the many stages of treatment with encouragement from  prior experience.

Deborah is a firm believer that recovery is not a pipe dream, but an attainable reality.  She was able to commit to the recovery process and prosper. Deborah will be the first person to not only tell you, but prove to you that it is possible.  The recovery process is a true reality, she experienced it herself, and she is motivated to help guide her clients down the same path.

It was eleven years ago when Deborah came to work at Castlewood.  Deborah has been a crucial part of the treatment team, due in part, to her experienced perspective.  “I know that left to my own devices I wouldn’t be here today, I had to learn to trust other people and my body and to invest in myself and be honest with people about who I am, what I think and be true to that,” said Deborah.  She continues to evolve and grow because she has a supportive world around her both personally and professionally.

“I continue to check in with my feelings and I learned I never have to be alone again,” said Deborah. During her eleven years at Castlewood she has gotten married, started a family and guided countless numbers of clients towards their own road to recovery.

Deborah feels that her recovery positively impacts her work with clients, “I am uniquely able to empathize with and relate to my clients journey and challenges because I actually have walked in their shoes. This enables me to have a better understanding of their recovery process, “ stated Deborah.   She is able to provide what was  lacking in her treatment to her clients at Castlewood. During her nutritional counseling sessions and at the table she works with clients to develop accurate hunger fullness cues, to address all maladaptive and ED behaviors,  and to address their negative body image. Her recovery process makes her exclusively qualified to meet the clients  where they are, provide motivation and assist in guiding them towards a successful recovery.

 

Monitoring Program

Our dedication to helping clients in their continued pursuit of recovery is the motivation behind our monitoring program at Castlewood. Individuals leaving Castlewood are monitored each month in order to provide support and coordination with their treatment team at home.  The goals of the program are to:

  1. Follow-up with clients on their discharge plan
  2. Assess client’s past treatment
  3. Offer resources in their area
  4. Be available for “snags” that get them off-course

As an extension to our relapse prevention program, clients are now monitored for six months following treatment.  This unique program includes a personal phone call and a structured clinical interview once a month for six months.  We are providing clients with both a specialized and individualized support program allowing open communication with Castlewood staff.  A one-on-one opportunity is provided to clients, allowing them to make contact with Castlewood staff, therefore, assisting with their follow-up care. This significant program also allows us the opportunity to coordinate with the referring outpatient team and provide quality continuing care.

Our new Alumni Relations Counselor, Nancy Finefield, is dedicated to maintaining communication between Castlewood and clients. “This is a wonderful opportunity for clients and the feedback has been amazing. Clients are extremely appreciative of the phone calls and many have told me that they are so grateful because Castlewood saved their life,” reports Nancy.

Continue reading “Monitoring Program” »

In Memory of Christine Hartline- Founder of EDreferral.com

Christine Hartline, the founder of EDReferral passed away in late March from a long battle with breast cancer. In honor of Christine who gave so much to so many, particularly in the field of eating disorders, through her commitment of time, energy, knowledge and passion, the Christine Hartline FUND FOR ED Treatment had been created. The fund was the idea of many of Christine’s colleagues including Carolyn Costin, Sharon Peterson, Johanna Kandel, Gail Schoenbach, Lisa Kantor, and Kathleen MacDonald. We are thankful to Kevin, Christine’s husband, for allowing us to offer this opportunity for people to remember Christine.

The fund is set up thru the F.R.E.E.D. Foundation (For Recovery & Elimination of Eating Disorders), a 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to raising funding for people to receive treatment. All donations are tax deductible and 100% of monies go directly to an individual’s treatment.  The foundation  will let Christine’s husband Kevin know how the money raised was used, as well as send you a receipt and acknowledgement for your donation.

If you have any questions about donating, please contact Kathleen by Email: kathleen@freedfoundation.org

 

 

Happy Anniversary Castlewood

Theresa Chesnut, LCSW shares her personal insights as Castlewood celebrates its 12th anniversary:

As I take a few moments to reflect on Castlewood’s  12th anniversary, I am taken aback by the totality of it all.  Recently I was at Castlewood II right before breakfast time and I slowed down for a moment  – clients were preparing their breakfast and staff were gathering everyone to sit for the meal.  I recall having a moment of awe – observing how everything seemed to move so effortlessly and in a calm and connected way.  Wondering, “ how did that happen?” How did Castlewood go from day one with  2 clients, a handful of staff, one large house  to where it is today… Twelve years later, with two thriving residential homes, a brand new Day Treatment house, Step Down apartments and 75 members of our staff.

But, actually, I know how it happened – it wasn’t effortless at all.  It has been under the leadership of Mark Schwartz, Lori  Galperin and Nancy Albus and the countless hours of dedication from  every other staff member. From those who have been with us a REALLY long time (Deborah Hinds, Iness Panni, Carman Booker, Sam Young, Stacey Sisson, Jim Gerber) to those who have recently joined us the past couple of years as we have continued to thrive and continue to create a truly healing, life transforming place to recover. I reflect back on the years of facilitating ED groups and am so aware of how honored and privledged  I have been to be a participant in my group member’s recovery process.  The transformation that I have seen with clients and their families is unbelievably remarkable.  I am also keenly aware of how I have transformed as well in regard to how I understand the development of eating disorder and most importantly the recovery process.  For years I have been known to encourage people to ‘protect your recovery at all costs’ and recently I have realized you can’t protect your recovery if you don’t practice your recovery.  So these days, I am encouraging clients to be aware of when they are practicing their ED verses recovery.  I will be writing more about this most recent understanding in an upcoming blog…   until then,  I am humbled and grateful for this professional and personal journey  and having been a part of Castlewood.

Missouri Legislation for Eating Disorders

A letter from the Missouri Psychologists Association regarding potential legislation:

We continue to make progress on HB 1509 (Sponsor: Rep. Stream) which would mandate coverage for eating disorders by private insurers in Missouri. I am meeting with a representative from the National Eating Disorders Association who has been working with Rep. Stream on the legislation from the beginning. We will be covering both the clinical evidence that would support this legislation but also the financial evidence that would make this a cost-effective measure.  If you have a moment, please contact your state representative and tell him/her that you support HB 1509 or on the senate side SB 634 (Sponsor: Sen.Pearce).

Also regarding this legislation we are drafting language that wouldinclude psychologists specifically in name as providers who work with individuals suffering from eating disorders and who are often providing first-line treatments to these individuals of empirically supported treatments (e.g., CBT).  Both Rep. Stream and Sen. Pearce were receptive to including psychologists in the bill as an amendment.

This probably won’t get passed this session, but we’re working to make the bill even stronger for next year and one that is more psychologist-friendly.

Another example of MOPA working hard for Missouri psychologists’s interests.

Richard P. Martielli, ABPP
MOPA President

Castlewood Treatment Center encourages anyone that feels compelled to write a letter urging your state representative to support this legislation. This will be another step forward towards equal coverage for Eating Disorders.

 

Preferred Provider Workshops 2012

Castlewood Treatment Center will host 3 Preferred Provider Workshops: Advanced Training in the Treatment of Eating Disorders in 2012. Providers from across the country are invited to attend one of these weekends free of charge and experience world class lectures on the treatment of Eating Disorders.  The three weekends are April 27-29th, 2012, July 13-15th, 2012 & October 26-28th, 2012.  This workshop is hosted at our new conference center on the property of Castlewood II.  The weekend provides opportunities for professional education, question and answer with our staff, as well as tours of our treatment facilities.

Topics for the conference range from techniques of exposure therapy, family work, expressive therapies and our innovative work in facilitating secure attachment. Our featured speaker, Dr. Richard Schwartz, Ph.d, will demonstrate his incredible work in removing the blocks impeding recovery.  Please see the schedule below for more information on the details of the conference.

For additional information or to register for one of these weekends please contact Deanna James at info@castlewoodtc.com

Accommodations

Castlewood has a discounted rate the following two area hotels:

Wildwood Hotel - 2801 Fountain Place, Wildwood, MO 63040 Phone: (636) 733-9100

Drury Plaza Chesterfield- 355 Chesterfield Center  Chesterfield, MO 63017 Phone: (636) 532-3300

Conference Schedule

Friday Schedule

8:00 AM- Registration and Breakfast

8:30-10:00 AM Comprehensive Treatment Model – Mark Schwartz, SC.D

10:20-12:00 PM Facilitating Self-Development in Women- Lori D. Galperin, LCSW

12:00-12:40 PM- Lunch Provided by Castlewood Chefs

12:40-2:00 PM Comprehensive Treatment of Eating Disorders- Erin McGinty, LPC & Laura Wood, LPC

2:15-3:30 PM Moving from Disorganized to Secure Attachment- Mike Rechtien, PLPC

3:45-5:00 PM Recovery from Eating Disorders Part I- Theresa Chesnut, LCSW

5:00-7:00 pm- Reception & Tours- Castlewood staff will host a reception and tours of our residential facilities.

Saturday Schedule
8:00 AM- Breakfast

830-10:00 AM Internal Family Systems with Eating Disorder Clients- Richard Schwartz, Ph.D

10:20-12:00 PM Expressive Therapies with Parts Lori Galperin, LCSW- Laura Wood, PLPC

12:15-1:30 Internal Family Systems- Videotaped Segments Richard Schwartz, Ph.D- Lunch will be provided

1:45-3:00 PM Treatment of Anxiety Disorder with Eating Disorder clients- Erin McGinty, LPC

3:15-4:00  Mindfulness and Approaches to Anxiety Management- Marcio Guzman, Ph.D

4:00- 5:00 pm Nutritional Therapies- Alyssa Salz, MS, RD, LD.

Sunday Schedule
8:00 am- Breakfast

8:30-10:00 AM Treatment of Sexual Desire and Sexual Arousal Disorders- Mark Schwartz, Sc.D

10:15-11:15 AM Medical Management of ED- Dawn Holemon, MD

11:30-12:30 PM Recovery from Eating Disorders Part II-  Theresa Chesnut, LCSW

New Step Down House Opens!

Castlewood Treatment Center is proud to announce that our new Step- Down House is open for residents!! This new residence is available for those clients participating in either our Day Treatment or our Step Down PHP programs.  Current clients moved into the new facility and are enjoying the brand new bedrooms, community space and ambiance that only Castlewood can provide. The house has 8 beds, a conference room, and a lower level group space. This group space will provide more room for family weeks and workshops. Not only do our clients benefit from this new beautiful space, but our Family Week is now much more comfortable.

The new Step Down House is located on the hill above Castlewood II. This important transition allows us to continue working with individuals who step down prematurely from Residential and are not quite ready for the freedom of apartment living.  Since the new Step Down House is located on the grounds of Castlewood II, we are uniquely able to offer 24 hour support nearby for these clients.

Castlewood is proud to offer quality treatment programs that meet our client’s needs for a PHP program with free transitional living. For more information about this facility or any of are other programs please contact Castlewood at 636-386-6611.

 

 

 

Understanding Binge Eating Disorder

Several recent studies on Binge Eating Disorder have found that disordered eating may be linked to attention deficit and a lack of self awareness. Translated this may mean that those that suffer from BED may need to work towards increased self awareness and develop a more cohesive self concept. For those of us that treat eating disorders, the struggle with identity and self awareness is not a new concept but having research to back it can often help with treatment.

In one recent study, psychologists at Geneva University in Switzerland tested the cognitive abilities of three groups—obese individuals with BED, obese individuals without BED and a normal-weight control group. They found that obese participants had difficulties with inhibition and focusing their attention. These cognitive deficits were most severe in the BED group, which points to a “continuum of increasing inhibition and cognitive problems with increasingly disordered eating,” the authors wrote in the journal Appetite last August.

A different study in the August issue of the Western Journal of Nursing Re­searchfound that low executive func­tion—the cognitive capacity for self-understanding and self-regulation—is correlated with both obesity and symptoms of ADHD. And several other studies have linked distraction with overeating. The study found that focusing on one’s meal was linked to eating less later in the day—although for someone with ADHD, such focus can prove challenging.
Taken together, these results suggest that treatment for binge eating may need to include strengthening mental functions such as attention and self-awareness.

For more information visit full article.

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