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Hope for a new year can be as bright as the sun rising on newly fallen snow. Timberline Knolls is one place where everyone looks forward to snow days, offering fun play outdoors and brisk walks along the many paths on campus.

Nutrition and Family Therapies Combine to Develop Meal Support Training for Family and Friends

New in 2011: Monthly Webinars Enhance Communications with Real Time Information

Jackie Dauw (left) and Loreta Stavskiene, Eating Disorder Coordinators, are among the team members at TK who train families to support their loved ones once they return home from residential treatment.

An old adage in the eating disorders field says, “No single treatment approach works for everyone.” The goal is to address both the physical and psychological aspects of the problem and treat medical and nutritional needs, promote a healthy relationship with food and teach constructive ways to cope with everyday life and its challenges. Often, a combination of nutrition therapy, family therapy and other group support works best.

Following residential treatment, recovery continues, and it is vital to a successful journey that the resident and her family and friends learn how to cope with and support the process. To assist the family when their loved one returns home, the Nutrition and Family Therapy staff at Timberline Knolls are taking a unique approach and developed Meal Support Training for Family and Friends, a transition program that helps smooth the way for the resident's return home.

“The Meal Support Training program prepares families in the most supportive way possible,” says Jackie Dauw, Eating Disorders Coordinator at Timberline Knolls. “The program is designed to facilitate the patient as she eases herself back into everyday life—allowing family members to give support and keep their loved one from becoming too overwhelmed or even relapsing.”

Meal Support Training for Family and Friends is the only type of program available that incorporates a collaborative approach of education, holistic and spiritual healing, and ongoing day-to-day support for patients throughout their lives—all staples in Timberline Knolls' recovery philosophy.

“TK's approach is different from any other program,” says Loreta Stavskiene, Eating Disorders Coordinator at TK who works closely with Jackie to provide education through psycho-educational groups, family sessions and in-the-moment coaching and support during meals and outings. “At Timberline Knolls, we involve the family with their loved one so when the resident leaves, her support network stays strong.”

Read More...

TK Partners with Nat’l Organization, Screening for Mental Health, to Support Eating Disorder Screenings at Colleges Nationwide

Eating disorders among college students are a serious health concern. With consequences ranging from chronic health problems to even death, many who suffer from eating disorders will often do their best to conceal them.

There's little doubt of the support college students need given these statistics:

• Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
• Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents.
• The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate of ALL causes of death for females 15-24 years old.
• 25 percent of college-aged women engage in binging and purging as a weight-management technique.

And it's a growing problem. A recent survey conducted by the American College Counseling Association found that 44 percent of students seeking counseling already had diagnosed psychiatric disorders. But experts agree that today's college students may not necessarily be less mentally healthy than in past generations. Rather, it could be that certain medications now allow vulnerable teens—who may not have made it to college in the past—to do well enough in high school to gain college admission and endure campus life.

Timberline Knolls has partnered with Doug Jacobs, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical and founder of Screening for Mental Health.

In an initiative to increase student understanding about eating disorders and help absorb the extra demand placed on college counselors, Timberline Knolls has teamed with Doug Jacobs, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical and president and CEO of Screening for Mental Health (SMH), to become a major national supporter of the organization's on-campus screening program, CollegeResponse. The goal for the Timberline Knolls/CollegeResponse partnership is to increase the number of college students who obtain screenings either in person or online by visiting the CollegeResponse website.

“College is a time when eating disorders present themselves,” said Kimberly Dennis, M.D. and medical director at Timberline Knolls. “While the start of college is usually a memorable event for many young people, for others, it can be a stressful period that triggers a dangerous battle with an eating disorder.”

Timberline Knolls begins outreach efforts to hundreds of college mental health professionals across the country on January 27 during a CollegeResponse Webinar when Dr. Dennis co-presents on the topic of eating disorders in college-aged females. Leigh Cohn of Gurze Books will also co-present, discussing eating disorders among college-aged males.

“From athletics to Greek life, various college-specific pressures can lead students to take drastic and dangerous measures to control their weight,” said Dr. Jacobs. “Through education, raised awareness and screenings, we hope to help the many young people who need it and ultimately save lives.”

Read More...

Volume 4 | Issue 1
January 2011| Lemont, Ill.

Connect with TK

Free Teleconference Tonight

Dr. Kimberly Dennis and Dr. Stan Selinger are the featured speakers for MentorCONNECT's January teleconference, Wednesday, January 12, 2011 from 8:00 p.m. - 9:15 p.m. (CST).

CLICK HERE ON
HOW TO REGISTER.

TK Adds Clinical Staff

Well-Known
Addiction Psychiatrist,
Dr. Iyad Alkhouri,
Joins Treatment Team

“The most important work we do at Timberline Knolls is develop a treatment plan specific to each resident.”

Dr. Iyad Alkhouri, a psychiatrist who specializes in the fields of addiction and child and adolescent psychiatry, has been appointed as staff psychiatrist at Timberline Knolls.

Dr. Alkhouri, who served as medical director of the University of Michigan Addiction Treatment Services prior to arriving at Timberline Knolls, completed fellowships in addiction psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati and in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Michigan.

He completed his residency at the University of North Dakota and obtained his medical degree from the University of Syria in Damascus.

Current Highlights

Medical News Today featured Dr. Kim Dennis on the recent report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics about hospitalizations for eating disorders in children under 12.

In her blog, “Food Fight,” Dr. Kim Dennis uses the opportunity to comment on the words selected by the New York Times dance critic to describe the lead dancer in the New York City Ballet.

Chicago women's health reporter, Sandy Dechert, from Examiner.com offered final comments on the life struggles of former French model, Isabelle Caro, featuring TK's Dr. Kim Dennis.

Click here to watch Todd
perform "Beautiful Plans."

Pastor Todd Warren, Spirituality Coordinator at Timberline Knolls and a nationally known Christian recording artist, rings in the new year with the song “Beautiful Plans.”

Click on your region to learn about conferences and events in your area

In addition to exhibiting at and sponsoring conferences across the country, TK offers its own educational and networking events for mental health professionals

TK in Your Area

Diane Carugati
East and Northeast Regions
215.882.3739
dcarugati@timberlineknolls.com

Kristen Powell
Midwest Region
630.484.7359
kpowell@timberlineknolls.com

Amy Sullivan
Central Region
913.626.2595
asullivan@timberlineknolls.com

Shannon DeVilbiss
South Central Region
214.862.8040
sdevilbiss@timberlineknolls.com

Christina Gorman
Northwest Region
312.608.1378
cgorman@timberlineknolls.com

Kara Miller
Southwest Region
949.413.6945
kmiller@timberlineknolls.com

Rachael Soliman
Southeast Region
224.829.6949
rsoliman@timberlineknolls.com

Julie Woodley
Wildflower Project
National Ministry
630.248.3881
jwoodley@timberlineknolls.com

Contact TK

40 Timberline Drive
Lemont, Illinois 60439
1.877.257.9611

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Serving with uncompromising care, relentless compassion and an unconditional joyful spirit while
helping our residents help themselves in their recovery.

Located just outside of Chicago on 43 beautiful acres, Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center offers a nurturing environment of recovery for women ages 12 and older who are struggling to overcome eating disorders, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center helps women and adolescent girls work to achieve lifelong healing using recovery principles that strengthen them spiritually, emotionally and socially.

For more information on Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center and our broad range of services,
please visit www.timberlineknolls.com or call 877.257.9611.