Blog

Category: anxiety reduction

Self-Love in the Time of Coronavirus

In the past several weeks the foundation on which many of us experience our lives has been pretty severely shaken. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, I would spend my days running art therapy groups and working alongside patients and their families battling eating disorders. Now, like many of you, I spend my days at home … Read More

Moving Toward Recovery II

Caroline H Leibman, MA Ed, BC-DMT, NCC, SEP Individual Therapist; Dance & Movement, Expressive & Psychodrama Group Therapist   In my previous blog I shared the important role of the Creative Arts therapies in Eating Disorders treatment. I cited Dance/Movement Therapy, Authentic Movement, Somatic Experiencing, Yoga Therapy and Mindful Walking as specific therapies and/or body-based … Read More

Eating Disorders in the School Setting

Julie Rami, M.A. Ed., B.S. Spec. Ed. McCallum Place Teacher Nancy Anderson, B.S. Ed. McCallum Place Teacher Many times an educator is the first person who notices some of the warning signs of an eating order. Think of all the time that a student spends in a classroom setting and how many different people consistently … Read More

Ecotherapy with Eating Disorders

Written by Cliff Hamrick, LPC, McCallum Place Austin In his book, Biophilia (1984), biologist E. O. Wilson suggested the biophilia hypothesis, which states that humans have a natural affinity towards other living systems. These living systems include large systems such as forests, oceans, and fields, but can also include smaller systems such as leaves, feathers, … Read More

Self-Soothing Techniques when Feeling Traumatized

Written by Cristina Smugala, LPC When a person experiences trauma, their body decrease the ability to control their emotions. As Mollon’s research suggested, the experience of trauma deregulates the individual’s ability to regulate emotional experience and manage physical arousal (Mollon, 2005). This process may leave the trauma survivor very attune and vulnerable to any emotional, … Read More

Dance Movement Therapy

Written by Daisy Thompson, LMSW, LCDC-I “Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.” -Samuel Becket According to the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) dance movement therapy (DMT) is a well-established psychotherapeutic intervention which is based on the empirically supported concept that body, mind, and spirit are interconnected, and that the psychotherapeutic use of movement … Read More

Starting the Conversation—College Life, Eating Disorders and Comorbidity

Written by Stephanie Bagby-Stone, MD When it comes to struggling with an eating disorder, college is a high risk time. The median age of onset for most eating disorders occurs during these years.2 Studies on college campuses report that nearly 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have disordered eating or unhealthy weight … Read More

Healing Self Judgment with Improvisation

Written by Rachel Makorsky, LCSW, Therapist at McCallum Place Austin Many of us have experienced self-judgment and self-critical thinking. It does not feel good. For clients suffering from an eating disorder, self-judgment can be a common challenge. Currently at McCallum Place Austin, we facilitate an innovative group called “Therapeutic Improvisation.” The rules, skills and lessons … Read More

Yoga in Eating Disorder Treatment

Written by Caroline McCarter, E-RYT, Therapist at McCallum Place Austin The benefits of using Yoga as an adjunct treatment for eating disorders (ED) are vast. I have first-hand experience of the progress my clients make using Yoga psychology (neutral investigation into behaviors), mindful movement (creating linkage between the mind and body by way of the … Read More