Anorexia in Larger Bodies? Busting Misdiagnosis and Stigma
When you think of anorexia, what is the mental picture you have? Images of an emaciated individual come to mind: a whisp of a young woman, clothes hanging off a skeletal frame. In reality, serious eating disorders can occur in individuals of all body sizes, any gender, and most ethnic groups. Only 7% of […]
Clinical Therapist Advice – Work With a Team Before Going Solo
I started my career as a therapist in the Intern Program at Sanford Behavioral Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was called “Sanford House” in early 2018, and we were managing outpatient addiction treatment in the carriage house at Sanford House at Cherry Street for Women. I was fortunate enough to shadow an amazing […]
Body Acceptance & Diet Culture – A Parent’s Guide
In October, we celebrate Body Acceptance Week (National Eating Disorders Association) and at Sanford Behavioral Health we support NEDA. In fact, eating disorder programming has shaped the way the entire organization looks at body acceptance and meals. We know that body dissatisfaction is a risk factor in the development of an eating disorder. But […]
Bulimia Nervosa – Breaking the Binge Purge Cycle
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by patterns of consuming a large amount of food in a short amount of time (bingeing) and eliminating calories consumed (purging). The most common compensatory behavior is vomiting. Other compensatory behaviors are using laxatives or diuretics, excessive exercise; extreme fasting; and manipulating insulin or other medications. Someone […]
Recovery Summit 2022 – Limelight Interview
It is National Recovery Month, and what better time to interview representatives from St. Claire County Community Mental Health (SCCCMH). They are an organization that exemplifies the best in community mental health support and partnership. We sat down with Executive Director, Debra Johnson, and Karen Zultak, CCBHC Project Director, to talk about their 3rd […]
Men’s Alcohol Addiction – The Bad and Good News
Let us begin with the bad news: statistically men are more likely to use every type of illegal and legal drug than women. When it comes to men’s alcohol addiction, men drink more than women in every category. This includes binge drinking, overall consumption, and substance use disorders. According to a CDC Fact Sheet […]
Yes, Alcohol Ruins Relationships – Best of Excursions Magazine
Every day at Sanford Behavioral Health people come to us for help. One of the most frequent queries is, “Will alcohol ruin my relationship?” We are also asked, “Will my wife’s/husband’s/partner’s drinking cause divorce?” Finally, these individuals ask, “How do I know if my loved one has a drinking problem?” Of course, all these […]
Avoiding Clinician Burnout With Self-Care
When I was a newly graduated counselor, over thirty years ago, I took my first job in an outpatient alcohol and drug treatment center. I didn’t know about clinician burnout, but I remember my feelings of anxiety upon seeing my first clients. At the time, I wondered, “What treatment modality should I apply?” I […]
Anorexia Nervosa – When Is It Time for Residential Treatment?
Anorexia Nervosa Is the refusal of food/nutrition, along with an obsessional fear of gaining weight or “becoming fat”. This results in a disturbance in the way body image is seen and experienced. In other words, the individual with anorexia not only believes their body is larger than it is, but they also experience it […]
Fox 17 Interview – Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus
Thank you to Fox 17 and reporter Marisa Oberle for taking the time to visit Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus. Sanford West, the newest addition to Sanford Behavioral Health’s facilities, is well positioned to treat high acuity patients with an integrated approach to addiction, eating disorders, mental health and medical conditions. All of Sanford’s programs are backed by a multidisciplinary team of medical and […]
