Disney World Can Wait – All Inclusive Ticket to Family Wellness

  Book Now: All Inclusive Ticket to Family Education & Wellness! The Family Program at Sanford Behavioral Health has been seven years in the making. Programs designed for our clients’ loved ones were created (and improved year-by-year) to include loved ones during treatment and beyond. Family wellness and involvement are essential components of a healthy […]

Eating Disorders and the Holiday Feast

  Expert Guidance on Navigating the Holidays: Forget About the “Clean Plate Club” Thanks to The Lakeshore West Michigan for their informed interview with Sanford Comprehensive Treatment for Eating Disorder’s Gail Hall, LMSW, DCSW, CEDS-S. During the holidays, those recovering from an eating disorder may find family meals stressful—likewise, the holiday traditions around food. Gail Hall […]

holiday feast cookies

Families Recovering Together Against Addiction

The family program at Sanford Behavioral Health was created to include our patients and their loved ones in the treatment process and beyond. At Sanford Behavioral Health, family involvement is crucial to a healthy, long-term recovery. And during this time, we are offering our family programs on virtual platforms. Our recovering together program is focused […]

a woman smiles while hugging a man and a young child hugs the woman hugging the man showing a family recovering together

These 10 Excuses are the Enemy to Your Recovery. Do Any Apply to You?

  It’s the holidays—the time for pageants at church and school, office parties, and family responsibilities. As a person in recovery, I can remember this time of year while in active addiction. On top of the crushing TO DO list of everyday holiday tasks, there was the exhausting schedule of drinking, planning to drink, and […]

Don’t Call it Gym Class: Recreational Therapy for Eating Disorders

  Recreational therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is essential to the comprehensive treatment of those with eating disorders at Sanford Behavioral Health. People seeking treatment may feel lost and disconnected from their identity, values, bodies, and leisure interests because of their eating disorder(s). This is where the recreational therapist steps in as part of […]

How Does Addiction Affect Family?

Addiction can significantly impact the entire family. It is important to understand how addiction affects family dynamics. Addiction can affect the family by increasing conflict and stress within the household, altering familial roles and responsibilities, and disrupting important relationships or communication between family members. Many addiction treatment programs offer family support and therapy services to […]

a father, mother, and two of their children are outside and happy together after learning how addiction affects family

Letting Go in Family Recovery (Happy Thanksgiving!)

  Once again, it’s the holiday season with a tradition of gathering and gift-giving to folks you care about! And Thanksgiving is the time we count our blessings and express gratitude – all part of the recovery process! At Sanford Behavioral Health, we care about our clients and  Excursions readers and have a little practical […]

ARFID – Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

  Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is avoidance of food/nutrition. Still, the avoidance is based on fear of choking or vomiting triggered by smells and textures, not anxiety about weight gain. It results in a loss of weight or a failure to gain weight at the rate expected along the developmental trajectory for a […]

Rae Green Interview: Embracing Body Acceptance – West MI Women

  Thank yous to West Michigan Magazine for the informed interview with Sanford Behavioral Health Founder, Rae Green. In honor of Body Acceptance Week, a new initiative from the National Eating Disorders Association, Rae gave her perspective on body acceptance as the holiday season approaches. Click the link below for the full article.   “Sanford […]

body acceptance Rae interview

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 […]

therapist advice