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For many, summertime means vacations, long, warm days, and a much-appreciated break from school or work. It is a season of sunshine and recreation. For the millions of people with an eating disorder, however, summer often means something much more difficult than carefree leisure and freedom. As the school year ends and summer approaches, now is the time to plan for and address the common challenges facing people with eating disorders during the summer. In this article, we discuss some key factors that make this season difficult for those affected by these illnesses and describe how providers and loved ones can help to connect them with support. While no time of the year is easy for those with eating disorders, the summer season presents unique difficulties that can trigger and worsen symptoms if left unchecked. Changes in routine and environment, as well as additional food-related activities and body image concerns, are among the particular factors that can make the summer especially difficult. Learn more about how changes affect eating disorder symptoms, what the signs are that someone might be struggling, and how you can help your patient or loved one.
In 2018, Christine Ringo joined Accanto Health, the parent company of The Emily Program, Veritas Collaborative, and Gather Behavioral Health. She started at Veritas’ eating disorder treatment center in Atlanta, Georgia, and has worked in four roles within the organization including Therapeutic Assistant or Behavioral Health Technician (BHT), Site Trainer, Talent Acquisition Business Partner (TABP), and Talent Acquisition Team Lead. “I had the pleasure of working on-site at our Atlanta eating disorder treatment center for about three and a half years before transitioning to our remote Talent Acquisition team. Seeing the client’s recovery firsthand is incredibly moving and knowing that I am a part of bringing on new staff to care for our clients is incredibly motivating,” said Christine. “Something unique about treating eating disorders is the culture. It is essential that we build a culture where staff are sensitive to the needs of the eating disorder population and have strong collaboration and teamwork skills to help our clients thrive in their recovery journeys. It is also important that our nutritional philosophies are counter to the diet culture ideas that are so pervasive in American culture. In the eating disorder treatment space, being anti-diet culture is so beneficial for our clients, and our staff learn a lot too,” she said. Read more from Christine at the link below.
**Content warning: This is one person’s story; everyone will have unique experiences in recovery and beyond. Some stories may mention eating disorder thoughts, behaviors, and symptoms. Please use your discretion when reading and speak with your support system as needed. Abby Anderson (she/her) is from the Twin Cities area and underwent treatment at The Emily Program following her anorexia nervosa diagnosis in the spring of 2018. After graduating from business school in 2020, Abby worked in corporate retail and consulting before eventually finding her passion in healthcare. Today, Abby works in a job that blends her skillset with her vested interest in eating disorder treatment, research, education, and accessibility. Abby spends her free time hanging out with friends, doing yoga, listening to podcasts, taking long walks outside, and, of course, writing. In this blog, Abby tells us about her new book, Eaten Alive: Anorexia: Learning to Thrive after Living to Survive, how writing her memoir supported her healing, and why others should join her in pushing back against societal misconceptions of health. Read Abby's interview and learn more about her experience at the link below.
At Accanto Health, we are committed to fostering a culture of acceptance and respect for staff and clients alike. Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Council, led by an EDI Advisory Council, guides us in upholding these values and enacting meaningful change within our organization and beyond. Today, we are thrilled to highlight the passion of several members of our EDI Advisory Council. These staff, representing both The Emily Program and Veritas Collaborative brands, are at the forefront of the Council’s work to advocate for change, create safe spaces, amplify marginalized voices, and celebrate diversity and community. Their voices are a testament to the spirit of our EDI Council in action. The impact generated by the EDI Advisory Council extends beyond Accanto Health’s treatment services. For Katie McMahon, an Outpatient CBT/CBT-E Therapist and Clinical Trainer at our Cleveland, Ohio site, the Council has not only been a great opportunity to make real changes to how both staff and clients are served at Accanto, but also a “space for social justice issues to be elevated to the front of the priority list.” Mia Denuit, a Behavioral Health Specialist at the Anna Westin House West, also stresses the necessity of inclusivity. “I want to make sure that people from all walks of life are being seen, understood, and celebrated,” she shares. “My goals lie in uplifting those who have been excluded from the conversation.” Read more from our EDI Council below.
The Emily Program is excited to announce that we’ve expanded our services to meet the increasing need for adult residential programming in Ohio. Our new Columbus residential program will provide exceptional, individualized care to adults of all genders struggling with eating disorders. “We’re thrilled to extend residential care to more individuals in Columbus,” says Site Director Jennifer Beck, LPCC-S. “Eating disorders are serious illnesses, but they are also highly treatable. Access to effective care at the appropriate level is crucial. Residential treatment isn’t widely available in the region, so we’re pleased to fulfill this critical need.” Ohio is home to an estimated 1,029,001 people grappling with eating disorders, and the consequences of untreated illnesses are staggering. Eating disorders have the second-highest mortality rate among mental health conditions, only surpassed by opioid use disorder. The right care at the right time is key to recovery. Learn more at the link below.
Accanto Health, a national leader in eating disorder specialty care and behavioral health services, announced the appointment of veteran behavioral health executive Dr. Tom Britton as CEO this week. Accanto Health encompasses renowned brands The Emily Program, Veritas Collaborative, and Gather Behavioral Health. "As the awareness of eating disorders and the need for quality, compassionate care continues to grow, it's vital to have our next leader be someone who understands multi-site behavioral health care services and appreciates the unique needs of clients, families, and staff" said Dirk Miller, Executive Chair of Accanto Health and Founder of The Emily Program. "Tom's passion for behavioral health and his commitment to excellence in care and walking beside those we serve make him the right fit to lead us forward." Britton expressed his excitement about joining Accanto Health, stating, “It is an incredible honor and privilege to join Accanto Health in the role of CEO. The merger of The Emily Program and Veritas Collaborative as well as the launch of Gather Behavioral Health has provided individuals in this country living with eating disorders comprehensive access to care and the tools necessary to enjoy a life of recovery.” Read more at the link below.
This year marks The Emily Program's 30th anniversary of providing compassionate eating disorder treatment to individuals from all walks of life. We've expanded dramatically since our humble beginnings in a tiny St. Paul office, and we now offer in-person and virtual eating disorder treatment in 15 locations across Minnesota, Ohio, Washington, and Pennsylvania. We look forward to the journey ahead, as we work to further our reach to as many individuals and families with eating disorders as possible. Our vision is a world of peaceful relationships with food, weight, and body image, where everyone with an eating disorder can experience recovery. Learn more about our story below!
From the article: The colonial history, stigma and inequitable access to healthcare in the U.S. prevents many Native Americans from seeking healing services and support. Clinical practice, policy and research methods often fail to capture the features of pain and suffering experienced across Native communities living on tribal lands and across the U.S.A. Transforming mental health care for Natives means increasing Native clinicians and creating greater accessibility to services. For non-Native providers, this means adopting a decolonized framework to mental health. Doing so looks like accepting an Indigenous view of the world as a mutually supportive system with the cosmos, where well-being is balanced between body, mind and spirit. Read the full article at the link below. This article was written by Jesse Valentin, MSW, LICSW, a Diné two-spirit enrolled member of Navajo Nation and therapist at Gather Behavioral Health who provides consultancy for Indigenous mental health curriculum and program design. Gather Behavioral Health is an outpatient services initiative of the Accanto Health family of services which includes The Emily Program and Veritas Collaborative.
Olympic champion cross-country skier Jessie Diggins, who won an individual world title earlier this year, has been open about experiencing an eating disorder relapse this summer after 12 years of recovery. She continues to share her recovery journey in hopes it will help others. "Mental health is physical health. So eating disorders are not a behavioral choice. It's mental health," Diggins said. "I think it can be really challenging, and really scary, and a little bit of a taboo subject. It makes me feel really vulnerable putting myself out there because everyone knows something really big about me. But at the same time, I'm trying to change the culture of sport for the better so that we can change the way that we talk about and address mental health." Diggins first sought help with The Emily Program as a teenager and is now an ambassador for the organization. Eating disorder recovery is not linear for anyone and athletes are at higher risk for eating disorders. Read more about Diggins’ journey and eating disorder recovery at the link below.
To meet clients where they are in their recovery journeys, The Emily Program offers a variety of treatment programs. Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, race, or background, there is a recovery path for anyone. Our day treatment programs are ideal for those looking to practice recovery skills in their everyday lives while receiving comprehensive, evidence-based treatment with greater structure and support than outpatient sessions, but more flexibility than residential care. These programs include partial hospitalization/intensive day programs (PHP/IDP) and our intensive outpatient program (IOP). Read more about how our PHP/IDP and IOP programs impact client recovery at the link below.
