Please note that this is an Archived article and may contain content that is out of date. The use of she/her/hers pronouns in some articles is not intended to be exclusionary. Eating disorders can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights.

IT’S ALWAYS THE SEASON FOR LOVING KINDNESS

Michael E. Berrett, PhD

First of all, I express on behalf of myself and all at Center for Change, gratitude for the friendship you have freely given to us. That friendship has been more sharply in focus, as personal ponderance of the holiday season begins.

With the holidays just around the corner, we have a chance to reflect on the “reason for the season.” We all know that it is up to us, each one, to put meaning on the holiday season, and to make whatever changes, adjustments, and attitude shifts needed to make the holidays “meaningful ” in our lives. For some, a meaningful holiday season may include in some way, gratitude for family, giving to those in need, and a sweet departure from the crushing busyness of life, into moments of connection to the sacred, and to relationships of highest priority. It is a season, even a grand opportunity, for love.

In our field of medical, dietary, and psychotherapeutic treatment of illness, science, as important as it is, can begin to overshadow another side of healing: art, relationship, spirituality, and love. I have come to know where to find the important evidence based models and manuals of EMDR, FBT, ACT, CBT and DBT. I know where to find them, because in my work, I attend to science, and recognize the blessing that it is to our patients. However, that which seems a little harder to find nowadays in our field of treatment, are conversations about regard, compassion, and emotional closeness, love, and kindness which are also important in the process of healing and recovery. What happened to the concept of love in the hallways of academia and the front lines of practical treatment?

While many capable and caring providers integrate loving kindness into their work, we don’t see much research, writing, or training on love as a healing agent. While love alone is never enough for recovery from illness, what could be more important as a basic ingredient in a prescription for healing?

As the holiday season approaches, and as I reflect on my life of defeat and victory, heart break and love, adversity and blessings, and stress and serenity, I have come to know that the most meaningful of all experiences have been small moments in which there has been an exchange – the giving or receiving of loving kindness. That understanding was strengthened a couple days ago as my daughter and I visited in a hospital with a good friend and colleague, one of the loveliest souls on the planet, in the dark shadow of being stricken with cancer of the most deadly of types. She taught us on that day, just as many times before, what loving kindness is as she expressed her care and concern for us.

May we notice the intentions and acts of kindness that grace our lives, and may we notice, and move into expression and action when opportunities to give love and kindness show up at the doorstep of our life. As we do so, at least two lives will change for the better.

Sincerely,

Michael (Dr.B)

Michael E. Berrett, PhD

Psychologist, CEO, Co-founder

Center for Change, Orem, Utah

 

Did You Know?

Did you know there are important differences between acute inpatient care and residential care?  Acute inpatient care facilitates medical and psychological stabilization and provides specialized structure and therapy for managing eating disorder symptoms and patterns.  Residential care provides ongoing structure and treatment which improves medical and emotional stability over time.

Center for Change offers both acute inpatient treatment and residential treatment and is known for the high level of clinical interventions offered at both levels of care.  Did you know that patients at Center for Change receive four (4) primary therapy sessions/week on the acute inpatient level?!  This is in addition to dietary counseling, medical rounding, psychiatric rounding, and seventeen (17) different group offerings.

For more information, please call 888-224-8250 and ask to speak to our warm and experienced admissions team.

 

Happenings at Center for Change

 

Please welcome Rita Lawson and Kari Jacobson to Center for Change!

Rita started working in the eating disorders field in 1998 at Center for Change.  For 13 years she gained valuable experience working in a variety of capacities at the Center, and then transitioned to an outreach role for another eating disorder program for the past two years.  We are thrilled that Rita has returned to CFC and is the Business Development Representative for the Center in the South Central region of the US.

Kari has been in the mental healthcare and addiction treatment field for more than 16 years.  She has extensive experience in admissions and business development for both the adolescent and young adult populations.  Kari is the Business Development Representative in Utah and surrounding states, as well as working with Educational Consultants across the country.

We are excited to have Rita and Kari join our Business Development Team!

 

Upcoming Events

Annual Renfrew Conference
November 8-10, 2013
Philadelphia, PA
Look for our CEO, Michael E. Berrett, PhD at this event

IECA Fall Conference
November 13-16, 2013
San Diego, CA
Say hi to our Business Development Director, Tamara Noyes and one of our Business Development reps, Kari Jacobson

2013 TABS Conference
December 5-7, 2013
Boston, MA
Please look for Tamara Noyes and Melissa Smith, PhD in Boston.  Dr. Smith will be presenting at this conference.

iaedp-Utah Winter Gala
December 7, 2013
Salt Lake City, UT

Bay Area Event Jessica Setnick, MS, RD, CEDRD
December 13, 2013
Campbell, CA
Center for Change is sponsoring this special eating disorder training for professionals.
Please register here