About Abigail Natenshon
Over 35 Years of Eating Disorder Specialty Practice
 
Contact Me
(847) 432-1795
 

Certified
Eating Disorder Specialist
 
 

Read about Abbie’s Books
 
Abbie's free online-access textbook chapters and journal publications
 
New Online Telehealth Eating Disorder Therapy Groups Offered
 
 
 
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Are You Seeking Treatment Services?

 

Are you wondering if certain eating habits and/or body image concerns could mark the onset of a clinical eating disorder?

·         Does it frighten you to think that an eating disorder might be fatal?

·         Are you of the (erroneous) belief that an eating disorder is incurable?

·         If you are currently in treatment, do you feel discouraged that your progress is not what it should be?

·         Finally, as a patient, do you find yourself at a loss for where to turn to find the quality of expert help you and/or your child deserve? If so, you have come to the right place….

It may surprise you to know that when treatment is responsive to the unique demands of these disorders and requirements for care, successful outcomes are clearly within reach in 80% of cases.  During the 41 years of my psychotherapy practice, I have brought many hundreds of hard-to-treat eating disorder patients to complete recovery, mentoring and motivating them to learn to discover more effective means for managing and resolving life's problems.

 

It takes courage to initiate a search for expert care

In choosing a therapist, you require, and deserve, a clear picture of that professional's treatment qualifications and capacity for empathy and therapeutic connection. I invite you to contact me (847-432-1795) to discuss how I work, my philosophy of treatment, and any concerns and questions you might have about yourself, eating disorders, and/or the treatment and recovery processes. It takes courage to pick up the phone to make this first leap of faith towards healing.

Even as early as this very first encounter, you should be able to discern the quality of a therapist's knowledge and caring. If you are currently engaged in treatment that has not been effective, your next effort needs to be different. It is time to do "what works," to secure treatment that is change-focused and outcome-driven, to rest assured that you have found an advocate and mentor fully capable and committed to walking this path together with you.

You are invited to seek additional support, as well, in browsing my website, www.empoweredparents.com and in reading my book "When Your Child Has an Eating Disorder: a Step-by-Step Workbook for Parents and Other Caregivers." Both resources will educate and prepare you to meet the challenges and rewards that lie ahead for you. This workbook will provide an invaluable resource in describing what these disorders are really about, what makes ED treatment effective, and how a patient can insure recovery.

 

 

Professional Services Provided

Abigail Natenshon is the founder and director of Eating Disorder Specialists of Illinois: a Clinic without Walls. Natenshon is a preferred, out-of-network provider for most insurance companies; she is available to provide treatment seven days and evenings a week. (click here for more information).

 

Abigail offers the following services

·         Consultation and coaching for patients and families

 

·         Individual psychotherapy treatment for children, teens and adults, as well as family therapy to enhance the individual patient’s recovery outcomes.  

 

·         Eating disorder group therapy is available to individuals seeking the integrative, experiential mind/body work of Anat Baniel Method© / Feldenkrais Method©.  This form of somatic education, when used as adjunct treatment in combination with more traditional approaches, by providing integrative movement with attention, enables autonomous shifting out of old habits and into useful new ones. It facilitates learning “from the inside out;” enhancing sensory-awareness and re-integrating neurological function that goes far to re-create a core sense of self.  (Read Abbie’s article about The Feldenkrais Method © and Anat Baniel Method © in the Treatment of Eating Disorders, published in the Feldenkrais Educational Foundation of North America  SenseAbility Newsletter.  (Click here for more information) .

 

·         Diagnostic assessments/evaluations

 

·         Referrals to multi-disciplinary treatment team professionals

 

·         Family-based Interventions to bring patients to care

 

·         Intensive short-term “marathon” treatment for out-of-towners, upgrading recovery status, rectifying action plans, providing education, strategies, and motivation to heal.

 

·         Speaker Services; keynotes, lectures and tutorials

 

·         Online webinars and educative support groups, as well as On-site support groups for parents and families.

 

 

 Testimonials about Treatment Services

 

The following is an email I received from a (consultation) patient
Abbie, Thank you SO MUCH for seeing me today and taking so much time with me. I wish we lived in the same town and that you were my therapist. I'm so glad to have connected with you today. You definitely got me thinking about so many things -- where I'm living and why, what I need from a therapist, what I need from a relationship, what I need medically, what I need to feed my spirit (the arts!), how to think about drawing my true self up and into the space the bulimia is currently filling...

I'm always touched by the power a deep human to human connection really can have. It does feel healing to be in the presence of another person who is invested in your well-being, and who can fully support you while reminding you how capable you are of supporting yourself at the same time. As you noted, I think it's been a long time since I've been in the presence of someone who can do both (the loving parent who also sets limits, the supportive therapist who also encourages independence and growth) Sounds like what I'm longing for is secure attachment. One of these days I'll get there...

 I'm very grateful for our meeting, as are my parents.   Best wishes….KG

 

Abbie’s Response
The greatest pleasure is mine in being able to be a part of your life and of your rising up from the ashes of your disorder.  It's your time now, and you are ready.  I am here for you if and when you would like to call or are back in town. 

I trust that you know very well how to care for yourself.  I think what happened is that you have just become aware of this, as well....something you have known for a long time, but have been afraid to acknowledge.

Great things are to come in your life.  Please keep me posted, if only every now and then, through dropping me an email to let me know what you are up to.

 

Warmly,
Abbie

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 "The change in my daughter has been breath-taking ….I see her taking charge of her life (not always as I would) and I LOVE seeing her really grow. It's amazing. You were right in the beginning…. that this would be a healing journey for both of us. Thank you so much!!!!”

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So, C's Dad, despite all of his initial resistance to her treatment, has dubbed you a "Rock Star therapist" … we all happily agree!

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Just want you to know that I recently went with a friend of mine and her anorexic daughter to make an introduction to a local therapist; it only took about 10 seconds before I came to realize just how lucky I was to not only to have found you, but also that you took such good care of us all. Thanks Abbie!

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"Working with Abbie is like having a wooly afghan wrapped around you on a wintry day…comfy, cozy and safe."
    -- K.L. a psychotherapy patient

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For Speaking Services

Ms. Natenshon is a gifted and engaging presenter in the area of eating disorders and its treatment. Her grasp of the material, ability to synthesize important insights and impart them in a highly "usable" manner is impressive and inspiring. Her clinical sensitivity and passion for her subject empowers her audience to leave feeling enhanced and prepared to face clinical challenges. By combining clear thinking, concrete tools and a wealth of clinical experience, she helps you understand not only what to do when treating this population, but why.

                                                                                     Ava Carn-Watkins
                                                                                     Ph.D.Assistant Director
                                                                                     Graduate Program in Counseling Psychology
                                                                                     The Family Institute at Northwestern University:
                                                                                     Center for Applied Psychological & FamilyStudies

 

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Psychotherapy via phone

“I’ve had several therapists in the past, and none of those experiences have produced any real results – let alone make me think more deeply about the underlying reasons behind my behaviors. Even though our sessions have been purely by telephone, I am already encouraged by how fast I feel I am getting to the root of my issues.

Our work together comes without judgment, without pressure and without fear, and for the first time I feel comfortable being entirely honest about my problems. This ability to be completely truthful is what has held me back in the past, and is what is allowing me to move forward now.  Many thanks.”    PG.

 

 ...also via Skype

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About Picky Eating Interventions

Hi Abbie!

I had a moment and wanted to update you a bit on my son Thomas.  I contacted an Anat Baniel practitioner here in Florida and we traveled 2 hours and visited her one Friday morning.  Thomas had only a one hour visit with her and I did witness some minor "progress"!  I was extremely pleased.  He tried to taste a strawberry.  That was huge for him.  He was able to put it to his mouth, touch it to his lips, and then licked it.  That is something he would NEVER have done previous.  Then, he tried ice cream!  He NEVER EVER wanted nor was he EVER interested in ice cream.  He asked my husband one night if he could try it and he did!  Granted we wish it was a piece of meat he had tried but it is progress.  He has made a few other minor advances. 

 

 

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