• In its integrative nature, with simultaneous attention to all aspects of dysfunction …to physiological, emotional, behavioral, cognitive, social and chemical factors, prioritizing family system involvement, particularly in cases with young children.

• In in-gathering a professional team of collaborating experts with diversified specialties and expertise to work with your child.

• In its respect for the pivotal role parents and families play in healing the child and family system. 

• In responsiveness to the quality of the therapeutic connection between therapist, patient, and family. This focus confirms neuropsychological research proving that mindful, quality human relationships are the most important of all interventions in promoting cure.

• In providing a uniquely versatile use of the therapist’s self in creating motivation and incentive for the resistant patient to heal and grow, not only through specialized skill mastery, but through the quality of genuine commitment to the eating disordered patient and to healing.

• In its educative nature, refuting myths and facilitating knowledge about disease, treatment, and recovery.

• In being direct, as well as directive, action-oriented and outcome-based.

• In the use of more restrictive milieu venues as needed, and of creative alternatives to enhance desired outcomes; these might include adjunct treatment resources such as the Feldenkrais Method© and/or Anat Baniel Method© enhancing body image and facilitating core-self development and neurological health.

What I do in my work with patients and families “works”…not in all cases, but in most. There are always those patients who will come to treatment once, and following what appears to be an effective and powerful first session, will fail to return.  In some instances, the effectiveness of the session may be the very reason why these people may choose not to return; some may simply not be ready to make changes.

Most, however, will take home what they learn, practicing it at their own pace and in their own rhythm of preparedness, in so doing, re-creating their lost core self and upgrading neuronal pathway connections to produce an effective and lasting recovery.

Accomplishing what works, session by session

• The patient leaves each session with increased knowledgeable about the disorder, the treatment and recovery processes, and the self.

• The patient feels better about himself/herself and the healing effort and process from the very first session, and following each session.

• Establishing an ever-increasing sense of trust and connection in the therapeutic relationship sets the stage for healing.  The quality of the patient/therapist connection offers tools, strategies, self-esteem and accruing self-trust that lay the foundation for a restored core self and the resumption of self-regulation. In my view, if not professionally prepared to subscribe to basic cognitive behavioral treatment methodologies and best practice principles, practitioners will be certain not to succeed.  If they do subscribe to evidence-based principles, but do so outside of a secure and trusting working relationship, they can also be assured a limited outcome.

• Throughout every session, I remain proactively in touch with the depth and breadth of my own personal, as well as professional, knowledge, skill sets and sensitivities, so as to create and model the process of mindfulness of self and the mutually shared moment.

• Matching the direction and pace of a forward-moving disease process, I remain proactive in response to the patient’s needs and the demands of the therapeutic moment.  Moving forward with clear direction, I define and refine treatment goals and objectives of the present and future.