Eating Disorders and Where to Find Treatment

National Eating Disorders Week is February 24 – March 1, 2008

ERIE – In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. Approximately 25 million more are struggling with binge eating disorder.

Eating disorders are illnesses with a biological basis modified and influenced by emotional and cultural factors. The stigma associated with eating disorders has long kept individuals suffering in silence and created barriers to treatment. Because of insufficient information, the public and professionals fail to recognize the dangerous consequences of eating disorders. While eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening illnesses, there is help available and recovery is possible.

The most effective and long-lasting treatment for an eating disorder is psychotherapy or counseling, coupled with careful attention to medical and nutritional needs. Ideally, this treatment should be tailored to the individual and will vary according to both the severity of the disorder and the patient’s individual problems, needs, and strengths. It is important to have treatment provided by a therapist specifically trained and experienced with individuals with eating disorders.

The Center for Personal and Family Growth has four staff members that specialize in eating disorders: Belinda Stillman, DO, Jennifer Pfeffer, LCSW, Jeffrey Miller, LCSW, and Nedra Richards, LCSW. CPFG offers confidential and professional services children, adolescents, adults and families for a range of emotional, psychological, and behavioral issues. The CPFG staff takes a holistic, compassionate approach to counseling to help the individual or family return to an optimum level of psychological well-being. At the Center for Personal & Family Growth, a variety of treatment methods are used including: individual, family, and group psychotherapy; couples therapy; relaxation training; anger management; child evaluation and therapy; pharmacotherapy; stress management; and behavior management.

For additional information on eating disorders and where to find treatment, or the Center for Personal & Family Growth, call Julie Sorrentino Kresge at 814-451-2206.

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