CHANGING LIFESTYLE
The Clinical Program at Wellspring takes advantage of rapid and significant weight loss, and resulting improvements in self-esteem, mood, outlook and energy level in order to accomplish two objectives:
Permanently change thinking and behavior concerning diet and activity so students will maintain or continue weight loss after returning home; and
Overcome psychological or emotional difficulties that may have contributed to weight gain or created barriers to successful weight loss.
The Clinical Program begins by providing intensive training on the skills required for successful long-term weight control. These skills, including self-monitoring, goal-setting and journaling, become healthy habits during a student’s time at Wellspring. Nutrition and culinary training also provide important new skills.
Then cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is utilized to reinforce this training, improve frustration tolerance and stress management, and to help students overcome whatever challenges might be causing them to resort to unhealthful coping mechanisms, such as food and sedentary activity. CBT also includes rational emotive therapy and decisional counseling.
Wellspring therapists are called “Behavioral Coaches” (BCs). BCs are Masters- or Doctoral-level therapists. Every Wellspring student has an individual BC, who serves as the primary contact for parents. Wellspring BCs are under the supervision of Wellspring’s Clinical Director, nationally renowned weight control expert Dr. Daniel Kirschenbaum, a professor at Northwestern University Medical School.
Students also benefit from a very positive peer culture where success is considered “cool” and rewarded in many ways.
