LONG-TERM weight control
Wellspring begins planning for the transition home on Day One. By changing behavior, the Clinical program provides the core skills required for long-term weight control.
But there are other ways Wellspring ensures students will be successful after returning home:
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT
The family is involved in Wellspring every step of the way. Families who understand how best to support their child at home will see the most dramatic changes in the long run.
Parents speak to their child’s Behavioral Coach at least weekly and receive bi-monthly written reports on their child’s progress, as measured across all areas of the Wellspring program. Updated photos are also posted on a regular basis on the private Wellspring Parent Check-In Web site.
Parents also attend a three-day Family Workshop at Wellspring. This Workshop provides families with an immersion into the science of weight control and concludes with the development of a written plan for home.
When their child returns home, families know exactly what they can do to support long-term weight control, and are committed to do so.
ACTIVITY PLANNING
Throughout their enrollment at Wellspring, the Activity Management program focuses students on activities they are most likely to continue on a regular basis at home.
Approximately one month prior to transition, students begin working on an intensive project with the Activities Coordinator to plan their activity program at home. Students work with the Activities Coordinator to research local activity resources, and then develop detailed plans for maintaining their current activity level on weekdays and weekends.
REQUIRED ALUMNI PROGRAM
Wellspring requires alumni to continue working with their Behavioral Coach for at least 6 months. The Wellspring Alumni Web site includes a set of tools that allow alumni to continue daily self-monitoring, journaling and goal-setting, as well as weekly activity planning and weigh-ins.
The Behavioral Coach observes the progress and continues to communicate in a private online discussion, as well as by phone. This continued interaction assists with problem solving and keeps alumni on track.
Another very useful area of the Alumni Web site is the group discussion where alumni share experiences and support each other.
To visit the Alumni Web site, please go to www.myselfmonitoring.com. Select Parent Self-Monitoring at the bottom – user name parent, password parent.
FOLLOW-UP PROGRAMS
Wellspring welcomes alumni back each June for a reunion on the Wellspring Academy of California campus. It’s not only a great opportunity to catch up with old friends, but also to sharpen skills and recommit to long-term weight control. For the same reasons, female alumni may also attend “Winter Camp,” a 3-day weekend program held at a Florida beach resort in January. Finally, alumni may attend any of the Wellspring Camps, Wellspring Academies’ sister programs that operate over the summer.
FOLLOWING YOUR SUCCESS
Wellspring is focused on the long-term success of alumni, and Wellspring researchers follow the progress of alumni for years. By the same token, all families may call upon the resources of Wellspring (dietitians, personal trainers, Behavioral Coaches, researchers) for advice and counsel anytime after the transition home. We are only successful if you are successful.
