PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Our team understands the unique challenges that clients are confronted with when faced with the significant impact of an eating disorder diagnosis. The Cape and Islands Family Support Network will offer clients the opportunity to be fully supported in their recovery from an eating disorder. Our provider and treatment affiliates are equipped to handle clients in both the early stages of an eating disorder, as well as those that may have been living with the devastating effects of this illness for some time. Clients and their families will receive not only information and education regarding all aspects of a loved one’s eating disorder, they will also have the opportunity to be connected to the top eating disorder experts in their geographical area. Full recovery is indeed possible. Allow us the opportunity to help you start this journey....and let the healing begin.

• “Eating disorders affect millions of young people and it is estimated that only
• one in thirty-five individuals in crisis seek some form of treatment. Therefore,
• it is crucial that all of us play a part in reducing the shame and stigma that
• exists with regards to this potentially life-threatening illness. We must also
• consider establishing affiliations that better provide the resources and treatment
• necessary to allow for the healing to begin. I'm honored to be part of a leadership
• team that shares my passion for supporting these clients in crisis. In addition, we
• are all sincerely grateful to be partnering with the entities below who are
• dedicated to supporting clients throughout all stages of the recovery process”.

            – Dawn Hynes, MSW, Founder of Hynes Recovery Services

The Cape and Islands Family Support Network and FLIHH (Foundation for Learning and Inspiring Health and Healing) are excited to be collaborating on important training initiatives for the Cape and Islands community. Consultation services will be available to health care practitioners seeking guidance on how to best support a client struggling with body image and/or eating concerns. (One-hour consultation sessions can be scheduled on an as-needed basis). In addition, we feel a multi-disciplinary supervision group would be a great opportunity for practitioners in this region to share their cases with colleagues, receiving feedback on therapeutic approaches. There will also be the opportunity to learn evidence-based treatment modalities from a seasoned clinician that would greatly benefit their clients with an eating disorder diagnosis.

Our team is honored to have Sheri Damon, LMHC, running this supervision group. Sheri is a holistic psychotherapist providing individual, group and family therapy, training, speaking engagements and supervision, mind-body-spirit wellness retreats, and consultation. Her background includes providing supervision to professionals training at Cambridge College as well as conducting a South Shore eating disorders supervision group. Sheri’s therapeutic approach will include the following group goals: developing competence in both clinical and interpersonal skills; treating comorbidity (depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders); incorporating case reviews leading to the development of structured treatment plans; identifying challenges in working with families and collaterals, subsequently developing strategies to overcome these obstacles; and explaining the rationale of interventions using appropriate literature and research.

Presentations may include, but are not limited to, the following clinical areas:

   • Identification and Treatment of Eating Disorders (Child, Adolescent, and Adult)

   • Understanding and Treating ARFID: New Diagnostic Category in DSM-V

   • Evidence-Based Approaches within Eating Disorder Treatment:

            ACT, CBT, DBT, and FBT

   • Nutrition Assessment and Therapeutic Interventions

   • Supporting the Young Adult Athlete with Body Image and/or Eating Concerns

   • The Intersection Between Eating Disorders and Co-occurring Disorders

   • Trauma Assessment within the Eating Disorder Population

   • Addressing Barriers to Treatment

   • Supporting Families: A Collaborative Approach

   • Eating Disorder Recovery Presentation

At the end of each presentation, we will share our “ED Resource Guide” with attendees, as well as a list of recommended treatment programs both within and outside of this geographical area.

The Cape and Islands Family Support Network will share our newsletters each Spring and Fall with members, offering an overview of new programming initiatives, upcoming events, and highlights of organizations providing services on behalf of this clinical population. Each newsletter will also include an update on our eating disorder network and recognition of new affiliates available to support clients in crisis.

There will also be the opportunity for members to join our "ED Recovery on Campus" listserv, comprised of students and their families, as well as administrators, health care practitioners and educators at all grade levels (including campus staff within the university community). Participating in a listserv is a great way to stay connected to a group of individuals committed to a particular issue. Those which address mental health concerns offer members the opportunity to learn about: awareness events, new resources for their clients (and support system), evidence-based treatments, research updates, upcoming webinars, and relevant training initiatives/conferences. It is our hope that this listserv will be a helpful tool for both networking and learning.

If you'd like to become a member and receive both our newsletter and listserv posts, please reach out and let us know!