Parents as MVPs on their Eating Disordered Child's Treatment Team
An Experiential Half-Day Workshop with and for Parents and Families
With Abigail Natenshon

There is no greater resource for the recovering child, the professional team, and the healing process than enlightened and empowered parenting. It is up to responsive parents to turn their love into action, paralleling the forward momentum of stubborn and insidious disorders that rob families of their child and the child of her Self. Parents learn to use themselves optimally in finding expert care and in putting together an effective treatment team in support of their child's recovery; and collaboratively in carrying out their role as most valuable players on the treatment team in support of the child, the treatment and recovery processes. The inclusion of parents, families and loved ones, (particularly with child patients and near-adult children) insures that the family system changes alongside the recovering child, offering efficacy in the pacing and sustainability of recovery.

With a focus on parenting for successful outcomes, this workshop will teach
what parents need to know to:

• Determine criteria for choosing effective team professionals; learn what you are listening for in prospective candidates, and to trust your instincts

• Help their child engage in treatment and stay engaged.

• Participate in treatment; parental roles and the nature of support will vary throughout the process

• Listen actively, to child, to team, and to recovery

• Recognize recovery signs when they see them

• Shepherd the recovery process to its completion; not stopping till their child is THERE.

• Communicate effectively with the treatment team, encouraging professionals to speak with each other for purposes of trouble-shooting.

• Seek support for themselves, along with professional consultation

Experiential component:
This workshop with and for parents and loved ones will be experiential, devoted to voluntary participation in a multi-family educative-support group of up to approximately 25 people, to be facilitated by Abigail Natenshon. Coming together in a "fish bowl" format surrounded by the remaining workshop participants, this configuration will allow for growth and learning on the part of participants and observers alike. The experience will offer opportunities for families to speak and listen to each other, and among themselves, and for Abigail to address some of the pressing concerns of workshop participants.


Contact Abbie to register at 847-432-1795 or click here to email.