ST. PAUL, Minn., (April 1, 2008)—Addiction
Intervention Resources (AIR), a national behavioral-health
consulting firm known for its success in recovery management,
is launching its new suite of eating disorder services
to help people overcome their struggles with anorexia nervosa,
bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder and offer solutions
to families in crisis.
“ With more than 11 million Americans suffering
from eating disorders and 34 percent of all American adults
estimated to be obese, this country is faced with a growing
social and public health problem,” says Monica Bracht,
director of AIR’s Eating Disorder Services. “Our
professionals have unique expertise in effective intervention
and recovery-management solutions that are specifically
geared to helping those suffering from eating disorders
return to leading healthy lives.”
Based on the theory that the family is the best system
to understand and assess the eating disorder, AIR’s
Eating Disorder Services draw on the strengths and resources
of each family member to motivate the eating-disorder sufferer
to get treatment. The family empowerment process, the cornerstone
of AIR’s services, begins with a phone consultation
between an AIR professional and a family member or friend
to help evaluate the nature and severity of the eating
disorder and discuss treatment options. The AIR professional
leads the family through the entire process, enabling family
and friends to establish clear communication, define roles
and set expectations, while still respecting the autonomy
of the individual in need. The clinician works with the
family to address the eating disorder openly and develop
an action plan for treatment, and then continues the relationship
for six months to ensure that the individual is making
strides toward recovery.
“By examining how family members interact with one
another and face conflict, AIR can develop a strategy that
complements established family dynamics but steers the
eating-disordered individual toward healthy changes as
soon as possible,” Bracht says.
“We’ve seen firsthand that AIR’s trained
professionals use a framework that sets up the patients
suffering from eating disorders for successful recovery,” says
Dr. Carolyn Ross, the medical director of the Eating Disorder
Center of Denver. “AIR’s emphasis on family
empowerment reinforces an effective model of communication
and support that can continue through treatment and recovery.”
After completing treatment, people struggling with eating
disorders can turn to AIR again to take advantage of its
Eating Disorder Recovery Assistance Program (ED-RAP), a
yearlong program that helps individuals make the transition
from a treatment program to everyday life with a marked
decrease in the risk of relapse. ED-RAP case managers keep
in regular contact with the individual, family members
and other members of the support team to monitor the participant’s
progress and encourage personal growth and development.
“In treating eating disorders, we know that follow-through
is everything and that the real test of successful recovery
is how well those coming out of treatment return to their
daily lives and implement their continuing-care plan,” Bracht
said. “ED-RAP provides accountability and safety
nets while supporting the participant’s independence.”
In addition, AIR offers a therapeutic mentoring program
that assists the recovering person, newly discharged from
treatment, in his or her return to daily life. Professionals
facilitate medical, therapy and other appointments, help
set family expectations and boundaries and evaluate the
home eating environment. AIR also provides first-day transition
support and facilitated meetings with family or employers
for those returning to home or work after treatment. AIR
can even arrange escorted transfers between treatment centers
or from treatment to home.
Based in Saint Paul, Minn., AIR is a national organization
of addiction, eating-disorder and mental-health professionals
who provide fast and effective crisis management services
through a proven protocol of education, action planning
and recovery management.
For more information about AIR
and its new Eating Disorder Services division, please
visit www.intervene.com or call toll-free 800.561.8158.
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