Background: This presentation will address benefits of structured, supported independent living during early recovery from eating disorders, including integration of coping skills; relapse prevention tactics; acquisition of practical early recovery skills, such as grocery shopping and meal preparation; behavior sobriety skills; and structuring of time, (productive & leisure), in promoting successful recovery.
Objectives: 1. Identify what research shows about supported independent living homes and recovery outcomes 2. Illustrate the benefits of supported independent living homes for early recovery and discuss resident experiences through case studies 3. Demonstrate how concepts and tools from supported independent living homes can be integrated into outpatient practice
- Concept and Purpose of Supported Independent Living Homes
- What research shows about supported independent living homes and recovery outcomes
Benefits for Early Recovery (in depth discussion about each bullet point)
- Stable living environment
- Co-occurring illness sobriety
- Addiction
- Personality disorders
- Structured time
- Employment
- Volunteer activities
- Higher education
- Relapse prevention
- Group therapy
- Integration of coping skills into daily living
- Cooking exposure
- Meal Support
- Grocery experience exposure
- Discharge Planning Support
- Accountability & recovery motivation
- Continuing outpatient care
- Resident experience reports: Benefits and drawbacks of supported living
- (Will provide list of all sober living homes in the US who would accept ED sufferers)
- Integrating concepts from these practices without access to a supported living home
- Therapists
- Dietitians
Jessica Santiago holds a master of education in community counseling from Loyola University at Chicago. In 2008, Jessica began working at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research as a psychiatric research coordinator until joining the Laureate Eating Disorders program in 2015. Jessica has extensive training in clinical assessments with adults, adolescents and children. Jessica's currently serves as coordinator of Magnolia House, Laureate's independent living home for adults in early recovery from eating disorders. Jessica manages residents’ transition from inpatient to outpatient levels of care and helps implement therapeutic interventions.
Claire Gish has been a clinical dietitian for the Laureate Eating Disorders Program since 2011. She served as dietitian for Magnolia House, Laureate’s independent living home for adults in early recovery from eating disorders, for six years. She earned both a bachelor and master of sciences degree in nutritional sciences and dietetics from Oklahoma State University. Claire enjoys working in both the inpatient and outpatient setting on nutritional goal setting and application of skills to effectively manage eating disorder symptoms. Claire uses an “All Foods Fit” approach, which legalizes all food groups and allows for flexibility and trust.
