The effects of weight stigma include poor body image, low self-esteem, binge eating, extreme weight control measures, and psychological problems such as depression and eating disorders. Those who experience bullying as a result of weight bias are likely to experience one or more of these issues.

Tracking and reviewing Columbus Park patient progress and treatment outcomes is a central aspect of my role as Clinical Director of Columbus Park. It can be an especially gratifying practice since snapshots from our data collection give us a chance to see concretely, how we’re making a measurable difference in our patients’ lives. At Columbus […]

Columbus Park In The News Founder, Melissa Gerson, discusses DBT treatment in People Columbus Park’s Clinical Director, Melissa Gerson, was quoted this week in an article in People.com: “Selena Gomez Seeking Dialectical Behavior Therapy After Hospitalizations: What to Know.”  The piece provides some basic information about DBT as an intervention for individuals struggling with intense […]

Anorexia nervosa is one of the more difficult psychiatric conditions to treat. The illness is often defined by ambivalence about recovery in large part because the classic dieting and associated weight loss of anorexia can feel rewarding and reinforcing to the afflicted.  Denial of the severity of illness is common, even when there is severe […]

National Recovery Month is the perfect time to stand with our colleagues advocating for recovery. Every year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) dedicates September to increasing awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate those who recover from them.  The event reminds us when we “invest in health, home, […]

For Providers: Suicide Risk Assessment As we wind down September’s suicide prevention month, it’s a good time for those of us who treat eating disorders and other mental health conditions to evaluate our own suicide assessment skills and remind ourselves to be on the lookout for specific risk factors that come up in the ED […]