RETURNING TO ALSANA TREATMENT CENTER
Guest Post by Rachael Wolf, Dietitian PHP
When I started college, I knew that I wanted to work with eating disorders. At that time, I was studying to become a therapist- but that’s beside the point. I remember sitting in a lecture hall at Southeast Missouri State during eating disorder awareness week, listening to a therapist from Alsana speak about their program. The treatment philosophy was unlike anything I had ever heard- and at that moment, I decided I wanted to work at Alsana Treatment Center.
Working at Alsana has been a dream of mine for many years, which is why it was so difficult to leave this place and relocate to Kansas City last December. I was incredibly fortunate to have obtained my dream job so early in my career- so the thought of leaving to pursue something different was bittersweet. Shortly after starting a new job, in a new city, I found myself feeling lost, wondering what was next. The truth is, I always knew the answer- I should be working with eating disorders full time! This was reinforced by the feeling that I got when working with an outpatient client, the feeling that I was doing something meaningful.
When Alsana reached out to me about an opportunity to return, it was an easy decision for me. Not only would I be returning to my home in Saint Louis, but also my home at Alsana. I have had the opportunity to work with clients at the residential, partial, and outpatient levels of care- and though I enjoy them all, there is something special about watching a client’s confidence shift through the challenges that they take on with more autonomy. For this reason, I was hoping to return to Alsana’s PHP program. Working at PHP, I find that I am able to challenge clients to do things that they never thought were possible- binge exposures, meal challenges, solo meals, exercise classes, cooking and dining with friends and family, and so much more. It brings me a sense of satisfaction to watch as a client begins to realize that recovery is in sight. That being said- I’m thrilled to be back, and I’m excited to continue to assist clients in challenging their fears while developing a new relationship with food, exercise, and their body.

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