During the treatment planning process, we’ll review all potential options together (along with family and friends if requested), creating a plan which will include outpatient providers, support group options (if available) and other resources which can support students throughout their recovery journey.
Dawn founded Recovery in Sport & Exercise out of the significant need to provide collegiate-athletes and their families with the tools and resources necessary to ensure a successful transition to college. RISE provides crisis intervention services, interventions, family coaching sessions, guidance with higher level of care placements, and transition support post-graduation. We will take the time to listen to your concerns and offer guidance in prioritizing next steps in this process. Unfortunately, there isn’t always a clear answer as to what should be done – for example, should we wait until our loved one is ready for treatment, or is it best to look into planning an intervention in order to maximize our chances of securing treatment?
RISE affiliates have a passion for and expertise treating this unique clinical population. These entities are equipped to handle clients in both the early stages of an eating disorder, as well as those that may have been living with the devastating effects of this illness for some time. Finding experienced practitioners (and/or highly regarded programs) for students in crisis can often be a challenging process. It's important for your athletes to know that effective treatment options do exist, including mentoring opportunities and online virtual support groups available (at no cost) in the community. Once options for care have been identified, navigating insurance and covering any level of treatment can feel quite overwhelming. At these times, we recommend consulting the Academy for Eating Disorders’ Insurance Review Guide for Clinicians.
For students returning to campus from a higher level of care, the hope is that recovery will continue, with minimal chance of relapse. However, many students often struggle during this transition period. Implementing additional supports at this time can help to minimize the stress and anxiety associated with discharge, thus increasing the likelihood that gains made throughout treatment are maintained. With this in mind, RISE has established a Scholarship Program, offering college students (in MA) the opportunity to receive clinical case management services (pro bono) during their first two weeks post treatment. Please contact us to learn more about this important initiative.
The RISE initiative allows for campus administrators, health educators, coaches, and practitioners to come together and learn from one another about how best to support the athletes in their care. Participating in a listserv is a great way to stay connected to a group of individuals committed to a particular issue. Members will have the opportunity to learn about athlete-specific awareness events, clinical resources and new treatment options, as well as receive templates of policies and protocols utilized elsewhere which could be tailored to their respective campus setting. In addition, RISE plans to highlight seasoned providers for this unique population (such as recovery coaches and sport psychologists), as well as speakers offering virtual or in-person educational workshops for university athletic departments. It is our hope this listerv (available throughout the academic year) will be a helpful tool for both networking and learning.
Online Toolkit
RISE understands the unique challenges that athletes are confronted with when faced with the significant impact of an eating disorder diagnosis. This online toolkit offers staff comprehensive resources which can support students throughout their journey to full recovery - as well as guidelines tailored to support athletic departments seeking to establish programming initiatives on behalf of students experiencing a mental health issue.
Our vision is to provide ongoing support to university staff in the role of identifying, assessing, and/or treating students with eating disorders on their respective campus. RISE is excited to collaborate with athletic departments by helping them establish an educational and clinical system of care for those seeking recovery.
Universities have a unique role in supporting individuals struggling with body image and/or eating concerns. During the assessment process, outcomes will be enhanced if utilizing screening tools featured on our video platform. (For those who initially require an intervention, an excellent in-depth outline can be found in: Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention). Upon learning of an athlete’s diagnosis, it is a time of intense worry and anxiety for all whose lives are affected - a situation requiring coordinated responses based on a client’s medical and psychological issues. (A thorough overview of this topic can be found in Dr. Kate Bennett’s book, Treating Athletes with Eating Disorders). Furthermore, an overview of clinical recommendations can be found within the APA’s Practice Guidelines and/or the following professional journals, which can be examined and subsequently implemented within policy and protocol directives: American Psychological Association (Division 47); Society for Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology; American Psychiatric Association (Division 29); Eating Disorders in Sport, and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. In addition, consider attending the biennial International Female Athlete Conference (Boston, Massachusetts) to ascertain medical advancements and mental health treatment approaches being shared by researchers worldwide.
