September marks recovery month and this year the theme was Recovery is REAL: Restoring Every Aspect of Life, highlighting the holistic nature of recovery. Keeping that in mind, I asked several amazing women in recovery to talk about different aspects of life they feel have been restored in their recovery journey and what specifically helped them. Read below to hear how these women have experienced that restoration firsthand.

“The benefits of Al-Anon for me would be the progressive restoration of balance and truth, in and around my life.  I am learning to keep the focus on myself and not become swept up in others’ lives where it is not my place to intervene/interfere. In this process of awareness I am realizing that my Higher Power/ spiritual compass has been alongside me the entire time; this has brought about a realization that I feel better when I invite my Higher Power into my life versus alongside.  Al-Anon meetings and having a sponsor have been monumental over the last year and I am grateful I have a place where I belong and a Sponsor who shows me how she has walked through the program”.

“I went to Celebrate Recovery because I was looking for something faith-based and geared towards all kinds of people. It’s for anybody with any hurts, habits, and/or hang-ups. I also liked the fact this one was on a Friday night, my spouse and I could attend together, they had childcare, and provided dinner.  My spouse never went.  God had other plans. I kept attending and I eventually found it to be a meeting for me.  The music brought comfort, the prayers brought me comfort, the testimonies brought me comfort, and the lessons brought me comfort. Celebrate Recovery brought me comfort and it was a safe space.  Eventually there was no other place I wanted to be on a Friday night My faith started to grow, and I was eager to learn more.  I knew I wanted what I remembered my grandparents, who were people of strong faith, having.  I was able to be open about my doubts without judgment. I was able to share my struggles, addictions, and grief.  No matter what I did or thought- they accepted me. I was able to surrender many many times! I was also able to branch out and join a church.  I was in my early thirties with a young child struggling with so much and I needed help. Celebrate Recovery was exactly the help I needed.  Celebrate Recovery helped me grow spiritually and allowed me to just show up.  It opened many doors for me and my daughter and still does.  Celebrate Recovery not only watered that seed that my grandparents planted, but it branched out and continues to grow. Celebrate Recovery has restored my faith”.

“Before entering recovery and attending AA, I was so isolated from the security in my relationships with my family and friends; the idea of a romantic partner felt so distant to me. I went through many painful things that left me disgusted by love and questioning if it even existed. I didn’t think anybody could ever love me or that I truly deserved it. I was crippled in fear and alone for many years. I was forced to be okay with myself, learned to respect myself, and eventually I began to love myself. Now, I am in an amazing, fulfilling and trusting relationship that challenges me, changes me, and on the best days it is pure harmony. My friendships are so honest and authentic that I feel overwhelmed by connection and opportunity. I’ve been able to truly appreciate my family of origin and build a family of my own with a beautiful and joyful daughter and a son on the way. I don’t forget the days where I felt incapable of giving and receiving love. Whether the future holds sunshine or thunderstorms I know I will be okay, because thanks to those years- I know myself. Recovery helped me restore myself, my relationships, and my belief in love.”

Recovery Month may have ended, but recovery itself is lived one moment at a time. Each story shared is proof that even in struggle, there is resilience; even in loss, there is renewal. Recovery is not only possible – it’s happening every day, in real and beautiful ways!

This week marked Chrysalis’ 22nd year in business! Since I frequently request that clients make gratitude lists, I’ll do the same to celebrate this anniversary. In no particular order, here are 22 reasons I’m grateful to be a part of “Restoring Hope, Empowering Change” at our practice: 

1. Our clients. In everything we do, we put forth our best efforts to be client-centered and treat the whole person. We’ve been fortunate to be a part of thousands of recovery journeys over the years and it certainly fuels our passion for what we do and keeps hope alive for future clients. 
2. Our clinical amazing team! We wouldn’t be who we are without the dedicated group of professionals who show up day in and day out for their clients and for each other. 
3. Our hardworking administrative team. We truly have the “dream team” assembled and we are so grateful for the multitude of behind-the-scenes and front-of- the- house things they do to keep Chrysalis running so smoothly. 
4. The variety of specialties we offer. Although eating disorder treatment is in our name we have so many talented clinicians with so many different niches. From OCD to menopause to bariatrics to narcissistic abuse (just to name a few), our team is rich in experience and wisdom beyond just eating disorders. 
5. Group programming. Many of our clinicians offer outpatient groups that serve a need and help build community for those seeking support from others going through similar struggles. Connection is such a powerful healing tool! 
6. Eating Disorder IOP. Our intensive outpatient program for eating disorders is the only in-person program within a 135 mile radius and offers valuable programming and meal support to adults with eating disorders who would otherwise have to travel, participate in virtual programming, or go without the right level of care. 
7. Trauma-focused IOP. Our newest clinical endeavor has demonstrated great success via outcome measures tracking PTSD symptoms. Beyond those scores, we’ve seen the difference a community of support has created for patients who’ve endured so much and often felt very isolated. 
8. Our training programs. We precept interns from many different disciplines and schools, in addition to family practice residents and psychiatry residents. This is something we do to give back to the community and to educate future clinicians about mental health and eating disorders. 
9. Outreach opportunities. We love to spread awareness to the community and to other professionals whether it’s tabling at events, speaking at conferences, or volunteering for causes that are important to us. 
10. Providers that we collaborate with. From medical professionals to other dietitians and therapists, we are so grateful for the healthcare community that we connect with day in and day out to bring the best care to our clients. 
11. Referral sources. We appreciate each and every referral that comes our way and are always happy to see if we are the right fit for a client. Whether it’s a medical provider giving a formal referral or a friend or neighbor giving a word-of-mouth recommendation, we are glad to be trusted with a client’s care. 
12. Higher level of care options. We frequently have to refer clients to more intensive treatment and we are glad that there are a variety of specialty programs out there that we feel comfortable ensuring our clients’ care to. 
13. Technology. As much as I gripe about it, technology enables us to reach those that might not otherwise be served. One of the best things to come out of the pandemic was the ability to offer virtual sessions when appropriate. 
14. Continuing education opportunities. Our fields are ever evolving and the ability to learn cutting-edge treatment techniques keeps us stimulated and able to offer clients the best possible care. 
15. Mentors. Our diverse clinical staff has been fortunate to have so many knowledgeable professionals train, supervise, and mentor us along the way, adding to the wisdom we can now pass on to future generations of clinicians. 
16. The recovery community in Wilmington. Whether it’s AA, NA, Al Anon, Celebrate Recovery, NAMI, or other groups, there are so many resources for our clients to obtain additional support and learn from others who’ve been in their shoes. 
17. Our location. Nothing better than living at the beach and having beautiful nature and weather (most of the time) to keep us grounded and brighten our spirits. 
18. Our website. Recently updated by our clinical director, Lauren Francis, it provides so much information not only regarding our services and staff, but also valuable resources for clients and professionals.
19. Our vendors. Whether it’s the folks who clean our office or our healthcare attorney who advises us on important matters, there are many other professionals who help keep Chrysalis up and running. 
20. Our values. Chrysalis has 8 core values that are important to us: compassion, acceptance, hope, wellness, integrity, ethics, quality, and TEAMWORK!  
21. Humor. We are a group that loves to laugh and builds in time to “banter” at our meetings. This is a hard business to be in and we can’t take ourselves so seriously or we’d burn out. 
22. Our loved ones. Doing the work we do can be draining, so we appreciate all the support we get from our friends and family who help renew our energy.

Written by executive director and founding mother, Kelly Broadwater, who is full of gratitude and apologizes to anyone she may have left off this list. 

Happy New Year from Chrysalis Center! As we embark on 2025, we look back upon all that was accomplished in 2024 and are excited about the prospect of what is to come moving forward. We are proud to share that our outcomes for 2024 were outstanding! First and foremost, client satisfaction was rated extremely high. Ninety-five percent of those who completed the survey strongly agreed or agreed that they were satisfied with the services they received and would recommend Chrysalis to family and friends. With acceptance and creating a healing environment being paramount to our vision and values, we were thrilled to see that 98% of respondents reported feeling welcome and comfortable at Chrysalis and 97% of clients saying their experience was helpful.

For Eating Disorder IOP participants, significant improvement occurred in all areas measured via the Eating Disorder Quality of Life index (ED-QOL), the Eating Disorder Examination questionnaire (EDE-Q), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). Most notably, our EDE-Q scores on average were cut in half from the start of treatment to completion of treatment. One of the most positive changes to programming this past year was the addition of culinary group in ED-IOP, where clients plan and cook a meal together each week with the support of a registered dietitian.

Last year we also saw an unmet need within both our client population and the community at large, inspiring us to create and launch our Trauma-Focused IOP. This program is based in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), which is an empirically validated form of trauma treatment. Originally used with the Veteran population, it has expanded and been shown to be successful with a variety of other populations who have experienced traumatic events. Our TF-IOP also includes groups such as compassionate coping, trauma-informed yoga, and art therapy. Scores on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (the PCL-5) for our first small cohort were also cut in over half! Since this was a new program, we looked to client feedback measured via the Client Satisfaction with Care (CPPSS) outcome tool. This measures satisfaction along nine different dimensions: Access/ Admission/ Orientation, Input, Rights, Assessment, Treatment Plan, Quality of Care, Quality of Life, Cultural Competency, and Accessibility. Every client rated Chrysalis a 4 or 5 out of 5 on every single item! We look forward to the next round of TF-IOP, starting the end of this month.

We want to especially acknowledge Meghan Shapiro, MA, LPA and Kaitlyn Patterson, MA, LPA who had the vision for TF-IOP and were instrumental in putting together the program. It was their grand finale to their successful tenure as leaders at Chrysalis. They have both stepped down from their leadership roles and are providing individual care to existing clients at Chrysalis. We thank them for their commitment over the past four years to making IOP programming truly client-centered.

Finally, I am very excited to announce the promotion of two long-term Chrysalis Center employees to leadership! Lauren Francis, MA, LPA is our new Clinical Director. Lauren has been with us for over a decade now in various roles (starting out as an undergraduate intern) and brings new ideas and energy to all aspects of programming here at Chrysalis. Don’t worry, she’ll still be leading the outpatient exposure meal group she created and has fostered over the past several years. Macy Baynor, MSW, LCSW is our new Assistant Clinical Director and will be heading up our training program and outreach efforts. Again, not to worry, she will also still run our Adolescent Recovery Circle (ARC) and exposure meal groups for teens. For those who don’t know, we precept doctoral practicum students, masters in social work interns, and counseling interns from various programs, hoping to share our clinical knowledge and eating disorder expertise with the next generation of professionals. I know that Lauren and Macy’s compassion, creativity, and commitment to exceptional care will surely contribute to Chrysalis Center’s mantra of “Thrive in 2025!”

September is National Recovery Month, which I honor annually with a blog on a topic related to addiction recovery. In deciding what to focus on this year I wanted to share my philosophy regarding the most important part of addiction treatment and recovery: connection! This is not a novel concept that I can take credit for, it’s based in research and also something that millions of people “in the rooms” already know about.

In a popular TED talk entitled “Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong,”  journalist Johann Hari reviews the available research on the underlying causes of addiction and concludes that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it’s connection. This is echoed by many other researchers and addiction experts.

Going back to the 1950s, psychologist John Bowlby studied small children separated from their parents. When infants, toddlers, and children had safe and reliable caregivers, they become well-adjusted and emotionally healthier than those who don’t experience secure attachment early in life. Bowlby discovered that without secure early attachments, humans were more vulnerable to addiction.

I’m grateful to be a part of many wonderful clients’ journeys who were extremely generous in sharing with me what part connection has played in their recoveries. Collectively, these women have over 75 years of recovery under the belts! Here is what they had to say:

“Recovery can often feel like a solitary journey, but my experience has shown me that connecting with others is essential. Engaging with like-minded individuals who understand the pain I’ve faced has been incredibly healing. These conversations remind me that I am not alone; there’s a community of people who share similar struggles. In sharing our stories, we create a bond that fosters belonging and mutual support, reinforcing the idea that vulnerability is a strength.

These connections have not only inspired me but have also redefined my understanding of recovery as a shared experience. Hearing others’ stories of resilience ignites hope and reminds me that setbacks are part of the journey. I am grateful for the connections I’ve had, as they illuminate the path ahead and emphasize that healing is possible. If you’re navigating a similar path, I encourage you to seek out those who resonate with your experiences—you may find the strength that comes from knowing you’re not alone”.

“Connection has created a network of people that are also in recovery-I’ve found people who share my common interest & passion for recovery.  I’ve got true friends now which is all I ever wanted in active use but never truly had.

This thing works as a “we” instead of “me”.  I need people who can show me how life is done in recovery.  I need support and I need to give it back too.  It all started for me in 12 step meetings & it’s grown in many different circles but 12 steps was my foundation & still my home.  Don’t let the “god” stuff freak you out! Addiction = Isolation and Recovery = Connection”.

“I didn’t feel all alone in the fact that I had problems that I felt were shameful and also somehow knew they were sick/not normal. Listening and sharing with other along the journey has really helped my self-esteem and to fuel my courage to continue my journey.  I then knew that I was not alone and it helped give strength and courage to strive for better habits/behaviors”.

“Connection is the key to recovery. In the first days of my recovery, my sponsor made me call three women from the home group list every morning. I was a bit baffled by that and asked her what I was supposed to say? She told me just call them and tell them you’re new and your sponsor made you call and everything will happen from there. Then my sponsor made me the greeter at the door. I have no idea what that was but as people came in, and I said welcome and introduced myself they got to know me before I knew it. I was going to different meetings all throughout the town where I first got sober and people were saying hi to me. Those are your people.

As I became connected with those folks I was calling and greeting, I developed a group of women in my life who like me had small children and similar interests and I was able to spend time with them outside the meetings. These women from AA were true friends- if I was going to move, a dozen people showed up with a moving truck unlike when I was drinking and “friends” were supposed to show up and help but nobody ever did. I travel my journey of recovery. My sponsor also encouraged me to develop a relationship with a higher power that today I call God (in the beginning I was very angry with God  and wanted no part of God, but as I grew in AA, I grew in my faith). I have a connection with my higher power that I never dreamed was possible. Every morning and every night I hit my knees and I thank God for another sober day. Connections in the rooms of AA have taught me that there’s so much more to life than sitting at a bar! I’ve done amazing things with the women in the program and the social activities that are out there. Without connection to God and to the women of AA, I would not be alive today”.

“Connection in recovery has given me the family I never had. It’s people that accept me where I’m at no matter what.  It’s tough love when I need it the most. It’s giving me a sense of belonging and knowing I’m never alone.  It’s people that love me until I can love myself.

Build your network.  Get all the numbers you can.  Go to meetings. Talk to people.   Keep coming back.  Get a sponsor. You can’t have too many people in your corner. It does get easier.  There is nothing you have done (or nothing anybody has done to you) that has not already been done.  We have all been at day 1.  You can’t get 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, 20 years, etc. without day 1. Just stay clean/sober for today.  One day at a time.  We will worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.  If all you did was stay clean and sober today, you’ve done something right!  Do not try and do it alone”.

Kelly Broadwater, LPA, LCMHC, CEDS-C is the Executive Director of Chrysalis Center and has been treating co-occurring substance use disorders and eating disorders for over 20 years. She is grateful to all the women who’ve been willing to share their wisdom, strength, and hope in this blog and beyond.

To watch the TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong?subtitle=en

To get connected to area recovery groups:

https://sober.com/aa-meeting/wilmington-area-intergroup/

https://aanorthcarolina.org/meetings/

https://celebraterecovery.com/

https://wilmingtonncal-anon.org/find-a-meeting

https://adultchildren.org/meeting-search/

Grateful Ground Counseling has a monthly Connections group: https://gratefulgroundcounseling.clientsecure.me/

According to a 2020 literature review (Eskander et al.): 

• Women with eating disorders are more likely to abuse substances than those with no eating disorders.  

• Approximately 12% to 18% of adults with anorexia nervosa (AN) and 30% to 70% of adults diagnosed with bulimia nervosa (BN) have substance use disorders. 
• One-fourth of individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) reported substance use disorders. 

There are many shared risk factors between substance use disorders and eating disorders. Both are much more common in people with a history of traumatic experiences. They often occur in times of transition or stress. The biological underpinings and genetic profiles are very similar, with both sets of disorders highly correlated with low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and compulsivity. 

The symptom profile of both substance use and eating disorders overlap as well, involving obsessive preoccupation, craving, compulsive behavior, and rituals. Both substance abuse and eating disorders are steeped in secrecy, shame, and social isolation. They are chronic, potentially fatal diseases with high relapse rates, which means they require intensive, specialized, and long-term therapy.  

While the statistics may seem daunting, the good news is there is hope for recovery! As with any blog for recovery month, I asked a brave and inspirational client to anonymously share their story. “Sandy” (not her real name) is approaching her six year sobriety date and is in full remission from severe binge eating disorder. Here is what she had to say: 

Good old Merriam Webster states a journey is “travel or passage from one place to another”.  

I lived a vicious cycle of bingeing and drinking for comfort when I felt “less than” or someone made me angry. Unfortunately, this happened frequently – people’s actions really got on my nerves sometimes. Why couldn’t they act like they had some sense? Why were people so mean and unthinking? Why didn’t situations seem to go my way? 

 I frequently needed the sense of ease and comfort that came with eating those sugary bites or that first few drinks – I promised myself I could learn to only use my disordered behaviors for comfort when needed – that would be it. The problem was I stayed angry or hurt most of the time because life frequently did not go my way. 

It took therapy and another recovery program to teach me about ego, letting go, and prayer. I had to succumb to the fact that there was something in this universe that was more powerful than I was. My job was to accept what I could not control and treat others with love and respect. That’s it. Acceptance and Love.  

Letting go of what I could not control is a daily; sometimes hourly practice. But it can be done and you don’t have to do “this” alone. Reaching out for help was the most humiliating, frightening, empowering, self-saving, action I have ever taken. I was coached to give myself the gift of honoring my true needs and wants while learning to have real relationships with other humans.   

To those on their journey to recovery, please know that help and support is out there. Chrysalis Center has therapists who are trained in both eating disorders and co-occurring substance use who are here to help. 

Eskander, N., Chakrapani, S., & Ghani, M. R. (2020). The Risk of Substance Use Among Adolescents and Adults With Eating Disorders. Cureus, 12(9), e10309. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.10309 

September is Recovery Month!

Now in its 32nd year, Recovery Month celebrates and promotes the recovery community as well as service providers across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible. This Year’s National Recovery Month Theme: Recovery is for Everyone. Every Person, Every Family, Every Community.

For those who don’t know, Wilmington has an extremely strong and active recovery community. I’ve been fortunate to witness this community in action via so many clients’ recovery journeys over the past 19 years. I always say my greatest teachers have been my students (or in this case my clients). I’ve done extensive research culminating in a Master’s thesis on alcohol-related topics, was published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, and learned Motivational Interviewing from a mentor who studied under the person who created the technique. However, I’ve by far learned the most about addiction and recovery from the brave men and women in the trenches, living life on life’s terms one day at a time.

For this blog, I polled many of them and asked:

What is the best thing you’ve gained via your recovery from addiction?

· The best thing I have gained in recovery is the relationship I have with my teenage daughter. Wouldn’t trade it for anything.

· Best thing I gained is a loving and forgiving relationship with God.

· The best thing I have gained from recovery is not feeling alone anymore. I no longer have to seek approval from other people or act out in behaviors to gain attention. I have gained true, authentic friendships with people who think like I do. It’s a wonderful feeling to feel like I belong.

· The best thing I’ve gained is self-love and self-compassion.

If you could give one piece of advice/words of wisdom to a newcomer, what would it be?

· If I could give a newcomer a suggestion, I would tell them they have to be willing to change everything about their lives with no reservations.

· One thing I tell a newcomer “keep coming back, we love” also “ if you don’t do a 4th step you will relapse”

· My suggestion to a newcomer would be to trust the process. The suggestions given to me at first seemed stupid and I didn’t want to listen but I was so broken that I did whatever I could to get better. Eventually things started to get better and I continued to take those suggestions.

· One thing I’d tell a newcomer, is “Hold on.” – I know that’s simple and cheesy but really. Sometimes it’s the simple instructions that we can follow and have the most meaning.

*shared with permission

Special thanks to these clients who inspire me every time I meet with them for sharing their wisdom, strength, and hope. As I wrap up this recovery month blog with a theme which includes “Every Community”, it would be remiss not to honor a giant in our own recovery community. Wayne Ray, the founder of Launchpad (which operates over 20 recovery homes between here and Myrtle Beach), passed away recently with 25 years of sobriety himself*. I wanted to close with just a few of his often quoted sayings about recovery:

“You want to know what it takes to be in recovery? All you got.”

“Gratitude is an action word.”

“Stay vigilant!”

For anyone out there struggling with addiction, please know there is hope and that recovery is entirely possible. You don’t have to go it alone- there are many professionals and members of the recovery community willing to walk alongside you in your journey.

Some of our Many Local Resources:

Wilmington Area Intergroup

New Life Launchpad

Momentum Recovery

Delta Behavioral Health

Kelly Broadwater, Executive Director of the Chrysalis Center, specializes in treating co-occurring eating disorders and substance use disorders, addiction transfer, and food addiction.

Startling Statistics:

• Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer of women in the United States, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year.
• Approximately 1 woman dies every minute from heart disease.
• Two out of three women who die from heart attacks never experienced chest pain prior to that heart attack.
• While men are more likely than women to experience a heart attack, women who do have heart attacks are more likely to die from them.

In honor of American Heart Month, I interviewed a female heart attack survivor. Thank you to this client for her willingness to share her story.

Q: Can you describe for me the events surrounding your heart attack and what symptoms you experienced?

A: I was at work when it happened. All of a sudden I had tremendous pressure around my chest. It felt like someone was squeezing me.

Q: Did you have any previous history of cardiac issues or any family history of heart disease?

A: I did not have any previous issues, but both my parents had heart disease.  My father had open heart surgery and a valve was replaced.

Q: What were your aftercare requirements? Any surgery or medication?

A: I was put on blood pressure and cholesterol medication.  I still take it today and will have to for the rest of my like.  It is for preventive measures.

Q: What self-care measures or habit changes did you make following your heart attack?

A: Since I was already walking 3-4 times a week, I did try to improve on that.  I also incorporated more fish in my diet and cut out some of the fat.

Q: What would you want other women to know about heart health or your experience that might help them?

A; Women have different types of pain than men.  We all need to continue eating healthy.  Incorporate as many vegetables as you can and also high fiber foods.   Even though I had bariatric surgery in 2004 and was at my goal weight, I was not taking as much care of myself as I should have.

In doing my research for this blog, I discovered that one reason women have lower heart attack survival rates is that many women may not recognize lesser-known heart attack symptoms such as fatigue, nausea and dizziness. Researchers have also found that women tend to downplay or ignore heart attack symptoms which causes them to delay seeking treatment.

If you are a woman, it is important to know your risk and the status of your heart health, even if you have never experienced any symptoms of heart disease. Coronary calcium scoring (also known as a Heart Score test) is a heart scan that can detect coronary artery disease in patients who do not have symptoms and is recommended for those with a family history of heart disease. For more information about this locally, please see https://www.wilmingtonhealth.com/heartscore

The good news is that 80% of cardiac events can be prevented! Aside from the typical suggestions about maintaining proper nutrition and regular exercise, not smoking, getting adequate sleep, and keeping your blood pressure in check, there are social and emotional ways to increase your heart health.

Research has long suggested that regular social interaction and social connectedness play an important role in not just overall health, but heart health as well. One theory explaining this effect is that spending time with friends and family lowers stress and fends off depression—both of which are risk factors for heart disease.

Other studies have found that laughing can protect heart health, as it causes blood vessels to relax and expand—again, pointing to the health benefits of spending time with close friends. A psychiatrist at Stanford University School of Medicine actually began studying the effects of laughter on the cardiovascular system four decades ago, hypothesizing that brain chemicals released during laughter (called endorphins) latch onto opiate receptors in the lining of blood vessels. This interaction stimulates blood vessels to release nitric oxide which is known to relax arteries. Relaxed arteries are more flexible and wider, permitting easier blood flow.

For more information about Women’s Heart Health, a good resource is the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women initiative. https://www.goredforwomen.org/en

Locally, the Cape Fear chapter of the AHA is hosting a virtual heart ball next week as well as a silent auction to raise funds. http://capefearheartball.heart.org

I had the pleasure of interviewing our “newest” therapist for the blog this week. Meghan was actually the first therapist Chrysalis hired to expand our practice back in 2005. We are thrilled that after moving away for quite some time, she has returned to re-join our team. In addition to being an experienced psychologist, Meghan also fulfills the role of Outreach Coordinator for our practice. Her warm, relational style and knowledge about eating disorders makes her a perfect fit for both these jobs!

1. Tell me a little bit about your therapeutic style

I am a client-centered therapist. I believe in creating a safe place for my clients where they are comfortable exploring current and past struggles and triumphs to inform decision making and changes going forward. I tend to lean heavily on mindfulness and cognitive behavioral interventions. At the center of my therapy is the goal to improve clients’ relationships with themselves so they can create a more compassionate and accepting space for themselves in the world. As a therapist, my clients have described me as direct, understanding and funny.

2. What are your specialty areas?

I have a lot of experience treating people who have experienced trauma as well as people struggling with eating disorders. I enjoy assessment and am excited to be providing bariatric surgery evaluations and support for Chrysalis clients.

3. What continuing ed or reading have you done for professional development lately?

I read books associated with my practice slowly. Right now, I am making my way through: The Mindful Therapist by Daniel Siegel, Coercive Control by Evan Stark, and The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

The recent training that sticks out the most to me was an Urban Trauma training with Maysa Akbar. We have so far to go to acknowledge and address race-based trauma and its sequelae!

4. You are “new” to Chrysalis, but not new to Chrysalis. Tell us about your history with the organization.

Chrysalis provided me the foundation of my career in private practice. I began working at Chrysalis in 2005 following my graduate internship at the Durham VA Medical Center. I met Kelly at my graduate school interview in 2002. I reached out to her when I realized my job in research at the VA was not going to fulfill my professional aspirations and was offered a job. At Chrysalis, I learned how to treat people with eating disorders and so much more about being a therapist. Life and a family took me away from Wilmington in 2007. We are so happy to have returned to the area and I am thrilled to be back at Chrysalis!

5. What do you like to do for fun when you aren’t at work?

I like to be outside. I love to do anything at the beach. I also enjoy hiking, camping and kayaking. On rainy days, I like cooking and reading.

As an African American we are taught to pray and keep our emotions inside because the only person that can help us is Jesus. We are also taught to trust no one with our business. For me, being a weekly recipient of therapy is always a huge topic of conversation amongst my black family. When my therapist suggested a mindful living support group, I was like okay m’am you’re really pushing it. I thought to myself what will I have in common with these women, no one will look like me, and why do I need to tell them my business? I dodged a few of the groups throwing all of those questions at my therapist who knew that I would benefit from this group.

After attending the group I can honestly say that it was the best experience. No, there weren’t any other women in the group that looked like me physically, but everyone’s heart looked just like mine, everyone’s tears were just like mine, and everyone’s desires were just like mine. I learned something different from each and every woman in that group and also have a special place in my heart for every one of them. We laughed, we cried, and most importantly we healed together. I still use my look book of quotes and inspirations that one of the ladies created as a group ending project and gifted each member with. I look at it when I’m feeling anxious or need to be reminded of the journey to heal my wounds that mindful living support group lead me to.

Three years later here I am still using my mindful living coping mechanisms, my look book, and all of the words of encouragement my mindful living sisters gave me. I have so many people ask me how I do it- how do I remain so peaceful when I have been through so much trauma in my life (some I am still going through)? My response is always the same “Therapy, Mindful Living and Jesus”.

The next Mindful Living group is a 12 week series, starting February 22^nd and will be facilitated by Kendra Wilson, LCSW, CEDS-S, dbt-C. For more information about the group or to sign up, please contact us at 910-790-9500 or administration@chrysaliscenter-nc.com

Did you know that Wednesday of this week was Registered Dietitians Day? I wanted to take time to acknowledge our wonderful team of dietitians at Chrysalis because every day feels like RD day to us; quite literally, we could not do our jobs without them!

All professional practice guidelines for eating disorder treatment state that a multidisciplinary team approach, which includes nutritional care with a registered dietitian, is the gold standard. In addition, the Joint Commission actually requires any organization that is accredited for the treatment of eating disorders (which Chrysalis is) to provide nutritional assessment and “nutritional rehabilitation” to their patients. Furthermore, all disciplines within the field of mental health (psychology, social work, and professional counseling) have a portion of their ethics code that addresses scope of practice. This means that any therapist who treats eating disorders (or other medical conditions requiring nutritional counseling) has to be referring to and collaborating with a registered dietitian in order to be complying with their ethics. Simply put, mental health clinicians are not allowed to treat what we aren’t trained in!

While all our dietitians are extremely competent in treating eating disorders, they each have unique specialties they offer to diversify the nutrition services we can offer at Chrysalis. Chaundra Evans, RD, LDN, CEDRD-S is also an expert in the care of bariatric surgery patients and is certified in adult weight management. She offers a compassionate, non-diet approach to those with binge eating disorder, emotional eating, and medical conditions due to obesity. Chaundra is an outstanding public speaker who has presented locally, regionally, and nationally on topics related to eating disorder treatment and bariatrics.

Terri Mozingo, RD, LDN, CEDRD is the Director of Nutrition for our Intensive Outpatient Program, chosen for this role because of her wealth of experience treating eating disorders at higher levels of care, including inpatient settings. She is especially passionate about working with patients with complex medical issues given her background in hospital-based nutrition. Terri is also an expert in pediatric nutrition, treating children and adolescents with a wide variety of presenting concerns and is certified in child and adolescent weight management. She provides education to kids and their parents to offer a non-diet, shame-free approach to treating pediatric obesity.

Sarah Voegtle, RD, LDN, CSSD rounds out our team with expertise in sports nutrition and food allergies, holding specialized certifications in both areas. Sarah has extensive knowledge and is passionate about offering nutritional counseling and eating disorder treatment to military service members and their loved ones, having previously worked on Camp Lejeune with this population. She is also an integral member of our Intensive Outpatient team, providing nutrition groups and meal groups in that program.

It is often a misconception that a client has to be in therapy at Chrysalis to see one of our dietitians. All three of our team members accept outside referrals and gladly collaborate with any referring party, whether it be a mental health clinician or a medical provider. In addition, to participate in our IOP, a patient does not have to see one of our dietitians individually; our nutrition director will communicate with any outpatient dietitian to ensure that a participant’s meal plan is being met.

Chrysalis Center’s mission is to offer expert level, integrative, evidence-based treatment to all of our clients. Hopefully after reading this, you see why our dynamic group of RDs is crucial to the success of our program and to healthy outcomes for our clients. Thanks Chaundra, Terri, and Sarah for all you do! Learn more about our dietitians here.

Kelly Broadwater, LPA, LPC, CEDS-S is the founder and executive director of Chrysalis Center. A certified eating disorders specialist, she has had the privilege of working side by side with registered dietitians her entire career.