ecessary to sustain long-term change.
CBT For Weight Loss
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help overweight people manage their biology more effectively. CBT helps them become better self-regulators who can set effective goals, observe themselves systematically, stay committed and manage the stress of everyday living.
Research published in the 1990s compared very overweight children who had receive CBT for weight loss with equally overweight children who didn’t received this treatment (the control group).
Ten years later, the control group actually gained weight and averaged 60% overweight whereas the CBT group lost weight and averaged only 30% overweight.
Wellspring campers receive 1 individual and two small group CBT sessions per week. A typical group CBT session at Wellspring is as follows:
- Review of each camper’s accomplishments in the prior day(s). The tone of these reviews will be consistently positive, oriented to problem solving and reinforcement of specific accomplishments.
- Integration of a CBT/weight control topic, such as stimulus control, 5-step problem solving, decisional counseling, and stress management/coping.
- Learning a Dealing Skill
- A Mindfulness Activity
- Goal Setting
- Individual sessions will also review progress and self-monitoring journals, focusing on the details of each camper’s efforts.
CBT utilizes methods such as iterative goal-setting, stimulus control, decision counseling, rational emotive therapy, relapse prevention training, positive focusing, and improving frustration tolerance and stress management. Many campers will take to these behaviors like fish to water. Others will have emotional issues to address and overcome before they can be successful. (Researchers have concluded that obese people are 25-44% more likely to suffer from clinical depression than non-obese people.)
DBT Informed Programming
Wellspring also utilizes Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) informed techniques. DBT focuses on the concept of change and acceptance. It’s efficacy has been shown when working with clients with food related issues, and we have found skills training to be very effective at Wellspring. DBT teaches four different behavioral skills
- Distress Tolerance
- Emotion Regulation
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
Wellspring uses DBT informed modules to practice these skills at each group and individual session. As a result, our campers become better copers and self-regulators.
Food, Cooking, And Nutrition At Wellspring
How’s The Food?
Wellspring firmly believes that a dietary plan will only work if the person actually enjoys the food he or she is eating. Therefore, we’ve put tremendous thought and effort into creating menus that our campers will absolutely love. Over the years we have fine-tuned our many healthy recipes to serve our campers’ absolute favorites at every meal. Wellspring’s emphasis on natural whole foods that are low in caloric density, but high in nutrition and fiber means that each meal campers consume is filled with delicious, healthy options. We always aim to serve our campers “loveable foods that love them back”. In other words, foods that are not only flavorful and satiating, but that also encourage health and sustainable long-term weight control. Many campers are surprised to learn that, with just a few modifications, many of their favorite foods such as pizza and hamburgers can still fit within their plan.
“To my surprise, the food was AMAZING. I have been going to sleep away camps since I was 10 years old and the experiences I’ve had at all these camps put together doesn’t even compare to the experience I had at Wellspring.”
Marena lost 20 pounds at camp and lost 20 more pounds at home.
What Can I Expect On The Menu?
Our daily menus include three delicious meals and two healthy snacks that have been developed by culinary and nutrition experts especially for the Wellspring program. We aim to serve meals that are well-balanced and filled with nutritious ingredients and are just as appealing as the foods our campers ate before coming to Wellspring. Each meal includes a “co