Press Releases
8/29/2006 – Newly Opened Timberline Knolls Offers Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Growing Number of Young Women with Multiple Emotional Disorders
Flexible, Individually Designed Programs Target Self-Harming, Eating, Chemical Dependency and Other Disorders
CHICAGO (August 29, 2006) – Timberline Knolls, an innovative residential center exclusively for young women 12 to 21, has opened its doors to offer treatment for the increasing number of women suffering from a combination of emotional problems that can include self-injury behavior (SIB), substance abuse, eating and other disorders.
"We opened Timberline Knolls to provide an integrated approach to treating young women with a dual diagnosis," explained Chris Stout, Psy.D., chief executive officer of Timberline Knolls. "From our own experience, psychological disorders among young women have increased significantly during the past five years and are more often occurring together."
That experience is supported by several studies. One, of 288 women with eating disorders conducted in Switzerland showed that almost 84 percent of the patients had at least one other psychiatric problem. Another, this one concerning self-injurious behavior in college students, was conducted by researchers at Cornell and Princeton University and found students who admitted to repeat SIB were twice as likely to suffer from the eating disorders anorexia or bulimia.
"This rise in the number of young women with a dual-diagnosis disorder is troubling," Stout said, adding that it "often involves a particularly gruesome and often hidden practice commonly called 'cutting,' which includes behaviors like excessive scratching, making shallow cuts on arms or legs, self-biting, self-inflicted cigarette burns; and self-inflicted puncture wounds."
Timberline's evidence-based approach uses a combination of clinical expertise and relevant research to develop an individualized treatment program that is unique to each patient based on their placement in Timberline's "recovery continuum."
"Not all young women are at the same point in the progression of their emotional disorder," Stout explained. "And, since many of them have a dual diagnosis, we found that we need to offer a continuum of care based on how severe the disorder is. Our goal is to make a stay at Timberline Knolls a young woman's last stay at a residential therapeutic or acute facility."
Once a young woman is admitted to Timberline Knolls, an individualized treatment plan is developed then rigorously and constantly evaluated, explained Sheldon Miller, M.D., Timberline Knolls medical director. The treatment plan includes enrollment in the state-accredited on-campus Timberline Knolls Academy for school-aged girls.
"A hallmark of treatment at Timberline Knolls is our focus on identifying, engaging, and maximizing each resident's inherent strengths, and supporting the resident in overcoming and relinquishing negative and destructive patterns of thought and behavior," Dr. Miller added.
Unlike many residential treatment facilities, Timberline Knolls provides various treatment services seven days a week throughout the girl's stay, and provides on-site, family counseling as well. Timberline also provides an on-site nurse 24 hours a day, seven days a week; board certified -psychiatrists; and a chef-run kitchen that can provide kosher, vegetarian and diabetic meals upon request.
Timberline Knolls is situated on a heavily wooded, historic, 43-acre site, with four separate lodges, reflecting ponds, tall pines, and beautiful limestone formations. It is located about 30 miles southwest of downtown Chicago and is a half-hour drive from either O'Hare or Midway Airports.
Media Contact:
Ariel Herr
Michael Burns & Associates
214-521-8596
acherr@mbapr.com