Prince William County, Va. - There is new hope for women in the area who want to take control of their eating disorders.
This month, a local woman will begin her third season of "Streams in the Desert: An Intensive Eat-ing Disorder Program for Women in Recovery," a unique faith-based, intensive outpatient recovery program utilizing art, dance, writing therapy and biblical study to help young women express their feelings, overcome negative thought patterns and develop coping skills.
"Recovery is possible," said Mary Wazeter Mannhardt, a Gainesville resident, who created the program after years of struggling to overcome her own eating disorder.
"Research shows that group therapy is very effective for women with eating disorders, and it has been my experience that recovery programs are even more successful when they are also based in faith."
Mannhardt founded Mary Mannhardt Ministries, which will be offering the biblical-based, multi-disciplinary intensive outpatient program this month. Stream in the Desert is for women and teens suffering with anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorders who are looking for something more intense that weekly therapy.
Treatments will include a wide variety of group therapies, and participants will use their creativity to heal through dance, art and experiential writing. Group sessions will help participants develop positive solutions to struggles with anxiety, body image, codependency, meal processing, nutrition and spirituality. The women will also discuss inner strength and beauty, media imagery, and development of healthy and con-struction coping skills.
Starting Aug. 16, the program will be offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Manassas Baptist Church, 8800 Sudley Rd., Manassas.
For additional information and pricing call 703-743-1253.
Mannhardt also offers a free eating disorder support group on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. in the Con-ference Room near the Birthing Center at Prince William Hospital, 89700 Sudley Road, Manassas.
Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.
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