Visiting Therapist Program

April 18-19, 2008

Eating disorder therapists, dietitians and nurse practitioners from as far away as Washington State came to Mirasol April 18-19 to attend our first ever Visiting Therapist Program.

The program began with a networking dinner at the Dakota Cafe in Trail Dust Town. Left to right: Ann Twilley, Mirasol Aftercare Therapist; Laura Orlich, Therapist,University of Arizona Campus Health Services; Gail Welter, Nutrition Counselor, University of Arizona Campus Health Services; Marcia Yamashiro, Dietitian, Concord, California; Debbie Landau-West, Dietitian, Scottsdale, Arizona.

Morning "snack" at Mirasol's Adult Residence including bagels, croissants, eggs, barley salad, fruit salad and two kinds of yogurt.

Clinical Director Shoshana Wallenmeyer leads a tour of the adult residence, explaining how we incorporate Mirasol's mind-body-spirit approach to healing in everything we do.

Melyssa Roderick, a therapist with Healthy Futures in Scottsdale, demonstrates the oriental gong that we use to maintain our schedule during the day.

Mirasol's labyrinth is a haven for meditation and reflection for staff and clients alike.

Dr. Dawn Bantel, Mirasol's Medicator Director, leads off a case presentation, with Mirasol clinicians describing how they applied individual therapy, acupuncture, neurofeedback and aftercare to assist the client on her road to recovery.

All the visiting therapists experienced "mini treatments" in neurofeedback and acupuncture. Here Sara Ronhovde, EEG Technician, demonstrates how neurofeedback training can be used to stimulate areas of the brain that may not be functioning at optimum efficiency.

Terry Douglass, ARNP from Bainbridge Island, WA, experiments with Roshi glasses, another type of neurofeedback training that combines light, magnetic and audio stimulation to replicate the activity of a healthy brain.

Diane Notarianni, acupuncturist, takes Terry's pulses and then applies fine needles to meridians on her legs and feet.

Chef Karen Patch stole the show with a gourmet lunch of salmon steaks with mango salsa, roasted asparagus and bell peppers, field roast, basmati and wild rice pilaf, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a crisp mixed salad.

The Visiting Therapist Program wrapped up with a tour of Mirasol's adolescent residence led by Clinical Director Katharine Dean.