Nutrition Sub-Program

Nutritional balance and physical health is a very important element of overall mental health and illness management. Hanbleceya offers a Nutrition Program to its clients to help promote total wellness through behavior change in the areas of nutrition and exercise. This program strongly emphasizes self-care by incorporating healthy nutrition and exercise regimens into existing treatment plans with the aim of improving the management of psychiatric symptoms such as depression, mood instability and anxiety as well as the side effects of psychotropic medication such as lethargy, sedation and weight gain. This program also incorporates the management of conditions such as diabetes, digestive problems, high cholesterol and high blood pressure and is also able to help treat disordered eating conditions as well such as anorexia and bulimia.

The Nutrition Program is facilitated by our Registered Dietitian, Ursula Ridens, who provides weekly nutrition and wellness groups in addition to individual sessions with the program’s participants that focus on mindful eating, positive body image, healthy grocery shopping and meal planning, reducing emotional or disordered eating habits, incorporating exercise, etc. The Dietitian collaborates with Hanbleceya staff and any other treatment providers such as psychiatrists and physicians to support the client’s health, nutrition and wellness goals. She also provides education and training to the program’s house managers in support of developing healthy meal plans for the program residents.