Family Involvement
At Wellspring, we understand that family support is fundamentally important in helping students keep weight off long-term. So we train families on the Wellspring Plan, including supportive role modelling, preparing your house for your child's return, and learning to communicate positively about food and exercise without having to act as “food police.”
Family Workshops
Wellspring holds free two-day Family Workshops during which families are strongly encouraged to visit camp and participate in the workshop offerings. The Family Workshop is critical because it helps the entire family understand and support their child's continued adherence to this leading fitness and weight loss approach. Studies show that students are far more likely to be successful if the entire family helps with this lifestyle change by creating a supportive home environment.
In fact, we believe our Family Workshops are so vital to students' long-term success that we offer a £250 Family Workshop Award if at least one family member attends.
Under the leadership of Wellspring clinical professionals, families are invited to become quick experts on what has occurred at camp, and what they should be doing at home to ensure continued weight loss.
Some highlights of Family Workshop Weekend are:
- Families receive the tools that students have been using at camp (textbooks, self-monitoring journals, pedometers, calorie counters)
- Parents commit to following the Wellspring Plan for the length of the workshop to help them understand their child's camp experience and healthy lifestyle guidelines
- Family CBT sessions with Behavioural Coaches
- Culinary and nutrition overviews and demonstrations
- Planning for the transition home: how to support the returning student over the fall and winter to maximise the probability of continued weight loss
In addition, we encourage family members to use our year-long Continuing Care Programme to support their child and to further their own weight loss goals. Continuing Care lasts until June 1, 2012, and we offer the programme at no additional charge to family members who wish to use it. Campers who successfully complete the Continuing Care Programme receive an additional award of £500. For more information about Continuing Care, click here.
