The Sound of Music to Aid Recovery at Timberline Knolls: Contemporary Christian Singer Todd Warren Provides Spiritual Infusion for the Treatment of Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse
by Staff
June 11, 2008
CHICAGO, (christiansunite.com) -- It soothes, heals and inspires. The incredible power of music to touch the spirit has prompted Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center to appoint nationally known contemporary Christian singer Todd Warren as the facility's ministry outreach representative.At Timberline Knolls, recovery from eating disorders, substance abuse, self-injury behavior and other affective disorders means more than immediate physical and mental treatment. The center helps women and adolescent girls work to achieve lifelong recovery with a 12-step-based clinical approach strengthening them spiritually, emotionally and socially.
With more than 20 years of experience, Warren has provided musical outreach at large churches across the country, using his music to help people express and celebrate their spirituality. "And that's exactly what I want to do for the women at Timberline Knolls - help them make a positive change in their spiritual lives, through our innovative clinical approach which is rooted in helping our residents develop a lifelong spiritual strength," said Warren.
"Todd has used his music to influence thousands of young people across America," said James Gresham, chief executive officer of Timberline Knolls. "Now, in addition to his concerts, he's also going to focus that gift on helping our residents. One of his first acts was to compose a song dealing specifically with the type of recovery process our residents are going through, and the reaction of the girls to the song was overwhelming."
Warren, an ordained minister whose most recent involvement has been with the nationally known Promise Keepers conferences, plans to use music in small group sessions as well as conduct campus- wide concerts to promote the residents' understanding of their spiritual selves.
"Music plays a big role in both the enhancement and release of spiritual feelings, and we'll use music to help restore residents' well-being and ease their tension," Warren said. Nurturing spirituality assists residents in gaining a larger, more objective perspective of life, as well as a firm foundation for their life-long journey of recovery.
"Timberline Knolls has always espoused the importance of spirituality in helping our residents find recovery from eating disorders and addictions, but Todd brings a unique energy and heightened personal focus to this critical component," said Dr. Kimberly Dennis, the medical director for Timberline Knolls who herself is successfully recovering from an eating disorder and alcoholism. "My personal and professional experience is that you cannot have successful treatment for many of the cases that we see without healing the spirit, along with the body and mind."
Timberline Knolls helps residents look within themselves to uncover the underlying psychological and emotional issues that led to their disorders. Incorporated in the clinical approach are experiential therapies such as equine therapy to further strengthen women's confidence in their ability to have lifelong recovery.
"The statistics are alarming for eating disorders and self-injury in young girls and women," Gresham said. "At Timberline Knolls, we've developed one of the best programs in the world for residents to give them every fighting chance to live happy lives."
"Dr. Dennis has developed a nurturing environment with an outstanding, effective clinical treatment program," he added. "With the addition of Todd's ability to creatively communicate and direct the spiritual programming, our residents and their families can feel hopeful about acquiring skills to maintain healthy lives."
About Timberline Knolls
Located on 43 beautiful acres just outside of Chicago, Timberline Knolls offers a spiritually nurturing environment of recovery for women ages 12 and older who are struggling to overcome eating disorders, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. For more information on Timberline Knolls, visit www.timberlineknolls.com.
