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|| Who We Are
Dr. J. Renae Norton became interested in the treatment of eating disorders while still in graduate school. Her primary areas of expertise during her doctoral training were family systems theory, and Neuro-psychology. She began her practice in 1985 after doing her residency in clinical psychology at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Over the years her reputation as the go to therapist for the toughest eating disorder cases has spread to other states and professionals around the country. Presently, she offers the only alternative to inpatient treatment in cases where the individual is suffering from a severe case of Anorexia, Bulimia or a combination of the two (often referred to as Bulimarexia).
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Dr. Norton did her dissertation in 1985 comparing the identification and treatment of eating disorders from a Gestalt, Behavioral, Psychoanalytic, Neurophysiologic and Family Systems perspective. Her research convinced her that the traditional view of the causes of serious eating disorders, i.e. the overprotective mother along with the critical father, was a gross over- simplification for understanding such disorders. Her belief then and now is that you must treat the individual with an eating disorder taking into consideration all of the various systems that impact her, i.e. the family system, both her family of origin and her current living environment, the current status of her nutritional system, her support systems and emotional coping mechanisms, and at the macro-level, her interpretation of her culture.
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“I think one of the reasons I have had so much success treating this population where others have failed, is that I don’t make any assumptions about my patients. I recognize that each person presents with a unique history and with a pattern of behaviors that, though part of a symptom complex, are never exactly the same.”
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Another core belief is that traditional treatment approaches are sadly lacking in terms of successful outcomes because they tend to use a One-Size-Fits-All approach for those suffering from an eating disorder. Anorexia and related disorders (such as Bulimarexia) have a higher rate of mortality than any other psychological disorder.
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“From my point of view, this is simply unacceptable. We need a method of treatment for this population that is patient-centric, i.e. it needs to be focused on the individual and not the diagnosis. It must also be comprehensive enough to ensure that the gains made in treatment generalize to the patient’s life outside of treatment. Putting an individual in the hospital, who has control issues, and taking away her freedom of choice, only delays the inevitable, i.e. that she herself has to choose a healthy relationship with food in order to live a normal life. Likewise, making the right decision in a treatment facility where there are very few life stressors and minimal opportunities to make the wrong choices, does not prepare the patient for the realities of daily living when she returns home.”
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In terms of in-patient care, the high failure rate is partly due to the pressure to reduce costs by limiting the length of stay, but also due to the tendency to use a cookie cutter approach to treatment, which, though less expensive, is also less effective. While the provider may profit more from a standardized approach, the research strongly suggests that it is not more cost-effective for the patient, who often pays an extraordinarily high price for inpatient treatment and usually returns several times, each time getting worse.
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|| Professional Profile
Clinical psychologist in private practice with a specialty in the treatment of eating disorders including Bulimia, Anorexia and Emotional Eating. As a published author in the consulting field, Dr. Norton is currently completing two new books in the eating disorders field. One is targeted to lifestyle issues in children and the other is targeted to therapists as well as the lay public with an interest in alternatives to in-patient treatment for eating disorders.
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Other accomplishments include co-author of the book “The Change Equation: Capitalizing on Diversity for Effective Organizational Change"; Inventor of several devices that leverage technology and applied behavioral psychology with applications for emergency medical treatment, industrial behavioral safety, weight management, and medical treatment compliance, including electronic devices HabiTrac™ , Infomate I & II, Smart Cap and Audio Tag. r of a corporate wellness program called InCentiFit that utilizes bioimpedance technology and behavioral interventions to improve fitness and reduce corporate medical costs.
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Work experiences include sole practitioner in family based private practice targeting eating disorders and lifestyle issues: Senior consultant to leaders of numerous fortune 50 and several fortune 10 companies with a primary focus on systemic change initiatives.
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|| Areas of Expertise
Dr. Norton has worked with hundreds of individuals struggling with eating disorders, body image and self esteem issues for the past thirty years using family systems theory as the primary mode of intervention. She has a special interest in high school and college students with mild, moderate and severe eating disorders. In addition to eating issues, her training as a family therapist has enabled her to treat the full range of family related disorders including Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, relationship issues, sexual concerns and elder-care issues.
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Early in her career, Dr. Norton Co-authored the book The Change Equation: Capitalizing on Diversity for Effective Organizational Change published by the American Psychological Association. It has been widely used by universities, non-profits and fortune 500 companies wishing to create a globally diverse workforce.
Organizational Cultural Assessment and Change Initiatives: As a student of systems theory, Dr. Norton studied organizational systems as well as family systems. As a result, she worked for many years as a specialist in organizational culture and its effects on change initiatives of all types. This allowed her to a comprehensive cultural assessment tool that identifies underlying assumptions driving the behaviors of members of organizations, the subcultures that exist within the organization and potential sources of resistance that may impede change. Her understanding of the complexities of the workplace give her a distinct advantage when working with professional women who are dealing with workplace pressures.
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Experienced in high performance coaching to improve relationships between direct reports and managers, Dr. Norton cut her teeth as a coach at such Fortune 500 organizations as Proctor & Gamble, FedEx , General Electric Corporation, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Mobil Oil, etc.
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|| Intellectual Property
Books & Other Publications
“Maji and Mongo”
Author, To Be Released 2011, Book: Children's book targeted at healthy lifestyle
“One Size Fits All”
Author, To Be Released 2010, Book
“The Change Equation: Capitalizing on Diversity for Effective Organizational Change.”
Co-author, 1997, Book
: buy this book on Barnes & Noble
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Models & Development Tools
Meridian Model©
A hierarchical system for identifying barriers to change initiatives of all types.
Organizational Plurality
A newly devoloped approach for workforce diversity.
Inclusion & Diversity, Harassment Prevention, Cross-cultural Competency and Individuals With Disabilities Training
Designed and developed Inclusion & Diversity, Harassment Prevention, Cross-cultural Competency and Individuals With Disabilities Training modules for General Electric that received several Best Practices Awards and that are benchmarked by many fortune 500 organizations as standards in the industry in diversity training.
The Inclusion and Diversity Management System
Designed and developed system, which won a best practices award at Mobil Oil.
WOW US!
Designer and developer. A web based training program that leverages distance learning, technology and behavioral psychology to create training programs that assure that training delivers measurable results.
The Critical Functions Problem Identification Guide
Developer of this valueable tool, which has been used by many fortune 50 companies for bringing about bottom-line changes.
Continuum of Harassing Behavior
Developed for use in organizational settings to identify the most effective interventions depending upon the motives of the individual exhibiting the harassing behavior (validation studies currently in the planning stages).
Training Videos
Producing a series of training videos utilizing the Harassment Prevention Behavioral Continuum (developer), which demonstrate the most appropriate intervention strategies for the various types of harassment found in organizations today.
Continuum of Participative Management
Developer. Used by leaders in a variety of settings to create alignment and increase involvement and participation.
HabiTrac™
Inventor. An electronic tracking device to bring about behavioral change. Other inventions include Infomate I & II, Smart Cap, and Audio Tag, all of which are wireless biomedical devices currently patent pending and in various stages of development.
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|| Professional Activities, Education & Honors
Professional Activities
- Vice Chair for the APA Task Force on Families and Violence
- Marketing Chair for four different APA divisions
- Chair of two Presidential Opening Conventions
- Chair of the Public Information Committee
- Member Board of Directors 1990-1996
- Member Task Force on Urban Initiatives
- Marketing Committee Chair – 1985- 1990
- Treasurer – 1989-1990
- National Eating Disorders Association
- Academy of Eating Disorders
- American Society of Training Directors
- Association for Quality Performance
Education
- B.Ed. – Miami University, Coral Gables, Florida. Graduated 1972 Magna Cum Laude
- Psy.D. – Wright State University School of Professional Psychology, Dayton, Ohio, 1985.
Recognition & Honors
- Eleven Best Practice Awards at General Electric Aircraft Engines for Diversity, Harassment Prevention, Disabilities Awareness, and Six Sigma Training Materials
- Best Practice Award – Mobil Oil Pipeline Company Participative Management Initiative
- Best Practice Award – Mobil Oil Pipeline Company Inclusion & Diversity Management
System
- Outstanding Achievement Award – Division of Family Psychology, American
Psychological Association 1995
- Outstanding Achievement Award – Ohio Psychological Association 1990
- Most Valued Student Award – Wright State University, School of Professional Psychology 1983
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|| Breadth Interests
The first time I heard the term Weiji was in a speech by John F. Kennedy. I was 11. He was the first politician to impact me and I was fascinated by the concept that something very bad could be a catalyst for something very positive. Some linguists argue that the meaning, as president Kennedy used it, i.e. Opportunity in Crisis, is more myth than not. I choose to disagree, partly because they don’t really make a very strong case, in my opinion, but also because I have found over the years that the concept resonates when people are in crisis.
I have used Weiji in executive coaching, therapy and in my own life when I thought that things simply could not get any worse. It helps.
Peter Walsh wrote a book: Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? He is basically speaking to the issue of instant gratification and the fact it is part of the US culture to want everything instantly, including weight loss. He makes the point that, in addition, we do not take the time to take care of ourselves which is reflected in the messes we are willing to tolerate in our environment. I agree and I think that it contributes to our overall lack of good health.
To that end, I am a firm believer in Feng Shui, which means, literally "Wind and Water.” The ancient Chinese recognized the importance of one’s surroundings and their relationship to patterns that occur in our lives. They believed that when there is harmony, good health and good luck prevail. I believe this. For example, I find that if I keep the toilet seats down throughout the house, I spend less money. (Feng Shui philosophy would argue that leaving them up invites wealth to go down the drain.) Don’t laugh until you’ve tried it.
It is said that the term Feng Shui is actually a short way to refer to an ancient poem, which described the ideal conditions of a place where human life could thrive, in harmony with Heaven and Earth.
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The winds are mild,
The sun is bright,
The water is clear,
The trees are lush.
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I ascribe to Feng Shui and have organized my home accordingly. In keeping with this philosophy, I also engage in a number of activities or rituals around creating healthy, delicious foods that are visually pleasing. For example, I try get out on Saturdays to shop after I see my last patient, which is usually late afternoon. Since I am a very discriminating shopper, I have to go to several local places to get the things that are the freshest and healthiest and/or unique to my preferences. Since I generally get the same things I am in and out, which is a good thing as I am usually hitting three or four grocery stores.
Then I prepare the foods on Sunday when I get home from working on my latest book. This means cleaning fruits, marinating meats for freezing, making soups in the winter or hummus in the summer, and making my dog’s dog-food. Tiring? Sometimes but comforting to know that on Sunday evening the house is clean, the refrigerator is full of delicious healthy food and I can truly rest for five or six hours before going to sleep and beginning my week.
One of the hardest sells in facilitating recovery for my patients is getting them to commit to shopping for and preparing food. They don’t have the time. Read as, they don’t want to make it a priority or cannot see the value.
The Chinese symbols for Growth, Strength and Change flow from healthy living and acceptance of what comes my way. Join me in this journey!
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Adam Yust | Roos Tribute | EDP Web