Beyond physical and psychological treatment, Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center recognized that spiritual well-being often played a crucial role in lasting recovery. Through their optional Grace Program, the facility integrated faith-based elements for residents who found spiritual connection meaningful in their healing journey, while maintaining respect for diverse beliefs and backgrounds.
This specialized approach acknowledged that eating disorders often affected the whole person – body, mind, and spirit. For many residents, reconnecting with spiritual practices or exploring spirituality for the first time provided additional support during the challenging work of eating disorder recovery, addressing existential questions that frequently arose during treatment.
The Grace Program offered multiple Christian-focused groups, Christ-centered 12-Step recovery services, and individual sessions with Christian therapists. This structured approach helped residents integrate their faith with evidence-based treatment practices, creating a comprehensive recovery foundation that aligned with their personal values and beliefs.
Located on serene grounds in Lemont, Illinois, the residential center included a dedicated sacred space for prayer and reflection, providing residents with a quiet environment for spiritual practices. The facility also arranged transportation to various worship services in the surrounding community, accommodating different denominations and traditions.
While the Grace Program focused on Christian spirituality, Timberline Knolls respected and supported diverse spiritual paths. Their clinical team was trained to honor each resident’s individual spiritual journey, whether that involved organized religion, personal spiritual practices, or non-religious approaches to finding meaning and purpose.
For many individuals struggling with eating disorders, shame and guilt created significant barriers to recovery. The spiritual dimension of Timberline Knolls’ programming addressed these emotions through frameworks of forgiveness, grace, and self-compassion that complemented clinical approaches to reducing negative self-judgment.
The facility’s emphasis on holistic healing extended to how they addressed stigma in faith communities, where eating disorders and other mental health conditions were sometimes misunderstood or inappropriately spiritualized. Through education and outreach, Timberline Knolls worked to help religious communities develop more nuanced, supportive responses to these complex conditions.
