Support for Parents and Caretakers of Children with Eating Disorders
Cris E. Haltom, Ph.D.
Providing Support for Parents and Caretakers of Children with Eating Disorders
Cris is a licensed psychologist, clinician, coach, and teacher. She worked in a New York State Office of Mental Health hospital setting with adolescents and their families for five years from 1979 to 1984. During that time she pioneered integration of local follow-up programs in Tompkins Co. for youth who had been previously hospitalized for psychiatric reasons. In 1983, Cris opened her current private practice in Ithaca, N. Y.
Over the years Cris has always treated many adolescents and adults with eating disorders. She was interviewed on a special cable television program about eating disorders and has trained mental health clinic staff in eating disorder treatment. Cris continues to present as a guest lecturer on the topic of eating disorders at Cornell University.
Cris received her training at Cornell University where she graduated with a Ph.D. in psychology in 1978. She completed her clinical psychology internship at the Benjamin Rush Center in Philadelphia in 1979. As part of her internship Cris did her family therapy training at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Center.
Cris is founder of the Parent Partner Program™, a community-based program for parents, family, and friends of those with eating disorders.
It is a six-hour program offering multidisciplinary support and education. It is followed by the possibility of joining a biweekly, peer-led parents and friends support group.
Cris taught courses as adjunct faculty at Cornell University and other colleges.
In 1980 Cris co-edited and contributed to a book, Women and Alcohol, Kendall Hunt Publishers, with John Ford, CSW, Ph.D. In 2004, she published a book for parents and family of those with eating disorders, A Stranger at the Table: Dealing with Your Child's Eating Disorder, Ronjon Publishing, available through this website and other sources.
Cris Haltom, often with co-presenter, Sue Travis, RD, MS, CND, Nutrition Action Associates, presents clinician training workshops at national and state conventions in the field of eating disorder treatment. She and Sue presented at the 2001 and 2003 Renfrew Center Foundation Conferences and at Symposium 2002 presented by The International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals Foundation. In addition, Cris was a panel presenter at the first New York State Eating Disorders Conference (February 24,2005) and will present on the topic of eating disorders at the 68th Annual Convention of the New York State Psychological Association.
And Cris has graduated from the MentorCoach Program in 2000 with Dr. Ben Dean. Dr. Dean's skill and enthusiasm for training therapists to become effective coaches and consultants led to this website. Cris' skills at both publishing an educational newsletter and consulting/teaching on the topic of eating disorders continue to be inspired by her post-graduate involvement with the MentorCoach Program.
