Kartini Clinic for Children and Families

Pediatric Eating Disorder Treatment Program

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971-319-6800
  • Eating Disorder Treatment
    • Anorexia Nervosa
      • Signs & Symptoms: Anorexia
      • Causes and Triggers: Anorexia
      • Treatment: Anorexia
    • Bulimia Nervosa
      • Signs & Symptoms: Bulimia
      • Causes and Triggers: Bulimia
      • Treatment: Bulimia
    • Food Phobia
      • Signs & Symptoms: Food Phobia
      • Causes and Triggers: Food Phobia
      • Treatment: Food Phobia
    • ARFID
    • Treatment Overview
      • Inpatient
      • Kartini Clinic Partial Hospitalization Program
      • Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
      • Virtual Intensive Outpatient (VIOP)
      • Outpatient
      • Cost of Treatment
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    • For Referring Providers
      • 8 Important Hospitalization Criteria
      • Provider Referrals to Kartini Clinic
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      • Top Tips for Parents
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      • Insurance FAQ
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      • Julie O’Toole MD MPH
      • Naghmeh Moshtael MD
      • Shanna Greene
      • Morgan O’Toole
      • Megan Maples
      • Sherrill Gandsey RN
      • Leslie Weisner LMFT
      • Steve Nemirow
      • Amy Stauffer
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Kartini School: The Difference between Learning and Doing

August 7, 2018 by Julie O'Toole

Kartini School
 
[Ed. note: This week’s guest blog has been written by Mary Gunesch, a licensed Oregon teacher and administrator, who recently joined Kartini’s clinical team. Mary has been instrumental in securing official recognition of Kartini School by the Oregon Department of Education.]
 
What if we told you that your child—during his/her time at Kartini Clinic—will not only learn to eat in healthier ways but will also learn better ways to think about learning and school?
 
Most patients we see have high expectation of themselves, and they are very responsible students.  While this seems desirable, and can help kids get good grades, it is worth looking at carefully.  Sometimes what looks like being “responsible” could be more accurately defined as “dutiful.”
 
When kids complete assignments, when their work is legible and turned in on time, they often get positive feedback (e.g., high grades, gold stars).  However, as kids get older, schoolwork gets harder.  In advanced classes in high school, as well as college courses, the expectations go far beyond neatness and timeliness.
 
At Kartini School we have time with students one-on-one.  We can help them decide if they are learning from an assignment (a worksheet, for example) or if they are simply doing it because it is expected.  We can alleviate stress for kids by helping them focus on the activities that facilitate  understanding.
 
Sometimes kids get bogged down by “all the work” they “have to do.”  By reducing the volume, we can reduce stress.  And when they feel less stressed, they get better sooner.
 
There is a difference between learning and doing.  Learning is like remodeling; you have to get in there and see what you know and then you have to get rid of the old incorrect concepts and build the new ones.
 
You can test this out by thinking about the earth, the sun, and the moon.  How do the rotations, the revolutions, and the tip of earth’s axis determine the seasons?  You learned it in school.  At least you did worksheets about it.  But did you learn it?  Can you explain it now?
 
While they are in the PHP, our kids won’t spend all day in school.  They have other activities to help them get well.  We’ll work with them during their time in Kartini School to enable them to learn the concepts their teachers are teaching.  But they may not do all the activities their classes are doing. That’s okay!  We’ll teach them to determine priorities in their schoolwork and help them learn to decide which activities are most helpful for them.
 
This is a good thing.  When they go on in education, they will face increasingly greater challenges, and they will have to know how to manage what often feels like too little time to complete all their work.
 
Educator and author Susan Weinbrenner asserts the importance of students knowing how to handle this.  She asks parents to think about when and where they want their kids to be when they struggle for the first time: “Surely not alone in a freshman dorm far from home.”

Filed Under: Kartini School

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School During Eating Disorder Treatment? Not To Worry

October 13, 2022 By Morgan O'Toole-Smith

Online Reviews

September 23, 2021 By Morgan O'Toole-Smith

Spotting the Tiger: Identifying Early Symptoms of Eating Disorders in Children for Timely Intervention

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  • Eating Disorder Treatment
    • Anorexia Nervosa
      • Signs & Symptoms: Anorexia
      • Causes and Triggers: Anorexia
      • Treatment: Anorexia
    • Bulimia Nervosa
      • Signs & Symptoms: Bulimia
      • Causes and Triggers: Bulimia
      • Treatment: Bulimia
    • Food Phobia
      • Signs & Symptoms: Food Phobia
      • Causes and Triggers: Food Phobia
      • Treatment: Food Phobia
    • ARFID
    • Treatment Overview
      • Inpatient
      • Kartini Clinic Partial Hospitalization Program
      • Virtual Intensive Outpatient (VIOP)
      • Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
      • Outpatient
      • Cost of Treatment
  • Eating Disorder Resources
    • For Referring Providers
      • 8 Important Hospitalization Criteria
      • Provider Referrals to Kartini Clinic
    • For Parents and Guardians
      • Top Tips for Parents
      • Understanding Your Insurance
      • Talking to Your Employer
      • Insurance FAQ
      • Mental Health Parity Law
      • Family Housing Information
      • School During Treatment
      • Give Food a Chance
    • Kartini School
    • Research & Resources
    • Treatment Videos
    • Glossary of Eating Disorder Terms
  • About Kartini Clinic
    • Why Kartini is Different
    • Will Treatment Work?
    • Our Staff
    • Contact Us
    • Careers at Kartini

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From Our Blog

Online Reviews

Are social media platforms making eating disorders in children worse?

January 10, 2023

At least one school district in Seattle thinks so. Seattle Public Schools (SPS) has filed a suit in US DIstrict Court alleging that “defendants [social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat] affirmatively recommend and promote harmful content to youth, such as … Read Post...

School During Eating Disorder Treatment? Not To Worry

October 13, 2022

During the school year, families are sometimes hesitant to have their child enter treatment in the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) because they are worried about time away from school. The teachers at Kartini School understand your concern.  Often, our patients are super-conscientious … Read Post...

Provider Referrals Kartini Clinic

Online Reviews

September 23, 2021

This post is from Kartini Clinic CEO Morgan O'Toole.  Online reviews have become part of our everyday lives. Who hasn’t glanced at the star ratings when Googling a new hair salon or looking for a restaurant to try out? Most of the time, online reviews are just another useful data point when … Read Post...

For Referring Providers Kartini Clinic

Spotting the Tiger: Identifying Early Symptoms of Eating Disorders in Children for Timely Intervention

May 8, 2023

In the powerful documentary, "Spotting the Tiger," narrated by Oscar Award Winner Jamie Lee Curtis, the film emphasizes the importance of recognizing early warning signs of eating disorders in children. As we commemorate its 15th anniversary, the core message of this film remains just as relevant … Read Post...

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The Kartini Clinic Difference

At Kartini Clinic we practice only evidence-based, family-centered eating disorder treatment. Our program is a multi-disciplinary medical and psychiatric treatment model rather than an exclusively psychiatric approach to eating disorder treatment.  read more »

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Tel: (971) 319-6800
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3530 N Vancouver, Suite 400
Portland, OR 97227

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