Reflecting on the semester so far

The semester is nearing an end, and so is my time in Advanced News and Feature Writing. I’ve written a day in the life story, I’m currently working on a profile of a psychology professor and I will soon be starting a column.

For my day, or week, as it turned out, in the life story, I interviewed two young women who are doctoral psychology students and work as counselors at both the University of Northern Colorado’s Psychological Services Clinic and other counseling facilities.

I really enjoyed reporting for this story. I learned a lot about a facility I knew little about and had fun talking to the women. The counselors were very friendly and the interview felt more like a conversation than a formal interview.

Because of patient confidentiality, I was not able to follow around the counselors and had to resort to only interviews. Having this obstacle before I even started my reporting taught me how to solve problems I may face as a reporter.

 I wish I had a way to study counseling lingo before I began my reporting. The counselors had to explain some details to me, but they were happy to do so and it gave me an even more in-depth understanding of the subject.

I should have focused my description in my opening paragraphs more on the counselors than the facility. The description was vivid, but considering the story is about the counselors, I probably should have shifted the focus of the description to be about them.

But overall I was pleased with my final draft.

I’ve completed my interview for the profile of Nancy Karlin, a psychology professor at UNC, and look forward to writing the story. She told me some great stories that will make for an interesting profile.

New Approach to Bulimia Treatment Announced During Eating Disorder Awareness Week

In a recent study conducted by researchers at Drexel University, researchers found that analyzing a bulimic patient’s weight history can significantly improve his or her success of treatment.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, bulimia nervosa is a mental disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as vomiting, laxatives or excessive exercise. The episodes occur twice or more per week for at least three months. With the condition, one’s self-worth is also greatly influenced by their weight.

The Drexel study followed 78 women with bulimia for two years and 110 women for eight years, interviewing them every six months.

The researchers found that 59 percent of the two-year group and 71.6 percent of the eight-year group reached their highest weight after the onset of the disorder and before they hit remission.

The researchers also found that the women who had reached their highest weight after the onset developed bulimia at an earlier age and struggled with it for a longer time.

The study concluded that examining a bulimic patient’s weight history can lead to more productive and successful treatment.

The results of this study were released just in time for the National Eating Disorder Association’s annual Eating Disorders Awareness Week, a campaign recognized at the University of Northern Colorado.

The Women’s Resource Center and the Counseling Center at UNC hosted a variety of events between Feb. 27 and March 2 to help raise awareness about eating disorders, including a Mind and Body health fair, a screening of “Someday Melissa,” a documentary about a young woman’s struggle with an eating disorder that she ultimately lost, and Canvas and Chocolates, an event where students could paint what they think is beautiful and snack on chocolate desserts.