Hungry for Hope: Sex and Skinny Conference offers Information, Worship and Experiential Activities for Mental Health Professionals and the Public

Contact: Mary Anne Morrow, Director of Communications, Timberline Knolls, 602-359-6989, mmorrow@timberlineknolls.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 30, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Many women today struggle with numerous challenges including eating disorders, trauma and body image issues. Research indicates that three out of four women have eating issues and one out of four women has experienced sexual abuse. To help individuals, mental health professionals and those with loved ones affected by these disorders, FINDINGbalance, a leading Christian resource for eating and body image issues, and its sponsors including Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, are holding a special conference, Hungry for Hope: Sex and Skinny, June 21 – 24, 2012, at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs. Nestled in the Garden of the Gods, Glen Eyrie, an English Tudor-style castle, is a healing destination for those seeking physical, emotional and spiritual renewal.

"At Hungry for Hope, Christian clinicians have the opportunity to learn from and connect with other professionals who share their faith and values," said Constance Rhodes, founder and CEO of FINDINGbalance. "Many women, and men, have some sort of eating issue. A full 40 percent of new visitors to porn sites are women and a significant percentage of those with eating disorders have experienced sexual trauma or addiction."

The conference's theme of Sex and Skinny will take a look at God-given sexuality, which has been a point of contention within the church for millennia. This often results in women feeling shame, fear and confusion about their bodies. For women to operate in a healthy way in these areas, Christian leaders and laypersons need to be equipped with scripturally sound views of sexuality and the body.

"Research studies have shown that women struggling with eating issues such as anorexia, bulimia, exercise addiction and emotional eating, also often struggle with sexual ones," said Margaret Nagib, PsyD, spirituality clinical coordinator at Timberline Knolls and keynote speaker at the conference. "True healing from these issues can only be realized as the individual identifies how these behaviors are used to cope with emotional and relational pain and looks to God as her source for her deepest longings and needs."

Hungry for Hope is designed as a retreat to encourage, inspire and equip professionals and community members with stories, practical clinical tools and spiritual teaching to promote a healing path. For more information or to register for the event, please visit: www.hfhconference.com/content/register.html

Todd Warren, spirituality coordinator at Timberline Knolls, will be performing at the conference.  A nationally-known songwriter, recording artist and ordained minister, Todd uses his music to help women and girls express and celebrate their spirituality.

About Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center:
Timberline Knolls is a leading private residential treatment center for women and adolescent girls (ages 12 – 65+) with eating disorders, substance abuse, trauma, mood and co-occurring disorders.  Located in suburban Chicago, residents receive excellent clinical care from a highly trained professional staff on a picturesque 43-acre wooded campus.  Women and families seeking Christian treatment can opt for specialized Christian-based therapy.  For more information on Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, call us at 877.257.9611. We are also on Facebook – Timberline Knolls, and LinkedIn – Timberline Knolls.

About FINDINGbalance:
FINDINGbalance is the leading Christian resource for eating and body image issues. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, FINDINGbalance has been working for over a decade to provide Christ-centered videos, articles, curriculum, presentations and conferences that equip lay people and clinicians alike to help people eat well and live free from eating and body image issues. Learn more at their award-winning website, www.findingbalance.com.

About Hungry for Hope:
Hungry for Hope is the premiere Christian conference for eating disorders and body image issues. Hosted by FINDINGbalance in a turn-of-the-century Castle in Colorado Springs, this unique conference combines Christ-centered teaching with worship, experiential activities and the arts to refresh and restore those impacted by and/or serving those with eating disorders and body image concerns. Learn more at www.hfhconference.com.