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Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program Expands Treatment Options Through Partnership with Eating Recovery Center
Partnership formalizes a longstanding collaborative relationship between the two eating disorders treatment centers
Eating Recovery Center, a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia, today announced that it has partnered with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program. Summit is a nationally recognized center for eating disorders treatment and prevention located in Sacramento, Cali.
This partnership allows Summit to expand its partial hospitalization and outpatient treatment options. It also underscores Eating Recovery Center’s ongoing commitment to providing and supporting access to expert eating disorders recovery services.
“We have come to regard Summit as a highly reputable eating disorders treatment center in the Northern California area,” said Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS, chief clinical officer of Eating Recovery Center. “We see tremendous value in not only the Summit team’s clinical approach, but also its community awareness and prevention programming.”
Founded in 2000, Summit is the only medically supervised treatment program in the Sacramento area serving adolescents and adults with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. The treatment center is led by founding partners, Tony Paulson, PhD, executive director, Lisa Peterson, PhD, clinical director, and Jennifer Lombardi, MFT, chief admissions officer.
“Partnering with Eating Recovery Center allows Summit to enhance and further develop our partial hospitalization and outpatient programming by incorporating clinical models developed by the Center’s leadership team,” said Dr. Paulson. “Additionally, the Center’s intensive inpatient and residential programs are valuable resources for Summit’s adult and adolescent patients requiring a higher level of care. We believe this continuity of care is critical in supporting lasting eating disorders recovery.”
Summit’s eating disorders treatment programs offer:
• Comprehensive medical, nutritional and psychological care.
• A philosophy rooted in evidence-based treatments including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family Based Treatment.
• Treatments for co-morbid psychological issues, including: anxiety, depression and substance abuse.
• Individualized treatment plans.
• Collaboration with community partners.
“Summit provides highly effective outpatient care to eating disordered patients and is a trusted treatment resource for the community of referring professionals,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, founding partner, chief medical officer and chief executive officer of Eating Recovery Center. “This partnership facilitates expanded reach for the clinical models that have proven highly successful in treating patients at Eating Recovery Center.”
For more information about Eating Recovery Center, visit www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com. To learn more about Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program, visit www.sedop.org.
Posted in About Us, General, Press Releases, Treatment Options •
Program Design Supporting Emerging Eating Disorder Pathology in Children and Adolescents
Nationally recognized thought leader in the care of individuals with eating disorders, Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS, serves as Medical Director of Eating Recovery Center’s Child and Adolescent Services. In the Q&A below, Dr. Bermudez describes the pervasive gap in services that led to the creation of Eating Recovery Center’s Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents and details the innovative program design that seeks to meet the distinctive needs of the young eating disordered population as the pathology of these illnesses continues to evolve.
Q: Describe the challenges to effective treatment for children and adolescents.
A: It seems to me that one of the challenges for the field of eating disorders is to better understand and address how eating disorders have been changing. These changes include demographic shifts, with the illnesses affecting both genders, all ages and people from all walks of life, as well as changing symptomatology such as growing creativity in ways of avoiding calories and in compensatory behaviors. These changes are particularly salient when it comes to the young, and we expect to see this salience more formally reflected when the DSM-V is rolled out in 2013. At that time, eating-related pathology in children will take a broader perspective than it has in the past to include what had been known as “eating disturbances of childhood” under the umbrella of eating disorders. In my opinion, this shift is a reflection of not just the growing number of children and young adolescents that we are seeing affected by eating disorders, but also of a broader depth and breadth of eating disorder-related symptomatology in this young and relatively poorly studied population. There has historically been a quantitative gap in services, as the number of available specialized beds in the United States for the severely ill young adolescents, and especially for children, has been limited. In addition to the ongoing quantitative gap in service delivery, I believe today we are also realizing the need to tackle the added challenge of a qualitative gap in services. As this pathology evolves, we see quite a number of difficult cases in children and young adolescents that require clinical expertise, creativity, conducive facilities and strong treatment teams to be able to address these cases in a meaningful way once this level of care is required. This is especially true in light of a general lack of evidence to guide us.
Q: How did the gap in services in the treatment landscape inform the program design for Eating Recovery Center’s Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents?
A: To address the aforementioned gap in services, we opened the dedicated child and adolescent eating disorders treatment facility in January of this year. Months of meticulous planning yielded a program that acknowledges what we know to be true in regards to the evolving pathology of these illnesses in young people. Even so, we were surprised by the richness of clinical presentation in the young patients admitted to the center so far. This complexity includes varied family circumstances at play, as well as varied medical and psychiatric comorbidities like self-harm, oppositional defiant disorders, a wide range of food restrictions, diabetes and cystic fibrosis, among other. All of which are accompanied by the expected coexistence of significant clinical anxiety, fears and phobias and the movement-driven, compulsive exercising component. Fortunately, our program design anticipated and is capable of addressing many of these needs and by individualizing care are able to address the diverse array of clinical presentations. The program leverages creative approaches like the use of the small-team “village” structure to maintain a high staff to patient ratio, a family empowerment model and a strong psychotherapy component to address the specific needs of each patient and family. Another example of a creative approach is the use of “video game”-like biofeedback as an anxiety management tool, which has been very well received by our young patients and has served as a means for engaging them in their treatment plans. Optimal medical management and nutritional rehabilitation are also mainstays of the program.
Q: Describe the concept of developmentally appropriate treatment plans for child and young adolescent patients?
A: One of our focuses in assessing and working with readiness for change in the field of eating disorders treatment has been differentiating between willingness and ability. Many young people struggling with eating disorders also struggle with developmental issues like concreteness, alexithymia and acting out behaviors. Assessment and formulation of developmentally appropriate treatment plans is critical in addressing the needs of our young patients at Eating Recovery Center, and thus specialized tracks have been developed to address the developmentally young. It’s about meeting patients where they are at developmentally. I will be addressing the topic of readiness for change in eating disorders treatment in greater detail at the upcoming third annual Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference, which will be held August 19-20, 2011 in beautiful Denver, Colorado. This year will be my third year in attendance and as a speaker, and I would highly recommend this conference to all professionals in the eating disorder treatment field for both its richness of content and outstanding networking opportunities.
Click here for more information about Child and Adolescent Services at Eating Recovery Center.
Posted in About Us, General, Treatment Options •
Eating Recovery Center Launches Alumni Program to Promote Lasting Recovery
Leading Eating Disorders Treatment Center Aims to Reduce Relapse and Foster Supportive Recovery Environment for Patients
Studies have shown that anywhere from one-third to 40 percent of individuals treated for anorexia or bulimia will relapse. Eating Recovery Center, a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia, aims to reduce this statistic. Recognizing that eating disorders are difficult to overcome alone, the treatment center has launched an alumni-focused program aimed at preventing relapse and fostering a supportive recovery environment for its patients.
“Patients leaving treatment consistently identify that the peer and treatment team support they had during their treatment program was a key element in their recovery process,” said Enola Gorham, LCSW, CEDS, clinical director of adult services at Eating Recovery Center. “Alumni programs provide the recovering eating disordered patient with an opportunity to reconnect with a recovery-focused community, benefit from the support of peers and refocus on the elements of recovery.”
The alumni program kicked off July 10 and 11 with a retreat attended by Eating Recovery Center alumni. The event, which focused on helping the former patients renew their individual commitments to anorexia or bulimia recovery, featured an interactive program led by Eating Recovery Center’s clinical leadership team. Therapeutic movement, art sessions and group activities offered opportunities for alumni to recharge their recovery and reconnect with fellow Eating Recovery Center peers and staff.
“When in treatment at Eating Recovery Center, all patients are introduced to the ‘it takes a village’ concept of recovery,” explained Gorham. “In this model, the person who is working to change behaviors needs honest feedback and support from people whom the patient knows have his or her best interest at heart. Upon leaving the treatment environment, patients can have a very hard time recreating a ‘village’ of support and care for themselves.”
In order to build a village of support, promote eating disorders recovery and reduce chances of relapse, Gorham recommends that recovering individuals follow these three tips:
1. Build a strong support environment, which includes a knowledgeable treatment team.
2. Prioritize recovery. Individuals leaving treatment are new to recovery and must put a lot of time, effort and energy into recovery. Gorham recommends that individuals in recovery simplify their lives as much as possible, and measure all commitments and activities against the standard of “will this help me keep my health and recovery?”
3. Trust your treatment team and follow their advice.
Eating Recovery Center is planning additional tools and activities to help alumni maintain recovery mindsets. The Center is currently developing a website resource to offer continued support to alumni. Additional program elements under consideration include eating disorders support groups, social media, regional and local events and an alumni-focused e-newsletter.
For more information about Eating Recovery Center’s alumni-focused program, please visit EatingRecoveryCenter.com.
Posted in About Us, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, General, Press Releases •
Eating Recovery Center In the News: The Denver Post
Emerging Trends, Sage Best Practices Among Topics Highlighted at Eating Recovery Center’s 3rd Annual Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference
New trends and trusted best practices in eating disorders treatment are among the key topics that will be presented by a lineup of nationally recognized experts at the 3rd Annual Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference, held August 19-20, 2011, in Denver, Colo. Registration is now open for this year’s conference, which is hosted by Eating Recovery Center, a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia.
Read more here.
Posted in About Us, General, In the News, Meetings/Events, Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference •
Emerging Trends, Sage Best Practices among Topics Highlighted at Eating Recovery Center’s 3rd Annual Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference
Registration Now Open for Educational Event Showcasing Innovative Eating Disorders Treatment Strategies; Early Registration Rates Expire July 1, 2011
New trends and trusted best practices in eating disorders treatment are among the key topics that will be presented by a lineup of nationally recognized experts at the 3rd Annual Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference, held August 19-20, 2011, in Denver, Colo. Registration is now open for this year’s conference, which is hosted by Eating Recovery Center (EatingRecoveryCenter.com), a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia.
“The annual Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference offers our colleagues from across the nation an opportunity to connect with and learn from multidisciplinary experts,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, chief medical officer, chief executive officer and founding partner of Eating Recovery Center. “Taken together, the event’s compelling program, Denver’s temperate August climate and Colorado’s numerous summertime activities represent an ideal fusion of professional development and leisure.”
Limited registration and an interactive educational program featuring plenary speakers, panel discussions and Q&A sessions support connection and collaboration among attending physicians, therapists, nurses, dietitians, advocacy organizations and other members of the eating disorders treatment community. Highlights of the 2011 program include:
• Challenges of Treating Seriously Ill Eating Disordered Patients, Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, and Philip Mehler, MD, FACEP, CEDS
• Panel Discussion: Nutritional Intervention of Eating Disorders Across the Continuum of Care, Ralph Carson, PhD, RD, LD, Sondra Kronberg, MS, RD, CDN, CEDRD, and Ginger Hartman, RD
• New Trends in the Field of Eating Disorders Treatment, Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS
• Q&A Session: The Use of Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the Treatment of Eating Disorders, Enola Gorham, MSW, LCSW, CEDS, and Q&A with Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS
• Q&A Session: Enhanced Family Based Treatment (FBT) in Inpatient Treatment for Children and Adolescents, Elizabeth Davis, PsyD, and Q&A with Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS
• Panel Discussion: Outpatient Treatment Interventions, Jennifer Lombardi, MFT, Susan McClanahan, PhD, Julie O’Toole, MD, MPH, and Kay Watt, LPC
• Tricks of the Trade: Things We’ve Learned Along the Way, Carolyn Costin, MA, Med, MFT, CEDS, and Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS
• Trait Management: Tailoring Treatment to Patient Characteristics, Emmet R. Bishop, Jr., MD, FAED, CEDS
• Readiness for Change in the Treatment of Eating Disorders, Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS
The 2011 Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference will be held at the Denver Marriott City Center. Prior to July 1, 2011, registration for professionals is $125 and includes all sessions, 12.5 continuing education credits, brunch and dinner on Friday, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and periodic refreshment breaks. Single-day registration is $75. Student-discounted registration is $100 and $50 for single-day attendance. Space is limited and registration prior to the event is recommended. Register instantly online at EatingRecoveryCenter.com or by mail after completing the registration form.
Posted in About Us, General, Meetings/Events, Press Releases, Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference •
Eating Recovery Center In the News: Marie Claire
”
Starvation Nation”
In the July 2011 edition of Marie Claire magazine, on newsstands now, reporter Sophia Banay Moura profiles Eating Recovery Center as an innovative facility for eating disorders treatment, and details the journey of one patient as she moved through the Eating Recovery Center’s levels of care toward lasting recovery. Selected excerpts from the five-page article are included below, or read the full article here.
This is the reality of anorexia: patients in and out of hospitals for years, unable to grow up, their families desperate to end the secret starvation rituals. But at one new treatment facility, Denver’s Eating Recovery Center (ERC), doctors are fighting the disease with cutting-edge techniques. Patients wear armband sensors that track every calorie they burn (they’re sold as weight-loss tools, ERC is the only place that utilizes them for eating-disorder treatment), and use biofeedback finger probes, which display heart rate and body temperature, to manage anxiety through breathing exercises. In “flexibility training” (originally developed to help traumatic brain injury vitcims), patients take a different seat in each therapy session or brush their teeth with the opposite hand. The change in routine creates new brain neurons, distrupting obsessive thoughts.
The Denver doctors say mixing these different tactics with traditional treatments, like movement and art therapy, is key to stopping the disease. Because today, 40 years after anorexia and bulimia started sending young white women to hopsitals across the U.S., eating disorders have cropped up in kindergartners, senior citizens, boys, Hispanics, and African Americans. No demographic is safe, and medical professionals are scrambling to combat what has become a burgeoning public health crisis. The most provocative analogy comes from Craig Johnson, Ph.D., who compares the spread of the sickness to that of HIV/AIDS. “The pursuit of thinness is ‘contagious’ ” behaviorally, says Johnson, who has done pioneering research on the biological basis of eating disorders, and is now chief clinical officer at the Eating Recovery Center.
“We’ve moved away from this as a Caucasian, upper-middle-class, ‘princess’ disease. It’s everybody’s disease,” says Dr. Ovidio Bermudez, medical director of child and adolescent services at ERC, which treats patiesnt as young as 10. He’s seen 13-year-old boys on the brink of kidney failure after shunning carbs and gorging on protein; 47-year-old mothers undereating and running 15 miles a day after a double masectomy; 30-somthing housewives hospitalized during pregnancy to stop excessive exercise; and diabetic Ivy League med students manipulating their insulin injections. These new conditions – “orthorexia,” “pregorexia,” “diabulimia” – demand a daring, innovative approach.
Read the full article in the July 2011 edition of Marie Claire, on newsstands now!
Posted in About Us, General, In the News, Treatment Options •
The Role of an Intensive Partial Hospitalization Program in a Vertically-Integrated Healthcare System for the Treatment of Eating Disorders
Vertically-integrated healthcare systems, an emerging umbrella term used to describe the delivery of comprehensive recovery services within or under the aegis of a single treatment entity, provide valuable continuity of care for the eating disorders treatment community. In the vertically-integrated model, the treatment provider’s program offerings span critical core service areas including hospital-based services, partial hospitalization services and outpatient services. Integration among these levels of care fosters ongoing medical support and consistency of the treatment approach as the eating disordered patient moves toward lasting recovery.
Dr. Philip Mehler, Chief Medical Officer at Denver Health Medical Center and recognized expert on the medical complications of eating disorders, presented the vertically-integrated healthcare system as a life-saving innovation in the delivery of healthcare in recent testimony during the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Hearing “First, Do No Harm: Improving Health Quality and Patient Safety.” Dr. Mehler, who oversees Denver Health’s A.C.U.T.E. (Acute Comprehensive Urgent Treatment for Eating Disorders) program, explained that the model creates “a comprehensive approach to patient care” through the development of programs to manage high-risk medical situations and implementation of systems to reduce variability in care.
Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, Founding Partner, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Eating Recovery Center, conceptualized the Denver-based eating disorders treatment center with the vertically-integrated model in mind. Recognizing that medical complications associated with starvation and purging can often result in high-risk clinical situations, Eating Recovery Center offers intensive Inpatient and Residential programs featuring 24-hour medical and psychological support, as well as a Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient programming to help patients practice recovery and re-engage in more healthy lifestyles. Each level of care incorporates a consistent treatment philosophy based in the Pillars of Recovery—values, mindsight and connectedness—and provides a common foundation from which care can be individualized.
“Despite significant variability in how eating disorders present in an individual via symptoms and behaviors, Eating Recovery Center’s vertically-integrated healthcare system brings consistency and integration to the treatment process,” explains Dr. Weiner. “Continuity of care is integral to meeting the diverse treatment needs of eating disordered patients and guiding them toward lasting recovery.”
Dr. Weiner notes that partial hospitalization is a particularly critical stage of the vertically-integrated model in eating disorders recovery because it serves a dual role as both a step-up/step-down level of care as well as a direct-admit level of care. Patients struggling to implement recovery skills during evenings at home or in recovery-focused apartment communities, or those whose physical health deteriorates as a result of disordered behaviors, can step up from PHP to a higher level of care if clinically indicated. Patients that find success in the PHP can progress along the spectrum to levels of care offering more autonomy, such as an Evening Intensive Outpatient Program (EIOP), and eventually onto less intensive outpatient treatment options.
In addition to accepting patients moving within the internal treatment continuum, PHP can be a meaningful direct-admit level of care for patients entering treatment for the first time or transitioning from other eating disorder programs. As a fully-supported non-residential treatment program, PHP can help a medically stable patient to test the waters of recovery while working with expert clinical staff to identify their appropriate level of care.
Echoing the sentiments conveyed by Dr. Mehler in his Congressional testimony, Dr. Weiner maintains that the vertically-integrated healthcare system offers unmatched value for patients, families and referring professionals seeking an eating disorders treatment resource. “This treatment model is characterized by preparedness to effectively and consistently address the needs of the vast majority of eating disordered patients, no matter how acute their illness. When entrusting the well-being of a loved one or a client to an eating disorders treatment program, comprehensiveness, integration and quality of care is of the utmost importance.”
For more information about Eating Recovery Center’s Partial Hospitalization Program, download our informational flyer here.
Posted in About Us, Treatment Options •
Increased Demand for Eating Disorders Care Drives Eating Recovery Center to Expand
Leading Center for Eating Disorders Recovery Relocates Partial Hospitalization Program to Dedicated Facility, Nearly Doubles Program’s Treatment Capacity
In response to increasing demand for eating disorders care, Eating Recovery Center, a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia, has expanded its treatment capacity. The Center has relocated its Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), an 11.5-hour-per-day, non-residential eating disorder program, from its adult behavioral hospital to a new 16,000-square foot facility in Denver’s Lowry neighborhood. The new dedicated facility nearly doubles the PHP’s current treatment capacity.
“This expansion enables us to provide much-needed treatment to more individuals and families who struggle with these devastating diseases,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, chief executive officer, chief medical officer and founding partner of Eating Recovery Center. “Though the program has expanded, the PHP’s high patient to therapist ratio and small group structure ensure that each patient has a highly individualized treatment experience.”
The PHP, now open at 8190 E. 1st Avenue, is designed to help men and women ages 18 and older practice recovery skills they can translate into their post-treatment lives. The program can operate as either a step-down from Inpatient and Residential eating disorders programs or a step up for Outpatient Program participants who need more structure and support. Eating Recovery Center’s PHP accepts patients moving within its own treatment continuum, entering treatment for the first time or transitioning from other eating disorders programs.
While many partial hospitalization programs are comprised of six to eight hours of programming offered five to seven days per week, Eating Recovery Center’s PHP provides 11.5 hours of treatment seven days per week. The nearly full day of programming supports patients through all meals and snacks and offers ample structure to help patients interrupt eating disorders behaviors and restore weight. Patients have the opportunity to practice recovery at night, spending evenings at home or in peer-supported apartment communities provided by Eating Recovery Center.
Unique among PHPs, Eating Recovery Center’s Partial Hospitalization Program is designed by nationally recognized eating disorders experts, supervised by two full-time, onsite psychiatrists, and medically supported by a full-time, onsite nurse. Primary therapists, family therapists, dietitians and internists provide ongoing individualized care.
“The PHP’s integrated treatment philosophy combines medical, psychiatric, nutritional and psychological elements to give patients and families the tools to achieve lasting behavioral change,” said Bonnie Brennan, MA, LPC, NCC, clinical director of Eating Recovery Center’s Partial Hospitalization Program. “This level of treatment is a critical stage in the eating disorders treatment continuum because it helps patients practice their recovery skills and test their abilities in a supported environment.”
Experiential therapies, such as grocery store and restaurant outings, help patients overcome anxieties and develop skills they can translate to their post-treatment lives. Patients learn cooking, portioning and serving food in Eating Recovery Center’s teaching kitchen. Daily meals and snacks, prepared by onsite professional chefs, provide patients with an opportunity to practice making healthy choices in a supported environment. Skills groups and individual therapy help patients process experiences and build a recovery mindset.
The only privately owned eating disorders treatment center providing all levels of care for adults, adolescents and children struggling with eating disorders, Eating Recovery Center also operates a behavioral hospital for adults, a behavioral hospital treating children and adolescents ages 10 through 17 and an outpatient services office.
For more information about eating disorders programs or to learn about Eating Recovery Center’s clinical assessment and admissions process, visit EatingRecoveryCenter.com.
Posted in About Us, General, Press Releases, Treatment Options •
Eating Recovery Center Launches Alumni Programming
Eating Recovery Center is pleased to announce the launch of our alumni-focused programming, which will commence with an Alumni Retreat on July 9-10, 2011 in Denver, Colorado.
The Alumni Retreat is an opportunity for alumni to recharge their recovery and reconnect with fellow Eating Recovery Center peers and staff. The interactive program is rooted in mindfulness, acceptance and commitment, creativity and movement. Interactive sessions led by our clinical leadership will be held across two days at the serene Denver Botanic Gardens as well as the boutique Curtis Hotel. Attending alumni will leave the retreat empowered, committed and encouraged, and with a renewed focus on recovery and growth.
Find more information about the upcoming Alumni Retreat, including logistical information, a detailed schedule of activities and information on registration, here.
Posted in About Us, General, Meetings/Events •
Exploring Outpatient Treatment Options
Contributed by Karen Trevithick, PsyD, Clinical Director of Outpatient Programs
Professionals must manage the competing tensions between their patient’s awareness that his or her illness interferes with daily life and their fear that treatment might disrupt their personal, professional and social lives. Understanding the function of outpatient treatment for eating disorders and for whom it is appropriate can help healthcare professionals ease patients into this higher level of care, which often represents an integral step toward lasting recovery.
Outpatient programs offer comprehensive eating disorders treatment options with the goal of teaching the skills necessary for sustainable recovery. Administered in a flexible setting by a team of psychiatrists, registered dieticians, family therapists and individual therapists, an increasingly common delivery of outpatient treatment is the Evening Intensive Outpatient Program (EIOP). EIOP involves four hours of intensive outpatient programming three evenings per week and allows patients to work, go to school or care for children during the day and sleep at home at night, and can be a meaningful next step in a patient’s treatment continuum or a valuable adjunct to individual therapy.
While all patient cases are unique and require individual consideration within the context of general evaluative criteria, candidates for EIOP treatment are generally characterized as:
• Having healthy systems of support, including supportive friends, family and/or colleagues;
• Not being medically compromised by their eating disorder; and
• Not exhibiting overwhelming symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Furthermore, EIOP is particularly effective in helping patients confront common “triggers” for harmful thoughts or behaviors related to their eating disorder, including:
• Challenging and confronting daily patterns—EIOP provides a safe, supportive environment for patients to address behaviors and feelings relating to destructive daily patterns—including struggles with disordered eating patterns, complete weight restoration or fully connecting with relationships and experience—which is critical to lasting recovery.
• Addressing stressors or crises when they arise—Stressors or crises in a patient’s life have the potential to derail recovery. EIOP can provide the structure and support necessary to help patients confront and manage these unanticipated challenges that emerge on the path to lasting recovery.
• Stepping down from a higher level of care—EIOP can help to foster a positive transition into activities of daily living for adults returning from facilities providing a higher level of care, including intensive inpatient and partial hospitalization programs.
Because EIOP is a group- and skills-based program, it offers an excellent treatment option for men and women who would benefit from intensive recovery services while remaining engaged in their daily lives. Professionals exploring treatment options with patients should start a dialogue about the role the eating disorder has played in his or her life; by identifying data that shows how disruptive an eating disorder has become and taking a firm yet compassionate stance, you can help ease an individual into the recovery process, enabling patients to truly feel successful in their lives again – or to honestly feel success for the first time.
Posted in About Us, General, Treatment Options •
