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Below is a brief description of the various levels of treatment for an Eating Disorder, from least intensive
to most intensive. Most people start with the least intensive treatments, unless the Eating Disorder has caused
physical problems (e.g., loss of menses, dangerously low weight, chronic dehydration, inability to eat) or has significantly
interfered with one's ability to live his/her life.
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Outpatient Psychotherapy: This involves seeing a therapist who specializes in Eating
Disorders at least once per week. In many cases, the patient will also have other professionals as part of the treatment
team. These professionals might include a physician, dietician, psychiatrist, and/or group therapist.
If the patient is a child or adolescent, family therapy is likely to be an important part of the treatment.
Intensive Outpatient Program: This is treatment that occurs for several hours a day (often
in the evening), several days a week. Patients engage in individual meetings with therapists and/or dieticians, in
addition to engaging in treatment groups with other patients with Eating Disorders.
Residential: When the Eating Disorder is significantly interfering with the patient's
life and outpatient therapy has not sufficiently helped, many patients turn to residential treatment. Residential
facilities are typically solely focused on helping people with Eating Disorders or similar issues. Patients tend to
stay in these facilities for weeks or months and engage in individual therapy as well as group therapy each day. The patient is put on a meal plan and is not allowed to engage in eating-disordered behaviors (e.g., restricting, purging, overexercising).
Inpatient Hospitalization: When a patient's physical health is in danger or the Eating
Disorder is significantly interfering with his/her life, the patient may go to an inpatient psychiatric unit (often specializing
in Eating Disorders) of a hospital for a week or more. This setting allows physicians to closely monitor the patient's physical status and
try different medications as necessary. The patient is put on a meal plan and is not allowed to engage in eating-disordered
behaviors. The patient typically engages in several therapy groups per
day.
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For more information or to make an appointment, please call Suzanne at (805) 895-4104.
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