How is Anorexia Nervosa Treated?
At Eating Recovery Center, treatment for anorexia begins with medical and psychiatric stabilization, including nutrition, rest, medication and management of co-occurring conditions as needed to restore stability and sufficient awareness to engage in therapeutic treatment.
For patients with severe cases of anorexia nervosa, treatment initially focuses on weight restoration and medical and/or psychiatric stabilization, including around-the-clock nursing supervision, direct psychiatric care and medication management. Nourishing meals and psycho-social support prepare our patients for step-down to lower levels of care.
It is important to note that, while our Inpatient and Residential programs offer 24/7 medical support to address the physical and psychiatric complications of anorexia, our patients are not confined to a hospital bed or room. To the extent that they are physically able, patients participate in therapeutic programming and interact with the supportive treatment community of patients and staff.
We firmly believe that a beautiful, serene environment is essential to healing. All of our centers are carefully designed with that in mind. They are restful, spacious facilities that support our therapeutic process.
"I wouldn't be here without the caring, supportive staff of ERC. Thank you for giving me my life back. I feel free from my eating disorder and am excited for my future. I now know that I have the tools I need for lasting recovery." ~AK
“Stepping down” to lower levels of treatment
Our medically stable patients may step down to a lower level of care where the focus shifts towards helping them understand the factors that maintain anorexia symptoms and learn recovery skills. Individual, family and group therapy, including art, psychodrama, relaxation, movement and yoga, are impart parts of our treatment approach.
As treatment progresses, our patients have opportunities to test recovery in real-world situations, including meal and activity outings as well as day and weekend passes. Together with their treatment teams, these exercises help to identify recovery challenges and determine readiness for entry into a lower level of care with more autonomy.
The Eating Recovery Center is the nation's only health care system dedicated to the treatment of anorexia nervosa at all levels of care. The anorexia treatment center includes inpatient treatment, residential treatment, partial hospitalization treatment and intensive outpatient treatment.
View the treatment center at Eating Recovery Center in this video:
Get help for anorexia
If you or someone you know is struggling with anorexia, the next step is to begin treatment. Please call us at 877-825-8584 to schedule a free confidential consultation with an Eating Recovery Center Masters-level clinician.