Eating Recovery Center Denver

Location Details

Who we treat
Adult
Level of Care
Inpatient
Residential
Conditions We Treat
Eating Disorders
Orthorexia
Anorexia Nervosa
ARFID
Atypical Anorexia
Binge Eating Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Compulsive Overeating
Diabulimia
OSFED

Get Help Now

100% Confidential

Founded in 2019 in response to the increasing need for high-quality, intensive eating disorder treatment, this treatment center is our remarkable, state-of-the-art, 62,000 square-foot, 72-bed behavioral health hospital in Denver, Colorado that offers both Inpatient and Residential programs.

Marking our seventh center in Denver, this behavioral health hospital is one of our largest centers and focuses on adults needing higher levels of eating disorder treatment. Adorned with natural light that displays trees and outdoor scenery, as well as tranquil, noise-reducing spaces, the center includes an Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU), which supports patients with more complex behavioral and medical comorbidities and resides across the street from our Partial Hospitalization program at Pathlight-ERC Conifer.

Highly Effective Eating Disorder Treatment in Denver, Colorado

Eating Recovery Center (ERC) Denver located at 8199 E 1st Ave, provides high-quality, intensive care for eating disorders. Known as ERC Denver-Willow, this location provides residential and inpatient treatment for adults with serious eating disorders. Move through the full continuum of care with residential or inpatient care at ERC Denver-Willow and find a 7-day partial hospitalization program (PHP) and a 3-day intensive outpatient program (IOP) at ERC Denver-Conifer nearby.

Adorned with natural light that displays trees and outdoor scenery, you’ll find peace in ERC Denver-Willow’s tranquil, noise-reducing spaces.

  • Trusted by over 20,000 patients and their families
  • 87% of former patients agreed that their experience at ERC was helpful
  • 91% of parents of former patients would recommend ERC to others in need of services
  • Specialized treatment designed by a team of experienced clinicians
denver colorado

Multiple ERC Denver Locations for Your Convenience

Adults, children and adolescents of all genders can find the care they need at one of ERC Denver’s multiple locations.

  • Work with the experts at our adult day treatment programs at ERC Denver-Conifer.
  • Learn about our eating disorder treatment centers of excellence for children and adolescents at ERC Denver-Juniper and ERC Denver-Pine.
  • Several ERC Denver locations — including Willow, Conifer and Pine — are all located near each other on the Lowry medical campus near ERC apartment housing, local shops and restaurants — making the transition to care easier for patients and their families.

No matter which location you choose, our compassionate team will be able to support your health and journey to recovery.

Lighting your way to recover from eating disorders

Discover a toolbox filled with new coping skills

The focus is on progress, not perfection. Move towards recovery and:

  • Learn how to interrupt eating disorder thoughts and behaviors to create a life based on your values
  • Work with highly experienced therapists trained in our nationally validated psychotherapy curriculum 
  • Participate in individual and group therapy featuring the latest evidence-based treatment approaches

A path to healing as unique as you are

Eating disorders can impact the whole family and family therapy plays a major role in treatment. As you take part in family therapy weekly, you can choose to work with your biological family or a different support system.

Find the right support at the right time

Many people with eating disorder symptoms wonder if they are sick enough to need treatment. If you are uncertain about whether you want or need treatment, we are here to meet you where you are at. Treating all patients with dignity and respect, we can accommodate involuntary treatment, if needed.

Find Recovery With 24-Hour Medical and Nursing Support

ERC Denver is accredited by the Joint Commission, considered the gold standard in healthcare accreditation. Providing care for individuals with the most severe eating disorders, our supportive team can teach you or your loved one how to overcome harmful eating disorder thoughts and behaviors.

  • 62,000 square-foot, 72-bed behavioral health hospital
  • Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) supporting patients with the most complex behavioral and medical comorbidities
  • One of the few residential programs providing supplemental tube feeding for those who need it in order to recover

We can also support co-occurring medical conditions like diabetes and co-occurring mental health concerns like anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

"No one is immune to eating disorders. They do not discriminate, and they affect people of all ages, races, ethnicities, genders, shapes and sizes. We work hard to treat patients in need with dignity and respect, meeting them where they are at and providing the support needed to meet their recovery goals."

Elizabeth Wassenaar, MS, MD, CEDS-S, DFAPA, Regional Medical Director, ERC Denver (she/her)

Who We Treat

Conditions We Treat

  • Eating Disorders

    An eating disorder is a treatable mental illness that includes a number of different symptoms, including extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues.

  • Anorexia

    Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an obsessive fear of weight gain and a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight.

  • Atypical Anorexia

    You can’t tell if someone has an eating disorder just by looking at them. See how atypical anorexia affects people in a variety of body shapes and sizes.

  • ARFID

    ARFID is a lesser known eating disorder that frequently begins as early as infancy or childhood, but adults can also suffer.

  • Binge Eating Disorder

    Binge eating disorder is characterized by frequent overeating – at least once a week for three months – combined with a lack of control, intense feelings of distress and several other characteristic behaviors.

  • Bulimia

    Bulimia is characterized by patterns of bingeing and purging.

  • Compulsive Overeating

    Compulsive overeating can involve binge eating and weight gain, but it can also involve other behaviors.

  • Diabulimia

    The term diabulimia is used to describe the diagnosis of an eating disorder in an individual with type 1 diabetes. These patients intentionally misuse insulin for weight control.

  • OSFED

    Some eating disorders do not meet all of the diagnostic criteria for specific diagnoses like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

  • Orthorexia

    Some people go to extremes to “eat clean” at all times. This may lead to a disordered eating pattern known as orthorexia.

Levels of Care Offered

  • Inpatient

    Our Inpatient programming is designed to support adults, children and adolescents of all genders who are acutely ill and are experiencing medical and mood instability as a result of their eating disorder.

  • Residential

    Within ERC Pathlight's step-down model of care, the Residential eating disorder treatment program as well as the Residential mood & anxiety treatment program offer medically stable patients a highly-structured and supportive 24-hour treatment environment.

  • Partial Hospitalization

    Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) offers some of the same intensity and structure of Residential mood, anxiety, and eating disorder treatment while providing additional opportunities to practice recovery outside of the controlled eating disorder treatment environment during evenings at home or in peer-supported apartment communities.

  • On-Site Intensive Outpatient Treatment

    Our Intensive Outpatient program is a flexible mood, anxiety, and eating disorder treatment program that allows patients to work, go to school, or care for children during the day and sleep at home at night.

  • Virtual Intensive Outpatient - Eating Recovery At Home

    ERC is removing the barriers that can keep patients with anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders from receiving treatment. Through telebehavioral health programming, Eating Recovery At Home (our virtual Intensive Outpatient Program) offers the same proven care as our in-person treatment centers. 

Benefit From Expert Eating Disorder Care

ERC Denver was founded by a team of nationally recognized experts in the field of eating disorders. Their goal was to fuse evidence-based research and innovation to create a center of excellence for the treatment of eating disorders. In treatment at ERC Denver, you’ll benefit from the expertise of our highly experienced professionals, including:

  • Psychiatrists
  • Internal medicine physicians
  • Therapists
  • Registered dietitians
  • Nursing staff
  • Case managers
  • Alumni coordinators
  • Trauma-informed yoga instructors
  • Art therapists
Nutrition Services

The Key to Nutrition: Moderation, Variety and Balance

The nutrition philosophy of Eating Recovery Center focuses on support and structure to help you or your loved one overcome a fear of eating and other eating disorder symptoms. At ERC Denver, experienced registered dietitians provide education on nutrition with a focus on balance and moderation. Food exposures and therapeutic processing groups are a daily staple in treatment. At ERC Denver, a proprietary food service model provides delicious, fresh, attractive cuisine prepared daily in a state-of-the-art kitchen. Depending on your individual needs, you may take part in one of our adaptable nutrition experiences, including:

  • Food exposures at a local coffee shop or restaurants
  • Cooking groups in our large kitchen
  • Individualized grocery store tours with staff support

We are able to accommodate vegetarian, gluten-free, kosher and halal diets, as well as food allergies. 

Travel Assistance Provided

Most patients traveling to our Denver centers, especially for residential treatment, come from out of state in the search for high-quality, effective eating disorder treatment. Our adult treatment centers in Denver are situated across the street from each other in a quiet residential neighborhood with free parking. With a large international airport and easy access to public transportation, you’ll find that you can move around Denver easily. If you have any questions about traveling to Denver, including questions about financial, transportation or housing assistance, we invite you to contact our travel concierge. Our goal is to remove any barriers that might make treatment out of reach. Please call us today with any questions.

Housing Assistance Provided

Meeting the needs of diverse patients, you’ll find the full spectrum of eating disorder treatment at ERC Denver. Patients in inpatient and residential levels of care live onsite and receive care 24/7. When stepping down to a partial hospitalization program like the one at ERC Denver-Conifer, you may choose to live in one of our apartment homes located within a mile from our clinical campus. You’ll give and receive support as you live with peers who are also working towards recovery. While staying at our apartments, you won’t have to worry about transportation. If you have any questions or concerns about housing availability, please give us a call today.

One conversation can make all the difference

Reaching out for help is an important and brave first step. Give us a call and our compassionate admissions team can walk you through the entire process with care and support. No referral is ever needed for you to access the care you need and deserve.

Let us help you with insurance

Concerned about paying for treatment? We can help. Our experienced and compassionate team of insurance and financial specialists will do everything they can to simplify and streamline the insurance and payment process for you. We accept most major insurances. If you do not see your insurance carrier listed below, please call us.

Get matched with the exact support you need.

With one conversation, our mental health professionals will help you better understand what you’re going through and what you need.

We will meet you where you are, listen to your story in a therapeutic setting, and match you with the level of support that meets your struggle.

Covered by Most Commercial Insurance Plans

  • cofinity
  • compsych
  • magellan health
  • moda
  • multiplan
  • phcs
  • rocky mountain health plans
  • ascension seton
  • value options

Our patient access team is here to advocate for you. We can help you address financial challenges and work with you to get you the maximum coverage offered by your plan.

Learn More About Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where is ERC Denver located?

    ERC Denver is located 12 miles east of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Denver, the capital city of Colorado. Our Lowry clinical campus is just east of downtown where you will find multiple ERC Denver treatment centers for adults, children and adolescents. Take advantage of ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft, along with public transportation options to navigate your way around town. You’ll find many things to do in Denver, including 3 major sports teams, a variety of art and history museums, white water rafting, hiking, and much more.

  • What eating disorder support is offered for caregivers, family members and friends?

    We offer numerous ways for caregivers, family members and friends to be involved in their loved one’s treatment, including:

  • Do you provide additional support after eating disorder treatment ends?

    Transitioning from the treatment center back to home can be challenging. Our community outreach team is here to support you each step of the way. We’ll send follow-up emails and phone calls within days of discharge, highlighting alumni resources including virtual support groups, upcoming events, blogs, Mental Note podcast and additional hands-on practical tools. Whether you need words of encouragement or referrals for outpatient treatment, our team will be here to support you.

  • How do I know which eating disorder treatment level of care is right for me?

    Our Clinical Response Specialists are here to guide you, starting with your first call or web inquiry. They offer you a supportive and confidential place to:

    • Chat and explore eating disorder treatment options
    • Answer any questions you might have about treatment 
    • Gather some basic information about you and your experience

    If it seems like ERC might be a good fit for you, we will schedule a free 60–90-minute clinical assessment. During this assessment, we will determine treatment needs, explore your treatment options, and recommend the best program for your goals.

    Reach out to our team today by calling 1-877-825-8584

  • I’m in college. Do you provide time for schoolwork in eating disorder treatment?

    Most patients in need of a higher level of care for eating disorders (inpatient, residential, PHP) make the most progress towards recovery by taking a temporary break from schooling. We want to support your education and encourage you to give 100% of your focus to recovery so that you can get back to college and thrive. If you have concerns about maintaining your education and are eligible for a lower level of care, stay enrolled in school while taking part in Eating Recovery At Home — our virtual eating disorder treatment program.

Expert Care for Eating Disorders in Denver, CO

Meet the leadership team at Eating Recovery Center Denver.

  • Elizabeth Wassenaar, MS, MD, CEDS
    Elizabeth Wassenaar Link

    Elizabeth Wassenaar

    Regional Medical Director
    Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar is the Regional Medical Director for the Mountain and West regions at Eating Recovery Center and ...
    READ MORE
  • Libby Erickson, MD
    Libby Erickson Link

    Libby Erickson

    Medical Director, Psychiatrist
    Dr. Libby Erickson currently works as a psychiatrist and Medical Director on the Intensive Treatment Unit at Eating Recovery ...
    READ MORE
  • Jane Miceli, MD
    Jane Miceli Link

    Jane Miceli

    Medical Director, Psychiatrist
    Dr. Jane Miceli is the Regional Managing Medical Director, Mountain at Eating Recovery Center. She has over 20 years of ...
    READ MORE
  • Jessica Barth Nesbitt, MA, RD, LD, CEDRD
    Jessica Barth-Nesbitt Link

    Jessica Barth-Nesbitt

    Regional Nutrition Director
    Jessica is a Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian (CEDRD). Jessica has experience in working with individuals with ...
    READ MORE
  • Jennifer McBride, MD
    Jennifer McBride Link

    Jennifer McBride

    Associate Medical Director, Primary Care Physician
    Dr. Jennifer McBride is a board certified internal medical physician and a Fellow of American College of Physicians. Prior to ...
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  • Kristine Walsh, MD, MPH, FAAFP, CEDS
    Kristine Walsh Link

    Kristine Walsh

    Medical Director, Primary Care Physician
    Dr. Kristine Walsh, a Los Angeles native, is a board certified family medicine physician and a Fellow of the American Academy of ...
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  • Sharon Harrison
    Sharon Harrison Link

    Sharon Harrison

    Director Nursing
    Sharon has worked as a registered nurse at ERC since 2016. During this time, she has worked across all the facilities as a floor ...
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  • Adam Marion
    Adam Marion Link

    Adam Marion

    Regional Vice President
    Adam is a Licensed Clinical Social who has worked with child, adolescent, and adult populations across the country in various ...
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  • Heather VanHooser
    Heather VanHooser Link

    Heather VanHooser

    Chief Nursing Officer
    Heather joined ERC Pathlight as Chief Nursing Officer in 2023. She holds three bachelor’s degrees, a MBA, and a Master’s in ...
    READ MORE
denver colorado

Find Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment in Colorado

We also offer virtual eating disorder treatment for individuals in Colorado through our Eating Recovery At Home program. Individuals in all cities and towns across Colorado, including the cities listed below, are eligible to participate in Eating Recovery At Home.

  • Denver
  • Colorado Springs
  • Aurora
  • Fort Collins
  • Lakewood
  • Thornton
  • Arvada
  • Westminster
  • Pueblo
  • Greeley
  • Centennial
  • Boulder
  • Highlands Ranch
  • Grand Junction
  • Castle Rock
  • Aspen
  • Breckenridge
  • Vail

Explore our Other Locations in the U.S.

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Eating Recovery Center is accredited through the Joint Commission. This organization seeks to enhance the lives of the persons served in healthcare settings through a consultative accreditation process emphasizing quality, value and optimal outcomes of services.

Organizations that earn the Gold Seal of Approval™ have met or exceeded The Joint Commission’s rigorous performance standards to obtain this distinctive and internationally recognized accreditation. Learn more about this accreditation here.

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