Eating Disorder Treatment Philosophy: Evidence-Based, Balance, Flexibility and Trust
McCallum Place provides comprehensive medical and psychiatric care, specialized psychotherapies and nutritional support for patients with eating disorders. Our state-of-the-art eating disorder treatment facility and eating disorder therapy programs, which integrate the latest findings from eating disorders research with experienced clinical practice, are designed to create an environment of structure and support.
Our eating disorder treatment staff is based in St. Louis, Missouri and includes onsite psychiatrists, registered dietitians, an advanced practice nurse, and experienced psychotherapists. Each is an eating disorders specialist, comfortable with the monitoring and support required during refeeding. We follow weight gain protocols for malnourished patients that are safe and well tested. Tube feeding is available for patients in need of extra calories and support as they begin the weight restoration process. Weights and vital signs are monitored daily, and, if required, blood tests are collected weekly. Brief medical or psychiatric hospitalization is arranged if it becomes necessary to stabilize any acute problems.
Treatment Goals
In all we do, we strive to help individuals build the confidence and skills necessary to let go of their patterns of restrictive eating, purging, and compulsive eating. Our protocols are designed to help patients restore weight to within 90% of ideal body weight and to minimize relapse with binge eating, vomiting, and compulsive exercise. Patients practice weight maintenance and flexible eating prior to discharge. When possible, a gradual step down is recommended to ease the transition back to independent living.
We give individuals suffering from eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia, the power to manage the fears associated with new meal expectations and changes in body size. Our goal is to change the way each individual uses food and body image to express underlying emotional needs and concerns.
Psychiatric Care for Eating Disorder Patients
Our psychiatrist sees patients regularly, evaluates progress, monitors symptoms, and coordinates treatment. Medications are sometimes recommended for core symptoms of the eating disorder as well as for any psychiatric conditions requiring attention; such as anxiety depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit disorder, and substance abuse.
Therapists and staff receive extensive, ongoing training to offer the type of feedback that encourages the adoption of balanced, flexible and appropriate eating habits. Through counseling and group therapy, we seek to equip individuals with tools helpful in managing loss, role transitions, and emotional distress. Perfectionism and interpersonal effectiveness are a major focus. Therapists work with patients to understand those underlying concerns that first led to their eating disorder behaviors. The importance of building and refurbishing family and community supports is emphasized.
A Balanced Treatment Strategy
At McCallum Place, care and experience give way to restorative treatment, opening new doorways of hope and possibility. Patients leave McCallum Place with the tools and strategies necessary for healthy eating and with practices useful for discovering a more balanced and satisfying life.