Why We’re Uniquely Suited to Treat Each Eating Disorder & Co-Occurring Issues

Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa at McCallum Place: Expert clinicians & evidence-based care

1. Patients are supported with a plan to restore energy balance and reverse effects of malnutrition. Our meal strategy works not only to facilitate change in eating but to restore the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Medical and Psychiatric care is provided onsite to screen for and treat any co-morbid issues such as slowed digestion, reflux, regurgitation, anxiety, depression, addiction, ADD, OCD and PTSD. Our psychiatrists and family medicine specialists are eating disorders experts, board certified in general, adult, child and adolescent psychiatry. They all hold university academic appointments and teach other physicians about how to evaluate and treat eating disorders.
3. Our psychotherapy staff are credentialed and certified in many specialized techniques to address the core eating disorder as well as other emotional concerns. We target compulsive behaviors, comparing and judging mind, body checking and self acceptance and trauma resolution. Our therapists have a diversity of skills including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Sensory Motor Therapy, EMDR, Maudsley, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness and Expressive Therapy Techniques. They provide evidence based treatment with cutting edge techniques to facilitate the fullest recovery.
4. Fitness and physical rehabilitation is part of recovery and exercise addiction is routinely addressed as part of treatment.
5. NG or NJ tube feeding is possible on site, along with nursing and blood laboratory monitoring and EKGs.  This level of medical care makes our center unique.
6. Anorexia Treatment for Teenagers: Adolescents at McCallum Place have special, developmentally appropriate groups and school time and certified teachers to work with home school.
   1. Parents receive therapy, education and coaching.
   2. We evaluate, stabilize and transition to Maudsley Family Based treatment or other integrated outpatient care.
   3. Our Partial Hospital Program, many nearby housing options and capacity for telemedicine video conferences allow for all levels of parent involvement

   More about Anorexia Nervosa Treatment

   The earlier anorexia nervosa is detected and diagnosed, the better the chances are of recovery. Working with qualified eating disorder professionals in the form of a multidisciplinary treatment team has been shown to be one of most helpful strategies for recovery from anorexia nervosa and other types of eating disorders. An eating disorder treatment team generally consists of the following professionals: a therapist, dietitian, nurse and/or physician, and psychiatrists. Webster Wellness Professionals are a number of therapists, psychiatrists, internists, and dietitians that can work with an individual’s primary care physician in order to develop an ideal treatment based on the individual’s needs. We also offer specialized treatment for special populations, such as Family based therapy for children and adolescents, an adolescent programming track, certified teachers for our adolescents, and special groups for males.

   When treating anorexia, the first goals of treatment are to restore normal body weight and gain medical stability with supervised eating and the development of new eating habits. Next, because treatment is much more involved than simply changing one’s eating habits and physically stabilizing a patient in the short-term, we focus on teaching a patient the underlying issues and causes that originally led to the development of the disorder. This helps individuals to achieve long-term health and prevent relapse.

   In our anorexia nervosa treatment programs, we work to help individuals learn how to eliminate obsessive and inappropriate weight control behaviors. Not all patients respond to the same treatment. The recovery process is highly variable. We offer a variety of effective treatment methods including individual therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, nutritional education, group therapy, and experiential therapies to address individual needs.

   Eating disorder treatment may be offered in an inpatient or outpatient setting. In some cases, a hospital stay may be required. It is possible that relapses may occur after treatment for anorexia nervosa, but with a highly trained outpatient team, such as what we have at Webster Wellness Professionals, outside support and continuing treatment becomes possible for those who need a continuous level of care in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. When undergoing anorexia nervosa treatment programs, both the individual and family members must understand and accept that setbacks are common but can be overcome. While the medical complications of anorexia nervosa are serious and potentially life threatening, with the right treatment anorexia nervosa is a treatable illness and lasting recovery is possible.

Special strategies for patients who binge or purge with their ED or struggle with Bulimia Nervosa / EDNOS and BED

The goal of treatment is to ultimately end the cycles of binging and purging. Individuals who suffer from Bulimia nervosa may be unable to recognize that he or he she is ill and needs treatment. Thus, it is crucial to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of this disorder. Initial treatment depends on the severity of the Bulimia nervosa and the duration of time the individual has struggled with binge eating and vomiting. If the cycles of binging and purging have been ongoing for quite some time, hospitalization may be required to restore electrolytes and potassium levels. Resolving emotional issues, changing unhealthy thoughts and patterns, and undergoing nutritional counseling are also important elements of treatment. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has the strongest scientific support of its long-term effectiveness. In CBT, the patient begins by monitoring nutritional intake and thoughts and feelings about eating. A nutritionally-balanced meal plan consisting of three meals and two to three planned snacks a day is implemented. The individual learns effective strategies to cope with anxiety about eating and the urges to binge and purge. Finally, inaccurate and harmful beliefs about eating, weight, appearance, and personal qualities are identified and modified to encourage a healthy appreciation of oneself. Recovery from bulimia nervosa is possible with the right treatment team and outside support.

1. Our focus in treating bulimia is chain analysis of the context of Binge eating for each individual.
2. We teach mindfulness and emotion regulation strategies to build skills necessary to transition home.
3. Our meal strategies ‘wake up’ metabolism and decrease urges.
4. Our physicians see patients up to three times a week and carefully evaluate and treat the bulimia as well as other disorders which may complicate recovery ,such as anxiety and depression.
5. We provide bathroom and shower monitoring as appropriate until each individual becomes more confident in their ability to override urges.
6. We offer the continuum of care so that patients have plenty of opportunities to practice with lots of support to build confidence and independence.
7. Our excellent and high level of medical/ psychiatric and nursing care allows us to actively treat significant co-morbidity such as severe malnutrition, diabetes, gluten sensitivity, hypotension, bradycardia, arrhythmias, migraines, clotting disorders, seizures, bipolar disorder, OCD, ADD, depression, PTSD, addictions, borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive, and aspergers.