Eating Disorder Treatment
Eating disorders are mental health conditions that often impact people in varying ways but are characterized mainly by abnormal eating habits and severe distress around body image. These disorders can affect a person’s physical or emotional health and ability to function in their daily activities. This can lead to low self-esteem and impact a person’s ability to connect with others.
Our team at Coastal Turning Point works hard to educate our clients about the most current science in the evolving world of treatment for eating disorders. We believe it is vital that we teach and help implement essential coping skills so that our clients can best navigate their symptoms. Our mission is that our clients feel supported and validated in their care with us.
Our Eating Disorder Program is deeply rooted in principles of Health at Every Size, social justice, and an unapologetic journey to self-love. We’re here to help individuals find their voice, courage, and strength. We offer Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) ED treatment focusing on psychotherapy, nutrition, and medical and psychiatric services.
Two Levels of Care
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
This structured form of treatment is available to adults in a hybrid form, offering both in-person and virtual options. Adolescent programs are in-person at our Santa Cruz clinic, six hours daily, Monday through Friday. We also offer virtual programming for adolescents for whom virtual or hybrid programming might be appropriate and for whom it is approved on a case-by-case basis.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Adult and adolescent programs are hybrid, offering both in-person and virtual options. This service is available at our Santa Cruz clinic three hours per day, Monday through Friday.
What to expect
Psychotherapy
We strive to empower our clients to create a lasting and strong recovery mindset by utilizing various evidence-based approaches. Our team of therapists is inspired to work with this population and believes that it is possible to recover from an eating disorder fully. Using the Health at Every Size approach, we work with our clients around body acceptance and body positivity, explore the possible root causes of their disorder, develop a mindfulness and self-care practice, and above all we are empowering and collaborative in our treatment approach.
Treatment includes:
- Individual therapy at least once a week
- Couples/family (if appropriate)
- Group therapy daily
- Psychoeducation and process groups
Nutrition
Our team of dietitians works alongside our other treatment providers from an individualized approach. They work with clients to develop a holistic, person-centered approach to sustainable eating patterns. They utilize the principles of Health at Every Size, Intuitive Eating, and Motivational Interviewing from a non-diet, weight-neutral perspective to help clients stabilize nutrition and normalize eating patterns. We believe all foods fit in a healthy diet and support clients in making peace with their relationship with food.
Treatment includes:
- At least one therapeutically supported meal and one snack daily
- Weekly nutrition counseling
- Family nutrition support and education
Medical and Psychiatric Services
We recognize that eating disorders often go hand in hand with other medical and psychiatric diagnoses. Thus, it’s necessary to treat the whole patient to allow the best chance for treating the eating disorder.
Our comprehensive approach includes:
- Medical visits are recommended, with the frequency determined on an individual basis.
- If a patient lacks established care elsewhere, our psychiatrist will provide psychiatric medication evaluation and/or monitoring. If you do, our treatment team will collaborate with your outpatient provider.