Consideration for Choosing a Treatment Center

The first step in identifying a treatment program involves understanding your own needs and preferences.

Specialized Treatment
Patients struggling with trauma, addiction, diabetes, co-existing psychiatric conditions or who have any other specialized need often require specialized treatment to address these issues and effectively treat their eating disorder. For example, while a program with a strong focus on family therapy may be the key to recovery for an underage patient living at home, someone with diabulimia may need a program with a specialized endocrinologist on staff to treat their co-existing medical condition. Some facilities offer specialized programs aimed towards these types of patients.

However, just because a facility does not offer a specialized tract does not necessarily mean it does not treat, or is not capable of treating a particular type of patient. Similarly, just because a facility offers a specialized tract does not mean a patient’s overall level of care will be more specialized than at a program without specialized tracts. For example, while one facility’s “trauma track” consists of a single weekly trauma group that patients attend in addition to general programming, another facility without specified tracts may provide a greater amount of programming aimed at addressing trauma by offering more individual therapy where trauma work can be done if needed.

Although it may be beneficial for a patient to select a program for a particular treatment tract, in comparing different treatment centers it is important to have a thorough understanding how different facilities define their treatment tracts, while also considering other factors affecting a facility’s ability for individualization. The frequency of individual therapy, modalities available in individual therapy (see Approach), staff to patient ratios, staff specialization, and a facility’s familiarity/experience with a particular patient scenario can also be indicators of a facility’s ability to provide specialized care.
For example, a program with a strong focus on family therapy may be key for an underage patient living at home, while a program with a specialized endocrinologist on staff might be key for someone with diabulimia.

Religious Affiliation
Some treatment facilities have religious affiliations while others do not. Because spiritual exploration is a component of most treatment programs, and programs with religious affiliations may require patients to participate in religious activities, patients may prefer a treatment program that aligns with their own beliefs. Similarly, not all facilities will cater to religiously oriented food preparation which is important to consider if a patient practices kosher, vegetarianism or does not eat certain foods.

Program Structure
The structure of a program is also an important consideration in choosing a treatment facility. Programs vary in the amount of freedom a patient is granted, differing in bathroom rules, level of supervision, mealtime requirements and privileges granted. In general, a highly structured program leaves less room for engaging in eating disordered behaviors but also results in a more strict and closely monitored environment. While a program that offers a large amount of freedom may be appropriate for a highly motivated patient needing less constant support, a more structured program may be necessary to increase motivation in a patient who is less cooperative or more likely to engage in eating disordered behaviors even in a controlled environment.