Understanding Eating Disorder Treatment Levels of Care – Timberline Knolls Staff

Author: Timberline Knolls Staff

You’re ready to get help for an eating disorder, but you’re not sure where to start. Understanding some of the levels of care and services available to you can make the process feel less overwhelming.

Residential treatment, partial hospitalization programming (PHP), and intensive outpatient programming (IOP) are three levels of care you may take part in depending on the nature and severity of your symptoms.

You may receive nutrition support while participating in one of these programs, which can aid you in achieving your recovery goals. Here’s an overview of each program and service:

Residential Treatment

Residential treatment is an appropriate level of care for those who are medically stable but require 24-hour supervision of their meals and behaviors. People live at the residential facility while receiving treatment so that they can focus all their attention on their recovery.

The round-the-clock support people receive at this level of care is vital to helping them learn healthier eating habits and thinking patterns. The average residential stay is 30 days, but this can vary based on the program, the progress a person has made, and a person’s individual needs.

Partial Hospitalization Program

A person may benefit from a partial hospitalization program if they still require regular monitoring but do not need 24-hour supervision. PHP participants are typically at the point in their recovery where they still eat most of their meals at the facility, but they can also eat some unsupervised meals at home.

Each program varies, but a typical PHP provides services from six to 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Program participants spend the day at the facility taking part in treatment and return home when the treatment day ends.

Intensive Outpatient Program

An intensive outpatient program is a step-down level of care from a PHP, typically providing services for three to five hours a day, two to three days a week. People who participate in an IOP can usually function at home with minimal support, but they can still benefit from more structure than traditional therapy provides.

The flexibility of an IOP allows most participants to continue going to work and taking part in other

activities in their communities. This also offers participants opportunities to practice the skills they have learned in therapy in real-life settings.

Nutrition Support

Nutrition support is an intervention that involves counseling a person on their eating habits, meal planning, and optimal dietary needs. This intervention may be available at any level of care depending on the programs a facility offers.

By working with registered dietitians and other medical professionals, a person who receives nutrition support can learn to manage what they eat and develop a healthier relationship with food.

All these options can seem intimidating, but know that you are not alone in this process. You will have expert help in deciding what type and level of care is right for you. Before starting treatment, you will complete a comprehensive assessment and work closely with professional caregivers, ensuring that your first steps toward recovery take you in the right direction.