Getting to a state of full recovery is possible, and that’s much more likely to happen more easily and more quickly when the patient is at a treatment center that works for them. They need certain things out of their treatment experience, and getting those things also means it’s more likely that an individual who’s fully recovered will stay that way without relapse for the long term.
That’s the goal for every person getting treatment – and a personalized program matters. Here’s what people getting treatment and those who are helping them will want to consider when they’re looking for the right binge eating disorder recovery center nearby to properly meet their needs.
1. The Highest Level of Care
There are a variety of binge eating disorder treatment center options available. However, to have the highest success rates and the most people getting treatment who become and stay fully recovered, a quality binge eating disorder treatment center will want to provide levels of care that are near what a hospital would offer. That lets them help the widest range of people getting treatment, from those who only need some assistance and guidance to those who need much more intense levels of help and support. By having such a high level of care, a treatment center can improve the quality of life for a much larger number of people getting treatment.
There are a lot of people in the community who are affected by issues and concerns surrounding wellness as it related to eating disorders, and the more involved the clients and individuals become with that community, the easier the transition becomes. That’s something for every treatment center to be aware of, and something for them to strive for. The higher the levels of care the more intense that care can be, and the more people who can be assisted so they can have fuller, richer, and better lives.
2. Planning for a Brighter Future
When someone looks for an eating disorder treatment facility nearby, they should be looking for the best eating disorder treatment for their specific needs. Those needs probably include passion about future life events, along with the goals they’ve set for themselves. If they don’t come into a treatment program with these things, they should be encouraged to develop them while they’re in treatment. Because of that, they need to focus on the kinds of things that matter to them and how they want their life to improve so they can do more once they’re done with treatment. A good treatment center should encourage people getting treatment to pursue their passions and should work with them to help them focus on the value they see in their future.
Not everyone receiving eating disorder treatment will have the same types of goals and dreams, so a treatment center should have a non-judgmental, openminded staff to help encourage varying passions. The passions that each person has are important to that person, and good treatment centers understand and respect the uniqueness and differences that are a part of everyone they work with. That’s an important part of life for anyone, and when they have a treatment center that sees that they are free to be more open about the kinds of things that matter the most to them.
3. Residential Therapy that’s Dedicated and Gentle
Intensive therapy is important, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. A truly successful eating disorder recovery center will offer individual treatment options with varying levels of intensity to make it easier overall for people getting treatment to open up and talk about their issues and concerns. The more people getting treatment feel like they can do that, the better off those people getting treatment will be when it comes to overcoming worries and concerns. When the therapists at eating disorder recovery centers truly care, they find ways to offer this direct yet compassionate approach.
There are different types of therapy an individual can be offered, and some will work better than others. Many treatment centers offer both individual and group therapy, but individual therapy such a CBT or DBT is often more intense. It’s more direct for obvious reasons, and it can be a great way for an individual to explore the root of the issues that could be contributing to their eating disorder. When they feel safe with their therapist, they can open up about these issues and that gives them a better chance of seeing a full recovery in a shorter period. They also learn important tools and skills that will help them in the future.
4. Residential or Day Treatment Options to Meet Your Schedule
Whether an individual goes for binge eating disorder recovery programs on an outpatient basis or they choose to continue day treatment after their residential binge eating treatment program has ended, they should continue to keep up with frequent therapy sessions. These may not need to be as frequent as time goes on, but normally the re-entry to daily life requires coordinated support from pros and family alike. As they learn and practice the coping skills that help to avoid relapses, they’ll be able to address issues on their own and they’ll generally see their therapist less often. But that’s not a requirement, and some people continue day treatment for months or even years.
Other people go to treatment each day for a long time, basically as “maintenance” for their fully recovered selves. They want to make sure they continue to do well, so they go and talk about their concerns. People getting treatment should have a binge eating disorder treatment center near them where they can do that, and where they’re encouraged to reach out for help, support, and guidance. Treatment centers that put people getting treatment through a quick program and then push them away aren’t often good choices, because they don’t give the patient the full support they need to continue to make good, strong, successful choices in their life.
5. A Dedicated, and Recovered Staff
Any eating disorder recovery center should be staffed by professionals who are not only well trained but who are highly dedicated to offering the best quality treatment options to all of their people getting treatment. The more skilled the staff at the eating disorder recovery center is, the more options recovered clients have in the style and implementation of their treatment.
It’s not just about the education or the length of time these professionals have been practicing, though. It’s also about their compassion and their ability to help people getting treatment in the best way possible. This can mean having a staff who are recovered themselves and can bring personal experience to their treatment methodology.
The more the professionals can relate to clients and make them feel comfortable, safe, and supported, the better off the eventual outcomes will be. That’s a very important consideration for anyone who’s working on staff at a treatment center because it’s an excellent way to help people getting treatment to reach their full potential and see higher levels of success for their lives and their wellness.
6. A Strong Support System for Aftercare
When it comes time to start looking for an eating disorder recovery center, another thing important focus is developing resources that they can continue to use after inpatient or residential treatment ends. As they move through treatment they’ll want to develop a support system of peers and develop contacts with a dedicated aftercare service. Along with family and friends that they can reach out to and interact with as needed, these experts can provide support for people newly getting back into the swing of things.
If they have kind of dual aftercare support, their chances of becoming and staying fully recovered are much higher. They’ll also have more confidence in their abilities and be more likely to move forward with all the dreams and goals they have for their life.
Because of that, people getting treatment should carefully look for a treatment center that offers all of these things. Then they can have a feeling of security when they step forward to seek treatment, and also when they go out into the world after their treatment is complete. Having the right kind of program and the right help goes a very long way toward ensuring that an individual does well with their future, and allows them to pursue their passions and focus on the things that are most important to them.
7. Holistic Treatment – Going Beyond the Mere Treatment of Symptoms
It’s very important to remember that an individual in eating disorder recovery is a person, not just a bundle of symptoms. Human behavior and mental health disorders are very complex, and they are much more than one aspect of their lives or personalities. People getting treatment should look for a binge eating disorder treatment center that understands this, and that makes an effort to tend the soul as well as the body. By doing that, they have a much better chance of getting the help and hope they need to become fully recovered. They also reduce their chance of relapse and increase their confidence and sense of self-worth.
Seeing each patient as a person should be common sense. Unfortunately, sometimes treatment centers take a cookie-cutter approach to binge eating disorder recovery. Finding one that is focused on treating each individual, mind, body, and spirit is key to a complete recovery. That kind of approach helps people getting treatment feel better about themselves, and also helps to show them that they can improve and that they can have control over their lives.
8. Both Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment Options
When an eating disorder recovery center offers both inpatient (residential) and outpatient (or day treatment) options for treatment, it allows for flexibility for the individuals in recovery. That’s a great way to provide more value, and it also gives comfort to family members and friends who can see that there are options for their loved ones to get the support they’re looking for
For more severe cases of binge eating disorder, residential treatment with a full medical and psychiatric focus may be necessary. They need this intense level of support and guidance while they develop better tools and coping skills to help them with their life. However, some people won’t need this level of care and a well-prepared center will have options.
Melissa Orshan Spann, PhD, LMHC, RTY 200, is Chief Clinical Officer at Monte Nido & Affiliates, overseeing the clinical operations and programming for over 50 programs across the U.S. Dr. Spann is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and clinical supervisor as well as an accomplished presenter and passionate clinician who has spent her career working in the eating disorder field in higher levels of care. She is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders and the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals where she serves on the national certification committee, supervision faculty, and is on the board of her local chapter. She received her doctoral degree from Drexel University, master’s degree from the University of Miami, and bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.