Eating
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Eating Disorder Treatment for Teens
Adolescent Growth offers three tiers of treatment in our eating disorder program. You will complete a pre-admission assessment with one of our admissions counselors and your child will be placed in Residential, Partial Hospitalization (PHP), or an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) according to their needs. Once he or she is in our program, your child’s treatment team will develop an individualized treatment plan that is developed from the information we have gathered from you, your child, your child’s previous treatment providers as well as our own clinical staff’s assessment of their needs.
What Are Eating Disorders?
An Eating Disorder is a psychological problem that rests on a foundation of emotional suffering. Lasting recovery requires close examination and in-depth treatment of the underlying issues which led to disordered eating in the first place. At Adolescent Growth, we target your teen’s harmful eating behaviors while paying special attention to the foundation on which they rest.
Teens who suffer from an Eating Disorder have many hurdles to face. They must re-examine and repair their relationship with food as well as their bodies and their minds. Our approach to treating this complex issue employs comprehensive treatment modalities designed to help teenagers break free of the thoughts and feelings that trouble them and fuel their disorder.
Eating Disorder sufferers are often in denial about the degree to which they are able to manage their eating behaviors. It is only when those harmful behaviors are interrupted that the teen is able to see that they are truly in need of help.
How Are Eating Disorders Treated?
Teens who suffer from disordered eating require specialized treatment. Our six-bed facility located in Southern California is staffed with top eating disorder clinicians who have years of experience working with teens. Our eating disorder facility is a safe space for young people to work through their emotional and behavioral problems free from outside influences. They will receive round the clock support from our highly trained staff as well as meet other teens who are struggling with the same issues and heal together.
As with all of our programs, parents are regarded as invaluable components of their child’s recovery. You are an integral part of your child’s individualized treatment plan and family is strongly encouraged to participate in our weekend Family Restoration Workshop. Parent support groups and family therapy sessions are also included in your personalized treatment program.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa, often simply referred to as Anorexia, is a condition characterized by a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight. People who suffer from anorexia employ extreme measures to remain underweight. Adolescents who suffer from anorexia commonly misuse laxatives and diuretics, self-induced vomiting (known as purging), exercise excessively, restrict their food intake and more.
Anorexia patients are terrified of gaining weight and often have a distorted body image. Due to the health risks of being underweight, clients must be granted clearance by a medical doctor before they may enter treatment. Upon entering our facility the adolescent will be thoroughly evaluated and an individualized treatment plan will be executed. A team of psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed therapists, nurses, a dietitian and other consulting clinicians will design this plan and monitor your child throughout their treatment. A detailed discharge plan will be developed and alumni support and resources are available.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa, often simply referred to as Bulimia, is a pattern of eating large amounts of food followed by frantic efforts to reverse the large consumption of calories. This is known as a binge/purge cycle. Binging is a behavior wherein the sufferer eats uncontrollably and often feels that they are unable to moderate their food intake. Purging includes self-induced vomiting, excessive use of enemas, laxative abuse, diuretics, and/or extreme exercise.
At Adolescent Growth, we skillfully interrupt the binge/purge cycle and replace those maladaptive behaviors with effective ones. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques are taught to equip your teenager with the coping skills they need to control their harmful behaviors. Meditation, mindfulness and yoga are taught in order to help adolescents regulate emotions and cope with stress in a healthy manner.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a condition wherein the sufferer is unable to control their food intake. A teen with Binge Eating Disorder will frequently “binge” on food in a manner that leaves them feeling as if they have no control. The out-of-control binge is followed by feelings of extreme guilt, shame, and self-consciousness. BED frequently leads to obesity although it can occur in normal weight individuals as well.
Our tripartite treatment for binge eating disorder addresses the following concerns:
- Cessation of destructive eating patterns.
- Resolving underlying emotional issues that exacerbate the desire for food.
- Acquisition of necessary coping skills for maintaining healthful habits.