Levels of Care: Inpatient Program
Our inpatient program provides a hospital-based setting where patients receive around-the-clock support and medical monitoring in addition to structured meals and a range of therapeutic opportunities throughout the day.
The three main goals of inpatient treatment include:
- Medical stabilization
- Normalization of nutrition and symptom blockade
- Developing an understanding of the role of the eating disorder
In order to help patients achieve these goals, the inpatient program has two primary components. First, there is the structural environment to assist individuals in getting through the day without acting on the symptoms of their eating disorder. Second, there is the comprehensive therapeutic environment that guides individuals into an exploration of the underlying issues that may be contributing to and/or maintain the eating disorder and other co-occurring diagnoses.
Our 24-bed inpatient unit was specifically designed with an emphasis on safety, comfort and effective treatment for individuals with a range of different eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other specified feeding and eating disorders. While on the inpatient unit, patients receive a personalized treatment approach derived from extensive experience and research, focusing on each patient’s unique physical and emotional needs.
Major therapeutic components of the inpatient program include:
- The Treatment Team: Our program is based on a multi-disciplinary team approach. Your treatment team consists of a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker or licensed clinical professional counselor, registered nurses, nursing techs, mental health workers, registered dietitians, expressive arts therapists and occupational therapists.
- Psychiatry/Medication Management: Patients meet daily with their psychiatrist (treatment team leader). The psychiatrist helps to guide personalized care and treatment decisions, respond to the patient’s unique challenges and successes, and communicate patient questions or concerns with other treatment staff as appropriate. Additionally, psychiatrists prescribe and manage medication for individuals as appropriate during their inpatient stay.
- Individual Psychotherapy: Patients receive individual therapy with a psychologist 1-2x/week during inpatient treatment.
- Family Therapy: Family therapy is an important component of the inpatient treatment process. Family therapy is a critical component of treatment for families of minors and is also strongly encouraged for families of adult patients.
- Group Therapy: Groups provide an opportunity for support, insight into shared experiences and collective processing. The large variety of groups offered at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt also provides an additional opportunity for an individualized treatment experience. Different groups are tailored to specific developmental stages, unique life roles and experiences as well as specific health and mental health challenges. Groups may include psychoeducation group, CBT body image group, nutrition education group, food preparation group, relapse prevention group, art therapy process group, self-esteem group, and so much more.
- Nutritional counseling & support
- Medical consultation
- Expressive arts therapy
- Occupational therapy
A strong foundation for recovery.
The treatment experience is greatly influenced by one’s willingness to be open and honest with the treatment team and be fully engaged in the therapies provided. We recognize that recovery is hard work and our staff is committed to helping patients get the most out of their time in treatment so that personal growth and healing can occur in meaningful ways. Completion of the inpatient program not only lays the groundwork for successful transition into a lower level of care, but it provides the foundation for long-term positive outcomes.