Eating Disorder Treatment in Connecticut

Eating disorders like binge eating disorder (BED), anorexia nervosa (AN), and bulimia nervosa (BN) are serious mental health conditions that can cause several physical, mental, and emotional complications.

If you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder, it’s crucial to find appropriate treatment and care. And if you live in Connecticut, there are many options to choose from.

Types of Bulimia Treatment in Connecticut

While all eating disorders are causes for concern, the conditions all manifest differently and vary in severity. To address this range of scenarios, several levels of care have been developed to best suit people at all levels of eating disorder recovery.

Virtual Treatment

Virtual treatment for eating disorders is relatively new, but the method is already proving popular—and effective—allowing patients to receive several levels of care without having to leave home.

The concept can benefit those with mobility or transportation challenges, those who live far from in-person treatment, or those with unpredictable schedules. But online therapy is appropriate in most cases, meaning it can be a good choice even for someone who simply prefers the convenience.

While this type of care hasn’t been practiced as long as others, studies have already shown that online treatment for eating disorders can be just as effective as in-person care in most cases.²

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment is the most intensive level of care for people with eating disorders. These programs require patients to stay and sleep at treatment facilities, where they can have 24-hour access to medical care and observation.

Inpatient hospitalization is the most serious level of care involving a stay at a hospital or other medical facility. Generally, this route is only recommended for people who are experiencing signs of a mental or physical health crisis or are otherwise at risk of immediate death.¹ The overall goal of inpatient hospitalization is returning a patient to medical stability, with stays generally only lasting up to a few weeks.

Once a patient is medically stable, they can enter a residential program. This type of inpatient care focuses on much more long-term outlooks, with patients generally staying at least 30 days and usually longer.¹

Due to the extended stays, facilities are more home-like than clinical, with some even offering additional recreational activities. However, programs primarily consist of individual and group therapy sessions, nutritional counseling, regular medical check-ins, and meal monitoring.

Partial Hospitalization Program

Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are another intensive level of care, though patients are allowed to live and sleep at home during this phase of treatment. Still, programs can require them to commute to treatment five days per week or more for up to 10 hours per day.¹

Many of the same types of therapy available at residential programs are also offered through PHPs. Depending on the program, patients stepping down from a residential center may even keep the same treatment team.

Also similar to residential treatment, PHPs are focused on long-term recovery goals, and programs may last up to several months. However, as someone progresses through treatment, their schedule is generally adjusted to reflect their improvement.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment programs are the least intensive type of eating disorder care, so patients at this point must have a good amount of control over their eating disorder behaviors.

Generally, outpatient treatment involves regular meetings with a therapist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professionals and occasional medical check-ins to help keep someone accountable to their recovery journey.

Those who need more support can also try an intensive outpatient program (IOP), which typically involves several days of treatment a week for several hours at a time. The hybrid schedule makes an IOP a good option for those ready to start incorporating more social responsibilities into their daily routine while maintaining a level of therapy that feels helpful to their ongoing recovery.

Additional Eating Disorder Resources in Connecticut

There are more options for Connecticut residents than programs designed specifically to treat eating disorders. If you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one and want more information or help, you can try reaching out to:

• Central Connecticut State University. The college offers an eating disorder treatment program for students.
• Western Connecticut State University. The school also offers additional help and information for those struggling with eating disorders.

Many people also find support groups to be helpful in recovery. These meetings allow people from across Connecticut who are struggling with eating disorders to form a community, share their concerns and successes, and continue to grow, learn, and heal together.

Overeaters Annonymous offers many support groups across Connecticut, including Litchfield, Naugatuck, Bristol, Southbury, Southington, and more. And support groups more local to you can often be found through internet searchers or even word of mouth.

What to Look for in a Treatment Center in Connecticut

Finding the right eating disorder treatment center for you or your loved one can be challenging. On top of the emotional factors in play, there are several considerations to remember to ensure you’re comfortable with your choice.

Additional Questions

Having so many treatment center options in Connecticut is a good thing, but it can also make it harder to understand what makes each program different.

Asking some additional questions may be able to help you further refine your choice or understand your own priorities and expectations around treatment, including:³

• What credentials do you have?
• What type of treatment do you find works the best? Why?
• Do you treat co-occurring disorders?
• What experience do you have working with people suffering from eating disorders? How long have you worked with this population?
• How can you help me or my loved one?

Finding Help for an Eating Disorder in Connecticut

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that should be appropriately treated as quickly as possible to avoid long-term health complications or possibly even death.

If you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder, your primary care physician or therapist can be a good place to start looking for help. These experts may be able to point you in the direction of an appropriate treatment center or help you secure an official diagnosis, which is often the first step toward getting treatment covered by insurance.

A number of eating disorder hotlines can also help offer additional resources and information. These free programs are often run anonymously, making it easier for callers to ask difficult questions.

But regardless of where you start, the important thing is looking for help. It’s often the first step to a healthier and happier future.