If you or your loved one live in Texas, there are many options to seek treatment whether you struggle with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), or other types of eating disorders.
Types Of Eating Disorders Treatment in Texas
One of the main aspects of determining the best kind of treatment for your eating disorder is figuring out the level of care you may need.
Levels of care are often based on the severity of presenting eating disorder symptoms and will make a difference in the types of programs you might want to look into.
Virtual Treatment for Eating Disorders
Online programs for eating disorders are the perfect choice for someone who can not or simply does not want to go for in-person treatment. Those who live far from in-person treatment programs, have challenges around transportation or mobility, or have difficult schedules may especially benefit from these types of programs.
But regardless of why someone chooses online treatment, studies have shown that this type of therapy can help—in many cases, as much as traditional in-person treatment. [2] Most accredited programs offer the same high level of care and evidence-based treatment at in-person clinics.
Still, online care may not be for everyone, especially people who struggle with severe eating disorder symptoms. Before enrolling in a program, you should fill out an intake form, which can help determine whether online eating disorder treatment is right for you.
Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment in Texas
One of the best parts about virtual eating disorder treatment is that it doesn’t have to be local. For residents of Texas and beyond, Within Health offers one of the most comprehensive online programs for eating disorders.
The program includes personalized eating disorder treatment plans created by multidisciplinary experts. Within can even send meals and medical equipment through the mail to make following a treatment plan as easy as possible.
Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment
This is the most intensive eating disorder treatment option available to patients. It is generally only used if a patient is experiencing a mental or physical health crisis, such as rapidly worsening symptoms or suicidal ideation. [1]
Inpatient treatment provides 24/7 care in a medical facility, usually as a hospital. It involves round-the-clock medical monitoring and care, with the overall goal of returning someone to a state of medical stability. Interventions at this stage usually include tube feeding, intravenous fluids, and regular monitoring of vital signs.
Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment in Texas
Texas Children’s Hospital offers a program with a full continuum of eating disorder care, particularly for adolescents and young adults. Their comprehensive treatment includes inpatient hospitalization if and when needed.
Residential Treatment for Eating Disorders
Like inpatient treatment, residential programs offer 24-hour access to care for patients, though this level of care takes place in a more home-like environment, where patients live and sleep during long-term stays.
Those in a residential eating disorder treatment center generally still struggle with severe symptoms but are considered medically stable. This allows them to participate in these programs, lasting from several weeks to several months.
During a residential stay, patients follow rigorous schedules, involving everything from individual and group therapy sessions to meal monitoring, nutritional counseling, medical check-ins, and medication evaluations.
Texas Residential Eating Disorder Programs
Located in Dallas, Eating Disorder Solutions offers a place for Texas residents to receive many different types of care for a range of eating disorders, including AN, BN, BED, and other specified feeding/eating disorders (OSFED).
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs)
Partial hospitalization programs represent the middle ground of eating disorder treatment in Texas. They involve long days of therapy and other types of care but allow the patient to return home at night and, sometimes, throughout the weekends.
If a patient is stepping down from residential treatment, they may be able to keep the same treatment team during this stage. But in any case, PHPs usually involve similar types of care to residential programs, including individual and group therapy, meal monitoring, and continuing nutritional therapy.
At this stage of treatment, a patient is beginning to progress in their recovery, though they still need much support and help. The PHP format allows them to start having some autonomy, practicing healthy coping skills, and making food-based decisions outside of a facility setting.
Texas Partial Hospitalization Programs
One of the best-known eating disorder treatment centers in Texas is the Eating Recovery Center. Partial hospitalization programs with this group can be found in Austin, Plano, Houston, San Antonio, and The Woodlands. The Eating Recovery Center also offers most other levels of eating disorder care throughout its various locations.
Outpatient Treatment For Bulimia In Texas
Outpatient treatment is generally the first or last level of care someone with an eating disorder goes through. That’s because it’s the least intensive, usually involving a regular appointment with a therapist, psychiatrist, or nutritional counselor, and sometimes regular or semi-regular medication evaluations.
This open schedule allows patients to add other social responsibilities, like work or school, back into their schedules. But to successfully maintain this level of recovery, a patient should have a good handle on their eating disorder symptoms and use therapy to keep an eye out for potential triggers.
For those stepping down from higher levels of care, an intensive outpatient program may also be a good option. These are similar to a standard outpatient program but involve more frequent or longer therapy sessions.
Outpatient Treatment for Eating Disorders in Texas
Once again, the Eating Recovery Center can be a good option for Texas residents, thanks to its reputation and wide variety of locations. Outpatient clinics are located in Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas.
Additional Texas Eating Disorder Treatment Resources
Aside from programs designed specifically to help treat eating disorders, Texas has other options for those seeking more information or resources about eating disorders.
Students at Texas Tech University can participate in The Center For Collegiate Recovery Communities. This center provides support for students who suffer from eating disorders and also for those who have an eating disorder and need addiction treatment.
There may be additional local programs available, as well. Your primary care physician, therapist, or even an online search can suggest additional eating disorder resources near you.
Eating Disorder Support Groups In Texas
Support groups are a helpful aspect of eating disorder therapy for many people, regardless of where they are on the recovery journey.
These groups can offer additional support through a difficult time and help someone foster a sense of community, among other benefits.
Some eating disorder support groups in Texas include:
- Bariatric Support Group. This group meets every third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm in Grapevine, Texas. It caters to adolescents and female and male adults.
- Connected in Caring. This open group is aimed at family and friends of people with eating disorders. Adolescents and adults, male or female, are welcome. Meetings occur in Dallas at 5:30 pm on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month.
- Eating Disorder Anonymous. This open group is aimed at both adolescents and adults, male or female. They meet every Saturday at 9:30 am in Dallas.
Times and locations of these groups are subject to change. It’s best to call ahead to ensure these groups still meet at these specific places and times.
It’s also likely that other support groups are available throughout Texas. Internet searches or inquiries around your community could be a good way to find out about other options for this type of help.
What To Look For Before Choosing a Texas Bulimia Treatment Center
Finding the best eating disorder treatment center in Texas for you or your loved one is an important step in recovery. Before making a final decision, make sure to put some thought into the following factors.
While a patchwork of laws in Texas and nationwide work to ensure staff at treatment centers of all types are well-qualified for the job, accreditation makes the same assurance about the program itself.
Stamps of approval from CARF International or the Joint Commission indicate that industry professionals have reviewed a center or its program and have been found up to—or exceeding—industry standards.
There are many different ways to treat an eating disorder. While all of them may be helpful for different kinds of people having different kinds of experiences, not all treatment methods are equal in the eyes of health insurance.
Generally, an insurance company will only cover treatment for eating disorders that are considered evidence-based or more-or-less agreed to be effective after years of clinical testing and analysis.
Some of the most common types of evidence-based treatment include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Nutrition counseling
- Group therapy
- Family-based therapy (FBT)
Other types of therapy can very much be effective. But having these “alternative” therapies covered by insurance will most likely be more difficult.
Indeed, insurance and program costs are among the primary considerations of most people looking at eating disorder treatment options.
If you need this type of assistance, you must ensure an eating disorder treatment center in Texas accepts your insurance before enrolling.
If you find a program you like, you can call ahead at the center to speak with a staff member about insurance options. You may start your search by contacting your insurance company. They should be able to give you a list of Texas-based programs they partner with.
It may seem like a pain to worry about this extra step initially, but it can save a lot of frustration—unplanned bills or having to change programs mid-treatment—down the road.
Additional Questions
Finding an eating disorder treatment program in Texas that’s the best fit for you or your loved one can feel overwhelming. Even if you’ve narrowed the search, each option may seem similar, making it difficult to decide.
Asking yourself, or the center in question, some of these questions may be able to help you better make a decision or understand your priorities and expectations around treatment: [3]
- Is the treatment center affiliated with any religious organizations?
- Is there a formal treatment philosophy?
- How long has the center been in business?
- What is the staff/patient ratio?
- How long have the current staff members been in their positions (on average)?
- Who will be coordinating the treatment?
- Will there be one or more professionals on the treatment team?
- What (if any) will be the role of the patient’s family during his or her treatment?
Finding Help for an Eating Disorder in Texas
If you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder, it’s important to seek out help.
If none of the above options work for you, you can also speak with your primary care physician, therapist, or another trusted medical professional. These experts can help you secure an official eating disorder diagnosis and offer advice for the next best steps.
Some eating disorder hotlines are also available. These services are generally free and offer information and additional resources while allowing callers to remain anonymous.
But regardless of where you look for help, the most important step is following through on it. Entering into treatment is often the first step on the road to a healthier and happier future.
Resources
- Levels of Care. (n.d.). Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research – UC San Diego. Accessed August 2023.
- Steiger H, Booij L, Crescenzi O, Oliverio S, Singer I, Thaler L, St-Hilaire A, & Israel M. (2022). In-person versus virtual therapy in outpatient eating-disorder treatment: A COVID-19 inspired study. The International journal of eating disorders; 55(1):145–150.
- Selecting a Treatment Center for Your Loved One. (n.d.). National Eating Disorders Association. Accessed August 2023.