Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED) are serious mental health issues that can have many detrimental effects. If you or a loved one are struggling, it’s important to seek out appropriate care.
There are many factors to consider when searching for eating disorder treatment centers in Wyoming, and which recovery option you choose will depend on your or your loved one’s needs.
Fortunately, whether you’re looking for a more intensive program or just a bit of extra support each day, several recovery options are available near you.
Types of Eating Disorder Treatment in Wyoming
Recovering from any eating disorder requires the appropriate type of care, but these conditions can manifest in different ways and at varying levels of severity. To cater to these different symptoms, various levels of care have been developed to help with treatment.
The best level of care for you or your loved one will depend on your medical history, current needs, and where you are in your recovery journey.
Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment
Virtual eating disorder treatment is the newest level of care for eating disorders, but it’s already showing promise for helping people recover from these conditions.
As the name suggests, treatment occurs entirely online, through various apps, websites, or over the phone. The flexibility makes it an excellent option for those who live far from in-person clinics, have challenges around mobility or transportation, have complex schedules, or simply prefer to receive treatment from home.
In many cases, online care has already been shown to be just as effective as in-person treatment. [2] The intake form you fill out when enrolling in a program will help you determine whether online care is right for you.
Who Offers Online Eating Disorder Treatment in Wyoming
The online eating disorder treatment landscape is still relatively new, but Within Health has already made a name for itself among prospective programs.
Patients can participate in several levels of care, all through the website and personalized app. There’s even an option to have meals or medical equipment delivered through the mail to help make the at-home effort as smooth as possible.
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment involves a patient staying full-time at a treatment facility and receiving around-the-clock medical monitoring and care. These types of programs are generally recommended for the most severe eating disorder cases.
There are several types of inpatient care. Inpatient hospitalization is usually considered the most intensive form of eating disorder treatment. It usually only happens when a patient is experiencing a mental or physical health crisis, including extreme low weight or suicidal ideation, with the overall goal of helping a patient reach medical stabilization.
Residential treatment is still full-time, but facilities are more home-like than clinical. Patients at this point are generally not considered at immediate risk of death and instead begin to focus on more long-term recovery goals, utilizing treatments such as individual and group therapy sessions, meal monitoring, nutritional counseling, and regular medical check-ins.
Who Offers Inpatient Care in Wyoming?
Forest View Hospital offers inpatient treatment for several psychiatric disorders and has over 20 years of experience helping children, adolescents, and adults struggling with anorexia and bulimia.
Cedar Mountain Center offers residential treatment in a serene setting. Patients can enjoy on-site amenities while working toward recovery. They also provide co-occurring treatment.
Partial Hospitalization Programs
Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are another intensive form of care, though patients live and sleep at home during this phase of treatment.
Still, in many cases, a partial hospitalization program is structured similarly to a residential treatment program, with patients going to similar types of care. And sessions can be extensive, lasting anywhere from 10 hours a day up to 6 days a week, or sometimes more. [1]
In some instances, a patient who may qualify for a residential program will instead be recommended for a PHP, especially if they have children at home, live far from a residential treatment program, or have certain types of insurance. [1]
Who Offers Partial Hospitalization Care in Wyoming?
Unfortunately, Wyoming does not currently offer in-person PHPs for eating disorders. However, specific online programs, like Within Health, offer similarly structured programs in a virtual format.
Outpatient Programs
Outpatient treatment is the least intensive form of care, so patients at this level must have a good amount of control over their eating disorder symptoms. Usually, outpatient care involves regular meetings with a therapist, psychiatrist, or doctor and works to help patients remain accountable to their recovery journey and wary of potential setbacks.
Those who still need more support can also try an intensive outpatient program (IOP). This is more of a hybrid level of care, with patients attending treatment sessions several days a week for several hours at a time. The schedule is ideal for those ready to start incorporating more social responsibilities like school or work into their recovery journey and those who would like to try family therapy.
Who Offers Intensive Outpatient Care in Wyoming?
Bright Heart Health provides intensive outpatient care where patients receive one-on-one counseling, group therapy, and treatments for co-occurring disorders.
The Original Intuitive Eating Pros partners with local counselors and other professionals and trains them to help patients develop healthy relationships with food. You can find thousands of trained counselors throughout the world.
Additional Eating Disorder Resources in Wyoming
Aside from programs explicitly designed for eating disorder recovery, some Wyoming resources can help provide more types of help or information, including:
- The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) is an association that has been serving people struggling with eating disorders for over 45 years. They host several support groups nationwide, and individuals can call their hotline at (888)-375-7767.
- 2-1-1 is a service directory that connects individuals with services across the state of Wyoming, including local mental health professionals. You can dial 211 from any Wyoming phone number.
- Thrive Counseling Services is an agency that specializes in helping youth and adults struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. They offer both in-person and telehealth services.
- Wyoming Recovery specializes in addiction counseling and co-occurring disorders. They are an excellent option for people suffering from substance use and an eating disorder.
Support Groups
Support groups are, as the name suggests, a group of people who gather together and empower one another through their recovery journey. Support groups are led by counselors or peers and take place in person or through telehealth.
Support groups can be an excellent way for people to build support systems and maintain their recovery. Below is a list of eating disorder support groups you can access in Wyoming.
- ANAD offers a support group in Sheridan, Wyoming, every Monday at 6:00 pm. The group meets in person each week at the Sheridan Wesleyan Church. They do not currently offer telehealth options.
- The National Alliance For Eating Disorders offers several virtual eating disorder recovery groups. Not only do they have support groups for people struggling with an eating disorder, but they also have one specifically for friends and family.
- Center for Discovery has over 20 years of experience working with people in 13 states. They offer both peer-led groups and counselor-led groups.
What to Look for in a Wyoming Bulimia Treatment Center/Program
The right treatment option can help you overcome an eating disorder and become healthier and happier. That said, there are a few things you’ll need to consider when choosing whether or not a recovery center is right for you.
Evidence-based practices are interventions for which scientific evidence consistently shows significant positive outcomes among clients. Researchers gather, study, and analyze data to ensure the list of best practices is correct and up-to-date.
Not only are they the most effective forms of treatment, but many insurance companies will only reimburse for evidence-based interventions. Some of the most widely accepted are those that focus on cognitive behavioral therapies, including:
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Adolescent-focused therapy (AFT)
- Family-based treatment (FBT)
- Motivational interviewing
- Group therapy
Eating disorder treatment is often lengthy and, unfortunately, expensive. Most people pursuing this type of care need some form of financial assistance.
Thankfully, many programs offer financial aid in one form or another for would-be residents. Call any programs you may be interested in to ask about this possibility.
Health insurance is another important consideration when choosing a treatment center in Wyoming. Not all health insurance companies work with all programs, so if you need coverage, check with your insurance company and the center to ensure your stay will be covered.
Additional Questions
Sometimes, it can be hard to tell the difference between treatment programs that appear, on the surface, to be very similar.
In these cases, asking some additional questions may help you formulate your expectations and priorities around the experience and better choose the right center for you.
Some questions to keep in mind include: [3]
- How long have you worked with this population?
- What type of treatment do you find works the best? Why?
- What credentials do you have?
- What experience do you have working with people suffering from eating disorders?
- How can you help me or my loved one?
- Do you treat co-occurring disorders?
Finding Help for an Eating Disorder in Wyoming
If you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder, it’s essential to seek out help. These conditions can be dangerous or even deadly if left untreated, and they don’t go away on their own.
One of the best ways to start your recovery journey is by speaking to your primary care physician, therapist, or another trusted medical professional. These experts can help you secure an official diagnosis, which is often the first step toward treatment center enrollment, or help you determine your best next steps.
A number of hotlines can also provide additional help and information. These services are often run anonymously, making it easier for callers to speak about the true depth of their concerns.
But regardless of where you look for help, the most important part is looking to begin with. It’s often the first step toward a healthier and happier future.
Resources
- Levels of Care. (n.d.). University of California San Diego. Accessed November 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 an Eating Disorder Treatment Center for Your Loved One. (n.d.). National Eating Disorders Association. Accessed November 2023.