New Treatment Programs
October 19th, 2007
It’s amazing to me how many new treatment centers are popping up all over! And it’s so flattering to me that so many of them are trying to duplicate our integrative medicine approach — a model that I developed and that we’ve been using for 8 years! I think that everyone finds that once they are convinced of the efficacy of alternative interventions, it’s difficult to do just straight cognitive-behavioral therapy. Particularly when it isn’t effective in well over 60% of patients. I truly believe that as professionals we need to be working, researching, and developing new ways of treating eating disorders which are (as you all know) extremely complex conditions.
I personally am working on relapse prevention. In my mind, there has not been enough investigation and research done on helping people when they leave treatment. For me, I feel a moral duty to provide as much in the way of continuing care as we can. After all our patients have taken a significant amount of time out of their lives and certainly spent a lot of money to be able to heal!
I’ve heard some clinicians say that by doing this we’re making the clients dependent on the treatment center. Not so — we gradually help the client transition to support systems in her community — providing her with the strong support she needs when she goes home and becomes integrated back into her community.
I would be thrilled if those of you who read this would be willing to give me suggestions of things that helped you or might have helped you when you went home!
Support is crucial – a good therapist, a supportive family, a support group, a nutritionist, etc. I also use a lot of online support.
One thing I often wish was available is some type of short-term recovery “refresher” course – something like a week long retreat focused on health and maintaining recovery. Maintaining recovery for the long haul is tough.
You’ve stated,
“In my mind, there has not been enough investigation and research done on helping people when they leave treatment.”
I completely agree. I myself was put in intensive treatment for anorexia but due to insurance limitations, I could only spend a 6-week period in the hospital. I did go through a rough adjusting period and feel that I was not given much to fall back on after therapy, except a little handbook of helpful materials. I feel I should have had a nutritionist l to follow up with, as I dropped most of the weight I’d gained shortly after leaving treatment. Having wonderful people to talk to helped, but I feel that there just isn’t enough focus put on follow-up treatment after initial release from the hospital.
I feel that though I am mostly recovered, many people including friends of mine still remain in hospitals over the years because every time they are released, there is little follow up and therefore it becomes easy to fall back into old habits. I admire the efforts you are making, and wish to contribute in any way I can.