Program Description

Whether treated as an inpatient in the hospital program, participants are involved in a range of therapies to alter unhealthy eating behaviors, understand underlying problems and learn better ways of resolving stress. People with eating disorders can also suffer from mood and anxiety disorders as well as alcohol and/or drug addiction. Our individualized approach allows flexibility in treatment to meet each client’s needs.

Because the program is situated within a hospital, there is access to medical assessment, substance abuse counseling, psychopharmacology, and psychological testing as needed. Treatment activities include the following:

Individual therapy sessions, typically provided twice a week, are an opportunity to explore a variety of concerns. The client and therapist may discuss the role of symptoms in daily life, alternative ways of coping aside from symptoms, available strengths and social resources. Specific areas of discussion are decided jointly by the therapist and patient.

Families are typically stressed by eating disorders and family stresses can aggravate eating disorder symptoms. Family therapy is a setting to explore patterns of communication and problem solving, to better understand what family members expect of one another and to identify areas of agreement and disagreement. Sometimes families may develop specific "contracts", which outline in written form their expectations for change.

Experiential Therapies

It is not always possible to find words to express ideas. Art therapy and related treatment utilize non-verbal forms of expression, and work in two and three-dimensional media, to explore emotions that patients may otherwise have difficulty recognizing. 

Group therapies are scheduled daily. Some groups are relatively open-ended and may deal with subjects that are relevant to the specific group of patients involved at the time. Other groups are more task-oriented. Cognitive/behavior therapy focuses on subtle errors in thinking that are frequently associated with eating disorders: for example, all-or-none thinking or over-generalization. Cognitive/behavior therapy offers a framework to recognize these problems and begin to change them. Interpersonal therapy examines the various social roles that patients fill, how roles change and how people adjust to such change.    

Psychoeducational Groups

These daily group discussions focus on physical and mental health subjects of importance to patients with eating disorders. Topics have included the medical consequences of starvation and purging, use of medications for treatment of depression and mood swings, and strategies for more effectively structuring time.

A nutritionist works individually with clients to establish a meal plan to meet his or her nutritional needs. Whether the client needs to gain, lose or maintain weight, the dietitian will establish a diet to be used in the hospital and one for follow-up care at home. Meals in the hospital are prepared in a central kitchen by a professional cook. All meals are served in a group setting with staff supervision and support. In addition to one-on-one counseling, the dietitian works with families and leads a nutrition group. 

The Eating Disorders Program is under the direction of Michael Pertschuk, M.D. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, with two decades of treatment and research experience in eating disorders. He has appeared on national news and interview programs speaking on eating disorders and related issues. He is joined by a dedicated staff of professionals chosen for their interest in eating disorders. The core staff of psychologists, nurses, dieticians, and expressive therapists has extensive experience treating eating disorders and share an enthusiasm and dedication to the work.

Program Highlights

• Individualized treatment for men, women and young people

• Extensive family support
  

• Separate, dedicated treatment setting exclusively for patients with eating disorders 

• Directed by one of Philadelphia Magazine's  top doctors heading up one of the most experienced teams of eating disorders therapists on the east coast

• Medical assessment, substance abuse counseling, psychopharmacology and psychological testing all available

• Comprehensive discharge planning

• Care provided by a Quaker institution with the highest ethical standards