Eating Disorders
The Eating Disorders Program at GenPsych, PC is a comprehensive, evidence based, and multidisciplinary program for adults and adolescents in New Jersey. Our program offers integrated services including: dietary counseling, education, medication management, rehabilitation counseling, individual and group therapies, and family support services. Our highly skilled licensed staff specializes in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and eating disorders not otherwise specified. We offer both a three hour Intensive Outpatient Program three times per week and a five and a half hour Partial Hospitalization Program five times per week.
At GenPsych, PC we believe it is imperative to engage families in treatment and offer weekly family education and therapeutic sessions, in addition to ongoing individual and group sessions. Our program provides frequent nursing and medical supervision by highly trained medical staff. We provide medical monitoring including daily vitals and weights. Each patient is assigned an individual therapist, a psychiatrist or advanced practice nurse, and a registered nutritionist. Both programs offer meal planning and our Partial Hospitalization Program provides meal supervision during and between two meals daily. Our Intensive Outpatient Program provides meal supervision for one meal daily.
Our integrative approach uses a variety of groups, which focus on specific methods to reduce Eating Disorder symptoms. We have found success in utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Process groups, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Body Image groups, Nutritional Education groups, Medication Education groups, Skills Development groups, and Multifamily groups. We collaborate with primary care physicians, outpatient behavioral health providers, and employers/schools as needed.
GenPsych, PC offers Partial Care, Intensive Outpatient and Individual Therapy for individuals struggling with eating disorders.
Before admission, each individual will be screened by a licensed clinician and evaluated by a psychiatrist in order to place the individual in the appropriate program that will best meet their needs. Our comprehensive Partial Care Program is offered 5 days per week; Monday – Friday for 6 hours per day 1:00 pm – 7pm. The program is designed to provide structure and to meet each individual’s needs. Our comprehensive Intensive Outpatient Program is offered 3 days per week; Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday for 3 hours per day 4:00pm – 7:00pm. Each consumer will participate in both individual and group therapy and also meet regularly with a psychiatrist, nutritionist and nurse. Care will be collaborated with primary care physicians and, if needed, school nurses and other disciplines. A registered nutritionist will also work closely with each individual to help re-establish a healthy relationship with food.
GenPsych, PC uses an integrative approach for treating eating disorders. There are a variety of groups that focus on specific methods for reducing symptoms. All groups are led by licensed professionals who have experience in the treatment of eating disorders. Groups titles and descriptions are listed below:
Cognitive – Behavioral Therapy groups will help the individual to identify the eating disorder voice and challenge the distorted thinking and help prevent relapse. The individual will explore healthy alternate behaviors to cope with life stressors, and painful emotions.
Process Groups will allow the individual to explore underlying issues, which lead to eating disordered thinking and behaviors. These underlying issues include anxiety and depression.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Groups are designed to help the individual to tolerate and regulate emotions, cope with distress, be mindful of the present, and develop ways to self soothe and reduce self-harming behaviors.
Body Image Groups will help the individual to accept their own bodies and to be aware and recognize body distortions.
Skills Groups will educate the individual on healthy ways to cope with overwhelming emotions and situations. These skills will include assertiveness training and conflict resolution.
Nutrition Groups are led by a registered nutritionist to help the individual develop a healthy meal plan, understand hunger cures and re-establish a healthy relationship with food. There will be a daily therapeutic meal to help with portion control and reduce food distortions.
Multifamily Groups are an important component for the recovery of the individual and their families suffering from an eating disorder. An eating disorder has an effect on the whole family. Providing education and support will help to alleviate stress and “walking on egg shells.” Hearing others share about strategies that have helped them to overcome obstacles is a comfort to those families in turmoil and helps them to understand that no one is to blame.
Full recovery is possible, let us help.
About Eating Disorders
Anorexia nervosa occurs within about 2% of the population, bulimia nervosa occurs within between 1 -4% of individuals, and although eating disorders can affect people of all ages, 86% of individuals afflicted report the onset before the age of 20. 80 – 90% of people afflicted show signs of depression, 60% show signs of anxiety and 30% show signs of alcohol abuse. Food becomes their way of coping, and the results can be devastating.
Anorexia Nervosa is the refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight. A restriction of calories and this extreme restrictive diet (starvation) may include “safe” foods, foods low in calories and eating less than 1,000 calories per day. Any actual or perceived weight gain is met with intense fear, even if underweight. Weight loss does not relieve this fear, it often increases it. One will experience body distortions, thinking that they are fat even when emaciated. Anorexics with severe weight loss may experience life-threatening complications, such as hypotension (heart slows to conserve energy), amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycle), and osteoporosis (bones become weak and brittle). Other physical effects include tooth decay, poor memory, fainting, growth of fine hair all over the body, and weakness.
Anorexia Nervosa is not about food or weight, it is about controlling emotions. Self- esteem and happiness are based entirely on how thin one is. Preoccupation with food and numbers, food rituals, counting calories, chewing, and spitting are all signs of the disorder.
There are 2 subtypes of Anorexia Nervosa:
- Restricting type – dieting, fasting, and/or excessive exercise
- Binge/purge type – includes not only restricting but also utilizes other methods such as vomiting, laxatives, diet pill abuse, and diuretics.
Bulimia Nervosa is a recurrent binge eating cycle. A binge usually consists of a substantial amount of high-calorie foods in a short period of time. Some binges are planned, however most are impulsive. Binges are seen as a way to cope with daily stressors and temporarily numb feelings. Behaviors such as restricting, purging, laxative use, and exercise are utilized to compensate for the binges. There is a feeling that one can not control eating, which results in low self-esteem. Medical complications include heart arrhythmias, esophageal tears, electric light disturbance, dental problems, and GI tract damage.
Despite bulimics preoccupation with food, weight, and body shape, it is not about food or weight, but instead about self-image and feelings of failure and inadequacy. There is an obsession with body size, frequent measuring, weighing, and pinching themselves in order to determine self-worth.
There are 2 sub-types of Bulimia Nervosa:
- Purging type – vomits to compensate for binging
- Non-purging type – alternating cycle of binge eating and restricting.
Eating Disorder NOS is a disorder which does not meet all criteria for Anorexia and Bulimic Nervosa. Compulsive overeating can fall into that category and can disrupt and turn one’s life upside down.
