Eating Disorders Treatment

The Eating Disorders Program at Sierra Tucson comprehensively treats eating disorders for males or females who suffer from Anorexia, Bulimia, and Compulsive Overeating. Sierra Tucson's professional, caring staff understand the patients' deep emotional pain. Individualized treatment plans help uncover and heal underlying issues so that patients can discover the rewards of health and recovery. The majority of patients in the Eating Disorders Program have dual diagnoses that are treated along with their eating disorder. These may include depression, anxiety, alcohol dependency, and drug abuse or dependency. Our program provides a safe environment and an integrative approach that treats body, mind, and spirit in the context of healthy families.

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The philosophy of the Eating Disorders Program at Sierra Tucson is that individuals have the right to recover as whole persons and, as such, deserve to address the total scope of the eating disorder, including body image, relationship with food, medical complications, co-occurring diagnoses, and the chronic nature of eating disorders. Our treatment model has a strong therapy focus on experiential work, shame reduction, understanding the basic disease concept, and recovery through the Twelve Steps. Eating disorder patients are assisted in developing a balanced fitness regimen. The program emphasizes therapy designed to assist the individual in breaking through denial while experiencing unconditional acceptance and guidance.

The goals of the Eating Disorders Program at Sierra Tucson are to educate patients, provide meaningful treatment experiences, and allow for integration of treatment effects. These goals are achieved by incorporating the following principles in all aspects of treatment:

• Mindfulness training
• Provision of skills and resources to replace current unhealthy personal coping mechanisms
• Encouragement of autonomy in relationship to food and recovery for eating disorders
• Promotion of healthy lifestyle, including healthy body image

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The menu at Sierra Tucson strives to incorporate the latest medical and nutritional recommendations for our eating disorder population. The meals include foods that are high in complex carbohydrates, low in fat, low in sodium, and moderate in protein. Patients are encouraged to learn to enjoy the natural flavor of nutritiously prepared foods without adding artificial flavorings and sweeteners.

All of the eating disorder patients are provided with a personalized, structured meal plan to assist in learning healthy and balanced eating behaviors. Sierra Tucson's meals are based on the American Diabetes Association Exchange Lists. Patients are taken to a restaurant to apply their new knowledge and skills in a practical setting.

Sugar is used in the preparation of some foods and desserts, as not all individuals with eating disorders need to avoid sugar. Patients work closely with the dietitian to determine if abstinence from sugar needs to be part of their discharge plan. Desserts are served in small amounts twice a week. This allows patients to enjoy dessert in a safe, monitored environment that minimizes any binge eating.

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Sierra Tucson's bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach provides a full range of options to meet each individual's specific needs. The following services are available to eating disorder patients:

• Weekly body image workshop
• Education about the medical consequences of eating disorders
• Weekly skills group focusing on development of emotional regulation and distress tolerance
• Individual consultations with registered dietitian
• Individualized food plan with meal support
• Weekly nutrition groups to address food-related issues
• Individual fitness consultation and prescription for exercise
• Therapeutic & Recreational Activities may include Equine-Assisted Therapy, Adventure Therapy, and Creative Expression
• Individual and group sessions to address coexisting disorders such as chemical dependency, compulsive behaviors, mood disorders, trauma/abuse, or grief/loss issues
• Food preparation demonstration by head chef
• Restaurant outings
• Twelve-Step meetings held on campus
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) available for treatment of trauma
• Somatic Experiencing® available for treatment of trauma
• Integrative Therapies may include Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Swedish and Shiatsu Massage Therapy, Qi Gong, Reiki, Yoga, and Zero Balancing
• Family & Children's Program

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The program helps each patient develop a healthy relationship with exercise that is nourishing to the body. Patients work both individually and in group settings with a fitness specialist to develop a program that will meet their fitness goals within appropriate exercise boundaries. This personal approach leads patients through their fears, misconceptions, and unhealthy behaviors toward exercise.

Sierra Tucson's facility includes a walking trail; swimming pool; and basketball, pickleball, and volleyball courts. A modern gym contains treadmills, stationary bicycles, stairmasters, elliptical machines, weight machines, and free weights.

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During an initial consultation, the patient's current relationship with exercise is explored, and a goal is established to define how the patient would like this relationship to develop. Patients have an individualized exercise program that includes strength training, flexibility, yoga, and water exercise. Eating disorder patients receive valuable instruction from our qualified and knowledgeable fitness staff to enable them to develop healthy exercise behaviors. Patients receive education on exercise physiology to help them better understand conflicting information presented in magazines and the media.

The overall goal of the Eating Disorders Program at Sierra Tucson is to facilitate the patient's first steps on the long road to recovery, restoring each person to wholeness and good health of body, mind, and spirit.

For more information, please call us anytime at 1-800-842-4487 or contact us by email to request more information.

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