At Healthy Reflections we see treatment as a gift and a celebration. We urge you to embrace recovery as an opportunity for growth and wellness; we encourage you to develop a comfortable relationship with your need for growth and change. Too often treatment is viewed as punishment and individuals sometimes feel shamed for needing to seek help and treatment options.

We invite you to get excited about discovering more about yourself, your options for creating a wonderful life and a healthy lifestyle. It isn't always easy, but it doesn't have to be a struggle, either.

Choosing recovery is a beginning; we continue to choose every day, several times a day. Below are some of the treatment options available for people seeking recovery. Often one uses several different treatment approaches on their journey.

1.INFORMATION: Seek healthy, accurate information about eating disorders. Saturate yourself with high-quality, safe information. On our “What is an Eating Disorder?” page we list several healthy web-sites to visit. Throughout our site there are bibliographies and web links available. We've chosen these carefully.

2.OUTPATIENT TREATMENT: Outpatient treatment can take several forms: individual, family, couples and group therapy. Ideally you will find someone who is willing to work with eating disorders. If you cannot find a therapist in your community who has experience with treating eating disorders, finding a therapist who is willing to learn is essential. This site can help you “teach” your therapist what your issues are. Therapists learn all the time; most will be direct with you if you ask them about their experience and their willingness to learn.

3.FAMILY THERAPY: There are outpatient and inpatient family therapists. Your family can be a great asset to your recovery. Families who are willing to look at their family system and seek change can be wonderfully supportive and help you feel less alone as you recover.

4.INPATIENT TREATMENT: Inpatient treatment is another option. Some people seek and need 24-hour support when they are on the road to recovery. Shop wisely for a treatment center…here are a couple of sites listing inpatient options: Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders Treatment Finder and the Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center. As you search for inpatient programs, remember you are the consumer. Ask questions. It is sometimes helpful to sit down with an outpatient therapist, your family, and a few friends to brainstorm needs and questions.

5.SUPPORT GROUPS: Support groups can take several forms. There are independent support groups, often formed at a community level. These may be held at a local hospital, mental-health center, on college campuses, etc. Most have a contact number of someone you can call to ask questions; ask as many as you need to in order to get a sense of the group’s purpose and direction. There are a variety of 12-step groups designed to guide people with eating disorders, as well. These can be found by looking up Alcoholic Anonymous in the phone book, calling the number and asking for 12-step programs for individuals with eating disorders; sometimes groups are listed in Women’s Resource Centers. Your therapist or mental health center may know of other support group options. Walking into a group can be difficult, but a healthy support group recognizes this and makes every effort to welcome you.

Successful treatment may require a team effort. Team membership varies with individual needs, but often includes therapists; physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners; nutritionists or dieticians; family members, spouses, and/or partners; and most importantly, you. If you suspect you might have an eating disorder, we urge you to work closely with your medical professional. They can monitor physical impacts of the eating disorder, and if appropriate they can prescribe medications to relieve the symptoms of anxiety, depression and other co-occurring conditions sometimes seen in people with eating disorders.

You are worth the time and energy needed for this journey to wellness. We congratulate you on your decision to take a step by exploring our website and considering treatment options available to you. We encourage you to take the next step toward recovery.