In addition, eating disorder symptoms are viewed as having served an adaptive function given the context in which they have developed. Therefore, treatment focuses not only on symptom reduction, but also on understanding their development and function. Treatment emphasizes resolution of underlying psychological and emotional conflicts that perpetuate the eating disorder behavior. Helping a patient gain insight into their behavior in the context of providing concrete skills to prevent relapse enables the Eating Disorder Recovery Program to facilitate lasting changes. For individuals with a history of trauma, the Eating Disorders Recovery Program is designed to help individuals feel safe and in control of eating issues while addressing their trauma.
Staff works to help identify the connection between eating problems and trauma histories.
Food related symptoms could serve a multitude of functions in attempting to cope with pain. The recovery process involves an emotional understanding of these symptoms, as well as learning more adaptive coping mechanisms so that the symptoms are no longer necessary. The program runs in conjunction with the Masters and Johnson Trauma Recovery and Trauma Stabilization programs. Heavy emphasis on the utilization of creative and expressive art therapies to help clients understand the function of their symptoms, as well as to identify and understand emotions and experiences which fuel their symptoms. Meditation, yoga, journal writing and other activities are utilized as well.