Treatment Programs
Avalon is a five-week, Monday through Friday program. The patients meet for seven and one half hours each day and participate in a variety of individual and group sessions, which address the specific needs of their eating disorders.
The most effective treatment for an eating disorder is a combination of interpersonal psychotherapy, nutrition counseling and psychopharmacology.
Psychotherapy addresses the underlying dynamics of the eating disorder while the expressive arts therapies help the patient identify and express uncomfortable feelings. Cognitive therapy deals with transformation of thoughts that control the behaviors. Behavioral therapy attempts to change the patterns of coping through symptom management education and homework assignments.
This multidisciplinary approach offers medical, nutritional and psychological care with the personal needs of each participant carefully assessed. Avalon’s goals are:
INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT
No two patients are alike. Although many of the needs of eating disorder patients are the same, individualized treatment planning is crucial to recovery. Each patient is assigned a primary therapist to assess progress, provide support and offer one-on-one psychotherapy.
Avalon believes health and growth occur through connection and mutuality. Peer support through group psychotherapy provides this connection. In addition to a daily process group, psycho-educational groups address issues such as self-esteem, body image, anger management, assertiveness skill building and transition to community.
A therapeutic meal is a part of each day and is monitored by Avalon’s nutrition therapist. In addition, pre-meal and post-meal stress reduction and symptom management groups are offered.
The expressive arts therapies: art, poetry, psychodrama, movement and bibliotherapy enhance the therapeutic process by tapping into each patient's creative abilities. The arts provide a nonverbal path to discovering the ‘recipe’ of oneself and a symbolic way to nurture and express one's inner feelings. Journaling skills are also taught and encouraged with daily journal group time.
Treatment Programs