Gender-Inclusive Bulimia Treatment and Therapy

Learn more about bulimia treatment at Carolina House Eating Disorder Treatment Center in North Carolina

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder whose sufferers engage in periods of binging and purging. During the binging phase of bulimia, a person will eat excessively. This excessive eating, in turn, triggers the purging phase. During this phase, a person will use different means of expelling the food from their bodies in an attempt to minimize the impact of the ingested calories. Purging often involves using laxatives, forcing oneself to vomit, excessively exercising, or a combination of different purging methods. Bulimia is a life-altering disorder that can be extremely difficult to overcome without professional help. Thankfully, relief from this disorder can be found at professional treatment and rehab centers specializing in bulimia nervosa.

Those who struggle with bulimia can find help at Carolina House, located in North Carolina and also serving South Carolina and all states nationwide. We understand the unique challenges of people who battle this insidious and painful disorder, and our compassionate, expert staff at our treatment and rehab center for bulimia nervosa has developed programs that are designed to help these individuals rediscover a healthy relationship with eating.

Helping a loved one get treatment for bulimia

If your loved one struggles with bulimia, you have seen up-close the dramatically negative effects that this disorder can cause. You have likely tried many different approaches to help your loved one, and though some things may have seemed to help, your loved one still continues to struggle with the disorder. This may leave you feeling discouraged, frustrated, sad, and alone. While you may feel as though there is little you can do, there are, in fact, a number of steps you can take to help your loved one, including:

• Research treatment and rehab centers specializing in bulimia nervosa. Investigate treatment options for your loved one and speak with the staff at various treatment and rehab centers in order to determine if a specific center would be a good fit for your loved one.
• Remain open and connected. Your loved one likely experiences a great deal of shame as a result of their bulimia symptoms, but your open, nonjudgmental, and patient love can be immensely helpful. Also remember that the path to healing is full of twists and bends, so remain patient as your loved one moves through their journey.
• Take care of yourself. Because your loved one’s bulimia can feel so overshadowing, you may have lost a sense of connection with your own self. Regain that connection by making time for your hobbies and relationships. Also, consider joining a support group for people whose loved ones struggle with eating disorders.
• Do your homework. Spend time reading and learning about bulimia, and read about and speak with others who are in your same position. Talk with mental health experts at bulimia treatment and rehab centers about you and your loved one’s individual struggles.

Why consider treatment for bulimia at Carolina House Eating Disorder Treatment Center in North Carolina

Bulimia is a dangerous condition that has wide-ranging effects on those who struggle with it. People with bulimia often experience stress in their relationships and may struggle to keep up with their jobs, possibly resulting in job loss and subsequent financial strain. The cycle of binging and purging also places immense strain on one’s body. Physical effects of the disorder can include tooth decay, gastrointestinal distress, heartburn, and damage to the esophagus. People with bulimia may even experience suicidal thoughts or attempt suicide. The potential consequences of bulimia are severe, but there is help and hope available to those who seek it. With proper treatment from a bulimia nervosa rehab center like Carolina House, located in North Carolina and also serving South Carolina and all states nationwide, these negative effects can be reduced or avoided entirely.

Types of bulimia treatment offered at Carolina House Eating Disorder Treatment Center in North Carolina

Since 2006, we, at Carolina House, have been devoted to providing world-class, gender-inclusive residential treatment and rehab to individuals who are in need of comprehensive treatment to overcome the symptoms of eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa. Situated in a serene, wooded setting, Carolina House offers gender-inclusive bulimia treatment to clients age 17 and older in a tranquil environment that is fully conducive to true and lasting healing. We hold ourselves to a standard of excellence in the care we deliver so that anyone who engages in treatment and rehab at our center for bulimia with us can succeed in discovering a renewed life of wellness.

At Carolina House, located in North Carolina and also serving South Carolina and all states nationwide, we have made it our goal to provide a beautiful, safe, and nurturing environment that is run by highly trained and supportive staff. We use a structured, multifaceted treatment and rehab approach our center for bulimia that is designed to usher clients successfully into life-long recovery. Our treatment approach also encourages self-exploration towards transformation through self-nurturing expressions of living. This goal and these treatment and rehab approaches are met by providing clients with individualized treatment plans that are catered to meet each of their very unique needs. Various aspects that may be incorporated into these treatment and rehab plans at our bulimia nervosa treatment center are described in the following:

Medical care: Clients who are battling bulimia often need consistent medical attention to address such concerns as re-feeding issues, complications from starvation, somatic complaints, electrolyte imbalances, and/or gastrointestinal distress. Carolina House provides 24-hour nursing care for all clients, as well as employs a contracted medical doctor, a psychiatrist, and a registered dietitian, all of whom are skilled in the treatment of eating disorders. These professionals are able to meet with clients to ensure that their recovery remains on a healthy track.

Re-Feeding: When treating an eating disorder like bulimia, there is often the need for re-feeding interventions to be made in order to help get clients back on track with proper nutritional intake. At Carolina House, located in North Carolina and also serving South Carolina and all states nationwide, clients are closely involved with the registered dietitian, the culinary staff therapist, and the clinical and medical teams so that specialized meal plans can be devised. These meal plans are designed to adequately address the nutritional needs of each client during each stage of treatment. Meals are closely monitored by staff in order to provide the highest level of support as clients reach nutritional stabilization and decrease their participation in the rituals and behaviors that are symptomatic of their eating disorders.

Culinary program: All clients at Carolina House may take part in our culinary program, which offers them full kitchen access throughout their time spent in treatment and rehab at our center for bulimia nervosa. Setting us apart from other eating disorder programs throughout the country, participation in this program provides clients with the unique opportunity to experience meal planning, grocery shopping, meal preparation, and a family-style eating environment, all of which work towards building self-confidence as clients make their way through treatment.

Medication management: When individuals are battling symptoms of a co-occurring mental health condition in addition to bulimia nervosa, the use of certain medications may be recommended in order to help alleviate some of their distress. Clients at our bulimia treatment and rehab center have the opportunity to meet with a psychiatrist once or twice a week in order to determine the need for any medication, as well as to monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of any medication prescribed.

Individual therapy: Clients are provided with one full individual therapy session each week that typically lasts between 45 and 60 minutes. Additionally, clients will meet with their therapists for one brief check-in session each week, which usually lasts about 30 minutes. These sessions are designed to provide clients with an opportunity to meet in a private, confidential setting with their therapists so that they can discuss their progress in treatment, process through any setbacks that may have arisen, and celebrate any successes that have occurred while in treatment and rehab for bulimia at our center.

Family therapy: Recognizing how important family involvement can be in our clients’ successful recovery from bulimia, the staff at Carolina House, located in North Carolina, incorporates family therapy into our clients’ treatment plans. Family therapy sessions are offered on a weekly basis with a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, meeting for an average of 45 to 60 minutes for each session. If deemed appropriate and therapeutically beneficial to clients, additional family sessions may be added on an as needed basis.

Group therapy: When working to overcome an eating disorder, including bulimia, group therapy sessions have proven to be incredibly beneficial and effective. Clients typically participate in an average of six group therapy sessions each weekday, four group sessions on Saturdays, and two group sessions on Sundays. These group therapy sessions are typically broken down as follows:

• Two Food and Feeling Groups take place every day. These are short, skills identification groups that occur after every lunch or dinner.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Groups take place three times per week and are facilitated by a licensed counselor who is specially trained in DBT.
• Interpersonal Process Groups occur two times per week and are led by a licensed therapist and other qualified professionals who have been fully trained in the group modality.
• Two Integrated Health Groups take place each week and are led by a licensed clinical specialist and are attended by all clients. Weekly offsite meetings are also made available to clients who need them.
• A variety of other groups occur during the week as well, including both process and psychoeducational groups. The topics that are covered during these sessions vary but may include discussions on body image, media awareness, empowerment, nutrition, and guided self-care, among many others.

Experiential therapy: In order to offer clients a holistic approach to the treatment of bulimia, Carolina House offers a number of experiential therapy options at our bulimia nervosa treatment and rehab center in addition to the more traditional therapeutic interventions. Examples of these therapies include the following:

• Embodying Recovery (a sensorimotor psychotherapy group)
• Strength training
• Culinary Group
• Yoga therapy
• Body movement activities
• Walks
• Games
• Art therapy

Receiving comprehensive treatment and rehab in a residential setting is enormously advantageous for those who are suffering from bulimia. However, at Carolina House, located in North Carolina, we recognize that completion of residential treatment and rehab at our center does not always mean that clients have finished achieving full recovery from their eating disorders. For this reason, we offer continuing care services through our partial day treatment program and our intensive outpatient program.

Additionally, keeping in mind that recovery from bulimia is an ongoing process, the staff at Carolina House is dedicated to ensuring that clients have a definitive plan set in place prior to their being discharged. From the time of admission to our bulimia nervosa treatment and rehab center, clients’ primary therapists are assessing their outside resources and determining what services need to be in place in order to support a smooth discharge plan. Typically, the goal will be to step down to a lower level of care slowly so that clients can be fully prepared for increased independence.

If you or a loved one is suffering from bulimia, the staff at Carolina House wants to help. Located in North Carolina and also serving South Carolina and all states nationwide, our world-class programming at Carolina House can help you overcome the symptoms that plague you, while also assisting you as you develop the confidence needed to embark on a bright and promising future. Do not continue to suffer. Let the staff at Carolina House show you that there’s a better way to live.