Getting Started: real answers for real moments.
Am I sick enough? What happens when I call? What does treatment cost? The questions that stand between wondering and starting, answered honestly.
Am I sick enough for eating disorder treatment?
If you are asking whether you are sick enough for treatment, that question itself deserves attention. Eating disorders are diagnosed by thoughts, beha...
Get the answer →What happens when you call an eating disorder treatment center?
When you call an eating disorder treatment center like ours, you reach a real person who asks a few gentle questions about what is going on, answers y...
Get the answer →What does an eating disorder assessment involve?
An eating disorder assessment is a structured conversation with a clinician about your relationship with food, your medical and mental health history,...
Get the answer →What should I expect on my first day of IOP?
On your first day of IOP you will be welcomed by staff, get oriented to the space and schedule, meet some of your treatment team, and join the group f...
Get the answer →How do I choose an eating disorder treatment program?
Choose an eating disorder program by first matching the level of care to your clinical needs, then evaluating the specifics: who is on the treatment t...
Get the answer →What questions should I ask before starting eating disorder treatment?
Before starting eating disorder treatment, ask about the treatment team and their credentials, the specific therapies used, how meals and nutrition ar...
Get the answer →What if I don't want to recover?
Not wanting to recover, or wanting it only some of the time, is one of the most normal experiences in eating disorder treatment. Ambivalence is practi...
Get the answer →I'm afraid of weight changes in recovery. Is that normal?
Fear of weight changes is one of the most common and most understandable barriers to starting eating disorder recovery, and it deserves a direct answe...
Get the answer →Does insurance cover eating disorder treatment?
Many insurance plans do cover eating disorder treatment, including intensive outpatient programs, because federal and state mental health parity laws ...
Get the answer →What should I know about eating disorder treatment costs ?
The cost of eating disorder treatment depends on several factors: the level of care you need, how long you attend, which services are included, and, m...
Get the answer →How do I tell my therapist I need more support ?
Telling your therapist you need more support is not a criticism of them, and good therapists know it. You can say something as simple as: I think my e...
Get the answer →How do I switch from another eating disorder program?
Switching from another eating disorder program is common and usually straightforward: you contact the new program, complete an assessment, sign releas...
Get the answer →Is it too late to start treatment after years of struggling?
It is not too late. Adults begin eating disorder treatment after years or even decades of struggling, and they recover. A long history changes some th...
Get the answer →What is day-to-day life in an eating disorder IOP like?
Day-to-day life in an eating disorder IOP means attending programming several days a week for a few hours at a time, and living your regular life arou...
Get the answer →Treatment readiness vs. motivation: what's the difference?
Motivation is how much you want to recover in a given moment, and it rises and falls constantly, sometimes hour to hour. Readiness is something smalle...
Get the answer →How does confidentiality work in eating disorder treatment?
As an adult in eating disorder treatment, your health information is protected by federal privacy law, and what you share in treatment stays confident...
Get the answer →Should I start treatment during a busy season of life?
There is rarely a convenient season to start eating disorder treatment, and waiting for one is usually how another year passes. The honest answer is t...
Get the answer →What does recovery from an eating disorder actually mean?
Recovery from an eating disorder means more than stopping behaviors. Clinicians generally describe it in three overlapping layers: physical recovery, ...
Get the answer →How long does eating disorder treatment take ?
Honestly: it depends, and any program that promises a fixed timeline is not being straight with you. Time in an IOP is typically measured in weeks to ...
Get the answer →How do I support myself between the call and my start date?
The stretch between your first call and your first day of treatment can feel strangely hard: you have done the brave thing, and now you are waiting. S...
Get the answer →Other collections
In Recovery
Straight answers for the moments recovery actually throws at you: relapses, holidays, hard body image days, co...
Browse →For Families & Partners
You love someone with an eating disorder, and you have questions nobody's answered plainly. These are those an...
Browse →Work, School & Life
Recovery happens in the middle of a real life: jobs, classes, weddings, gyms, travel, and pregnancy. Here's ho...
Browse →Body, Mind & Co-Occurring
Eating disorders rarely travel alone. How they interact with anxiety, ADHD, autism, sleep, hormones, gut healt...
Browse →For Professionals
Referral criteria, collaboration, screening cues, and escalation guidance for therapists, dietitians, physicia...
Browse →Every answer here is written by the clinical team at Empowered Treatment and reviewed by Steffani Roller, LPC, IEDS. For foundational guides, visit the Client Education library.
Eating disorders are not a choice. Recovery can be.
One confidential conversation is all it takes to start. No pressure. We'll help you find the right next step, even if it isn't with us.