Program Information

How does someone get into the eating disorders program?

The best way is to get a referral from your doctor. The doctor will have the necessary forms. Also your doctor will have the medical knowledge and background to support your medical needs.

You can also give us a call with your questions or concerns.

You can have someone call us on your behalf. Sometimes a parent or a teacher will call about concerns they have for a child/student.

If you are concerned about having an eating disorder the MOST important thing is to talk to someone and get help A.S.A.P.

What can I expect when I first come to the program?

If you are under the age of 18 and living in a family you will meet with the full team for what is called an assessment.

• You will meet with the dietician to have your eating patterns and history taken.
• You and your family will meet with the Family Therapist to talk about how the eating disorder began. It is important for us to work with your family because they are your support in the world.
• You will meet with an individual therapist to talk about your feelings and beliefs around the eating disorder.
• Finally all of the team including you and your family will get together to decide what the best kind of treatment will be.

If you are older than 18 you will meet with the dietician and an individual therapist.

• The dietician will discuss your eating patterns and diet and weight history with you.
• The therapist will discuss your feelings and beliefs around the eating disorder and any relevant life adjustment issues.
• Afterwards you will meet with both the dietician and the therapist for a discussion of what kind of treatment is most appropriate for you.

Once I am in the program what does treatment look like?

Our program is an OUTPATIENT treatment program. If outpatient treatment is recommended for you here is what it looks like

Nutritional Counselling:

The Dietician will work with you to create a meal plan that is workable for you; support you as you make changes; educate you as to what your body food requirements are.

Individual Therapy:

The individual therapist will work with you to help uncover the reasons for developing an eating disorder; understand how body image can impact upon an eating disorder; and help to build some defences against the eating disorder.

Family Therapy:

The Family Therapist will work with your family to find ways to support you in your fight against an eating disorder.

Psycho education Therapy Group:

This group is for you is you struggle with anorexia and/ or bulimia. It is designed to give education about the psychological and physical effects of having an eating disorder.

Psycho education Family/Friends Group:

This group is for your family and close friends. It is designed to give information about eating disorders to the people you are closest to so that they can have a better understanding of what you are going through.

INPATIENT TREATMENT: What is it and who is it for?

In patient treatment is necessary if there is severe weight loss and/or medical complications.

The Eating Disorder Team is trained to identify when a person needs to be in hospital for treatment.

In Thunder Bay the paediatric staff at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre work with the Eating Disorder Program staff to help children and teens get back on track.

Adults with severe eating disorders who need to have inpatient treatment programs are linked to treatment centres across the province by the Eating Disorder Team in Thunder Bay.