Inpatient and Partial Hospitalization Eating Disorder Program
Sutter Center for Psychiatry
Sutter Center for Psychiatry Inpatient and Partial Hospitalization Eating Disorders Programs are comprehensive programs for adults diagnosed with Anorexia or Bulimia Nervosa. Patients receive specialized treatment including individual, family, and group psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, psychiatric interventions, and medical treatment and monitoring.
The goal of the program to is provide a safe and supportive environment where people can begin their recovery from eating disorders. All aspects of the program are geared toward providing patients with the information and experiences they need to start the process of recovery.
Our initial goal is to stop the progression of the disorder and begin to stabilize the patient's physical and mental status. This typically means restoring the patients weight and/or stopping the binge purge cycle and treating comorbid conditions.
Once the patient has experienced some stability in that the progress of the disorder has been significantly slowed or stopped, treatment focuses on the underlying psychological, biological, interpersonal, and social factors that contribute to the existence and maintenance of the eating disorders.
Treatment Overview
Each patient receives a combination of individual, family, and group psychotherapy, educational groups, nutrition counseling, meal planning groups, activity groups, and supervised meals. Examples of the type of services patients receive include:
Individual Psychotherapy | back to top
Patients receive 1-3 individual psychotherapy sessions per week. The individual psychotherapist coordinates the patient’s care and supervises the treatment plan. In addition, the individual psychotherapist conducts all discharge planning and case management duties.
Individual Nutrition Counseling | back to top
After an initial assessment, patients receive weekly sessions with a Registered Dietitian. It is during these sessions that patients are given their meal plans and their refeeding programs are monitored.
Family Psychotherapy | back to top
When indicated, patients participate in family psychotherapy. Family involvement is an integral part of the recovery process and because of this families are invited to play a significant role in the patients’ treatment while they are in the program. In addition to family therapy sessions, families are encouraged to participate in the Family Support Group twice a week and utilize visiting hours when they can.
Family Support Group | back to top
This group is for family and friends of patients participating in the Eating Disorders Program. Members receive education concerning the development, maintenance and health consequences of eating disorders. In addition, participants will learn how to best help someone with an eating disorder and how to maintain one’s own quality of life while dealing with this devastating issue.
Body Image Group | back to top
In this group, participants learn to refocus their attention on how they want to feel in their bodies rather than how they want to look. In addition, members become aware of current feelings and attitudes about their bodies and ways to replace negative body image thoughts with more positive and realistic attitudes.
Body Awareness Group | back to top
This group helps patients identify distorted thinking and fears associated with their bodies. Particular emphasis is placed on body awareness and how it contributes to eating disorder behavior. Patients explore ways of developing healthier relationships with their bodies.
Discharge Planning Group | back to top
The intent of this group is to provide the patients with a plan once they are discharged from the hospital. Aftercare will be discussed and specific plans established regarding the patient’s continued care once they are discharged.
Experiential Group | back to top
This group is a topic led process group in which members explore various subjects, such as cognition and emotions, spirituality, sexuality, and relationships. A particular emphasis is placed on how these subjects relate to the development and maintenance of an eating disorder and the path to recovery.
Process Group | back to top
This is a traditional process group in which members explore how their thoughts, emotions and relationships contribute to their eating disorders.
Meal Preparation/Process Group | back to top
This group focuses on meal preparation and the process patients go through in preparing food for themselves. In addition to preparing meals, patients gain experience ordering and eating food from a restaurant menu. Thoughts and emotions are examined and processed and coping skills taught as the patients engage in behaviors that they often perceive as threatening or overwhelming.
Admissions Procedures | back to top
Admission to the Inpatient Program is arranged through contacting the Program directly at (916) 386-3620. An initial screening will be done to determine the patient’s treatment needs. At that time a referral will be made to the Inpatient or Partial Programs or to a level of care more appropriate.
Visit our health information section to find out more about anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders.
