Eating Disorder Treatment in Florida

Additional Eating Disorder Treatment in Florida

Aside from the top Florida eating disorder centers, there are a few other options for finding help in the Sunshine State.

Florida's Medicaid Behavioral Health Services may be able to offer more assistance for certain patients. Those who qualify for the state program may be eligible for help with:

• Medical assessments
• Individual, group, and/or family therapy
• Certain rehabilitation services

The Department of Health for the state of Florida can offer additional assistance, particularly when it comes to education, referrals, and other resources. Unlike the Medicaid program, the Department of Health services are open to all state residents.

Types of Eating Disorder Centers in Florida

Florida offers a number of eating disorder treatment centers, which collectively provide a range of care. When choosing the best Florida eating disorder center for you or your loved one, it may be helpful to understand the different levels of care available, including:

• Residential treatment centers: The most intensive treatment programs require patients to stay at a facility full-time and follow strict daily regimens that involve different types of treatment.
• Partial hospitalization programs: Patients live at home and commute to treatment, but care is still intensive, with sessions taking place most of the week and most of the day.
• Intensive outpatient programs: A step down from partial hospitalization, these programs offer treatment for several hours a day, several days a week. At this point, patients should be ready to incorporate some social responsibilities back into their lives.
• Outpatient care: The least intensive level of care, entailing regular visits with a therapist; patients at this point should have a majority of their disordered thoughts and behaviors under control.

Eating disorder recovery often requires a multi-faceted approach to treatment, and it's not unusual for patients to undergo several types of care simultaneously, including group and individual therapy, nutritional counseling, and medication management.

Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment

In an increasingly online world, virtual eating disorder treatment has become a popular and trusted way for patients to receive quality care. Aside from being found just as effective as in-person treatment in many cases, virtual care has a number of benefits.¹

Patients can attend treatment sessions from the comfort of their homes, or anywhere they get an internet signal, making the option more flexible and convenient for many people. The format can also help ease anxiety around attending treatment, and virtual treatment is frequently more affordable than comparable in-person care.

Finding the Best Florida Eating Disorder Centers for You

Florida residents have a number of eating disorder treatment centers to choose from, but this can also make the search for the best possible center feel overwhelming.

When choosing the best Florida eating disorder center for you, it's important to keep in mind:

• Whether your insurance will cover treatment (and, if so, how much or for how long)
• Any religious or philosophical perspectives the center may have
• Safety and security measures at the center
• A program's reputation and how long they've been treating patients

The treatment process for an eating disorder can often feel hard, and the recovery journey rarely happens in a straight line, but it's important to remember that, with the right kind of help, the hope of healing is always alive.

Resources

1. Steiger H, Booij L, Crescenzi O, Oliverio S, Singer I, Thaler L, St-Hilaire A, Israel M. (2022). In-person versus virtual therapy in outpatient eating-disorder treatment: A COVID-19 inspired study. International Journal of Eating Disorders; 55(1):145-150.