Eating Disorder Treatment in Rhode Island

Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment

While Rhode Island has many qualified eating disorder professionals, they aren't the only options for residents. Virtual care for disordered eating has become an increasingly popular way to seek help.

Programs are entirely online, making them easily accessible, even to those who would otherwise face challenges around attending in-person sessions. And treatment schedules are generally more flexible, making virtual eating disorder treatment more convenient for many patients.

Best of all, these programs have been found to curb eating disorder behaviors at a similar rate to in-person treatment in most cases.²

Additional Rhode Island Eating Disorder Resources

Access to help for eating disorders can be found in a few other places in the Ocean State. Rhode Island's Medicaid program covers a number of behavioral health services for qualifying residents. Therapy sessions, medical care, and other types of support are potentially covered, as well as help for potentially related issues, like substance abuse and other mental health conditions.

The Rhode Island Department of Health is available to all residents. While more general, this program can still provide help with treatment recommendations, referrals, care coordination, and other types of assistance.

Finding the Best Rhode Island Eating Disorder Therapists & Dietitians for You

Finding an eating disorder program that feels right for you or your loved one can be a tricky task, especially while dealing with unpleasant symptoms. If you're having trouble finding Rhode Island eating disorder therapists and dietitians you'd like to work with, you may want to try the following:

• Contact your insurance company. This can help you narrow down the list to programs and professionals whose services are covered by your plan, which is a huge relief in most cases.
• Contact the center directly. You can ask them questions about their facilities—such as safety precautions, treatment philosophies, and available levels of care—and get a better idea of whether it seems like a good fit.

Regardless of which eating disorder treatment programs you choose, choosing to find help is the most important thing. It's often the first step on the journey toward long-term healing.

Resources

1. Economic and Social Costs of Eating Disorders in Rhode Island. (2018). Harvard University. Accessed May 2025.
2. 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.