Eating Disorder Treatment in Virginia

Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment

Virginia eating disorder centers can be found throughout the state, but they're not the only option for seeking treatment. If you have difficulty with transportation or mobility, live too far to commute to an in-person program, or want a more flexible treatment schedule, you may want to explore virtual eating disorder treatment.

These online programs bring evidence-based care—such as individual and group therapy, nutritional counseling, and access to support groups—to patients wherever they have an internet connection. Most decide to participate in treatment from the comfort of their own homes. And virtual eating disorder treatment has been shown to be just as effective as in-person care, in many cases.²

Additional Virginia Eating Disorder Help

Finding help doesn't have to start at one of Virginia's eating disorder centers. There are a few state agencies that can also offer assistance.

If you qualify for Virginia's Medicaid program, you may also benefit from that program's behavioral health services. This can help directly cover costs for treatments and medications related to eating disorder care, as well as care for related mental health issues.

The Virginia Department of Health also has a number of publicly available resources. The department can help with care coordination and referrals to specialized treatment options, such as family therapy. It also has general information on eating disorders and educational resources and materials.

Finding the Best Virginia Eating Disorder Centers for You

While starting treatment for an eating disorder is an essential and important step toward recovery, it's also important to find the treatment center that works best for you or your loved one.

Making sure the center offers the level of care you require is paramount. Different centers may offer different program options, such as:

• Residential treatment
• Partial hospitalization treatment
• Intensive outpatient program
• Outpatient services

It's also important to ensure the program works with your healthcare provider. This can help make care as affordable as possible and eliminate any surprise bills or unexpected disruptions to care later on.

But overall, eating disorder recovery works best when there's access to a thoughtful treatment team and caring loved ones. The recovery journey isn't always easy, but with these sources of support, it's possible to find long-term healing.

Reference List

1. Social & Economic Costs of Eating Disorders in Virginia. (2018). Harvard University. Accessed June 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.