The
Eating Disorders Program has been identified as a regional leader in
assessment, treatment, and professional training of adolescent eating disorders
for the Central East region of Ontario. The Central East region includes all
eating disorder service initiatives of the Ministry of Health for Peterborough,
Haliburton, Durham Region, Simcoe County, Kawartha, Pine Ridge and York Region.
The Program is affiliated with the University of Toronto and York
University for ongoing research. Members of the Eating Disorders Program team
regularly present at provincial, national and international conferences.
Our Vision
Our family oriented
treatment team respects each client's individuality and wellbeing, and
encourages them to actively participate in their own growth and recovery. Treatment
is designed to be collaborative rather than imposed, interactive rather than
passive, and personal rather than distant or neutral. Our program fosters our
clients' reconnection with their feelings and helps them listen to their
bodies. Our staff encourages self-awareness, self-understanding and
self-compassion.
What are Eating Disorders?
Eating Disorders are
the expressions of a range of food and weight issues that both men and women
experience. Both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are characterized by an
intense fear of weight-gain and low self-esteem.
What is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa is most often characterized by extreme
weight-loss. Most individuals with anorexia have a distorted body image and may
be convinced they are fat even if they are emaciated. These individuals
typically have an intense fear of weight gain and may restrict their food
intake to the point of starvation.
What is bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa is
characterized by periods of secretive and/or uncontrollable binge eating. This
behaviour may be followed by some attempts at purging the body of the unwanted
food such as, laxative abuse, self-induced vomiting, use of diet pills, food
restriction or excessive exercise.
Services
The Eating Disorder Program offers the following services:
Assessment:
The program is open to individuals 13 to 18 years of age who suffer
from an eating disorder and live in York Region or Simcoe County. As
part of the process of gaining access to any of our treatment services
(e.g., Out-patient Program, Day Treatment Program), individuals and
their families receive a half-day multidisciplinary assessment, where
they are offered feedback and recommendations concerning diagnosis and
treatment. Each assessment includes a family interview and separate
individual sessions with a therapist and a dietitian. A medical
assessment by the referring physician will be required in advance.
Out-patient Program:
For those clients who are able to manage and function sufficiently well
in the community, services offered may include one or more of the
following:
- individual therapy
- family therapy
- nutritional counseling
- psycho-education classes for families
- parent support group, and/or
- therapeutic groups for adolescents.
Day Treatment Program:
For those clients who are finding it difficult to manage their eating
disorder symptoms without more intensive support, our Day Treatment
Program may be more appropriate. Clients participate in a half-day of
schooling in a specialized care and treatment class room in the morning (our teacher is provided by the York Region
Board of Education) and a half-day of therapy in the afternoon, which
may include group therapy, individual or family therapy. Families are
required to actively participate in weekly family meetings, as well as
weekly family education nights. While attending the Day Treatment
Program, clients are required to eat three meals and two snacks daily.
Typical goals for our Day Treatment clients may include weight
restoration, symptom interruption, normalized eating and interruption
of negative thinking patterns that support the problem.
For more information:
Call 905-895-4521, ext. 2322
Fax 905-830-5970
Inpatient Program:
The
Eating Disorders Program provides inpatient services for up to 2 patients in a
specialized Child & Adolescnet Mental Health inpatient unit, staffed by a
multidisciplinary team of paediatricians, psychiatrists, nurses, a nurse
practitioner, child & youth counselors, and dietitians. Access to the beds are made as transfer
requests from other programs and facilities, the Emergency department, and from
Child & Adolescent Mental Health outpatient services of the hospital.
Young Adult Eating Disorders Program:
The
Young Adult Eating Disorders Program is a regional program designed to assist
young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years who suffer with eating
disorders to achieve normalized eating, healthy weight and an improved
realtionship to their body and self. The
treatment team includes professionals from the disciplines of medicine,
psychology, nutrition, social work and psychiatric consultaiton services. The program is developed to meet the needs of
families who transition from the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Eating
Disorders Program, as well as young adults in the region whose clinical needs
are appropriate for outpatient treatment.
For
more information:
phone:
905-895-4521, ext. 2908
fax:
905-830-5977