Recently we introduced you to Van Dusen Nutrition’s groundbreaking STEP® Program: Supplemental Treatment Based in Experiential and Exposure Programming. We touched on how this unique eating disorder program is designed to bridge a critical gap in eating disorder higher level of care, offering hands-on, real-world support that sets it apart from traditional Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs).

Today, let’s explore why this distinctive eating disorder treatment approach leads to such profound and lasting change for our clients right here at our eating disorder facility in Needham, Massachusetts.

The Challenge: When Traditional Outpatient Isn’t Enough

For individuals battling an eating disorder, intellectual understanding of recovery is often just one piece of a complex puzzle. You might know that all foods fit, or that your body deserves nourishment, but actually doing it – facing a feared food, eating in public, or moving your body without compulsive rules – can feel impossible.

This is where the limitations of talk therapy alone can become apparent for some. While essential for processing emotions and developing insight, traditional Outpatient settings often don’t adequately prepare individuals for the anxiety-provoking, real-life situations that trigger eating disorder behaviors outside of the therapy room. This is a common eating disorder treatment gap, especially after discharge from a higher level of care.

How the STEP® Program Breaks the Cycle: The Science of “Doing”

The STEP® Program: supplemental treatment for eating disorders leverages the proven principles of experiential therapy and exposure therapy for eating disorders, also known as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). This isn’t just theory; it’s a dynamic, active process that helps individuals rewire their brains and bodies to respond differently to triggers.

Think about it:

• You can talk endlessly about the fear of eating a cookie, but until you actually eat the cookie and sit with the discomfort (and realize it’s manageable), the fear often persists. In our eating disorder group therapy within the STEP® eating disorder program, we provide a safe, supported environment to do just that – and then process the experience with a skilled therapist and supportive peers.
• Discussing body image struggles is important, but engaging in a mindful movement practice or a non-appearance-focused activity helps to shift the focus from how your body looks to what it can do and how it feels. Our supplemental treatment based experiential program fosters a more compassionate and functional relationship with one’s body.

These hands-on experiences, conducted both within our eating disorder center and out in the community, allow for:

1. Direct Skill Application: You don’t just learn coping skills; you practice them in the very scenarios where you need them most, making our eating disorder program highly practical.
2. Anxiety Habituation: Repeated, guided exposure therapy to feared situations helps to gradually reduce anxiety responses over time. Your brain learns that these situations are not actually dangerous.
3. Corrective Emotional Experiences: Clients discover that their worst fears often don’t materialize, or that they possess the resilience to cope. This builds profound self-efficacy.
4. Real-Time Processing: Our expert team is there every step of the way to debrief, offer support, and help individuals understand and integrate their experiences immediately.

What Does “Experiential” Really Look Like in our Group Program?

While every client’s journey is individualized, experiential sessions in the STEP® Program might include:

• Restaurant Challenges: Practicing ordering, navigating portion sizes, and managing social anxiety in various local eateries around Milton.
• Grocery Store Exposures: Building confidence in selecting foods and managing food anxiety in a real-world setting, a key component of our supplemental treatment based exposure program.
• Supported Meal Preparation & Consumption: Cooking and sharing meals as a group program, fostering a healthier relationship with food and reducing mealtime anxiety.
• Body Image Movement Groups: Engaging in gentle, non-judgmental movement to reconnect with and appreciate the body’s capabilities.
• Community Outings: Navigating everyday situations like coffee shops or park visits, addressing social anxiety related to eating or body concerns.
• For those with demanding schedules, our eating disorder evening program option provides flexibility while ensuring comprehensive care.

These activities are always tailored to the individual’s progress and therapeutic goals, ensuring a challenging yet manageable experience within our structured IOP.

Is the STEP® Program Right for Your Next Step?

If you’re seeking an intensive outpatient program for eating disorders that provides tangible tools, real-world practice, and profound support to navigate the complexities of recovery, the STEP® Program at Van Dusen Nutrition in Milton, MA, offers a unique path forward. It’s designed for those ready to move beyond talking about recovery to actively living it.

We also offer various eating disorder support groups that can complement an individual’s journey in the STEP Program, providing ongoing community and encouragement.

We invite you to reach out and discover how our supplemental treatment based experiential program can help you bridge the gap to a life of lasting freedom from your eating disorder.

Ready to explore a different kind of recovery?