Eating Disorders Day Treatment Program

We provide services for individuals who meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for moderate to severe Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa or other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders.  We provide care to individuals 16 years of age and older.  

To be eligible for services, an individual must:

• Have a BMI of 16.0 or above (for individuals with a BMI below 16.0 kg/m2 or weighing less than 80% predicted body, we recommend a higher level of care. If weight decreases during the assessment or treatment phase, a higher level of care will be recommended).
• Be medically stable and agree to regular medical monitoring carried out by their primary care provider (the primary care provider is responsible for medical monitoring while an individual is waiting for service and through the assessment and treatment program),
• Be able to commit to staying alive and addressing eating disorder behaviours,
• Be able to engage in activities of daily living, and
• Be ready and willing to work on recovering from the eating disorder.  

If you are a health care provider and require assistance with accessing the appropriate level of care for individuals with a lower BMI or medical complications resulting from the eating disorder, please find below eating disorders treatment programs available in Ontario that offer both inpatient and day programs:

+ Ottawa Hospital – Regional Center for the Treatment of Eating Disorders

+ Toronto General Hospital Eating Disorder Program

+ Trillium Health Partners Eating Disorders Program at Credit Valley Hospital

+ Homewood Health Centre’s Eating Disorder 9-week and 16-week Programs

Please note that our program does not currently accept referrals for binge eating disorder, rumination disorder, or avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

The time from referral to an initial psychiatric assessment with our team psychiatrist can vary. Primary Care Providers will be asked to maintain updated medical information (including weight, symptoms, and bloodwork) every 3 months while on our waiting list. 

All patients entering the program first receive a psychiatric assessment with our team psychiatrist. Following this, those interested will attend an information session to learn more about the commitment and treatment offered at the Day Treatment Program.

For those expressing interest in the Day Treatment Program, there are further assessments with the nurse practitioner and allied health professionals. These assessments do not guarantee acceptance to the Day Treatment Program. Rather, they are to assess suitability for the Day Treatment Program and to assess individual treatment needs.

Day treatment is a form of outpatient care.

• Phase one involves multiple sessions over several weeks with the nurse practitioner, dietitian, and therapists to receive medical monitoring, psychoeducation, and readiness counselling. Phase one also includes you beginning mechanical eating, an essential first step to eating disorder recovery.
• Phase two involves you spending half-days with our team (including a psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, therapist, and dietitian), Tuesday through Thursday for 13 weeks. Phase two includes twice-daily meal support sessions (morning and lunch). You will also have individual or group sessions on Monday and Fridays. The program involves individual psychotherapy, group therapy, medical monitoring, nutrition counselling, family/friend support, and meal support.
• Phase three involves eight continuing weeks of psychotherapy and less frequent sessions with the psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, and dietitian. Eligibility to continue with phase three is assessed near the completion of phase two. while encouraging you to apply skills in your usual life setting.

• Our therapy model is based on enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-E) and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
• These therapies address thoughts, behaviours, and how to regulate emotions that make it hard to overcome eating disorder symptoms
• Nutrition care aims to normalize eating patterns and increase compassion and care around food and eating
• Meal support (involving eating with our Day Treatment team) helps you to practice skills and to receive support and guidance along the way
• Medical monitoring supports keeping you well and informed about how your health affects your day-to-day life