Get in touch with Northern California Mental Health by visiting our Contact Us page or calling (916) 545-6541 – comprehensive and compassionate care is just one conversation away.
An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition defined by persistent thoughts and repetitive behaviors around food, body shape, and weight. Whether the person stops eating to lose weight in an unhealthy way, feels unable to eat most of the food due to being disgusted by it for random reasons, or cannot stop overeating even if it impacts their well-being, disordered eating results in malnutrition, heart problems, and other medical complications.
Only a mental health professional can tell you whether you have an eating disorder or not – still, be mindful of the following signs if you believe that you may suffer from this condition:
When you arrive at our clinic for your initial evaluation and the Admissions Process begins, we need to confirm you have an eating disorder – here is what will happen:
Studies have shown that eating disorders develop from a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental variables. If your close family members have suffered from eating disorders, there are differences in your brain chemistry due to neurotransmitter imbalance, you are a sensitive person with low self-esteem, and you have lived through or witnessed something traumatic like assault or abuse, it is more likely that you will be diagnosed with an eating disorder at some point in your life.
Eating disorder treatment in Sacramento depends on what the patient currently requires – most individuals get better thanks to traditional methods of treatment and complementary therapies:
Eating disorder treatment centers in Sacramento implement this approach to decrease patients’ self-criticism and shame and help them build lives guided by personal principles.
You can communicate with people who know what you are going through firsthand, get practical advice, and find motivation to combat disordered eating.
While there are individuals who thrive in an Outpatient Program (OP), we can help you with round-the-clock care especially if you are worried about a potential relapse.
This holistic approach can be a valuable tool in your recovery process – lower depression and anxiety, decrease emotional eating, and increase self-awareness.
If you want to read more about the therapeutic approaches we utilize at Northern California Mental Health, visit our Therapy Options page.
This eating disorder is characterized by severe restriction of food intake – the person may be obsessed with calorie counting or stop eating just to prevent weight gain at any cost.
Bulimia manifests as recurrent binge eating episodes that are followed by attempts to avoid weight gain whether the person is vomiting, using laxatives, or exercising too much.
This condition involves eating unusually large amounts of food – the individual feels out of control, tries to hide their behaviors, and experiences shame and disgust after binging.
Your first appointment with our team is supposed to focus on the diagnostic process and a treatment recommendation – when you arrive at our center for the first time, you will be greeted by our staff and guided through a streamlined intake process. You will speak with a mental health specialist who will learn more about your symptom history, the impact of an eating disorder on your life, and the goals you are hoping to accomplish with our assistance. We will offer you eating disorder recovery programs in Northern California that are going to help you achieve your objectives. The initial appointment usually does not exceed sixty or ninety minutes – you will have enough time to ask questions and leave our facility knowing your path forward.
The duration of eating disorder therapy in Sacramento can be hard to predict – different conditions have a different effect on an individual’s well-being, and it is difficult to say how a patient will resonate with therapy modalities chosen for them.
| Severity Level | General Timeline |
|---|---|
| Mild Eating Disorder | It is possible to see improvement after two to three months of regular counseling. |
| Moderate Eating Disorder | An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a recommended course of action - dedicate three to six months to therapy and take medication if it is necessary to overcome your symptoms. |
| Severe Eating Disorder | You may need to spend around six months in therapy and then maintain your gains with long-term maintenance care. |
Early intervention and timely treatment can make all the difference for a person with an eating disorder – if you notice rapid weight fluctuations, you feel depressed or anxious thinking about your next meal or the things you have to do to keep yourself thinner, and you are obsessively thinking about calories and exercise, it may be time to take care of yourself and speak to a therapist. Note that if your eating disorder makes you think of harming yourself physically or you experience suicidal ideation, you should get professional help as soon as possible – our clinic is ready to provide you with 24/7 confidential assistance.
Instead of using the same practices and strategies over and over again, we will come up with a unique treatment plan that suits you and your therapy objectives.
You will work with mental health professionals equipped with the knowledge and skills to treat a wide spectrum of mental health needs.
We can enhance the effectiveness of evidence-validated methods of treatment with art therapy and yoga therapy.
Our center accommodates its clients – we accept most major insurance plans and discuss alternative financial options if it is required.
The location of a mental health clinic is a crucial factor – a patient with an eating disorder should not have to travel far to access the treatment they need. If you live in the greater Sacramento region and want to work with eating disorder specialists in Northern California, our facility is at your service. The map below will show you how to get to Northern California Mental Health, and a Virtual Tour will let you explore our amenities ahead of your visit.
Despite all the challenges an eating disorder forces you to navigate, you can heal from it and once again enjoy a healthy relationship with food, your own body, and your self-esteem. At our facility, you can benefit from comprehensive eating disorder care in Sacramento – we will handle all the logistics while you focus on your recovery.
Call Northern California Mental Health at (916) 545-6541 or refer to our Contact Us page – let us help you build a happy and healthy future without disordered eating.