Eating Disorder Treatment in Wisconsin

Many individual rehab choices can be utilized within your state, spanning a range from executive inpatient to high-quality WI outpatient centers.

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Wisconsin map

Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN), binge eating disorder (BED), and bulimia nervosa (BN) are serious mental health conditions that can have several dangerous physical, mental, and emotional effects. But with the right kind of treatment, even severe eating disorders can be overcome.

Several eating disorder treatment centers in Wisconsin can help you or your loved one get back on track with healthy eating habits and lifestyle choices that support long-term well-being.

Types of Eating Disorder Treatment in Wisconsin

All eating disorders are serious concerns and should be treated promptly with appropriate care, but some cases are more severe than others.

To ensure patients get the kind of help they need, eating disorder treatment is offered at several levels of care. And in Wisconsin, all levels of care are available for residents.

Virtual Treatment

Gaining access to treatment for an eating disorder is critical, especially in rural areas, where it may be harder to find mental health professionals. Virtual treatment options are expanding that kind of access.

But the treatment style also makes an excellent option for those with challenges around mobility or transportation, those who have social anxiety or other conditions that make it difficult to leave the house, or simply people who would prefer to receive eating disorder treatment at home.

As medical technology advances, virtual therapy is becoming more widely available and a more viable alternative to in-person therapy, with some studies even finding the types of care comparable in many cases. [3]

Who Offers Virtual Treatment in Wisconsin?

Virtual eating disorder care is a fast-growing industry, but Within Health has already created one of the industry’s most comprehensive programs.

The company works with multidisciplinary experts to help create individualized treatment plans for each patient based on their history and needs. Within will even send meals and medical equipment through the mail to make it as easy as possible for patients to follow their recovery plans.

Inpatient and Residential Treatment

Inpatient treatment is the most intensive level of care for eating disorder treatment. It involves staying at a facility full-time with round-the-clock access to medical care and monitoring.

At its most intensive, it’s called inpatient hospitalization. This level of care is generally reserved for the most severe cases, when someone is experiencing a physical or mental health crisis or when someone’s life is otherwise at immediate risk. [1] The overall goal of inpatient hospitalization is restoring a patient to a state of medical stabilization, at which point they can be discharged and pursue other treatment options.

Residential treatment is another type of inpatient care, though it’s geared more toward longer-term recovery goals. Available treatments and the treatment environment reflect this difference, with facilities meant to feel more comfortable than clinical and treatment options that include individual and group therapy sessions, meal monitoring, medical check-ins, nutritional counseling, and more.

Patients usually stay at a residential center for at least 30 days, but these programs regularly run for longer. [2] The overall length of stay is determined by a patient and their treatment team.

Who Offers Inpatient Care in Wisconsin?

Eating Recovery Center Milwaukee is an inpatient treatment facility for eating disorders located in Wisconsin.

Partial Hospitalization Programs

Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are another form of intensive eating disorder care. Sometimes also called day programs, these treatment options allow patients to return home for the evening after sessions. But PHPs can still be demanding, lasting as long as 10 hours per day, up to 6 days a week, or sometimes more. [2]

With the exception of going home at night, treatment schedules are similar to those in a residential facility. PHPs are sometimes recommended to patients who otherwise can’t access residential programs. [2] As a patient progresses toward eating disorder recovery, the schedule is adjusted and eventually reduced.

Who Offers Partial Hospitalization Programs in Wisconsin?

Alsana offers eating disorder treatment in several locations across the country. They have extensive resources for PHP care, including a team of medical professionals who can help you work toward recovery.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient care is the least intensive form of treatment, generally consisting of a regular meeting with a therapist, psychiatrist, nutritionist, or another treatment team member. Due to the amount of time a patient stays away from care, they must have their eating disorder symptoms mostly under control before they undergo an outpatient program.

Patients who wish to make a slower transition or still want or need more support can also participate in an intensive outpatient program (IOP). A hybrid form of care, these treatment options consist of sessions a few days a week lasting a few hours each.

IOPs are an excellent option for those stepping down from a PHP who are ready to incorporate more social responsibilities back into their recovery journey or those who are finding they need more support than what a regular outpatient program can offer.

Who Offers Outpatient Treatment in Wisconsin?

Once again, Wisconsin residents can use Alsana for eating disorder care, with the treatment center also offering outpatient programs and options.

Additional Eating Disorder Resources in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has more than just programs explicitly designed for treating eating disorders. The state has a few additional eating disorder resources, including:

  • Mental Health America of Wisconsin offers an extensive library of articles and information about eating disorders.
  • The University of Wisconsin offers eating disorder support groups for students and non-students alike. These groups are open to anyone with an interest in recovery from disordered eating, whether they are currently enrolled in classes at the university.

Finding additional resources, programs, or support groups near you may be possible. These programs are often run on a hyper-local basis, and times, dates, and locations are subject to change. An internet search for support groups near you or even asking around may be good options for ensuring you find the most up-to-date information on these programs.

What to Look for in a Wisconsin Eating Disorder Treatment Center

Finding the best treatment center for you or your loved one may feel overwhelming. Keeping these factors in mind can help you make the best decision possible.

When looking for an eating disorder treatment facility in Wisconsin, check if it’s accredited by the Joint Commission or CARF International. It should also be licensed to offer treatment services for eating disorders.

Eating disorder treatment can be expensive, and cost is one of the most common factors people consider when choosing a treatment center.

Make sure you know how much the treatment will cost before enrolling there. They may offer financial aid or assistance if you need help. Calling the center can put you in touch with an employee who can guide you with financial information.

It’s also essential to see whether your insurance will cover the treatment or stay at the center. Make sure to separately confirm with the facility and the insurance company that costs will be covered to avoid any surprise bills down the line.

Ask the Right Questions

On top of feeling overwhelmed when searching for treatment centers, it can be easy to miss what makes these centers different.

Asking the following questions can help you better understand what sets these centers apart and get a feel for your expectations and priorities around the treatment process:

  • Who will be involved in your treatment, and who will coordinate everyone’s efforts?
  • Does the center have a philosophy about treatment, or does it have any religious affiliations?
  • How long has this business been around?
  • What role does the family play during the patient’s treatment?
  • How many patients are there for each staff member? What is the average length of time the staff members have worked at the center?

Finding Help for an Eating Disorder in Wisconsin

If you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder, it’s essential to seek out help. These conditions can be deadly if left untreated and rarely go away on their own.

Contacting your primary care physician or therapist can be a good way to start. These professionals can help you receive an official diagnosis—a necessary first step for enrolling in many treatment programs—or help you understand your best next steps.

You can also utilize some eating disorder hotlines. These services offer information for free and allow callers to remain anonymous to encourage honesty and openness.

Still, regardless of where you seek help, the most important thing is finding it.

Resources


  1. Level of Care Guidelines for Patients With Eating Disorders. (n.d.). Massachusetts General Hospital. Accessed October 2023.
  2. Levels of Care. (n.d.). University of California, San Diego. Accessed October 2023.
  3. 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. The International Journal of Eating Disorders; 55(1):145–150.
  4. Selecting a Treatment Center for Your Loved One. (n.d.). National Eating Disorders Association. Accessed October 2023.

Last Update | 01 - 2 - 2024

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