If you think your teen needs more than counselling, take the next step. If you believe that only a professional eating disorder treatment facility is capable of handling the situation, do not hesitate. Arrange for treatment as soon as possible. It does not matter whether you live in the large city of Los Angeles or in the wilds of Wyoming, set about making arrangements.
Do Your Research
Never enroll your teen into an eating disorder treatment program without first doing all the research possible. The first thing you need to do is to prepare a list. These are available online. Here, you will find names, contacts, approaches and references.
If you know anyone in the professional community, talk to them about the type of treatment they would recommend. Ask them about facilities and services around your home in Los Angeles or further afield. Listen to what they say but do not immediately assume their suggestion or suggestions are the right ones.
Prepare to Ask Hard Questions
If you want to ensure the eating disorder treatment program is the right one, you need to be prepared to ask the right questions. Consider the following inquiries as a means you can sort the suitable from the unsuitable programs or facilities.
1. How do they assess?
2. Is the program tailored to meet the requirements of teens? Mixing adults and teens together is rarely an optimum environment.
3. What are the qualifications of the counsellors and other professional staff?
4. What is the philosophy of the facility?
5. How long will treatment last?
6. If your teen has co-occurring disorders, how will they be treated?
7. What is the role of medication?
8. What is the staff to client ratio?
9. Is there any family involvement? If so, how, how often and how much?
10. What does the program involve? Beyond therapy and medication do the teens enjoy any other pursuits? Is there recreation, complementary therapies or any other outlets?
11. What are the rules for a teen attending this eating disorder treatment facility?
12. What are the consequences established for breaking the rules?
13. What about an education? Is anything in place if the treatment takes place during the Los Angeles school year or semester?
14. What about relapsing?
15. Will there be drug testing if this is another issue?
16. What type of aftercare is involved and will the family be informed and prepared to handle it?
17. If a relapse occurs after the eating disorder treatment, is there a plan in place to readdress the situation?
Always consider these major questions when looking at sending your teen into an eating disorder treatment program. They will help you sort out the appropriate centers and programs from those that are neither.
Eating Disorder Treatment
In Los Angeles, several facilities are here to help you address the issue of eating disorder. Since not every facility is suitable to handle the health issues of everyone, it is important to research thoroughly the potential service providers. Be certain they can answer all your questions. Be sure they have a reputation for effective programs and integrity before you allow your teen to undergo eating disorder treatment in their center.
As a family owned treatment facility in California, we at Adolescent Growth have helped treat adolescents faced with a variety of disorders. Since 2005, we have provided Eating Disorder Treatment in Los Angeles and elsewhere in California as well as addressed co-occurring disorders in a unique and holistic manner. Working close with families, we help your teens rediscover life not only inside our facility but in society as well.
