Our Intensive Outpatient Program is designed to help individuals understand and work through their eating disorder, and other related disorders, in a structured day treatment program while integrating their growth in their ongoing living environment. Our program is specifically here to meet the individuals unique needs. We encourage the individuals to take an active role in expressing their feelings, thoughts, and needs. The strength of our program lies in our ability to support individuals to increasingly take responsibility for their lives. As each individual gets closer to his or her true self, it enables them to express their meaning and purpose in life.

The Bella Vita's Intensive Outpatient Program is designed to help you achieve the results your life requires, while not inhibiting you so much that you cannot live your life day to day. The program is structured in a therapeutic environment that allows you to work, go to school or continue your normal daily life activities. Many of our Intensive Outpatient Program attendees have been able to maintain work and school schedules while enrolled in this program.

We afford the eating disordered individual the opportunity to focus specifically on dynamics that are brought up in their lives and during the course of treatment.  Common issues arise supporting the eating disordered individuals not to feel alone and helping to resolve issues.  This time also allows for processing of feelings connected with group dynamics. We educate the eating disordered individual in understanding how their thoughts impact their feelings.  Through a step-by-step process the patients challenge their own feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.  They learn their cognitive distortions and how to cognitively restructure for a healthier, more productive and realistic life.  They learn how to be mindful in the present moment, manage emotion regulation issues, be skillful in the use of coping skills and be effective in interpersonal relationships.

Peer and Family Influence In Adolescents

In adolescence, the most significant influences are one's family and peers. These influences in a therapeutic environment are a dynamic element that can have positive and constructive, lasting results. In our programs, we involve the family to develop effective interpersonal skills through education, goal setting and family activity. We also have a strong psychoeducational component to teach the family and patient alike of the elements unique to the eating disorder family system.

An eating disorder can be used as an unhealthy way to help the individual cope with their life and not deal with arising difficult issues. During this time, the adolescent may be actually clarifying other, more important issues in life... such as, identity, individuation, peer pressure, special topics specific to them, career direction, values and life’s purpose. To successfully let go of the eating disorder, the individual needs to deal with and manage these and other issues. Our program is especially effective in these areas, as we work to integrate a personalized approach to treatment from our very first assessment with the patient.

As if adolescence was not already a difficult time, debilitating syndromes like those presented in eating disorder and other related disorders can prohibit them from learning how to "strike out on their own", or develop independently into a functional adult. They need to see themselves as separate from their parents, and let go of their dependence. Individualization from their parents is necessary to successfully transition to adulthood, and our program emphasizes effective, responsible separation of childhood and adult responsibility, to each other and to oneself.

Peer and Family Influence In Adults

Our psychology and state of mind as adults can heavily depend on influencing factors such as peers and family. In a therapeutic atmosphere, including family and friends, practice, practice, practice of therapeutic skills can create a successful transfer into everyday life. We strongly encourage family and friend involvement, and work to integrate family and friends into our therapeutic practices. These influences can make a resounding difference in the success of a therapeutic plan for recovery, as family and friends make for the most stable support structure one can ask for outside of a counseling atmosphere.

Intensive Outpatient Program

Upon entry, this program's regular attendance schedule is four (4) hours per day, up to six (6) days per week, during initial phases of this level of treatment. These sessions typically take place during convenient afternoon and evening hours, so that those with active daily schedules can engage in their treatment and effectively integrate what they learn into their daily lives.

Certain individuals may enter directly into this level of care, depending upon specific criteria met for this level of care. Details like these are left to the discretion of the attending clinician, and are assessed on a case by case basis.

Levels Of Intensive Outpatient Care

Patients are assessed to determine the appropriate level of care, which may include entry into our outpatient programs such as intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs or 24/7 care by entering into residential or inpatient programs. The appropriate level of treatment is always at the discretion of the attending clinician, who upon the initial assessment will offer reasons for the recommendation for the appropriate level of care.