Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorder Programs

Flexible support to fit your busy schedule.

At Walden Behavioral Care, we are proud to offer one of the nation’s only full systems of specialized eating disorder support. Our Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) provide flexible care for teens and adults of all genders at each of our locations across Massachusetts, Connecticut and in Georgia.

We’ve designed our IOP to complement outpatient treatment teams. Your current provider will help guide us in creating the best treatment plan for you, your unique needs and your recovery goals. If you do not currently have an outpatient team – that’s okay! One of our goals will be to help set you up with providers in your area to help you continue your recovery after your time with us. Together, we can then focus on addressing everyday stress that can often contribute to eating disorder thoughts and behaviors.

Our IOP runs three mornings (or three evenings in many locations) a week for 3 hours each day, allowing flexibility for most people to continue with work or school.

The primary goals of IOP are to:

• Establish (or re-establish) normal patterns of eating
• Learn and practice coping skills to replace disordered behaviors
• Problem solve day-to-day stressors and triggers that may be getting in the way of lasting recovery

Your care team will include a diverse group of professionals including a case manager, therapist and mental health counselors. With their support, you will learn skills and coping techniques that have been proven to support lasting recovery.

“The intensive outpatient program allowed me to connect with others (an initial fear of mine), take risks, be vulnerable, use my voice, sit with my emotions and learn skills to manage life, ed, and all of the above. I am so lucky to have had this fantastic team on my side and I couldn’t have gone to a better place for what I needed.”

Group therapy is an important part of our IOP. Group sessions provide the unique opportunity to connect with others who understand what you are going through. The impact of these connections are often felt way beyond the walls of Walden.

Group topics include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• Family-Based Treatment (for adolescents)
• Expressive Therapy
• Nutrition Education
• Relapse Prevention
• Communication Skills

IOP for Adult Eating Disorder Treatment

This level of care offers flexibility for adults needing structured support while also managing work, school or other priorities. In IOP, we focus on practicing real-life skills that can be used outside of treatment. We offer morning and evening sessions for three hours, three days a week.

IOP for Adolescent Eating Disorder Treatment

For teens (12-18), we offer IOP in the evening, providing the flexibility to remain in school and get the specialized care they need. Parents and caregivers are actively incorporated into treatment using Family-Based Treatment (FBT), one of the only methods proven to support lasting eating disorder recovery for adolescents.

Specialized Intensive Outpatient Programs for Eating Disorders

Free to Be: Adult Binge Eating Disorder IOP

Our Free to Be program for adults with Binge Eating Disorder, Emotional Eating, Night Eating Syndrome (NES) and/or overeating provides the nutritional and emotional support needed to increase control and decrease binge eating behaviors. We pay close attention to helping you better understand the thoughts and emotions that drive behavior. We also work with you to identify barriers that may be getting in the way of recovery. For more information about our Free to Be program, click here.

GOALs: Adult Intensive Outpatient Program for Competitive Athletes with Eating Disorders

We developed the GOALs program with the unique needs and experiences of athletes in mind. Welcoming individuals of all genders ages 18+, this program provides athletes with the support needed to understand the thoughts that drive disordered behavior. Much of your time in program will be dedicated to learning how to appropriately fuel and use your body both within and outside of sport. To learn more about our GOALs program, for athletes with eating disorders, click here.

ARFID IOP

In Walden’s ARFID IOP, your child will benefit from treatment specifically designed to meet their needs. We utilize CBT-AR, a unique approach to CBT therapy created by ARFID experts at Massachusetts General Hospital. MGH’s experts also provide our team with training and regular group supervision.