EP 250.5: Eating Disorder Treatment Options ~ What's Best for You? (6 Levels of Care Explained) **Must Listen Fav!**

Girlfriend, maybe you've been struggling with disordered eating for decades and you don't want to put your life on hold to go into a full-blown treatment facility. Maybe you have kids at home, aging parents to care for, or a career you can't walk away from. Or maybe you don't even know what options are available, so you just stay stuck thinking you'll manage it all by yourself.

Girl, you weren't meant to do this alone.

In this episode, host Lindsey Nichol breaks down the 6 different levels of eating disorder treatment and care - from outpatient support to acute medical stabilization - so you can understand what's available and what might be best for YOUR unique situation and life circumstances.

Lindsey shares her own treatment journey through IOP and day treatment, and why finding the right level of care that fits your life is so important. Whether you're a busy mom, working woman, caregiver, or someone who simply can't leave home for residential treatment, this episode will help you understand all your options - including recovery coaching as a personalized support option.

You deserve a life free from the chains of disordered eating. And it starts with knowing what treatment options are out there.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

The 6 Levels of Eating Disorder Treatment:

Level 1: Outpatient Care

• What it is: Weekly sessions with a care team while living at home
• Who it's for: Those deemed medically stable who need ongoing support
• What's included: Dietitian, therapist, medical doctor, support groups
• Best for: Maintaining school, work, family life while getting treatment

Level 2: Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

• What it is: Multiple sessions per week in specialized settings
• Where it happens: Treatment centers or hospitals
• What's included: Group therapy, individual therapy, structured programming
• Lindsey's experience: This is where she spent the majority of her recovery

Level 3: Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) / Day Treatment

• What it is: 5-6 days per week, 6-8 hours per day
• Structure: More intensive than outpatient, includes meals and therapies
• What happens: You return home in the evenings
• Lindsey's experience: Combined with IOP while in school - included therapies and support groups

Level 4: Residential Treatment

• What it is: 24-hour care and supervision (inpatient experience)
• Who it's for: Those medically stable but requiring intensive support
• Where it happens: Medical hospitals, centers, or homelike facilities
• Structure: Full-time structured environment with comprehensive care

Level 5: Inpatient Hospitalization

• What it is: Most appropriate for high-intensity medical/psychiatric needs
• Structure: 24-hour medical psychiatric facility
• Who it's for: Those not responding to other treatments, experiencing self-harm, severe depression, or needing intensive medical oversight

Level 6: Acute Medical Stabilization