How do we know if she needs residential treatment? How do we choose the right place for her to go? Does it mean she's weak or a failure if she needs that kind of help? What should we expect from residential treatment? I hear these kinds of questions from parents all the time.

How do we know if she needs residential treatment? How do we choose the right place for her to go? Does it mean she's weak or a failure if she needs that kind of help? What should we expect from residential treatment? I hear these kinds of questions from parents all the time.

Sometimes people who have been in outpatient therapy and treatment need a more intensive kind of help. Making decisions about where to go and how soon to go can be overwhelming. It does not mean someone is weak or a failure if she elects and/or needs more support in her recovery. In fact, I think it takes a lot of courage to make the commitment to go to residential treatment. She has to be very brave to undertake something that appears so daunting and foreign.

The most important thing in investigating residential programs is to ask a lot of questions. Ask about the philosophy of the program (for instance: how do they view eating disorders? how do they envision recovery?); ask about the structure of the day (how many groups will she attend? how often will she meet with the psychiatrist or medical doctor? what are leisure time activities she can participate in?); ask about contact with family and how your family will be involved in treatment; ask about how the program prepares people for discharge and the return home. Don't be shy about pursuing any information you want and need. Any reputable program will be able (and happy) to provide you with answers to your questions.