The Conquering Eating Disorders Group

A few months ago, we started talking as a team about the difficulties in treating patients as inpatients. Often patients are willing to enter treatment but cannot understand the need to be an inpatient and struggle with the idea of leaving their current environment for such an extended period of time. Patients often question the effectiveness of inpatient treatment, as have researchers and therapists. Although, for some patients with Eating Disorders, an inpatient stay is important for various reasons, such as medical or psychiatric stabilisation, we felt that it was important to explore the option of providing a formal programme for outpatients. Many of our inpatients would continue seeing their psychologist and psychiatrist and the dietician upon discharge but we felt it would be more beneficial to do this in a structured setting as well as providing this for people who we would only see as outpatients. As this idea began to brew in our minds, we saw the increasing amount of research that has shown the effectiveness of treating eating disorders as outpatients. This programme is therefore a response to this and as time goes by will hopefully change and transform to be as effective as possible in the current context in which we find ourselves today.

Our MISSION STATEMENT is therefore “To provide an integrated and comprehensive outpatient eating disorder programme.”

The PROGRAMME STRUCTURE The programme has been designed to run for 3 months. This will include two group sessions per week and one individual psychotherapy session per week, with three additional individual sessions with other professionals on the team. There will therefore be 24 group sessions and 12 individual sessions throughout the three month period.

The group is open in nature, therefore allowing members to attend at anytime in the programme. Patients need to commit to the full length of the programme and are required to attend every group and individual session so as to obtain the greatest benefit from the programme.

WHICH PATIENTS?
Our inclusion criteria are defined as follows: patients who are 16 years and upwards with a BMI above 16 (patients who BMI is below 16 would be required to enter inpatient therapy initially and then to move towards outpatient therapy as they gain weight). Both genders will be included in the group.
The programme is trans diagnostic in nature therefore aiming to treat the full range of eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified, including Binge Eating Disorder.
As mentioned already, the programme is available for people who have been treated as inpatients already and wish to use the programme for their follow-up on discharge.
The programme is also available for patients with eating difficulties who require treatment but do not need inpatient admission (this will be decided at the discretion of the EDU team upon assessment with the patient and relevant family members).

The PROGRAMME RATIONALE is based upon the belief that an outpatient programme allows patients to continue with their day to day lives while addressing their eating difficulties. It allows patients therefore to make changes within their personal context thus creating a more long - term sustainable recovery. Patients can face and conquer their difficulties within the context of a supportive and therapeutic environment that includes both group and individual therapy.

THERAPEUTIC APPROACH

Our therapeutic approach combines a form of cognitive behavioural therapy with interpersonal and psycho-educational therapies.

INDIVIDUAL THERAPY

This is recommended with Linde Viviers, a psychologist with a specialized interest in Eating Disorders. If a patient is already in therapy and wishes to continue seeing their therapist, it is important that the external therapist provides regular feedback to the EDU team at Crescent Clinic regarding progress/setbacks. Individual sessions with a dietician and one compulsory medical assessment with our in-house medical officer is also part of the programme.

GROUP THERAPY

The groups are a mix of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Psycho-education and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Groups: “These practical groups focus on developing new skills in self-management. They aim to help people who engage in destructive behaviour, to facilitate behaviour control; and for people who easily get overwhelmed by their emotions, to develop control over their thoughts and feelings”.

Psycho-educational Groups: These groups are focused on specific topics relevant to individuals who suffer from eating disorders. They will empower the individual with the knowledge to conquer their eating difficulties.

TEAM MEMBERS

The groups are primarily facilitated by a Social Worker and Clinical Psychologists. A Medical Doctor, Dietician, and Pilate’s instructor are also involved in the groups during the duration of the programme.

COST

There are two options:

We work very closely with major medical aid schemes to provide the best possible access to services. The programme is partially claimable from medical aid due to the nature of the groups and the therapists running the groups.
For more information about a payment plan or costs:

Please contact Michelle Naidoo on 011 792 9400 ext 333

HOW TO JOIN THE PROGRAMME

An assessment with the Social Worker and Psychologist will be required prior to one joining the programme. Referral to a psychiatrist or other medical professionals may be made if necessary.

CONTACT DETAILS:

If you are interested or would like to book an assessment or find out more information,
Please contact:

Stephanie Watson: 011 792 9400 ext 110
Linde Viviers: 083 654 8083