Westwind eating disorder recovery centre is unlike any other program you may have considered. For one thing, we are collaborative - we work on goals with you, rather than insist on compliance to a set of rules. Our small facility for women allows us to commit to providing effective daily individual treatment with highly qualified staff to meet your specific needs. We ensure that you are a full partner in your treatment planning, after all... this is YOUR recovery!
Am I really ready for treatment?
Step 1:
Readiness for change is a critical aspect in making successful behaviour change. With an eating disorder, it is not just your willingness and commitment to change, it is also battling the biological effects of malnutrition that influence your thinking. (Yes, you are malnourished. We must assume that all people with an eating disorder have some degree of malnourishment and consider the effects poor eating has on the body and on the brain's neurochemistry.)
Step 2:
And then there is the willingness to allow yourself to feel things that initially will be a bit uncomfortable, and are currently avoided by engaging in the eating disordered behaviours. It's a big challenge. In spite of that, countless individuals tackle the problem and successfully overcome these disorders every year. You can be one of them.
Step 3:
If you are only just starting to think about this, ask yourself what the cost of having this disorder has been to your interpersonal life (both social life and family), your emotional health, your physical health and your occupational life (job and or school). How well do these behaviours fit with your values?
How long does it take?
Twelve weeks is typical for most people, but you are not limited to that length of time and may work at your own pace (particularly where additional issues such as anxiety disorders or trauma must be addressed). We suggest a twelve week time frame as a guideline; it is difficult to make significant progress that you can sustain in a shorter period of treatment. Individual results vary. We use a performance determined format, and want to work with you on setting outcome goals when you arrive.
Our program offers the following benefits:
1.) Our approach is collaborative rather than imposed. There is no need to conform to standards set in order to obtain privileges or avoid consequences, as we work with you to set goals that are realistic, acceptable and achievable. Programs that are enforced against a client's will often invite recidivism.
2.) Treatment focuses on the eating disorder, while also addressing any co-morbid issues, such as anxiety, self-harm and compulsive behaviours, etc.
3.) Staff in our facility are trained and experienced in treating eating disorders and related issues.
4.) The fees are substantially lower than most private clinics.
5.) Our focus is on improving your nutrition and promoting acceptance and trust of your body. Weight goals are not imposed; weight restoration is not used as a measure of success, rather can be an outcome of improved nutrition.
6.) We work individually with each client and therefore length of stay varies according to each client's rate of progress and chosen goals.
7.) As a small facility, we are quite flexible in designing individual treatment programs and meeting individual needs. We can also modify the program as we go, should you have a need that isn't being met.
8.) Our menu planning is collaborative and flexible to meet your needs for that day.
9.) Our basic goal in treatment is to stop further development of the disorder, and assist you in returning to a healthy lifestyle. We want to focus on harm reduction as an overall principle in addressing the disorder, always moving towards complete recovery. We believe full recovery is possible. We also want to establish effective coping skills to help reduce possibility of relapse and sustain the progress made in treatment.
10.) Treatment consists of both individual and group sessions. Treatment plans are highly individualized, and are developed collaboratively with the client. The treatment model used is a problem solving/skill building one. We make extensive use of the cognitive-behavioural therapy approach, which is designed to teach a different style of thinking about the things that might create or perpetuate problems. It is complimented with Acceptance Commitment Therapy.
11.) Although we are small in size, we intend to offer a high quality, professionally run program. There is no need to conform to a set of arbitrary standards in order to obtain privileges or avoid consequences, as we work with clients to set goals that are realistic, acceptable and achievable. We are attempting to provide a program which focuses on meeting client needs in a warm, supportive, caring, and patient environment that is unconditional in its response to a client's rate of recovery.