Eating Disorders Program
To download a brochure about our Eating Disorders Program click here.
Eating disorders are an increasing concern within the community. The Geelong Clinic has responded by developing a range of services to meet this need for people in Geelong, Victoria, and for people living in other regional areas. Specialist eating disorder services include an inpatient program, a day program and an outreach program for disorders including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The aim of the eating disorders program is to support people with eating disorders to improve their health, develop skills to manage difficult emotions and most importantly, to begin to get their life back.
LEAP Philosophy
The eating disorders program at The Geelong Clinic is based upon a philosophy known as Learn to Eat At Peace (LEAP). LEAP is an ever growing philosophy that is based upon observations from working closely with patients. Key points of the LEAP philosophy are:
- Establishing a trusting partnership with the treating team is essential,
- A humanistic approach that retains dignity is vital,
- Recovering from an eating disorder takes time and the path is different for everyone,
- New skills must be learnt to replace old behaviours.
Our Program
The LEAP program has been developed by health professionals and people with an eating disorder to provide a supportive and holistic approach to the treatment of eating disorders. The program is designed to help people progress from the acute stage of their illness (when they are most unwell) to a level where it has minimal or no impact upon their lives. For most people, the first step in this journey is to join the inpatient program. With guidance of the treating team, individual goals are identified at the beginning of each admission. These goals can include weight restoration, regular eating, normalising eating behaviours, developing skills to cope with difficult emotions, and facing specific fears and phobias.
Following an in-patient admission, patients are encouraged to spend some time at home doing their best to apply new skills and healthy behaviours in their home environment. Many patients continue their recovery as an outpatient, attending the day program and receiving individual support through the outreach program. For some people, another admission to the inpatient program is required to make the next steps towards recovery.
The Inpatient Program
The inpatient program is an intensive residential program designed to restore health and to begin changing eating disordered behaviours. The program includes weekly groups on topics such as healthy eating, coping with difficult emotions and body image. A range of therapies are used in the inpatient program including cognitive-behavioural therapy, art therapy and mindfulness-based yoga groups. The program also includes weekly morning tea and supper challenges aimed to gradually help patients overcome feared foods and eating disordered behaviours. All groups and activities are supported by trained staff who understand how difficult recovery from an eating disorder can be. The inpatient team consists of a multi-disciplinary team including a psychiatrist, nurses, psychologist, dietitian, GP, art therapist, yoga instructor and a consumer consultant (someone with an eating disorder).
Day Program and Outreach Program
The day program and outreach program are the next steps after completing an inpatient admission. The day program is a weekly program for people already on their journey of recovering from an eating disorder. A commitment is made each term to attend for the entire program. New admission are accepted at the beginning of each school term. The outpatient program is designed for people living at home, already making changes and steps towards their recovery. In addition, the outreach program is designed for people who require individual support in their home environment. This typically involves working towards specific goals set in the outpatient program. All people receiving outreach support also attend the outpatient program.
Admission Process
A referral letter is required from a GP or a treating psychiatrist. A physical assessment is also required by the GP to determine current physical health prior to an admission. When contact is made with The Geelong Clinic, a pack will be sent with information about the service and a form for the GP to complete when undertaking the physical assessment. When the referral letter and the physical assessment are completed, an assessment appointment will be scheduled. This is an opportunity for the clinic to begin to find out about current concerns and the history of the eating disorder. It is also an opportunity to set goals in joining the program and to raise any questions or concerns. The assessment appointment takes approximately an hour and a half. Patients are not admitted on the day of the assessment and are contacted within a few days of the assessment to discuss the outcome. For people accepted into the program, an estimated admission date into the inpatient program will be given.
Costs
The Geelong Clinic is a private psychiatric hospital, therefore health insurance in recommended.
Contacting the Program
The program can be contacted by calling the Clinical Coordinator during business hours on (03) 5248 1155. Email inquires can be sent to tgc@healthscope.com.au .