Bulimia is a potentially deadly disorder and choosing the right bulimia clinic is highly important when pursuing treatment. There are several factors which must be considered, including financial aspects and the experience of medical personnel on staff. You should also take into consideration the duration of treatment and the atmosphere of the clinic. Some are much like rehabilitation centers with overnight stays alongside other patients, and others are outpatient clinics.
Before choosing a bulimia clinic, you should find out what your insurance provider will cover. You will likely need a referral from your family doctor or another general practitioner who will diagnose you with the condition. If you don’t have insurance, you will need to discuss payment arrangements and pricing for various clinics.
The severity of your condition will also affect the bulimia clinic you choose, since if you have suffered from the condition for a long period of time, it may be harder to treat and more extensive therapy may be needed. Most patients with bulimia and other eating disorders have suffered from some trauma which led to the disorder, although this is not always true. Therapy may aim to target the underlying issues and compulsive behaviors like purging and binging.
If your insurance is not limiting to your options or you are paying out of pocket, you should get advice from your doctor to determine if an inpatient or outpatient clinic would be best for your situation. Those who live alone and have children or other obligations may find that an outpatient center is necessary. Inpatient facilities often have more extensive treatment, however, since you would be living with other patients and seeing a therapist daily. Many also offer creative expression classes, group therapy, and other therapies.
Outpatient clinics allow more room for error on the patient’s part, so you will have to be sure to attend sessions regularly and on time. Your therapist or physician may require you to attend more often at first and then extend the period of time between visits as you progress. Each person’s schedule will depend on their individual circumstances, so there is no way of knowing what yours will be.
When looking into the right bulimia clinic for your situation, you should visit each campus and meet the doctors and counselors who would be working with you. This will give you an idea of what the atmosphere is like and whether or not you feel comfortable with the staff. If you do, you can begin working on a tailored treatment plan to meet you individual needs.