Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment for College Students

More than 30 million people will suffer from symptoms of an eating disorder in their lifetime. And many young people who are in college experience symptoms every day.

With the need for quality eating disorder treatment, Eating Recovery Center meets students where they’re at to doffer virtual treatment and support. 

Not only can students access free resources, such as weekly, free ongoing eating disorder support groups, but many qualifying patients can receive the same exceptional care they would in a clinic from the comfort of their home.

We've interviewed two experts to take a deeper look at virtual eating disorder treatment programs that may help college-age students who are suffering.

How does virtual treatment for eating disorders work?

Dr. Heather A. Dlugosz: Virtual eating disorder treatment helps to remove the barriers that can keep patients with eating disorders from receiving treatment. 

Virtual treatment supports individuals, often in areas of the country where they otherwise would not have access to care or while away from their primary supports/treatment team, to engage in specialized treatment and practice skills in the setting where they are residing currently.  

This format also provides more flexibility for individuals:

• With time constraints due to work, school or family obligations
• That have other barriers to travelling to an onsite program 
• That may be more reluctant to receive treatment in person

Dr. Rebecca Hansen: Virtual treatment for eating disorders allows for continued care and connection during an extraordinary time. Virtual treatment has allowed continued, evidence-based care for patients who would otherwise not have access during the pandemic. Our goal is to remove barriers to seeking or continuing treatment.

How is virtual treatment different than in-person treatment?

Dr. Dlugosz: Individuals receive the treatment at the level of care they are eligible for in the comfort of the space they are currently residing. There is no commute to programming so this may better fit an individual’s schedule to ensure treatment can be a priority. 

In virtual treatment, individuals are in small group sessions to maximize connection and their treatment experience and individual sessions with each of the members of their treatment team while on a HIPPA compliant virtual platform. 

Nutritionally speaking, they will have the opportunity to prepare meals independently in the space they reside in to support building mastery of their meal plan and skill utilization in that environment which is key.

As with our in-person treatment offerings, they will have a collaborative care team that focuses on individualized treatment plan development and meeting patients where they are at.

Dr. Hansen: Virtual treatment is similar to in-person treatment with a multidisciplinary team but allows connection with your treatment team virtually, in order to receive the support and structure of treatment. Connection is more important than ever. 

Like our in-person services, virtual options include individual, group and meal support. Most major insurance companies cover virtual services. 

Important factors to consider are that you will need access to a computer, tablet or smart phone, as well as a private space where you can attend groups and individual sessions.

What can a patient expect during virtual treatment?

Dr. Dlugosz: Once an individual makes the tough decision to commit to treatment and is assessed to be eligible for virtual treatment by our clinical assessment team, they will be connected with their virtual delivery group team. 

Individuals can expect to receive the same high quality of care we offer at our in person programs while being able to practice their skills in their residing environment. 

We have a commitment to individualized care with evidence-based therapeutic modality incorporation and creativity with community building and connection in this unique offering.

Dr. Hansen: Prior to the start of programming, clients will participate in an orientation to the virtual program, in which they will receive materials detailing how to connect, what to expect, and how to optimize the group experience over virtual. They will also receive information about how to prepare for meals, group curriculum and materials before each group. 

Weekly weights are expected for Virtual IOP and can be obtained either by a friend or family member, or at the patient’s PCP. ERC also utilizes an app called Recovery Record that gives 24/7 access to the therapists and dietitian to record mood, food intake, etc., to help track behavior use throughout the week.

Additionally, we continue to offer free, ongoing weekly eating disorder support groups for friends, family members and caregivers.

Our virtual treatment programs have been carefully designed and offer evidence-based treatment adapted for the virtual platform, based on outcome data and patient feedback. 

Groups include treatment modalities such as:

• Acceptance and commitment therapy
• Dialectical and behavioral therapy
• Experiential therapy
• Process groups

Group sizes are limited to ensure an intimate experience. Should a patient need a higher level of care, we are continuing to offer in-person services for our Partial Hospitalization Program and our Residential Program.

View all ERC treatment programs here.

Why are college students good candidates for virtual treatment?

Dr. Dlugosz: If eligible, based on clinical status and level of eating disorder behaviors, students may be great candidates for virtual treatment so that they can engage in treatment while maintaining in the school environment. 

Additionally, this type of treatment can support students enrolled in colleges and universities where they do not have local access to specialized eating disorder care on campus or when returning home that might not have had access to specialized care otherwise. 

Often student schedules are flexible, which also may allow for engagement in treatment concurrently.

Dr. Hansen: Many college students are returning home for the semester or year due to the pandemic or may be coming home for breaks between semesters. Virtual programming is a great way for first-time patients to experience a bit of what eating disorder treatment is like or help serve as a booster of sorts if they need some help getting back on track. 

Virtual programming also allows the convenience of students being able to more easily fit treatment into their school schedule, as treatment schedules are often flexible.

Dr. Anne Kubal: As a former University Counseling Center psychologist, I am acutely aware that many students attend colleges and universities that are a significant distance away from treatment centers, sometimes forcing them to feel as if they have to choose between leaving school to seek more intensive treatment or delaying treatment to remain in school. 

One of the benefits of virtual eating disorder treatment is that it allows college students to receive much needed treatment without needing to leave school or problem-solve transportation difficulties.

What types of virtual treatment options are available online, and how does one choose which is right for them?

Dr. Dlugosz: We currently have virtual treatment programs in many states that run three days per week and three hours per day.  We offer free assessments with master’s level clinicians from the clinical assessment team and they will help individuals to determine the most appropriate level of care based on a multitude of factors including:

• Level and intensity of engagement in eating disorder behaviors
• Medical status
• Support availabilities
• Co-morbidities including substance use and presence of safety related issues (suicidal, homicidal thoughts, self-harm urges and engagement, etc.)

Dr. Hansen: There are several virtual treatment options available, so finding the right fit for a patient is so important. At ERC, we strive to help patients feel confident that they’ve made the right decision and feel supported in taking the next steps.

ERC’s virtual programs utilize a secure digital platform that ensures all services are confidential, HIPAA compliant and secure.

What kind of commitment is required for virtual treatment?

Dr. Dlugosz: Committing to treatment is essential anytime of the year, not just during the holidays, to support in building motivation for a sustainable, values-driven life in recovery. It is, however, especially important during the holidays where historically there can be more anxiety with seeing family and friends, less structure, and social events focused on food.  

The sooner an individual can make the commitment to treatment, the sooner they can receive the full benefit of the support and interventions they need. Oftentimes, students are on break during the holiday season which can allow them to commit to the process more fully.

Dr. Hansen: Typically, for any level of care, we ask for a minimum of two weeks to get started with treatment. More often, the general timeframe for IOP and PHP are between four-to-six weeks total but vary for each individual person. 

Each patient will work directly with their treatment team to decide on a timeframe that both fits with their life commitments and also meets their medical needs for treatment.

Why should college students consider ERC for virtual treatment?

Dr. Dlugosz: We stand out because of our commitment to provide the highest quality of care to individuals with a focus on a comprehensive treatment of the patient using multiple evidence-based modalities including:

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (RO-DBT)

Our team is composed of individuals with specialization in eating disorder treatment and their comorbidities as well as extensive training in tele behavioral health and ethics. 

We offer a vertically integrated health system to support patients where they are at and offer the flexibility to transition to more support if they require a higher dosage of care.

We have a commitment to the education of family/supports and this is reflected in educational programming offerings as well as alumni opportunities to support an individual post discharge.

Dr. Hansen: I strongly believe what makes ERC’s programs stand out, specifically our virtual programs at this time, is the creativity, thought and consideration that staff have put in to make the virtual experiences as close to in-person experiences as possible. 

We worked hard to adapt some of the most favorite groups and have found ways to incorporate them into our virtual platform. 

We work extremely hard to maintain the same superior quality in our virtual services that we provide for our in-person services.

Why should someone who is struggling start virtual treatment now?

Dr. Dlugosz: The decision to start treatment is the first step to living a values-driven life in recovery and probably one of the hardest steps in the recovery process because it is the one that threatens the eating disorder the most. 

Getting into treatment at the right level of care and dosage of treatment needed is essential for an individual to begin taking steps for a sustainable recovery. Being in treatment allows for validation from peers, support, structure and accountability when working hard to interrupt behaviors and gives an individual access to skill development and a multidisciplinary treatment team to partner with them.

Dr. Hansen: Holidays can be some of the most stressful times of the year for someone struggling with an eating disorder. Managing the stress and anxiety on their own can be overwhelming and seemingly impossible. 

By seeking support now rather than after the holidays, patients can have an opportunity to have help in preparing for holiday meals and traditions, to practice challenging situations and conversations that may come up with family and friends, and to create a plan for meals, snacks and breaks. 

Treatment before the holidays can also be helpful in talking together with family or loved ones along with the support of a therapist, in order to create a plan for the holiday.

Do many college students struggle with eating disorders?

Dr. Dlugosz: The age range for a traditional college student coincides with the typical timeframe where eating disorders can develop. Additionally, many changes during this time frame occur including:

• Transitions to school sometimes far from home
• Academic pressures
• Being away from supports
• Body image pressures
• Exploring who one is
• Finding out where one fits in the college/university setting 

This can all create anxiety that some individuals turn to disordered eating behaviors to support with. 

Unfortunately, many students don’t have access to the specialized care they need, may be scared to take the necessary steps to receive mental health services based on stigma or simply may not know their symptoms/behaviors are problematic or lead to serious medical complications.

Dr. Hansen: Eating disorders are extremely prevalent among college students but have a very low rate of students seeking help or treatment. The transition from home to college is characterized by loss and decreased structure. Feelings of loneliness, uncertainty about the future, and fear are all normal reactions to beginning college. 

Virtual programming allows college students the opportunity to take part in treatment, while lessening the stigma associated with doing so.

Why is it important to get treatment rather than navigating it alone?

Dr. Dlugosz: Eating disorders can be very isolating illnesses related to the shame that individuals often feel secondary to behavioral engagement and/or body image distress. There is immense power in the validation that you are not alone in this process. Engaging in a treatment program built on the foundation of group treatment creates the space for that validation. 

Receiving psychoeducation on symptoms an individual is experiencing, exploring precipitating and perpetuating factors, how co-morbidities impact their disordered eating patterns in a safe setting where you can practice skills and vulnerability and know that others around you have had similar experiences helps to build self-compassion and motivation to maintain in treatment and build a sustainable recovery.

Dr. Hansen: It is so important to address concerns related to eating, or eating disorder behavior, sooner rather than later. In doing so, the patient is creating a support system of people experiencing similar things, at a time when they might feel most alone. 

Treatment will allow patients to interrupt maladaptive behavior quickly and be held accountable by their team. Getting treatment now allows patients to connect with providers and the ability to create structure for meals and snacks, while also utilizing resources that offer connection.  

Start healing by exploring our virtual eating disorder treatment programs for college students. To speak to a member of our team, call (866) 622-5914 or fill out this form.

Find more support for college students here:

• 12 Tips for College Students with Eating Disorders
• What to Expect: Virtual Eating Disorder Treatment
• 15 Ways to Manage Eating Disorder Triggers