Flexible Outpatient Services for Eating Disorders

For a free screen or to set up an assessment for Eating Disorders Intensive Outpatient Therapy services, please contact our intake coordinator at 636-534-6071.

Early intervention can prevent long-term physical, emotional, and treatment costs of eating disorders. Often, the earlier you seek treatment, the better your outcome may be. At St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute, we routinely work with individuals on body image, body empowerment, self-esteem, and resilience. Our combination of outpatient services can help provide skills to manage life transitions and stressors. 

The first step is to schedule an appointment for a no-cost confidential evaluation. An experienced diagnostician and licensed clinician will discuss your personal needs, conduct a thorough assessment of eating disorder symptoms as well as other associated problems, and develop recommendations based on this individual meeting. You may complete some questionnaires, and family members are encouraged to participate in the evaluation process with you.

An overview of our outpatient services:

  • Comprehensive Evaluations and Consultation Services
  • Psychiatric Evaluation and Medication Management
  • Individual Therapy and Eating Disorder Counseling Services
  • Family and Couple Therapy for Eating Disorders
  • Parent Education and Training for Eating Disorders
  • Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for Eating Disorders
  • Exposure Therapy and Outings
  • Eating Disorder Coaching
  • Complimentary Workshops for Parents and Caregivers
  • Nutrition Counseling and Meal Planning
  • Comprehensive Psychological Assessment and Testing

Comprehensive Psychological Assessment and Testing
We offer a full range of psychological, psycho-educational, and neuropsychological testing for diagnosis, treatment planning, and educational interventions. In cases of eating disorders, testing is typically valid once an individual is nourished and at healthy body weight. 

Psychiatric Evaluations and Medication Management
Our Psychiatrists provide psychiatric evaluations and medication management. Pharmacotherapy (therapy using pharmaceutical drugs) has shown to be an effective treatment of some eating disorder symptoms and related disorders when used in conjunction with evidence-based psychotherapies. 

Individual Psychotherapy and Eating Disorder Counseling Services
Individual psychotherapy is the most commonly used form of treatment for eating disorders and consists of regular sessions with a therapist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders. Therapy focuses on developing new insights and life skills such as the development of adaptive coping skills for stress and anxiety, learning to balance self-care with achievement, and communicating more effectively with family and friends. 

Family and Couples Therapy for Eating Disorders
Family and Couples Therapy is an essential component of treatment. We often include Family Meetings as part of treatment to educate families about eating disorders, facilitate open communication, and help families support their loved one’s recovery. Goals may consist of enhancing communication, validation of emotions, clarification of rules, rights, and responsibilities among family members, as well as the definition of boundaries and limits.

Parent Education and Training for Eating Disorders
We encourage parents to actively participate in therapy sessions to learn about eating disorders to improve your understanding of their child’s condition. Education is crucial to assist with providing a structured and supportive home environment that encourages behavior change and to promote self-care. We offer individual and marital therapy for parents who are coping with such stressful parenting challenges and complimentary Parent Workshops.

Family-Based Treatment of Eating Disorders (Maudsley Approach)
We offer Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for adolescents and young adults with eating disorders (the Maudsley Approach). FBT is the only research-supported effective treatment for adolescents with eating disorders. Controlled research studies have demonstrated that FBT is an effective intervention for adolescents with anorexia nervosa with reported success rates as high as 80-90% within the home environment. 

The focus of FBT is to empower and support parents in taking charge of their child’s weight restoration and symptom reduction. The eventual goal is to return control to the child when it is determined that they can be entrusted to resume their normal developmental path.

Groups for Binge Eating and Emotional Overeating
Time-limited groups offered based on evidence-based treatment. Please call to learn about the current and upcoming groups.

Exposures/Outings
Therapists and dietitians are available to accompany clients on outings to assist in facing fears/challenges associated with recovery goals. We plan outings on an individual basis and according to individual treatment plans. They include such excursions as to grocery stores and restaurants.

Nutrition Counseling and Meal Planning
Nutrition counseling is an important treatment component for individuals recovering from eating disorders. Nutritionists address eating behaviors to achieve a healthy meal pattern and to assist with restoration to a healthy weight for individuals in an unhealthy weight range. Our licensed nutritionists help create an individualized plan designed to re-nourish individuals who are engaging in unhealthy eating and weight control practices. Our goal is to establish a healthy relationship with food and the body.

We’re Only a Phone Call Away

If you would rather reach our Intake Coordinators by phone, please call 314-289-9411 to discuss appointment scheduling if you or a loved one may be experiencing a mental health issue. For additional questions about our programs, you can also use our online contact form.

In the case of a medical emergency or crisis, please dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Help and hope are closer than you think.

Personalized mental health treatment is ready for you. We are here to help.

Contact Us

New patients please call Intake Coordinators at:

City of St. Louis, Missouri (Macklind)

1129 Macklind Ave,
St. Louis, MO 63110
314-534-0200 (returning patients)

Chesterfield, Missouri (West County)

16216 Baxter Rd. Stes 205 and 225,
Chesterfield, MO 63017
636-532-9188 (returning patients)

Fairview Heights, Illinois

331 Salem Place, Suite 225-A,
Fairview Heights, IL 62208
618-825-0051 (returning patients)