We Are Accepting Clients in November 2020

Residential Treatment Program

The Body Image Therapy Center’s (TBITC) Residential Treatment Program for Eating Disorders treats adults of all genders diagnosed with an eating disorder and features the nation’s only specialized men’s unit. In addition, we provide a dedicated track for those diagnosed with both an eating disorder and substance use disorder. Located just outside of Frederick, Maryland, we are about an hour drive from both Baltimore and Washington, DC.

The Body Image Therapy Center’s (TBITC) Residential Treatment Program for Eating Disorders treats adults of all genders diagnosed with an eating disorder and features the nation’s only specialized men’s unit. In addition, we provide a dedicated track for those diagnosed with both an eating disorder and substance use disorder. Located just outside of Frederick, Maryland, we are about an hour drive from both Baltimore and Washington, DC.

Our facility

Most recently operating as the Frederick Inn Bed & Breakfast located in the quaint village of Buckeystown, our 1897 Colonial Revival home is a quiet refuge for those looking to recover from their eating disorder behaviors. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house is surrounded by a large lawn and gardens situated on 2.2 acres of pastoral property. The house features large open areas, comfortable seating, and rooms that are tastefully decorated.

The men’s unit is on the third floor of the house and has two powder rooms (each with toilet and full vanity), and one shower room (which contains a glass shower and a full vanity). The unit also has central air conditioning, a common guest area with cable TV, armchairs, and a game table.

The second floor houses our women/gender-inclusive unit. These bedrooms have private en-suite bathrooms. Each suite has its own charm with antique furniture, chandeliers, and decorative fireplaces. The suites are newly appointed with comfy mattresses and luxurious linens and well-lit seating areas. All bathrooms have been newly refurbished with luxury amenities.

The Body Image Therapy Center is an eating disorder treatment facility that works with clients of all body sizes, and every effort will be made to make the environment as accessible as possible with larger chairs and beds and open spaces for ease of movement.

The Program

Residential treatment plans are individualized and monitored by our medical and clinical directors and incorporate:

A minimum of three individual or family sessions per week
Treatment plan oversight and medication management by a psychiatric provider
Weekly sessions with a registered dietitian
Meals planned by a registered dietitian
Three supported meals and supported snacks as indicated by the nutrition plan
Multiple group counseling sessions per week addressing a variety of concerns and incorporating a range of interventions. Among the issues addressed are co-occurring mental health concerns such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, substance use (as long as the client is currently not using), trauma, nutrition education, life skills and tools for symptom management. Groups include, but are not limited to, body image, mindfulness, nutritional education, health education, art therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, and interpersonal relationships.
Opportunities to build on skills related to emotional awareness/tolerance/regulation
Family therapy when clinically indicated
Lab work drawn on-site as indicated by medical need.
Access to community 12-step groups for those with co-occurring addiction diagnoses (not available due to COVID emergency, so 12-step groups will be available online and onsite with other clients)
Access to religious centers including but not limited to those listed below for those who wish to practice their faith while in treatment (limited access due to COVID emergency)
- Beth Shalom Congregation
- Mountain View Community Church
- Islamic Society of Frederick

Residential eating disorder treatment is designed for patients that need 24-hour support but no longer require the same intensity of medical support and stabilization of hospital-based care. In our residential program, clients have round-the-clock observation and support, as well as daytime medical and psychiatric supervision.

Clients are admitted to the program only after they complete a physical, EKG, labs, and bone density scans (as needed) and share the results with the medical team prior to arriving at the facility. Records older than one week will require a new set of evaluations prior to arrival. Our intake specialist will direct you on which evaluations and labs are required based on standards developed by the Academy for Eating Disorders. If a client’s medical need indicates in-patient or acute in-patient care as outlined by the Academy for Eating Disorders, they will be referred to alternative programs.

The Men’s Unit

The Body Image Therapy Center’s Founder and Executive Director, Andrew Walen, is one of the nation’s leaders in the field of males with eating disorders, and he has created a truly unique men’s program that provides a male-focused treatment environment and therapeutic service model.

According to the Academy for Eating Disorders, approximately 30 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness, with a 10-15% mortality rate. Over a 10-year period ending in 2019, the National Institute of Health reported there was a 53% increase in males with eating disorders seeking treatment coinciding with a 21% increase in females. However, most programs only treat women. For this reason, The Body Image Therapy Center is a program that treats all genders. But just as some programs are women-only to create a safe space for those who prefer to be among their gender peers, men need access to the same. While researchers have found that the eating disorder behaviors are quite similar across the gender spectrum, men describe their behaviors and emotions about their eating disorders very differently than their female peers.

For males the origins and purpose of the disorder are often quite different as well as the roles of body image and weight. In a treatment program primarily focused on females, men are often ostracized, left out of the conversation, misunderstood, and left behind as they report feeling a need to self-censor to avoid triggering negative reactions from female clients. Anecdotal findings indicate males are more likely to recover when in treatment with gender peers, allowing for greater freedom of expression without fear of ridicule or judgment. When possible, we hire as many males as possible to work in this unit from program staff to clinical staff.

We do not segregate our units, however, and there are mixed milieu groups and shared meals among all clients. And all non-clinical time allows for everyone to mingle and socialize as they desire. The goal is to create safe spaces for clients, but also opportunities to share what they’re learning and working on to process how much eating disorders affect everyone.

Minority and Underserved Populations

The Body Image Therapy Center strives to be a truly inclusive program with an emphasis on recognizing the unique experiences of marginalized and minority populations. Our stated mission is to help individuals reach complete recovery from the mental, physical, and behavioral health complications of an eating disorder. However, most people think eating disorders mostly affect individuals who identify as white, anorexic, female, young, and affluent. According to research African Americans and Latinx are as likely to develop anorexic behaviors and more likely to be diagnosed with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder than their white counterparts but seek care less frequently. This is typically due to lack of resources and limited understanding among family, friends, and healthcare providers on identifying and diagnosing these conditions. In addition, males who identify as gay or bi-sexual are three times more likely to develop an eating disorder than their heterosexual peers, and individuals who identify as transgender are approximately five times more likely to develop an eating disorder than the general public. Our staff is hired with an aim to reflect the diversity of the population we serve including males, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those who identify Latinx, Black and Brown.

Substance Use and Eating Disorders

For those who struggle with co-occurring substance use disorders, we provide specific group sessions to address addictions, 12-step options inside and outside of the facility, and substance abuse counseling and aftercare planning. Our Medical Director is an approved suboxone prescriber and provide continuous care of those who have completed detox and are in our residential program.

Insurance:

We are in-network with most insurance and can often arrange single case agreements for those who do not have coverage for care with us. In most cases, you will be responsible for your deductible and co-pays.

Meal Alterations for Religious Practice

Another population we successfully serve are individuals whose religious practices require special considerations related to food they may consume. Through consultation with their religious community and oversight by our registered dietician, we have successfully served clients of various faiths with care and compassion. While not able to have a separate Kosher kitchen, we do make accommodations for those who require Kosher meals through Baltimore and DC’s large Orthodox Jewish network. TBITC recognizes that there are many special circumstances, cultural nuances, and physical needs that require us to alter our treatment environment to make it accessible to those wanting to recover from an eating disorder. We will strive to do everything we can within reason to make this a place where everyone can heal.

Call the Body Image Therapy Center at (877)-674-2843 today or CLICK HERE to contact our Intake Coordinator.