Our Philosophy

Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia, Compulsive Eating and Obesity are complex emotional disorders that can dominate an individual's life. CEDAR Associates respects that the causes of an eating disorder are multidimensional and we recognize the unique needs of each individual we treat. Although the obsession with food, thinness and body image are at the forefront of an eating disorder, there are significant underlying causes that go beyond the preoccupation with food and body image.

The eating disorder acts as a distraction from these underlying conflicts because it takes on a life of its own and emotionally consumes the individual. The eating disorder is an attempt to cope with and control these core conflicts and feelings. That is why an eating disorder is both a symptom of repressed underlying conflicts and a disease in itself. The preoccupation with food becomes a symbolic "friend," but is an unreliable source of security and self-control.

Our goals are to create and maintain a safe, nurturing environment for individuals and families to explore personal and interpersonal issues from an insight oriented perspective. In addition, symptoms are addressed from a cognitive/behavioral treatment approach in order to help sufferers develop a realistic and healthy self-image that will help free them from destructive behaviors and negative self-image.

Beneath the Symptoms…

There are many reasons why an individual might develop an eating disorder. Some of the dominant underlying issues are centered around…

• …feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy

• …feelings of shame or self-disgust

• …fear of intimacy

• …the need to please others and to be perfect

• …conflicts around autonomy and dependence

• …conflicts around angry feelings

• …depression and anxiety

• …conflicts about sexuality

• …history of sexual abuse

• …conflicts in family relationships

At CEDAR Associates, we are ever mindful of the fact that each individual works within her own process, so treatment is tailored to each person's unique sense of time, tolerance and pacing.

Our Treatment

CEDAR's treatment model addresses the spectrum of issues that accompany an eating disorder. Our expert staff, which includes clinical social workers, psychologists, nutritionists and consulting psychiatrists, have tremendous experience in helping people develop new behaviors and learn to relate to themselves and others in more positive ways. Self-care is supported in a nurturing and safe environment, and we strive to foster lasting recovery for all who seek our services. Treatment at CEDAR focuses on the alleviation of chaotic eating behavior, delving into the underlying conflicts that have brought about this behavior. Our goal at CEDAR is to enable each individual to find and create a balance with food, and to help these individuals to develop communicative, respectful and trusting relationships with others. The benefits of this balance are far-reaching, beginning with the integration of newfound physical and emotional well being.

At CEDAR, we weave together a thoughtfully constructed mix of the following services to address the specific issues unique to each individual who seeks our services, adolescents and adult women and men.

INDIVIDUAL, COUPLE AND FAMILY THERAPY: Individual psychotherapy is the cornerstone of eating disorder recovery. The development of a reliable and safe therapeutic relationship is the foundation for recovery, as sufferers utilize this relationship to redefine, repair and build new relationships with others while gaining insight into their own internal states and emotions without abusing food or their bodies.

Couple and Family Treatment enables partners and family members to confront maladaptive patterns and conflicts and to learn ways to appropriately support the eating disordered family member or partner. Family members are educated about the causes and effects of eating disorders, helping them to understand the disease and to strengthen relationships with the family member struggling with an eating disorder and with each other.

GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY: Group psychotherapy is a powerful adjunct to individual psychotherapy. It allows sufferers to "test out" healthier ways of being, to trust and confront others safely as well as to express difficult emotions appropriately. Group participants are supported by others who are dealing with the same issues. CEDAR offers are variety of groups for adolescents and adults, which can be found on the Support Groups page of this website.

PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTATION AND MEDICATION MANAGEMENT: CEDAR works collaboratively with consulting psychiatrists who have expertise in the psychiatric aspects of eating disorders.

Many clients who struggle with eating disorders also have depression, anxiety/panic or sleep difficulties. During times of extraordinary

Stress, clients may experience rage/anger, impulsivity, self-destructive urges to self-mutilate or paranoid and suspicious thoughts. Some patients may struggle with drug and/or alcohol addictions. When patients are evaluated by an expert in psychiatric medications, many of these problems can be alleviated or erased with medications that are effective and well-tolerated.

There are several goals when providing medication evaluations:

. Through diagnostic assessment (initial evaluations are 1 to 11/2 hrs)

. Recommendations with follow up appointments (half-hr or more if indicated) to note: Response to meds, Are target symptoms improved? Are side effects being experienced? Are symptoms eliminated?

. Education for clients and families about medications and diagnosis

. Nurse Practitioner easily assessable for consultation between appointments if needed

MEDICAL CONSULTATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES: CEDAR has relationships with hospital-affiliated physicians who treat the medical symptoms of eating disorders. The physicians include internists, pediatricians and a gastroenterologist.

NUTRITIONAL SERVICES: The nutritional program at CEDAR, which is run by Registered Dietitians who specialize in the treatment of eating disorders and disordered eating, includes nutrition assessment, ongoing evaluation and cognitive/behavioral approaches to eating disorder treatment. The assessment process documents weight patterns and identifies realistic weight goals. Ongoing treatment is directed toward normalizing eating patterns and correcting distortions around food. The treatment also helps patients enjoy a full range of dietary choices they may not have considered previously. Cognitive behavioral intervention focuses on tolerating weight gain, delaying or diminishing binges and identifying precipitants to urges to restrict, binge or purge. Nutritional groups are also offered in conjunction with individual nutritional therapy.  Click here for more on Children and Eating