Services

At BridgeCross Residential Treatment Center for Eating Disorders a multi-disciplinary team assesses each client individually. This Assessment Team consists of an internist or pediatrician, psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker and nutritionist. Each client is assigned a case manager and a treatment program is developed based on individual needs.

BridgeCross offers eating disorder support fro those in needA family-based approach is fostered with family therapy sessions, as well as, support groups for parents. Wherever possible, BridgeCross uses multi-family group therapy. For BridgeCross clients outside of the Bay of Quinte Region, families are expected to remain in the vicinity of BridgeCross for specified periods of time during their child’s stay within the BridgeCross Residential program.

In addition to BridgeCross’ family work, each client participates in an intensive day program that incorporates individual and group therapy, classes on nutrition and eating disorders, motivational therapy, body image therapy and a variety of expressive therapies such as art, music, writing and drama. Movement and exercise classes are offered, to commence with the client’s achievement of better health. When it is felt that a client is able to handle the additional stress, an academic program is developed in conjunction with the client’s home school. The academic aim is to re-integrate the client into her home school on completion of the residential program without placing her under undue pressure.

We will be happy to verify your insurance benefits to determine how your coverage applies to BridgeCross services.

Bridge Cross Residential Treatment Center for Eating Disorders: Eating Disorder Support through Admission Assessments

Psychiatric Assessment:

  1. Review all intake information;
  2. Interview with Parents;
  3. Interview with Client;
  4. Mental Status Exam;
  5. Investigation into disordered eating patterns;
  6. Investigation into co-morbid disorders;
  7. Family History (e.g., personal histories of parents, information on sibling relationships, parenting style);
  8. Client and Family feedback;
  9. Written Report;
  10. Case Consultation with treatment team.

Psychological Assessment:
Description: Bio-psycho-social framework

  1. Developmental History completed by Parents;
  2. Client Interview involving information gathering on attachment style, personal traumas, view of self, social-emotional functioning and readiness for change;
  3. EDI-III for establishing initial baseline ratings and treatment focuses;
  4. MMPI-A for assessment of social-emotional functioning;
  5. Feedback to client and family;
  6. Written Report; and
  7. Case Consultation with the treatment team.

Nutritional Review:

  1. Baseline review of historical eating patterns and confirmation of caloric setting for each individual;
  2. Discussion of plan with each individual to meet caloric requirements in the context of the group nutritional program;
  3. Written Report; and
  4. Case Consultation with treatment team.

Medical Consultation:

  1. Review of medical reports;
  2. Review of Weight and Growth Charts;
  3. Physical Exam (e.g., stage of puberty, determination of body fat with calipers);
  4. Baseline EKG;
  5. Baseline blood if not already completed;
  6. Determination of ideal body weight range or appropriate BMI or BMI percentile in consultation with psychiatrist;
  7. Confirmation of caloric requirements; and
  8. Case Consultation with the treatment team.

Bridge Cross Residential Treatment Center for Eating Disorders, Therapy Opportunities

Individual Counseling

Dependent on treatment needs, individual counseling is offered to provide an opportunity for girls and young women to explore the links between their thoughts, feelings and symptoms. Strategies taught within groups sessions are reinforced within the individual sessions. Any coexisting psychological difficulties are integrated into the client’s treatment plan.

Family Therapy

All families are involved in family/parental therapy. Psycho-educational sessions teach parents and clients about eating disorders, how to treat them and how to recognize signs of relapse. Families learn coping strategies to help them deal more successfully with their eating disordered child. Family sessions occur once weekly and, where necessary, can occur through teleconferencing. Family and multifamily sessions are held on site during the admission period and at one other prescheduled time during the client’s residential stay.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Specific therapy targeted at enhancing the client’s motivation for change occurs. Girls and young women learn to assess their own readiness for change and explore ways in which their life might improve if they took on the eating disorder more forcefully.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavior Therapy encourages patients to look at the ways their thinking influences their feelings and behaviors, in this case, their eating disorder. Clients address “faulty thinking” patterns, or cognitive distortions in which their basic assumptions about themselves or their needs are challenged. All or none thinking is addressed. As clients begin to shift their patterns of thinking, they are encouraged to develop different action plans to help modify behavior. Cognitive Behavioral techniques also are taught to help with stress, anxiety, depression and anger management as indicated within an individual’s treatment plan making it a great eating disorder support option.

Interpersonal Therapy

Interpersonal Therapy focuses on the client’s relationships with important individuals in their lives and how these relationships are affected by their eating disorder.

Milieu Therapy

Each client is a part of a therapeutic community where normal girl and young women development is emphasized. Weekly goal setting, community meetings and planning of outings take place. Each client is held responsible to help in the creation of a positive residential environment.

Body Image Group

Body image can be defined as the picture one has in her mind about the appearance (i.e. size and shape) of her body, and the attitude that she forms toward these characteristics of her body.

There are two components of body image: the perceptual part, or how one sees her own body, and the attitudinal part, or how one feels about her perceived bodily appearance.

The Body Image Group helps clients experience their bodies in new and less critical ways. It includes some body-focused work as well as helping girls and young women develop insight into how these beliefs were formed, and what continues to influence these beliefs.

Typical topics involve:

  1. What is body image and learning about what you think about yourself?
  2. Our social world and its influences on us, including exploration of clients’ symptoms in the context of gender roles and power relationships between men and women;
  3. Your self-image;
  4. Body image and dieting and drastic measures that people take;
  5. Healthy living and healthy body image;
  6. Motivation support to change self perceptions; and
  7. Accepting your true self.

Relaxation Group/Stress Reduction Group

Relaxation is the voluntary letting go of tension. This tension can be physical tension in the muscles or it can be mental, or psychological, tension. During relaxation, the nerves in the muscles change the types of signals that they send to the brain. These different signals bring about a general feeling of calmness, both physically and mentally. Muscle relaxation has a widespread effect on the nervous system and therefore can be seen as a physical treatment, as well as a psychological treatment.

The Relaxation Training Group focuses on simple, step-by-step skill building to assist in the development of a better mind and body connection.

Typical topics involve:

  1. Progressive muscle relaxation;
  2. Self-hypnosis;
  3. Meditation;
  4. Visualization Techniques;
  5. Challenging Irrational beliefs;
  6. Assertiveness training;
  7. Thought Stopping; and
  8. Cue-controlled relaxation.

Exercise Group

There is a daily exercise program involving yoga or low intensity sports, dependent on the client’s medical condition. Emphasis is on mind /body connection and use of exercise in an appropriate and healthy way is an effective type of eating disorder support.

Nutrition Group

This group teaches the importance of good nutrition. It covers the different food groups and teaches clients how to set up adequate menus. It includes some supervised food preparation. There are some food desensitization sessions, helping clients broaden their food choices. There is the opportunity to discuss food and the rationales behind prescribed food intake.

Healthy Lifestyle Group

The development of a healthy balanced lifestyle is something most people strive for in their day-to-day living. The group works from the perspective that the whole person is important, as is, all their facets of life.

This group typically involves topic areas including:

  1. The role of Nutrition;
  2. The role of Exercise;
  3. The role of Family;
  4. The role of Religion;
  5. The role of Self.

Expressive Arts Therapy

Some clients find it easier to express themselves using images rather than words. The use of a variety of mediums such as clay and playdoh, paints and collage are used to explore feelings, discover unconscious thoughts and help girls and young women integrate physical sensations, emotions thoughts and memories. In addition, poetry writing, story writing and journaling are encouraged to help clients get in touch with innermost thoughts and emotions.

Dramatic Arts Group

Dramatic play therapy is a goup model where the therapeutic powers of play are used to help clients resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development. Through the activites and dramatic skits further insight is forged into underlying issues, with the opportunity to physically and mentally engage in alternative forms of behavior, or to try out alternative perspectives. Group topics are determined by a needs review at the outset of the group.

Recreational Therapy

Using leisure time effectively is important in developing a healthy lifestyle. Each client undertakes a hobby/project that they can continue once discharged home. Girls and young women are encouraged to develop and pursue horticultural projects to promote a sense of wellness and connection with nature. Animal care, swimming and horseback riding are also available.