"If I did not want others to violate my life, how could I voluntarily violate it myself?"

Richard Wright

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The Eating Disorder Center of California is unique in many ways.

While residential programs can be helpful for people who feel it is essential to separate themselves from the challenging things in their environment, eventually they have to reincorporate into that environment. At the EDCC we help you deal with everyday pressures as they are happening. In day treatment people are able to use the structure of the program as support some of the time and also to experiment and practice new skills in their day-to-day lives. We have groups specifically designed to help people define intentions for their time spent outside of the program and then follow up groups to discuss the successes and set-back of these events. Peers in the program tend to become very close as everyone encourages each other to face fears and reach new heights. Another benefit to having time both in and out of the program is that it allows people to have a sense of control and mastery over their own skills of recovery even while they use the support of others.

This offers a unique situation where clients have the opportunity to experience and work with numerous trained professionals who can understand the experience from the inside and the outside. Personal experience allows staff members to share knowledge they have gained along the way as well as see some of the potential landmines in eating disorder thinking. Current clients frequently state that seeing recovered staff living their lives, eating normally, and being happy reminds them that recovery is possible.

Although we believe that the 12-step philosophy can be useful, we believe that eating and exercise disorders are not addictions in the same sense as drugs and alcohol. We believe that one can become fully "recovered" from these disorders. If one of our clients has another addiction or, for appropriate reasons, wishes to go to 12-step meetings, we arrange this on a case-by-case basis.

This includes activities for both body and mind. We provide both yoga and Nia classes for a well-rounded approach. We also encourage our clients to be involved in activities that are geared more for fun than just fitness. Because we are a day-treatment program we can work with athletes and people who are involved in specific sports to develop healthy plans for exercise.