Colorado's Eating Disorder Foundation opens new support center

While most major metropolitan areas have a variety of treatment resources available for eating disorders, few have an organization like the Eating Disorder Foundation, dedicated solely to support and community outreach. The 7-year old EDF has a simple vision statement: “prevent and eliminate eating disorders.” A very big goal. And the EDF is taking a very big step this year, opening a new support center, called A Place of Our Own, located in Denver, which opened on February 6th. An official opening event will be scheduled for spring 2012.

I recently spoke with Amy Bourdo, EDF's Executive Director, who observed that there is only one other support center like this, and it's in Canada. A Place of Our Own is a unique concept.

Feldman: Who will be the main users for this support center?

Bourdo: I think we have 4 main target populations:

people struggling with their eating disorder, or just coming out of treatment centers or in individual therapy, and people who may have slipped back into eating disordered behavior after completing successful treatment
friends and family
eating disorder treatment professionals
the community at large including doctors and dentists. We want to make a greater impact with dentists and doctors like ob/gyns. They often see signs. but don’t know where to go for help.

Feldman: Is the support center supposed to be a substitute for therapy?

Bourdo: No, we’re strictly about support, as an adjunct to therapy, either individual therapy or treatment in a center. We offer resources to find that treatment, because want to serve as a resource to the local therapy community. The center hopes to maintain formal ties to therapists. If therapists want to use us as adjunct to therapy, we’d love to do that.

Feldman: How can the EDF support center help parents, friends or family who resist the idea that treatment is needed for their loved one?

Bourdo: We encourage people to come to our Friends and Family Support Group. There are people at EDF who have been in the same position. They can provide advice, including what to do and what steps to take when considering treatment. Classes at the center can help loved ones deal with the eating disorder problem, and also help them get on with their own lives.

Feldman: What if someone with an eating disorder wants to visit the center, but is unsure about what to expect. Should that person just show up?

Bourdo: They can call ahead and schedule a time to visit, and look around. We have classes and support groups, but people don’t have to take classes. It’s an important place to just come and be. They don’t have to do anything. There’s a community room, game room and library. A garden will be open in nicer weather. But visitors won’t be able to isolate themselves. Staff members will want to get to know everyone who comes in the door. We want them to feel they’re part of a larger community. Anyone can come in, but some classes are limited to registered participants. Support groups are open to anyone at any time. Classes are intended to help with skill building, such as journal writing, exercise, spirituality and even money management, all intended to build the confidence of this population.

Feldman: Will there be food at the support center?

Bourdo: Yes! There will be food. One of the things we’re intent on doing is providing role models for healthy living and recovery. That involves having food around, eating meals and talking about food, just as anyone would. People can bring their own lunch or dinner. They can talk about what may be bothering them while eating. They can learn about healthy eating. We’re going to have an RD, doing cooking classes. People need to learn how to socialize around food and have it be OK.

Feldman: What about boys or men with eating disorders? Do you think they’d feel comfortable?

Bourdo: Yes they are welcome. This center is not just for women. We’re planning on starting a men’s support group. I think this is an important place for men with eating disorders to come.

Feldman: Will you be measuring the impact of support center use on eating disorder behaviors of participants?

Bourdo: I’m interested in refining how the support center works. We’re recruiting a research volunteer to develop an evaluation program, so we can continue to monitor how things are going with classes, support groups and how users interact. We want to evaluate the effect on people. Has it decreased anxiety or depression or sense of isolation? Have eating disorder behaviors decreased? I think it’s possible to assess those.

Feldman: Tell me a bit about the EDF's Speaker's Bureau.

Bourdo: The Speakers Bureau is staffed by volunteers, who are either treatment professionals, parents with an intimate connection to eating disorders, or recovered eating disorder patients. Patients must be 3 years into successful recovery. We have an outline of ideas we want to communicate, so the message is consistent, although speakers can use a bit of their personal story. Every autumn, we send out letters to every school in CO, both public and private, offering to provide speakers. We’ll go speak to any school that wants more information on eating disorders. Some schools have us back on a regular basis.

A Place of Our Own is located at 1901 E. 20th Ave in Denver. Winter session classes run through March 31st, and a few classes still have openings. The Center plans to have 4 class sessions yearly. Registration for classes is online or at 303-322-3373. Support groups are ongoing, and do not require registration. The Eating Disorder Foundation website maintains a list of local treatment resources, as well as plenty of general information about eating disorders and links to other treatment, educational and support organizations.