Our services
INDIVIDUAL & FAMILY COUNSELLING
Clients work on a one-on-one basis with a dietitian or therapist to establish a treatment plan, formulate nutritional goals and develop customized meal plans. Our treatment approach focuses on normalizing eating, identifying and eliminating disordered eating patterns, and creating a wholesome and balanced relationship to food.
INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM
The IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) is designed for clients who require intensive support and supervision in a community setting. The IOP is a much- needed treatment option for clients who are struggling with disordered eating, recovering from an eating disorder, waiting to be admitted to a treatment program or exiting treatment and transitioning to life at home. Clients participate in three, three hour, sessions per week of group-based programming and meal support with a focus on meal planning and preparation, goal setting and nutritional education.
VIRTUAL INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Intensive Outpatient Program has been adapted to run in a virtual format. Based off the vision our of original IOP, the virtual IOP is designed as a group based treatment for eating disorders with the use of video sessions for meals, meal support, and supportive groups. Founded on the principle of eating as the central component to eating disorder recovery, the program focuses on normalizing eating and food by providing multiple opportunities for eating under the supervision of compassionate, caring, skilled practitioners.
TEEN INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM
The teen IOP is a group based treatment program designed to educate and empower teens (aged 13-17 years old) and their parents to facilitate a family-driven recovery from the eating disorder.
Teens and their parents participate in psychoeducation groups, followed by three weekly groups focused on meal planning, creating a conducive home environment for recovery and building dialogue between children and their parents.
PLAN TO PLATE
Wholesome, therapeutic meals and snacks are prepared for clients in accordance with a recovery meal plan. The selection of meals provided to each client is determined following an individual assessment of psychological readiness for exposure to fear foods. Support for meal completion is provided in person, electronically, and by phone. Support with meal planning, grocery shopping, and in-house cooking are further provided to assist in the transition to self-directed eating
IN HOME COOKING AND MEAL SUPPORT
During intense eating disorders treatment, clients learn skills needed to live a workable life, but these are only experienced in the therapy setting. At Connected Eating, we offer a unique service where dietitians bridge the transition to recovery at home by grocery shopping, cooking and supporting eating in clients’ own environments. This is the exposure needed for people to live a functional life in their own home.
COOKING DEMOS
Cooking demonstrations facilitate learning of foundational food skills required to support recovery in an intimate group setting. In addition to the teaching points provided by the demo facilitator, participants will have a chance to learn from each other through shared experience. Through attending cooking demos, participants will learn about how to follow a recipe, food safety, proper meal portioning, batch cooking/meal prep, and how to re-purpose leftovers. Participants will be provided with all cooking equipment and ingredients required to complete the lesson plan that day.
WORKSHOPS
We provide ongoing drop-in workshops to the public presented by experts. Topics may include:
- Intro to Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
- How to raise a child with a healthy relationship to food and their body
- When exercise has become addictive: too much of a good thing
Please contact us for start dates and suggestion of a topics.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
We are committed to educating professionals, teachers, parents and teachers on the prevention, risks, signs and symptoms and consequences of eating disorders. Previous training include the following:
2023 Dietitians of Canada National Conference
Trauma Informed Care in the Treatment of Eating Disorders
2022 International Conference of Eating Disorders Academy of Eating Disorders
Collaboration between Dietitian and Therapist in eating disorders treatment
2021 Takeda B/EDucated Scientific Master Class Series
Treating Binge Eating Disorder with non-pharmacology strategies
2019 Waterstone Foundation
Narrowing the Gap: Eating Disorder from Detection to Treatment
2018 Eating Disorders Association of Canada Biennial Conference
The Role of Registered Dietitians in Family Based Treatment for Adolescents with Eating Disorders: Lessons Learned from Community to Tertiary Care Settings Across Canada
AND
The Clinical Implications for Dietitians of the Changes in DSM-5 Criteria for Eating Disorders· “The Role of Registered Dietitians in Family Based Treatment for Adolescents with Eating Disorders: Lessons Learned from Community to Tertiary Care Settings Across Canada” Panel Discussion
2018 Loblaws National Conference
Recognizing eating disorders and understanding scope of practice in the Loblaws community setting
2017 Dietitians of Canada National Conference
ED Primer
Please contact us to schedule a session for your group or organization.