Philosophy of Center for Hope of the Sierras

At Center for Hope of the Sierras, we believe those struggling with eating disorders are unique, creative, caring, and sensitive individuals who may struggle to find a connection with their true inner spirit. To recover from an eating disorder, the individual must develop a sense of their own spirit and self, and a belief that their emotions are valid, important, and worth noticing.

Our philosophy is that it is the individual's right to define a sense of self. Our treatment program emphasizes the need for individuals to cope with the complex emotions that cause them to doubt this right. Our program also emphasizes the important of taking care of one’s physical and psychological needs which helps individuals experience themselves as valid and competent human beings.

At Center for Hope, individuals are encouraged to redefine life on their terms rather than on cultural pressures to pursue a body size and shape that denies physical needs. Center for Hope of the Sierras offers treatment emphasizing a therapeutic alliance, the opportunity to explore and challenge negative or harsh thoughts and assumptions, as well as extensive opportunities for self-exploration, self-expression, and the development of new coping strategies. Health of mind and body well-being will begin to evolve as one's sense of self begins to emerge. At this point true healing can begin.

Individuals with eating disorders cannot build a sense of self when they feel trapped within their symptoms. Many individuals with eating disorders are able to temporarily stop engaging in self-destructive behaviors during short term treatment in controlled settings, only to return to old patterns upon returning home. Though they have started to work through many important issues, they may not have fully unraveled the emotional distress fueling their condition. For this reason, we generally recommend a two to three month stay to fully incorporate the many aspects of treatment and to allow the therapeutic alliance to embrace its full power. Center for Hope of the Sierras offers step-down opportunities for treatment locally or we will work with the individual to pursue lower levels of care within their chosen community. Center for Hope of the Sierras also offers a free online recovery support through eGetgoing to assist in the individual’s return to daily life.

Custom Program Design for Each Individual

Upon admission to Center for Hope, each individual is given a comprehensive evaluation that allows the client and staff to develop an individualized treatment plan that addresses their psychological and physical needs. Our internist, psychiatrist, registered dietitian, and primary therapist will provide a complete assessment for all individuals upon admission.

Individual, multi-family therapy, family weekend visits, and conference call sessions (for long-distance families) are offered and encouraged to improve family dynamics in order to enhance the understanding of the illness.

Throughout the treatment process, the individual needs of each client are continually reassessed. We emphasize the importance of helping the individual view symptoms as part of the condition, which they are working to combat. We negotiate and/or adjust treatment implementation, anticipating that life stressors may illicit symptoms, while working together with the individual to combat the illness through our array of treatment options.

A Lifelong Commitment to Your Health

At Center for Hope of the Sierras, we work with individuals to help them realize that upon leaving the program they will likely face many stressors and challenges to their lives. Though we provide them with tools to manage these challenges, we also work with each individual to schedule follow-up treatment in their home community and to develop support networks. While we encourage independence in our residents, we consider our availability to our clients to be life-long in helping them continue on their path to permanent recovery.