Outpatient Adolescent Eating Disorder Program

Our program delivers evidence-based, client and family-centered eating disorder treatment. Our goal is to promote client recovery and prevent relapse through a holistic individualized treatment approach that supports both physical and psychological well-being. Our inter-professional team works closely with our clients and their families to ensure the best possible treatment outcomes. We believe in an integrated collaborative approach towards each client’s treatment plan. 

Now accepting self-referrals. Youth 12-17 years of age or a parent/guardian of youth who are interested in the Outpatient Adolescent Eating Disorder Program can contact Kinark’s Central Intake directly at 1-888-454-6275 to make a referral. The initial call will take approximately 5 minutes for our intake team to gather basic demographic information and open a file. A mental health clinician will then contact you within 2-3 business days to discuss the program further. 

Adolescents with disordered eating in the community still need support. Primary health care practitioners wishing to make a referral for youth aged 12-17 may do so by downloading the referral form and faxing it to Kinark’s Central Intake at 905-579-4449. Primary health care practitioners must complete a referral form to the program and be prepared to medically follow the youth throughout their duration in the program. 

For more information about the program, please contact Kinark’s Central Intake at 1-888-454-6275. 

• Drastic Weight Changes: rapid and significant weight loss or gain.  

• Excessive concern with Body Image: constantly talking about weight, body shape, or appearance.  

• Diet Restrictions: following extremely restrictive diets, eliminating entire food groups, or avoiding social eating situations.  

• Excessive Exercise: engaging in compulsive and intense exercise routines, even when injured or fatigued.  

• Avoidance of Meals: consistently skipping meals or making excuses to avoid eating with others.  

• Social Withdrawal: avoiding social gatherings that involve food or body exposure.  

• Mood Swings: experiencing mood fluctuations, irritability, or heightened anxiety around food and eating.  

• Constant Self-Critique: being overly critical of oneself, often tied to body image and appearance.  

• Increased Social Media Use: excessive viewing of social media content relating to health and beauty.   

Early Intervention: Our Outpatient program offers an early intervention approach , which can prevent the disorder from worsening and becoming more challenging to treat.  

Flexibility: Kinark’s Outpatient program allow individuals to receive treatment while maintaining their daily routines. This flexibility is crucial for students, working professionals, and those with family responsibilities.  

Community Support: Kinark’s Outpatient program may incorporate group therapy and peer support, which can be invaluable in the recovery process. Sharing experiences and receiving support from others facing similar challenges can boost motivation and provide a sense of community.  

Family Involvement: Eating disorders can have a profound impact on families. Kinark’s Outpatient programs typically involves family members in therapy and education, helping them understand the disorder and learn how to support their loved ones in recovery.  

Real-Life Application: In our outpatient program, individuals learn and practice coping strategies in their real-life environments. This helps them apply what they have learned to everyday situations, making recovery more sustainable.  

Continuum of Care: Kinark’s Outpatient program can serve as a bridge between inpatient or intensive outpatient care and full recovery in the community. We provide ongoing support and treatment as individuals transition back into their regular lives.   

Personalized Care: Kinark’s Outpatient program can be tailored to an individual’s specific needs. Our treatment plans are often flexible and adaptable and can address co-occurring mental health conditions, which are common in eating disorder cases.  

Reduced Stigma: Kinark’s Outpatient program provides a non-judgmental, recovery-oriented approach to Eating disorders treatment.   

Holistic Approach: Our Outpatient program values a holistic approach to treatment, addressing not only the physical aspects of the disorder, but also the emotional, psychological, and social factors contributing to it. This comprehensive approach recovery and well-being. 

Mental Health Clinician – The clinician’s role is to provide evidence-based treatment, guidance and support to individuals who struggle with food-related issues. The clinician works closely with the Dietician and Nurse to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to the individual’s unique needs to ensure comprehensive care that addresses all aspects of their health and well-being.  

Registered Nurse – The nurse is responsible for assessing and monitoring patients’ medical conditions and providing education and support to both clients and their families. The nurse plays a critical role in monitoring patients’ progress and consulting with the client’s primary care practitioners, making necessary adjustments to treatment plans to ensure the best possible outcomes.   

Registered Dietitian – The registered dietitian assesses the individual’s nutritional needs, developing personalized meal plans, and educating them about healthy eating habits. They also monitor their progress and adjust the meal plan as needed. Overall, the goal of a registered dietitian is to help the individual achieve and maintain a healthy relationship with food and their body. 

Our priority is to see clients as quickly as possible. After submitting your referral, you can expect a call from our team within two weeks, at which time we will discuss your treatment start date.

The first three meetings will involve a medical and psychosocial evaluation, as well as various inventories (is there another word we can use here?)  to support diagnosis and treatment.   

During this assessment period, you can expect to meet with our interprofessional team which consists of:  

• Registered Dietitian,   

• Registered Nurse,   

• and a Mental Health Clinician.   

The team will then collaboratively develop your individualized treatment plan and discuss it with you. Our programs are evidence-based (psycho-education, cognitive-behavioral therapy, family-based therapy, emotion-focused family therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy), and we collaborate with care partners to provide comprehensive care.   

Program length is approximately 16 weeks. Your length of stay in the program will be  assessed and determined on an individual basis.   

Sessions are approximately 1 hour in length and occur 1-2 times per week based on your treatment plan.  

What we need from you: 

• Regular attendance for scheduled appointments 

• A commitment to practicing learned techniques and strategies between sessions 

• On-going dedicated engagement in your treatment plan and goals 

• Participation in regular follow-up appointments with a primary care provider 

• Active engagement and participation from you and your family in treatment sessions 

What you can expect from us: 

• Regular attendance at your scheduled appointments 

• A specialized team who provides ongoing evidence-based modalities and treatments for eating disorders 

• A collaborative approach to the development of your treatment plan and goals 

• A respectful, caring, accepting place of recovery