Do you or someone you know have concerns about eating, weight and/or attractiveness? These concerns can lead to distracting preoccupations with bodies, self-esteem, well-being, and vitality. These preoccupations can become serious and lead to significant health problems.
Food & Eating Services at Vaden
Struggling with food and eating can be painful, frightening, and lead to feelings of guilt or shame; however, the first step to overcoming any problem is acknowledging that you have one. This is often a difficult step. An important aspect of this is realizing that your eating behaviors and distressed feelings are impacting your food choices, as well as other aspects of your life. Feeling like you’re not ‘sick enough’ is a common feeling, but you deserve support wherever you are on the eating & body concerns continuum.
The next step is to talk with professionals who are experienced in helping students who struggle with eating. Treatment can comprise many elements, including education, individual and/or group counseling, nutrition counseling, and, when needed, medical monitoring. Proven approaches can effectively prevent, reduce, or stop troublesome behaviors while helping people develop new and positive ways of coping with underlying feelings.
Disordered eating is more common. Sometimes a person’s attitude toward food, weight, and their body leads to restrictive eating habits and/or rigid and excessive exercise, both which can jeopardize health and well-being.
Eating disorders are less common, but quite serious. These are the conditions known as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, and can be life-threatening.
I Have Eating & Body Concerns... What Do I Do?
Feel free to take the NEDA screening tool or schedule an initial visit with a CAPS therapist to learn more. Any eating or body concerns are welcome; you don’t have to be ‘sick enough’ to receive care.
Who do you want to be on your support team? This can include a medical provider, a therapist, dietitian, family, or friend. You don’t need a referral, you can book directly with Vaden eating disorder medical services.
After a medical check up you can make more informed decisions on connecting to recommended services, and get additional referrals. It is recommended you connect with medical check up in any concern with eating. Mental health and therapy options are also available at CAPS. Call 650.723.3785 and request an initial visit with a CAPS provider for eating concerns.
Vaden offers a multidisciplinary approach to eating disorder care. Please contact Vaden Health Center at 650.498.2336 to learn about options for care.
Any one of our clinicians or case managers can help you find support from outside referrals. For mental health referrals, contact CAPS at 650.723.3785 and ask for an initial visit with a CAPS provider to discuss referrals. You can also come in person to CAPS to make that appt. For medical referrals or dietitian referrals, contact Vaden Health Center at 650.498.2336. For local ED resources you can visit Eating Disorders Resource Center.
Student groups on campus such as the Students Supporting Body Positivity (SSBP) or off-campus support groups are available to support you in recovery. The National Eating Disorder Association has a community resource that can be found at this webpage.
Additional Information About Services
Coordinated support, including Care Management support, is available at Vaden for medical and psychological needs related to eating disorders. Our counseling and medical service teams work together when needed to support you in accessing medical care or in connecting with levels of eating disorder care. For medical care management, the Continuity of Care Nurse at Vaden is available to assist you with managing your medical needs. Please contact Vaden Health Center at 650.498.2336 and ask to be connected to Continuity of Care Nurse for help obtaining the care you need while on campus. For questions related to therapy support, contact CAPS at 650.723.3785 and ask for a CAPS initial visit appointment. The CAPS Clinician can connect you with appropriate support, including CAPS Care Management support, based on your current needs.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers specialized Care Management support to connect students with eating concerns to the most effective level of psychological support and care. CAPS also offers brief therapy, medication management, and groups. Call 650.723.3785 and ask to meet with a CAPS therapist who can help you connect with options.
Vaden has specialist medical providers who can support your health if you are living with eating concerns. No referral is needed, just follow instructions to make a medical appointment and note you are requesting a provider with eating concern specialty.
Eating & Body Concerns Resources
These resources investigate the relationship between the food we eat and good health. They also address how ineffective diets and body image disparagement can lead to serious health problems.
