November 04, 2025

EP 250.5: Eating Disorder Treatment Options ~ What's Best for You? (6 Levels of Care Explained) Must Listen Fav!

17 minutes

Girlfriend, maybe you've been struggling with disordered eating for decades and you don't want to put your life on hold to go into a full-blown treatment facility. Maybe you have kids at home, aging parents to care for, or a career you can't walk away from. Or maybe you don't even know what options are available, so you just stay stuck thinking you'll manage it all by yourself.

Girl, you weren't meant to do this alone.

In this episode, host Lindsey Nichol breaks down the 6 different levels of eating disorder treatment and care - from outpatient support to acute medical stabilization - so you can understand what's available and what might be best for YOUR unique situation and life circumstances.

Lindsey shares her own treatment journey through IOP and day treatment, and why finding the right level of care that fits your life is so important. Whether you're a busy mom, working woman, caregiver, or someone who simply can't leave home for residential treatment, this episode will help you understand all your options - including recovery coaching as a personalized support option.

You deserve a life free from the chains of disordered eating. And it starts with knowing what treatment options are out there.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

The 6 Levels of Eating Disorder Treatment:

Level 1: Outpatient Care

What it is: Weekly sessions with a care team while living at home

Who it's for: Those deemed medically stable who need ongoing support

What's included: Dietitian, therapist, medical doctor, support groups

Best for: Maintaining school, work, family life while getting treatment

Level 2: Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

What it is: Multiple sessions per week in specialized settings

Where it happens: Treatment centers or hospitals

What's included: Group therapy, individual therapy, structured programming

Lindsey's experience: This is where she spent the majority of her recovery

Level 3: Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) / Day Treatment

What it is: 5-6 days per week, 6-8 hours per day

Structure: More intensive than outpatient, includes meals and therapies

What happens: You return home in the evenings

Lindsey's experience: Combined with IOP while in school - included therapies and support groups

Level 4: Residential Treatment

What it is: 24-hour care and supervision (inpatient experience)

Who it's for: Those medically stable but requiring intensive support

Where it happens: Medical hospitals, centers, or homelike facilities

Structure: Full-time structured environment with comprehensive care

Level 5: Inpatient Hospitalization

What it is: Most appropriate for high-intensity medical/psychiatric needs

Structure: 24-hour medical psychiatric facility

Who it's for: Those not responding to other treatments, experiencing self-harm, severe depression, or needing intensive medical oversight

Level 6: Acute Medical Stabilization

What it is: The highest level of critical care for eating disorders

Who it's for: Those medically unstable due to severity or medical complications

Primary focus: Physical stabilization before moving to other treatment levels

Plus: Recovery Coaching as a Treatment Option

What it is: One-on-one virtual support for guided accountability and actionable recovery steps

Who it's for: Those who can't or won't go into residential but need support

How it works: Weekly sessions focused on action, not diagnosis

Can be layered: Works alongside therapy, dietitian, and medical care

Key Takeaways:

✨ Treatment is personalized - what works for someone else may not work for you, and that's okay

✨ You don't have to choose residential - there are multiple levels of care that allow you to stay home

✨ Recovery is NOT black and white - you can get support at various levels based on your life circumstances

✨ You weren't meant to do this alone - even if you can't go to residential, you need SOME level of support

✨ Everyone's recovery is their own - your journey is unique and valid regardless of which level of care you choose

✨ Recovery coaching is a valid option - especially when layered with other care team members

✨ You owe you, sister - putting yourself first isn't selfish, it's necessary

✨ More options exist now - compared to years ago, there are so many more treatment options available

Powerful Quotes from This Episode:

"You deserve a life that's free from the chains of disordered eating"

"Maybe you don't even know what options are available for you, so you just stay here thinking you're gonna manage it all by yourself"

"Everyone's recovery is your recovery. Your journey is your journey"

"What's best for you might not be best for me. What worked for me might not work for someone else"

"You weren't meant to do life alone. You definitely weren't meant to do the hard things alone"

"You owe you, sister"

"It's not black and white. There's so many other options"

"What matters is that you're standing up for you"

"You are worth it. You deserve it"

"Everyone else in your life is gonna benefit when you can start putting you first"

Important Information About Each Treatment Level:

When to Consider Outpatient:

You're medically stable

You can maintain work/school/family responsibilities

You need ongoing support and accountability

You're in maintenance or relapse prevention phase

When to Consider IOP:

You need more structure than weekly appointments

You can still live at home

You benefit from group support

You need multiple therapy modalities

When to Consider PHP/Day Treatment:

You need daily structure but can return home at night

You require meal support

You need more intensive care than IOP

You're transitioning from residential or preventing residential

When to Consider Residential:

You need 24-hour support but are medically stable

Your home environment isn't supportive of recovery

You need complete immersion in treatment

Outpatient options haven't been effective

When to Consider Inpatient:

You're experiencing severe symptoms

There's self-harm or suicidal ideation

You need medical and psychiatric oversight

You require the highest level of structure

When to Consider Recovery Coaching:

You can't or won't do residential treatment

You have kids, aging parents, or career obligations

You want actionable support, not diagnosis

You're looking for relapse prevention

You want to layer support with existing care team

What Makes Recovery Coaching Different:

Not therapy: Coaches don't diagnose or address trauma - they focus on forward action

Accountability structure: Weekly sessions keep you committed to your recovery goals

Actionable support: Focused on practical steps like facing fear foods, getting off the scale, eating out with family

Virtual and flexible: Fits into busy lives with kids, work, caregiving responsibilities

Layered care: Works alongside dietitians, therapists, and medical professionals

Relapse prevention: Helps maintain recovery after intensive treatment

Questions to Ask When Choosing Treatment:

What level of medical stability am I at currently?

What are my life circumstances? (Kids, work, caregiving, school)

Can I leave home for treatment, or do I need to stay local?

What treatment options are available in my area?

What does my insurance cover?

Do I need 24-hour support or can I manage with weekly sessions?

Am I willing to commit to doing the work required at each level?

What has or hasn't worked for me in the past?

Do I have a support system at home?

What does my healthcare team recommend?

Action Steps After This Episode:

Assess where you are: Are you medically stable? What symptoms are you experiencing?

Talk to a healthcare professional: Schedule appointments with your doctor to discuss which level of care is appropriate

Research local options: Google treatment centers, IOP programs, PHP programs in your area

Consider online options: Virtual recovery coaching, online support groups, telehealth therapy

Build your care team: Even if you can't do residential, assemble support (dietitian, therapist, coach, doctor)

Stop doing this alone: Commit to getting SOME level of support starting today

Reach out: If recovery coaching interests you, visit lindseynickel.com to learn more

Who This Episode Is For:

This episode is essential listening if you:

Don't know what eating disorder treatment options exist

Think residential is your only option (and you can't do it)

Have been doing this alone and need to know what help is available

Are a busy mom, working woman, or caregiver who can't leave home

Have been in treatment before and need to know what's next

Are researching options for a loved one struggling with disordered eating

Want to understand the difference between IOP, PHP, and residential

Need permission to choose the treatment level that fits YOUR life

Are looking for alternatives to inpatient treatment

Want to layer recovery coaching with your existing care team

Resources Mentioned:

National Alliance for Eating Disorders: Information on treatment levels and resources

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): Comprehensive treatment information and support

Recovery Coaching with Lindsey: One-on-one virtual support, weekly sessions, actionable recovery tools

Her Best Self Facebook Community: Support group for women in recovery

Important Reminder:

Lindsey is NOT a medical professional. The information in this episode is based on her personal experience and education but should not replace consultation with a licensed healthcare professional. Always speak with your doctor, therapist, or treatment team to determine which level of care is most appropriate for your specific situation.

Connect with Lindsey

Website: www.herbestself.co

Private Facebook Community: Her Best Self Society www.herbestselfsociety.com

Client Applications: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms

About the Host

Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom.

If this episode helped you identify the core beliefs feeding your eating disorder, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs.

*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

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By Lindsey Nichol - Certified Health Coach, Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, Food Freedom Coach, Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy Certified

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