Leading Body Dsymorphic Disorder Treatment Center

Learn more about treatment for body dysmorphic disorder at The Refuge, A Healing Place

Body dysmorphic disorder is a complex and often misunderstood mental health challenge. People who develop body dysmorphic disorder experience persistent and pervasive negative thoughts about the size, shape, or appearance of their body. These thoughts can prompt them to adopt a variety of maladaptive behaviors, which can put them at risk for continued psychological suffering and physical harm.

Symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder include a preoccupation with perceived physical defects or flaws, as well as misguided attempts to fix or conceal these shortcomings. Body dysmorphic disorder is associated with a host of negative experiences, including low self-esteem, poor sense of self-worth, and heightened risk for suicidal thoughts or actions.

At The Refuge, we understand the overwhelming impact that body dysmorphic disorder can have on a person’s health and well-being, and we’ve developed specialized programming that can help. Our programming addresses the underlying, and often traumatic, concerns that may lead someone to struggle with body dysmorphic disorder. Our multifaceted approach can empower you to achieve true healing in mind, body, and spirit.

Why consider receiving treatment for body dysmorphic disorder at The Refuge

Failing to seek effective treatment for body dysmorphic disorder puts you at risk for significant harm. The negative thought patterns and self-defeating behaviors that are characteristic of body dysmorphic disorder can damage your health and undermine your ability to live a satisfying, independent life. Without proper care, your continued struggles with body dysmorphic disorder can have a negative impact on your relationships with family members and friends, depriving you of essential support at a time when you need it most.

Depending upon the nature and severity of your symptoms, you may engage in behaviors such as unhealthy dieting, excessive exercise, substance use, or cosmetic medical procedures, all of which can endanger your physical health. You may find it difficult or impossible to perform to expectation at work or in school, which can lead to academic failure, job loss, and chronic unemployment. The resultant sense of shame, guilt, and diminished self-esteem can push you into a downward spiral of despair.

However, when you receive effective comprehensive care for body dysmorphic disorder at a reputable treatment center such as The Refuge, you have the opportunity to avoid these harmful effects and to heal from any damage that you may have already experienced. At The Refuge, you can learn to manage your symptoms, regain control of your thoughts and actions, and resume your pursuit of the promising future that you deserve.

Our treatment center’s philosophy and benefits

At The Refuge, we use an effective three-pronged approach to help individuals who have been struggling with body dysmorphic disorder achieve true healing in mind, body, and spirit. This whole-person approach reflects our belief that our clients are more than just the sum of their symptoms, and that each person is worthy of living a healthy, recovered life.

Our compassionate staff creates unique treatment plans that include the latest in science-backed clinical treatment modalities and affirming evidence-based supports. We are proud to offer a completely individualized treatment experience for each person who chooses to heal at The Refuge.

Types of body dysmorphic disorder treatment offered at The Refuge, A Healing Place

The Refuge features a wide range of treatment options for clients who are struggling with body dysmorphic disorder. When you’re admitted to our residential treatment center, you will undergo a number of assessments in order to make sure our treatment team understands how best to treat you and how to optimally address your struggles with body dysmorphic disorder. Our medical examination will determine whether you are struggling with physical health complications, while our psychiatric evaluation will assist our clinicians in diagnosing any co-occurring disorders that may be present.

Your treatment team will take the results of these assessments and work with you and your loved ones to create a plan of care that will guide you as you begin healing from body dysmorphic disorder at our treatment center.

Medication may be used at the beginning of your stay at our body dysmorphic disorder treatment center if it can help ease or alleviate certain symptoms. The type of medication you are prescribed, and the amount of time you continue to receive it, will be based solely on what’s best for you. Your medication usage will be closely monitored by your body dysmorphic disorder treatment team and will be modified as needed to ensure that you’re receiving the maximum benefit.

Individual therapy is provided at our body dysmorphic disorder treatment center to address personal issues related to your struggles with this disorder. It also serves to identify links between body dysmorphic disorder and any co-occurring disorders that you may be suffering from. Our therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which addresses errors or distortions in thinking. CBT can help you replace maladaptive thoughts with healthier ways of evaluating and responding to your environment. Our other clinical specialties include acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), accelerated resolution therapy (ART), eating disorder intuitive therapy (EDIT), and trauma-informed yoga.

Group therapy is a common type of therapy for individuals who are healing from body dysmorphic disorder at our treatment center. Among its many benefits, group therapy can help you form productive relationships with others who are receiving care for body dysmorphic disorder, learn to work together to solve problems, and develop healthy ways of processing difficult emotions. While you are in treatment for body dysmorphic disorder at The Refuge, you’ll take part in several types of group therapy. For example, process groups discuss issues related to a common theme or co-occurring problems, such as trauma, substance abuse, or suicidal ideation. Our skills-based groups focus on topics like developing new coping strategies, re-entering social situations, avoiding risks for triggering body dysmorphic disorder relapse, and identifying strategies for dealing with co-occurring conditions.

Family therapy is an important aspect of healing from body dysmorphic disorder at our treatment center. We understand that your struggles with body dysmorphic disorder may have impacted your family and friends. We also appreciate the important role that your loved ones can play in the healing process. During family sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss how body dysmorphic disorder has affected you, your treatment, and the progress you’ve made. Your loved ones will have the chance to discuss ways in which body dysmorphic disorder has affected their lives as well. They’ll also learn how best to support you during and after your body dysmorphic disorder treatment.

Nutritional support is provided by registered dietitians, and all programming is reviewed by the attending physician. If your struggles with body dysmorphic disorder have involved disordered eating or related challenges, our intensive culinary program can help you develop a healthier relationship with food. Services include weekly meetings with registered dietitians to assess your nutritional improvement.

Our body dysmorphic disorder treatment center also offers a variety of best in class methods designed to complement traditional therapies. Based on need and availability, these therapeutic methods may include the following:

• Detoxification (as needed)
• Psychiatric support and medication management
• Individual, group, and family therapy
• Medical and psychiatric supervision
• 24/7 nursing support
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Exposure outings
• Supportive meals and meal preparation
• Group shopping trips
• Nutritional counseling and education
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• 12-Step education and support
• Therapeutic massage and yoga
• Art therapy

Continuing care and levels of treatment for body dysmorphic disorder at The Refuge, A Healing Place

At The Refuge, we understand that your time with us will be just one part of your healing journey. To ensure that you’re best prepared to continue your recovery from body dysmorphic disorder after you have completed your time in our care, we offer robust discharge planning services.

Members of your treatment team will begin to plan for your discharge shortly after you enter treatment. Starting the process early ensures that we can document your successes, identify areas of need, and determine the types and levels of support that will best serve you during the post-treatment phase of your recovery from body dysmorphic disorder.

When you are nearing the end of your time in our care, you’ll receive your detailed discharge plan. Depending upon your progress with us, this plan may include professional referrals, connections with community-based services, and information about all other relevant sources of support.

In addition, when you complete treatment for body dysmorphic disorder at The Refuge, you become eligible for one year of aftercare support. This free service includes biweekly calls, help finding therapists and support groups, and connections within our nationwide alumni network.

From the day you arrive on our campus until long after you have returned home, our goal at The Refuge is to ensure that you get the help you need to experience true and lasting recovery from body dysmorphic disorder.