FAQ
You have questions. We have answers. Search through this helpful information, organized by topic. If you don’t find what you’re looking, please feel free to contact us directly.
- Admissions
Admissions
Will my insurance cover my stay?
Center for Change is a contracted provider for many insurance plans. We also can do a “single case agreement” in some cases with other insurance companies. Most insurance companies also have out-of-network benefits for treatment in those cases where we are not an in-network provider. Please contact our admissions department, and they will be happy to call your insurance company for more information.
Does Center for Change accept Medicaid or Medicare?
We are contracted with some states to accept Medicaid and can do single case agreements with other states. The Center is accredited by The Joint Commission, but at this time we are not CMS-certified for Medicare.
What do I need to do to attend your facility?
One of the first steps is to call our admissions department, as they can answer any questions you might have. The second step includes having an assessment (over the phone or in person) with one of our professional, experienced therapists. The assessment will give us information to make recommendations on the level of care needed and about whether or not Center for Change would be a good fit for your situation. A clinical director makes final decisions on clinical clearance for admission into one of our programs. In some cases, we may request medical records as part of the assessment process.
What should I bring with me to treatment?
Please contact the admissions department for a complete list of items to bring and not to bring.
Can family and friends contact me while I’m in treatment?
Family and friends are welcome and encouraged to send email to our clients. Adult patients will be allowed to access their personal email and adolescents will be assigned an email for their use while here. Phone calls and visits should be coordinated with the client and the therapist. When you are calling the Center or coming to visit a client you will need that individual’s patient code. Patient codes are not required for email messages.
Do you accept clients from out of state?
Yes. Center for Change is well known and respected throughout the US as well as internationally. We have clients from all over the country and many parts of the world.
How can I pay for treatment?
Private insurance is accepted and we are a preferred provider for many insurance companies. Discounts are available for self-funded treatment, and we accept all major credit cards (excluding Diners Club), personal checks, cash, cashier’s checks and money orders. The Center also works with religious organizations and other nonprofit organizations. Center for Change is proud to be a certified TRICARE provider for our Residential (RTC) level of care. Please contact our admissions department for details.
Who should I contact with questions?
Prior to admission at Center for Change, the primary contact is the admissions department. After admission, the main contract will be the assigned primary therapist.
Does Center for Change treat males?
Although we do not treat males on an inpatient basis, we do accept and treat male clients in our PHP, IOP, and Outpatient programs. For more information or for referrals, contact our admissions department.
Do you accept clients who struggle with binge eating?
Yes, Center for Change treats all types of eating disorders.
- Program Information
Program Information
What aftercare services do you provide?
The Center is committed to providing quality discharge planning and aftercare services for each patient. We work to establish excellent aftercare plans and have a full-time specialist that coordinates with families, parents, physicians, therapists, referring professionals and the patient to ensure ongoing support and treatment for a full recovery. Center for Change offers an intensive three-day workshop called Life Strategies as part of aftercare following a patient’s discharge from the program. In addition, we follow up with every patient for up to five years after discharge from the Center. We also have an alumni program offering activities and avenues for ongoing connection and support.
What levels of care do you offer?
Center for Change offers acute inpatient care, residential care, day treatment (PHP), independent living (ILP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP) and outpatient care. Click the Levels of Care tab in our website menu for more info.
What is the average length of stay?
Treatment is individualized for each patient based on clinical need and individual circumstances, and we offer several different types of programs to address those needs. Please contact our admissions department for more information.
Are adults and adolescents in treatment together?
On the inpatient unit, where the emphasis is on medical stabilization, the adults and adolescents follow the same programming schedule. Once clients advance to the residential (RTC) level of care, adults and adolescents participate in separate treatment programs.
Will I be able to go on a pass with family or friends?
Patients at Center for Change are granted passes for a few hours up to several days. This usually occurs during the residential level of care, and all passes must be approved by the therapist. The length of the pass depends on the circumstance and how a patient is progressing in treatment. Adolescents must be with a family member during their pass, but friends are welcome to join the family during this pass. Adults can go on a pass with a friend while on Phase 3 or Phase 4.
Are the bathrooms locked?
Yes, a member of our staff will assist you in unlocking the bathroom as needed.
How many patients are in a bedroom?
The Center incorporates a very home-like setting. There are no more than three patients in a room on inpatient and no more than two patients on residential. Adults are paired with adults and adolescents with adolescents. Each room either has its own bathroom or a shared bathroom with an adjacent room.
What is the average age of clients at Center for Change?
We serve adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 and adults 18 and older. Many of our clients are between 15 and 30 years of age.
Can I smoke while in treatment?
Although the Center does not allow smoking while in treatment, we can help by providing you with a nicotine patch or other cessation aids, as ordered by the CFC physician.
What does a typical day at Center for Change look like?
You will be very busy while engaged in treatment at Center for Change. Each day is filled with therapeutic activities designed to maximize your time at the Center including individual therapy, group therapy, dietary counseling, experiential activities, skill building classes, structured meals and snacks — all designed to actively treat the eating disorder and help you reclaim your life. While there is no shortage of therapy and active treatment, you will have time in the evening to relax and read a book or just visit with other clients or staff.
- Comprehensive Treatment
Comprehensive Treatment
What if I have a dual diagnosis?
We can help. The treatment team — including the therapists, nurses, doctors and others at Center for Change — has training and experience in treating not only eating disorders but other co-existing disorders. We have extensive experience treating depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, abuse, cross addictions and relationship problems as well.
Do I have to have an eating disorder to receive treatment at Center for Change?
Yes, we are a specialized treatment center for eating disorders. While we treat co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar and trauma, all patients in 24-hour care at the Center have a significant eating disorder.
Can I exercise while in treatment?
Clients at Center for Change are able to exercise once the medical doctor has approved them to do so. Clients participate in experiential therapies such as RIMBA and yoga.
How is family involved?
With our comprehensive focus here at Center for Change, we work to involve families and loved ones as much as possible. To facilitate this, we offer a 5-day Family Week program once a month and strongly encourage family members, spouses and loved ones to take an active part.
What type of medical staff will I see during my stay?
Center for Change has a 24-hour nursing staff, a regular physician, APRN and medical staff as well as a psychiatrist.
Is the Center affiliated with any religion?
No, the Center is not affiliated with any specific theology or religion. We do, however, feel spirituality is an important part of recovery and our approach is designed for individuals of various religious faiths or spiritual frameworks.
What types of recreation activities will I participate in?
The Center’s Recreation Therapy Program includes recreation, leisure counseling and experiential and expressive therapies. The program features experiential interventions which include activities and challenges to help facilitate client changes in attitude, behavior and self-esteem. Structured recreation therapy sessions include volunteer service, leisure skill building and educational outings. The program also includes art focused recreational therapy, music therapy, sand tray therapy, ropes challenge courses and other experiential therapies. Through involvement in these activities, clients develop social skills and experience self-discovery, self-acceptance, self-nurturing and spiritual well-being.
How does education work at the Center?
Center for Change has an on-site high school that has been accredited by AdvancED (NWAC) and the SACS Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement since 2004. As a result, patients who are in grades 7-12 attend our private, on-site school, Cascade Mountain High School. Our credits are accepted by virtually all reputable secondary school systems.
- Dietary
Dietary
(visit our Therapies page for more info on Nutrition Therapy)
Do you accommodate to a vegetarian diet?
Yes. Center for Change can, and does, accept vegetarian patients. Important information is obtained pertaining to the vegetarianism, including spiritual or religious beliefs, family history, etc., and then an appropriate dietary plan is formulated. We ask all our patients to eat a wide variety of foods and we serve a wide variety of meals, including some with meat products. Patients who are deemed appropriate for a vegetarian meal plan can choose not to eat meat and may drink a liquid supplement as a replacement. Throughout the treatment process, we work to understand the spiritual connection to the patient’s dietary preference and help the patient explore which parts of the vegetarianism might be connected to spiritual beliefs and which parts might be connected to the eating disorder.
What types of meals are served?
The meals served at the Center for Change are designed to help clients overcome their fear of foods and fully recover from their eating disorder. In order to do this, a great variety is offered to help patients gain a healthy relationship with food. Meals and snacks are designed to reinforce the concepts of intuitive eating that are taught at Center for Change with the goal of teaching clients to eventually rely on internal signals to help guide them in their food choices. In turn, this will help them eat a well-balanced diet free from unnecessary food restrictions and diet rules.
How are goal weights determined?
Goals weights are determined based on the Set Point Theory. Set Point refers to a certain weight or weight range where the body is most comfortable and naturally wants to maintain. The dietitians at Center for Change are very experienced in finding individual Set Point ranges and will use a variety of factors i.e. weight history, genetics, metabolic testing, etc. to estimate a Set Point range. If patients begin the program underweight, they must first reach a minimally healthy weight. Once eating patterns and metabolism have normalized, dietitians will help patients recognize and follow hunger and fullness cues in order to allow the body to return to its natural weight; however, it is ultimately the natural and healthy body of an individual that defines where a healthy weight range is for them.
What if I need tube feeding?
Re-nourishment of the body to protect the life of the patient, and re-nourishment of the brain, is the number one initial concern in treatment. As the brain is re-nourished, all the other therapies and treatments can begin to work. Toward that reality, on occasion a patient may need N/G tube feeding, which is used occasionally at the Center. Feeding tubes are only utilized if necessary when a patient is unable to take in an appropriate amount of nutrition through regular food or supplementation. N/G tube feeding may be chosen as a helpful tool for various reasons, including refusal or inability to eat food or drink supplements, purging or other interfering medical concerns. The length of time a feeding tube is placed is based on individualized circumstances, but the goal is for clients to return to regular eating as soon possible.
What if I have food allergies?
The dietitians and kitchen staff at Center for Change are trained to help those who may have food allergies. During the admissions process, food allergies should be discussed and, on rare occasions, verification from your doctor may be required.
What is Intuitive Eating?
Intuitive eating (also known as “Normal Eating” or “Mindful Eating”) teaches individuals how to look inside themselves and listen to internal cues. It also provides guidance on how to form a healthy relationship with food. Intuitive eating is a non-diet approach to eating – there are no rules to break and no temptations to resist. Intuitive eating helps our patients get back to a healthy and natural relationship with food. While we embrace the concept of intuitive eating, we also know that becoming “intuitive” in eating is not easy when one’s eating has previously been directed by their illness. Therefore, patients at the Center are given structure as they are being re-nourished and work toward an eventual goal of intuitive eating for most clients.
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