What Is an Eating Disorder PHP?
A Partial Hospitalization Program for eating disorders is the highest level of outpatient care available — sometimes referred to as "day treatment." At IKANN Wellness, our eating disorder PHP provides 5–6 hours of structured clinical programming each day, 5 days per week, including therapeutic meal support, individual therapy, group sessions, nutritional counseling, and holistic healing modalities.
Unlike residential treatment, PHP allows you to return home each evening. This means you can practice the skills you're learning in real time — preparing meals in your own kitchen, navigating your own grocery store, and facing your triggers in your actual environment with the clinical support to process each experience the following day.
Our PHP is designed for women who need more intensive support than our IOP can provide, whether you're stepping down from inpatient care, experiencing an escalation in symptoms, or beginning treatment for the first time with significant clinical needs.
Who Benefits from Eating Disorder PHP?
Our PHP may be the right choice if you are:
- Transitioning from an inpatient or residential eating disorder program and need continued daily structure
- Experiencing medical complications related to your eating disorder that require close monitoring
- Struggling with severe restriction, frequent binge-purge cycles, or other behaviors that significantly impact daily functioning
- Dealing with co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or substance use alongside your eating disorder
- Not making adequate progress in less intensive outpatient treatment
- In need of medication stabilization and ongoing psychiatric oversight
A Day in Our Eating Disorder PHP
Every day in our PHP is thoughtfully structured to address emotional, behavioral, and nutritional recovery:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | Morning check-in & mindfulness practice |
| 9:30 AM | Therapeutic breakfast with meal support from clinical staff |
| 10:15 AM | Individual therapy session (3×/week) or process group |
| 11:30 AM | Psychoeducation workshop (body image, emotional regulation, CBT skills) |
| 12:30 PM | Therapeutic lunch with guided meal support |
| 1:15 PM | Nutritional counseling or holistic therapy (yoga, art therapy, equine therapy) |
| 2:30 PM | Group therapy — skills-based or process group |
| 3:00 PM | Evening planning, goal-setting, and daily reflection |
Therapeutic Meal Support — Where Real Recovery Happens
One of the most powerful components of our eating disorder PHP is therapeutic meal support. Eating meals in a clinical setting with trained staff may sound intimidating, but for many women, it becomes one of the most transformative parts of treatment.
During therapeutic meals, our clinical team sits with you, supports you through anxiety and distress, helps you identify and challenge the thoughts that arise around food, and models what a nourishing, balanced meal looks like. Over time, you begin to rebuild trust with your own hunger and fullness cues — skills that will carry you through recovery long after treatment ends.
Our registered dietitians create individualized meal plans based on whole-foods principles that are designed to be sustainable and non-restrictive. We don't believe in rigid diets or one-size-fits-all food plans. Instead, we focus on teaching you to nourish your body in a way that feels manageable, flexible, and ultimately freeing.
Clinical Modalities in Our Eating Disorder PHP
Addressing Co-Occurring Conditions
Eating disorders seldom exist alone. Our PHP is equipped to treat the conditions that most commonly accompany disordered eating in women:
- Anxiety and panic disorders
- Depression and mood disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma
- Substance use and addiction
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Self-harm and suicidal ideation
- Body dysmorphic disorder
By treating these conditions simultaneously within our integrated model, we address the root causes driving your eating disorder — not just the symptoms.
Transitioning from PHP to IOP
Recovery from an eating disorder is a process, not a single event. When you've made sufficient progress in PHP, our clinical team will work with you to create a seamless transition to our Eating Disorder IOP, where you'll continue to receive structured support while gradually increasing your independence. This step-down approach helps ensure that the gains you've made in PHP are solidified and sustainable.
Insurance & Admissions
IKANN Wellness accepts most major insurance plans for eating disorder PHP services. Our admissions team handles insurance verification, prior authorization, and all paperwork — so you can focus entirely on getting well.
To learn more or begin the admissions process, call (786) 504-7626 or email office@ikannwellness.com. We respond to all inquiries within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions — Eating Disorder PHP
How long does the eating disorder PHP program last?
The typical duration is 4–6 weeks, though treatment length is individualized based on your progress and clinical needs. Some women may require a shorter or longer program depending on their circumstances.
What is therapeutic meal support?
Therapeutic meal support involves eating meals in the treatment setting with trained clinical staff who provide guidance, emotional support, and help you challenge disordered thoughts around food. It's one of the most impactful components of eating disorder PHP.
Can I attend PHP while working or going to school?
PHP requires a full-day commitment (typically 9 AM – 3 PM, Monday through Friday), which may not be compatible with a full-time work or school schedule. Many women choose to take a medical leave for the duration of PHP. Our IOP program offers more flexibility for those who need it.
Will I see a psychiatrist during PHP?
Yes. Our board-certified psychiatrist is available for medication evaluation, management, and monitoring throughout your PHP participation. Psychiatric care is integrated into your treatment plan.
What happens after I complete PHP?
Most women transition to our Eating Disorder IOP for continued support, followed by individual outpatient therapy. We create a comprehensive aftercare plan to ensure continuity of care and long-term recovery.