Jewish Mental Health & Recovery Center for Women • Hollywood, FL
Eating Disorder IOP - Jewish Track
Structured Eating Disorder Treatment That Fits Your Life
An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for eating disorders provides a structured level of clinical care that is more intensive than traditional weekly therapy but less immersive than a Partial Hospitalization Program. At IKANN Wellness, our eating disorder IOP meets 3 to 5 days per week for approximately 3 hours per session, offering a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, nutritional counseling, and skill-building workshops.
Our IOP is designed as both a step-down from PHP and as an entry point for women who are clinically appropriate for outpatient-level eating disorder treatment. Whether you're continuing the work you began in a higher level of care or seeking structured support for the first time, our IOP provides the clinical depth and community connection essential to lasting recovery.
When Recovery Has to Work Around Kashrus
Eating disorder treatment already asks you to rethink your relationship with food.
When you're frum, there's another layer — kashrus isn't optional, and a treatment team that doesn't understand that will create conflict where there shouldn't be any.
At IKANN Wellness, our dietitians know the difference between a halachic food restriction and a clinical one.
They won't ask you to eat something treif to "challenge a food rule."
They'll build your meal plan within the framework you actually live in, including Shabbos meals, yom tov cooking, and the social pressure that comes with both.
Evening IOP sessions are scheduled with Shabbos prep in mind, and nobody here will confuse religious observance with disordered behavior.
Is Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Right for You?
Our eating disorder IOP is designed for women who:
- Are transitioning from PHP or residential treatment and need continued structured support
- Have a stable medical status but require more support than weekly outpatient therapy
- Are managing eating disorder symptoms while maintaining work, school, or family responsibilities
- Have co-occurring conditions (anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance use) alongside an eating disorder
- Are motivated and engaged in recovery but need accountability and community support
- Want flexible scheduling, including evening sessions, that accommodates their daily routine
Core Components of Our Eating Disorder IOP
Individual Therapy
Weekly one-on-one sessions with your dedicated primary therapist provide a confidential space to explore the emotional and psychological roots of your eating disorder. Your therapist works with you on individualized goals using evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, and EMDR.
Group Therapy & Peer Support
Healing doesn't happen in isolation. Our women-only group therapy sessions create a safe community where you can share your experiences, build accountability, and draw strength from others who understand. Groups focus on emotional eating triggers, body image, relationship patterns, and coping strategies.
Nutritional Counseling & Meal Planning
Our registered dietitians work with you to develop a personalized nutrition plan that supports your recovery goals. Sessions include practical skills such as grocery shopping strategies, meal preparation, and navigating social eating situations.
Psychoeducation & Skills Building
Our psychoeducation workshops teach you the science behind eating disorders, emotional regulation techniques, cognitive restructuring skills, and practical strategies for managing triggers in your daily life.
Holistic Therapies
Recovery is about reconnecting with your body in healthy ways. Our IOP integrates holistic modalities including yoga, mindfulness meditation, art therapy, and — where appropriate — equine-assisted therapy to support whole-person healing.
The Eating Patterns Nobody Talks About in the Community
Restriction gets normalized fast in frum circles.
Fasting is built into the calendar.
Cooking elaborate meals for everyone else while barely eating yourself gets praised as selflessness.
The line between chumra and clinical restriction blurs until someone ends up in a medical crisis that "came out of nowhere."
Our team has worked with women navigating exactly this — the guilt of needing to eat when you've been taught that self denial is a virtue, the shame of bingeing after a fast day, the anxiety around eating in front of others at a Shabbos table.
IOP gives you the structure to address these patterns without pulling you out of your life.
Your Weekly Treatment Schedule
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 5:00–8:00 PM | Group therapy + psychoeducation (body image, emotional regulation) |
| Wednesday | 5:00–8:00 PM | Individual therapy + nutritional counseling session |
| Friday | 5:00–8:00 PM | Skills group + holistic therapy (yoga, mindfulness, art therapy) |
Schedule may vary based on clinical needs. Additional sessions available for women requiring 4–5 days per week of support.
IOP vs. PHP — Understanding the Difference
| Feature | IOP | PHP |
|---|---|---|
| Hours per session | 3 hours | 5–6 hours |
| Days per week | 3–5 days | 5 days |
| Therapeutic meals | Meal planning guidance | Supervised therapeutic meals |
| Individual therapy | 1×/week | 3×/week |
| Evening sessions | Available | Daytime only |
| Best for | Step-down from PHP, working professionals, moderate symptoms | Acute symptoms, medical monitoring, step-down from inpatient |
Not sure which level of care is right for you? Call (786) 504-7626 for a free, confidential assessment.
Stepping Down Without Losing Ground
Transitioning from PHP to IOP can feel like losing a safety net, especially when the structure of daily programming was the first time you felt stable around food in years.
That shift hits differently when you're going back to a kitchen where Shabbos cooking starts Thursday night and the expectation is that you're producing a full spread for twelve.
Our IOP is built to hold you through that transition.
Your therapist and dietitian coordinate directly with your PHP team so nothing falls through the cracks, and your IOP schedule accounts for the reality that your week has a hard stop on Friday afternoon.
If a yom tov falls mid week and disrupts your session schedule, we adjust — not as a special accommodation, but because that's how your calendar actually works.
Telehealth Options
We understand that travel, health concerns, or other obligations can make in-person attendance challenging. IKANN Wellness offers telehealth IOP options for women who are unable to attend sessions at our Fort Lauderdale location. Virtual sessions maintain the same clinical quality, group connection, and individualized support as our in-person program.
Insurance & Admissions
IKANN Wellness accepts most major insurance plans for eating disorder IOP services. Our admissions team will verify your benefits, explain your out-of-pocket costs, and handle all necessary paperwork.
To get started, call (786) 504-7626 or email office@ikannwellness.com.
Frequently Asked Questions — Eating Disorder IOP
Can I work or go to school while attending IOP?
Yes. Our IOP is specifically designed to accommodate work, school, and family responsibilities. We offer evening sessions (5:00–8:00 PM) so you can maintain your daily routine while receiving the support you need.
How long does the IOP program typically last?
Most women participate in IOP for 6–12 weeks, though the duration is based on your individual progress and clinical needs. Your treatment team will collaborate with you to determine when you're ready to transition to standard outpatient care.
Do I need to complete PHP before enrolling in IOP?
Not necessarily. While many women step down from PHP to IOP, our IOP also serves as a direct entry point for women who are clinically appropriate for outpatient-level care. A clinical assessment will help determine the right level of care for you.
Is telehealth IOP as effective as in-person treatment?
Research supports the effectiveness of telehealth for eating disorder treatment when it includes individual therapy, group components, and nutritional counseling. Our virtual IOP delivers the same evidence-based programming as our in-person sessions.
What eating disorders can be treated in IOP?
Our IOP treats anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, orthorexia, ARFID, and other specified feeding or eating disorders — particularly when symptoms are moderate or when stepping down from a higher level of care.
Are IOP meals and meal planning kosher?
Yes. All nutritional counseling and meal planning at IKANN Wellness accommodates kashrus. Our dietitians work within your level of observance and will never ask you to compromise halachic standards as part of treatment.
Can IOP sessions be scheduled around Shabbos and yom tov?
Absolutely. Our evening IOP sessions are designed with flexibility for Shabbos preparation, and we adjust scheduling around yom tov and fast days throughout the year.
What if I relapse during a fast day or yom tov?
Fast days and yom tov meals are clinically significant events for women in eating disorder recovery. Your treatment team will work with you proactively before these dates — not reactively after. We help you build a plan that respects halacha while protecting your recovery, and if something goes sideways, your therapist is available to process it at your next session without judgment.