Donate

About

Blue Ridge Eating Disorder Care Center, a facility for adolescent girls, is situated in pastoral Saylorsburg in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Just 30 miles north of Allentown, our adolescent eating disorder program is less than 90 minutes from Philadelphia and only a two-hour drive from NYC and New Jersey communities.

Blue Ridge Eating Disorder Care Center is committed to the recovery of young women with disordered eating. Located in the serene Pennsylvania countryside, our team of professionals offers individualized treatment for girls diagnosed with ARFID, anorexia, bulimia, OSFED, binge eating, and more.

Our priority at Blue Ridge is to provide young women with nutritional therapy, individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, educational support, and medical care while they build relationships with their peers and staff. At Blue Ridge, families are our priority, and we believe long-lasting recovery is built on a collaborative approach that is family focused. Our home like environment utilizes expressive therapies tailored to the needs of young women, which is vital to finding freedom from disordered eating.

Our multidisciplinary team of eating disorder therapists, nurses, dietitians, and physicians utilize evidence-based approaches to all eating disorder conditions.

Our nurturing environment assists to restore and strengthen emotional well-being, health, and recovery. At the same time, we are focused on team building, communication, family, relationships and body image.

Centrally located between the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, our adolescent residential program is within driving distance from New York City, Philadelphia, Scranton, Pittsburgh, Lancaster, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.

What sets us apart

As Pennsylvania's only treatment facility specialized for adolescents with eating disorders, we pride ourselves on being one of one. We know it’s not the same as the comfort and safety teens feel at home, but we promise a warm atmosphere and guidance that feels like a home away from home. At the same time, our compassionate and kind staff will attend to every patient’s needs or requested accommodations.

Moreover, our rural setting near Allentown is a peaceful retreat to recharge, renew, and practice real behavioral change. Our common areas are cozy and safe spaces for peers to gather, enjoy a meal, watch a movie, or play a fun game. All patient bedrooms are shared spaces and roommates are paired by our clinical staff to optimize each resident's eating disorder recovery experience. We try to integrate a certain element of “cool” into the designed spaces, but our young women can always count on soft sheets, fluffy comforters, pillows, and soft bathroom towels. We understand that little things mean everything and go out of our way to ensure comfy couches, vibrant colors, and inspiring wall art. We understand the vulnerability and fears associated from being apart from family, which is why we describe our supportive residential program as a family-operated retreat.

Most importantly, Blue Ridge Eating Disorder Care Center utilizes evidence based, holistic eating disorder treatment for adolescents and helps ensure lasting recovery.

Treatment Models

Integrative Modalities Therapy (IMT) is utilized in groups at Blue Ridge on a daily basis. IMT is a comprehensive collection of evidence-based interventions for eating disorders in adolescents. IMT includes adolescent friendly group exercises that encourage recovery-oriented behavior, groups that teach young women ways to identify and dispute disordered eating thoughts, and group exercises aimed at coping with anti-fat talk and thin ideal messages.

Key Programs

Each day, young women in our Saylorsburg campus participate in individual therapy, group therapy as well as experiential and expressive therapies. At Blue Ridge, we pride ourselves on taking a holistic approach to eating disorder treatment by integrating evidence-based therapies to address the complex psychological and emotional factors associated with eating disorders in children and adolescents.

Our Pennsylvania residential program is rich in specialized support from a multidisciplinary team that includes a medical director, psychiatrist, registered dietitian, therapists, and behavioral health professionals that are all trained in caring for adolescents with eating disorders.

Clients

Therapy groups are a key part of treatment at Blue Ridge. Group therapy helps encourage individuals to come out of their feelings of isolation, as they are shown that others face some of the same problems. Because of this, eating disorder professionals tend to make group counseling sessions a central part of each recovery plan.

Anecdotally, many former clients also point to group therapy as their favorite part of treatment. The bonds between clients (and therapists) formed in these groups often go on to become lifelong friendships. The varied perspectives and experiences in the group dynamic can help many young women achieve personal growth and work through barriers to recovery.

In our eastern Pennsylvania adolescent residential program, your child will have 24/7 medical supervision while being nurtured to heal, grow, and recover from their eating disorder. Whether they are experiencing anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating, Blue Ridge has become a destination of real healing in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and beyond. Our residential center is designed to get your daughter the best possible treatment outcome through individualized, evidence-based care from our multidisciplinary approach.

When you reach out to our eastern Pennsylvania teen residential program, our compassionate admissions team will explain the entire process. We’ll also listen intently to understand your concerns and answer all you adolescents eating disorder questions.

Moreover, we truly realize the gravity of concerns about your teen and the anxiety you are feeling. While there is a lot to cover including pertinent documentation, doctor/hospital referrals, treatment history, academic information, personal identification, emergency contacts, releases, and health insurance benefits, we’ll do our best to simplify the process.

Once you place the first call, we’ll be with your family every step of the way to help you understand and complete the paperwork needed to proceed.

Co-Occurring Disorder Specialties

Self-Harm, Suicidality, Depression, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, ADHD, Autism & Spectrum Disorders, Medical Stabilization, Allergies, Sensory Challenges

Population Focus

Genders Served

Women

Ages Served

Teens
Youth

Eating Disorders

All Types
Anorexia Nervosa
ARFID
Binge Eating Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
OSFED
Pica
Purging Disorder

Treatment Center

Treatment Levels

Resident Treatment

Insurance

Insurance Accepted

Yes

Insurance Details

Highmark, United Healthcare, Geisinger, Cigna, Aetna, UPMC, TriCare

Sliding Scale Offered

Yes

Additional Photos

Yoga

  • Reconnect with one’s body
    • Promotes mind-body connection, awareness of self, and acceptance.
  • Stress and anxiety reduction
    • Yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system, counteracting our body’s stress responses.
    • Deep, slow breathing can reduce cortisol  levels (stress hormone) and help calm our minds.
  • Intentional movement
    • Yoga provides a space to mindfully enjoy movement and explore a healthy form of exercise.
  • Long term healing
    • Provides a practice to safely and sustainably lean into.
  • A space for community and support
    • Oftentimes, yoga is done in a group setting, which can increase feelings of connection and lower feelings of loneliness.

After the completion of 7–12 yoga classes, a statistically significant decrease in anxiety, depression, and body image disturbance was seen (Hall et al., 2016).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

Some classes are targeted for rigorous exercise, such as “heated flow” or “power flow.” Please be mindful with what you practice, and look for “slow flow,” “yin,” “vinyasa,” and “restorative” yoga in non-heated rooms.

Music

  • Music can have a powerful effect on people’s mood

    • listening to uplifting or calming songs can help reduce stress and anxious feelings.
  • Music stimulates the limbic system, the part of our brain responsible for processing emotions
    • music triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine, which are associated with reducing feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress (which are often associated with eating disorders)
  • Slow tempo music has been shown to decrease cortisol, our stress hormone, as well as lower blood pressure and reduce heart rate.
  • Music increases the brains neuroplasticity, enhancing brain functions like mood regulation, decision making, and memory.

A study done by Mindlab International revealed that the song “Weightless” by Marconi Union resulted in a 65% reduction in participants’ overall anxiety (Dr. David Lewis-Hodgson).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

  • Ludovico Einaudi
  • Claude Debussy
  • Johann Sebastian Bach
  • José González
  • Laraaji
  • Bill Evans
  • Vance Joy
  • The Paper Kites
  • Moby
  • Tycho

Aromatherapy

  • Aromatherapy can be a helpful, low- cost (or free) tool for people managing eating disorders.
  • Aromatherapy involves using essential oils to help manage emotions and restore balance.
  • Scents can help ground people, encouraging mindfulness about physical and emotional sensations.
  • Can promote a tranquil environment and give a sense (& scent) of peace.
    • creates an atmosphere for individuals to feel safe in processing emotions

Lavender has been shown to reduce anxiety levels. It is seen as a “anxiolytic” solution to providing a coping method for those with anxiety disorders (Yoo & Park, 2023).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

 

  • Lavender: calm, sleep, relax
  • Chamomile: calm
  • Rose: anxiety reduction
  • Lemon: energy, nausea reduction, concentration
  • Orange: brighten, uplift
  • Jasmine: anxiety reduce, sleep
  • Peppermint: alertness
  • Ylang ylang: calming, stress and anxiety reduction
  • Rosemary: focus

Art

  • Art can help provide a safe space for communication.
  • It can promote a sense of relaxation, and become a calming, meditative like experience (especially in “flow state”).
  • Gives an outlet and coping mechanism for managing difficult emotions.
  • Helps develop healthy habits and routines for self-management.
  • Increases an individuals sense of awareness and understanding of their emotions and thoughts.

Art can boost cognitive function, emotional resilience and self-confidence. It has also been shown to reduce stress and aid in conflict resolution (Hudson University, 2024).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

  • Coloring books
  • Digital coloring or drawing
  • Collaging
  • Sketchbook/journaling/ diary
  • Painting
  • Water coloring
  • Air dry clay (model magic) or traditional clay (ceramics)
  • Photography (use your phone!)
  • So much more!

Creative Journaling & Writing

  • Journaling allows space for self reflection, and emotional release.
  • Free writing can help you connect to your inner voice without judgment.
    • This can look like a steam on consciousness, a short story, or even poetry.
  • Both of these can give you space to problem solve, and look at a situation from a new angle.
  • Try out a prompt, or guided writing exercise if free writing isn’t your thing.
    • Examples & resources below!

Positive writing has been shown to promote positive emotions, as well as positive cognitive mechanisms in the general population (Lai et al., 2023).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

  • What are three things I’m grateful for today?
  • Write a letter to your future self. What do you want to tell them?
  • Write about a positive affirmation you want to start telling yourself.
  • How do you like to relax? Write about your favorite way to unwind.
  • What does “peace” look like to you? How can you bring more of it into your life?
  • What is something that always makes you laugh or brings you joy?

Self-Care / Self-Talk

Positive Self Talk

  • Positive affirmations are short, encouraging statements that can help build our self-esteem and challenge negative thoughts.
  • Repeating these statements daily can help foster a more loving relationship with yourself over time.
    • “Mirror-work” is when you look into the mirror and say kind, positive affirmations to yourself. It might feel awkward at first.
    • Try statements such as “I am enough,” “I am deserving of all the good things life has to offer,” or “I am strong, capable, and confident in everything I do.”
  • This can help build mental resilience, making it easier to cope with challenges and setbacks.
  • They can elevate your mood and promote a more optimistic view of life.
  • They help build confidence and self-worth by focusing on your strengths and capabilities.

Self Care

  • Self-care directly impacts emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.
  • Engaging in regular self care practices helps maintain balance and resilience, ensuring we can cope with life’s challenges.
  • Regular self-care allows the body and mind to recover, recharge, and maintain a sense of calm.
  • Taking care of yourself helps prevent burnout by ensuring you have the energy and mental capacity to meet the demands of life.
    • Without regular self care, you may become overwhelmed, leading to fatigue, frustration, and decreased productivity.
  • Giving yourself mental space helps clear your mind, improving focus, decision-making, and problem-solving.
  • Allows you to engage in activities that bring you joy, pleasure, and fulfillment. These experiences elevate mood and provide moments of peace and happiness.

Positive Self Talk

Affirming personal values has been linked to boosting ones happiness and meaning in life (Nelson et al., 2014). MRI’s show that self- affirmations affect brain activity! (Cascio et al., 2015).

Self Care

“Engaging in a self- care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, improve energy and more. From a physical health perspective, it has also been clinically proven to reduce heart disease, stroke and cancer” (Glowiak, 2024).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

POSITIVE SELF TALK

 

SELF CARE

  • Up to personal preference, ideas listed in the guide
  • Sleep: Make sure you get enough hours in
  • Making time for hobbies: painting, gardening, etc.
  • Doing chores: cleaning dishes, doing laundry, cleaning space, decluttering
  • Spending time outdoors: taking nature walks, sitting in a park
  • Being with people you love: friends, family, partners
  • Reading or learning: something of interest, and limiting technology/screen time
  • Personal care: shower, bath, deep breathing, meditation, massaging
  • Treating yourself: occasionally indulging yourself with something you love (ex: buying a new book, or a coffee from your favorite shop)
  • Mental care: attending peer support groups (for free with ANAD!), going to therapy (we can help connect you with someone)