Eating Disorders

Ventura Wellness Behavioral Health offers outpatient eating disorder treatment in Thousand Oaks for adults living with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and related conditions. Care happens in structured day and evening programs, so you can get real clinical support while still sleeping at home, and in many cases while keeping up with work or school. If food, weight or your body has started to run your days, we can help you figure out what level of care fits right now.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911. Fainting, chest pain, a very slow or irregular heartbeat and confusion are medical emergencies. Ventura Wellness Behavioral Health is an outpatient program, not an emergency service.

Eating Disorder Treatment in Thousand Oaks, CA

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, not a matter of willpower or vanity. They usually grow out of a mix of genetics, temperament, stress, trauma and cultural pressure, and they tend to protect against something that feels even harder to face. That is why simply telling someone to “just eat normally” rarely works. Treatment has to address the behaviors and the reasons behind them at the same time.

Our program brings together therapy, psychiatric care and case management in one place in Thousand Oaks. People come to us from across the Conejo Valley, including Westlake Village and Newbury Park, and California residents who can’t make the drive can join through our virtual program.

Eating Disorders We Treat

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia involves restricting food to the point of significantly low body weight for your age and health, along with an intense fear of gaining weight. Many people also over-exercise or have a distorted sense of their own size. Because anorexia affects the heart, bones and hormones, medical monitoring is part of care.

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia is a cycle of eating large amounts of food while feeling out of control, followed by attempts to compensate, such as vomiting, laxatives, fasting or hard exercise. People with bulimia are often at a typical weight, which can keep the disorder hidden for years. Purging can throw off electrolytes, so we coordinate with your medical providers.

Binge eating disorder

Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the U.S. It means recurring episodes of eating far more than intended, with a sense of losing control and strong shame afterward, but without regular purging. Dieting harder usually feeds the cycle. Treatment focuses on regular eating, emotion skills and breaking the shame loop.

ARFID and OSFED

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is restriction driven by fear, texture sensitivity or low interest in food rather than body image. Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) covers serious eating problems that don’t fit neatly into one category, such as atypical anorexia. Both deserve the same attention as the better-known diagnoses.

Signs It May Be Time to Get Help

• Thoughts about food, calories, weight or shape take up most of your day
• Skipping meals, eating in secret, or rigid rules about “safe” foods
• Vomiting, laxative use or exercising to “undo” eating
• Avoiding meals with friends or family
• Dizziness, feeling cold all the time, missed periods or stomach problems
• Anxiety, depression or self-harm alongside the eating behaviors

You don’t need to be underweight, or “sick enough,” to deserve treatment. Eating disorders show up in every body size, gender and background.

How Our Outpatient Eating Disorder Program Works

Within your first three days you’ll have an individualized treatment plan, built with your dedicated therapist, case manager and psychiatric team. We review it every week, because recovery rarely moves in a straight line. Your first psychiatric appointment happens within the first week.

Depending on your needs, your plan may include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy and DBT to interrupt restricting, bingeing and purging, and to build skills for urges and difficult emotions
• Individual therapy to explore what the eating disorder does for you and what might replace it
• Group therapy focused on body image, self-compassion and relapse prevention
• Medication management for co-occurring depression, anxiety or OCD symptoms
• Case management to coordinate with your primary care doctor, a registered dietitian and any other providers

Many people with eating disorders are also dealing with trauma, anxiety or substance use. We treat those together rather than one at a time, and you can learn more on our dual diagnosis page.

PHP, IOP and Virtual Eating Disorder Care

Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) offers about six hours of programming a day and suits people who need a lot of structure around meals and symptoms. Our intensive outpatient program (IOP) runs about three hours a day, several days a week, which makes it a good step down from PHP or a starting point when symptoms are moderate. Both are available in morning, afternoon and evening tracks, in person, online or as a hybrid.

Is Outpatient Care Safe for Me?

Outpatient treatment works best when you are medically stable. Before you start, we’ll ask about your recent weight changes, vital signs, lab results and how often you’re restricting or purging. If your heart rate, blood pressure, electrolytes or weight point to a medical risk, we’ll help arrange a higher level of care first, such as inpatient or residential eating disorder treatment, and welcome you back to step down when you’re ready. This isn’t a rejection. It’s how we keep you safe.

Most commercial insurance plans cover eating disorder treatment at some level, and your coverage depends on your plan. A free insurance check usually comes back the same day.

Eating Disorder Treatment FAQs

What types of eating disorders do you treat?

We treat anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID and other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED), including atypical anorexia. We also treat the anxiety, depression, trauma and substance use that often come with them, so you don’t have to juggle separate programs.

What is the difference between PHP and IOP for eating disorders?

PHP is the more intensive option, with about six hours of treatment a day for people who need close support. IOP runs about three hours a day, several days a week, and fits people with more stable symptoms or those stepping down from PHP. Your team will recommend a level after your assessment.

Can I do eating disorder treatment online?

Yes. California residents can join our PHP or IOP virtually through secure video, or combine online and in-person days in Thousand Oaks. Virtual care still includes your therapist, groups and psychiatric team. We may ask you to keep regular check-ins with a local doctor for weight and vital signs.

Does insurance cover eating disorder treatment?

Many plans do. We are in network with several major carriers, including Aetna, Cigna and Blue Shield of California, but coverage depends on your specific plan. Send us your details for a free benefits check, which usually comes back the same day, and ask about payment options if you need them.

How do I know if I’m sick enough for treatment?

If eating, weight or body image is hurting your health, mood, relationships or daily life, that’s reason enough to reach out. Eating disorders affect people of every size, and waiting until things get worse makes recovery harder. A free assessment will tell you what level of care makes sense.

Ready to talk? Call us at 805-905-5483, any time, or verify your insurance online. You can also find support and education through the National Eating Disorders Association.