Treatment Philosophy
At Sol Stone, we recognize that a person’s disordered eating has been used as a coping mechanism to reduce anxiety related to a part/current life issues. The Sol Stone treatment program is designed to identify and help individuals express feelings through a variety of ways including group psychotherapy, art therapy, journaling and poetry therapy, and individual therapy. Our education groups (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), as well as yoga and meditation, provide alternative coping skills to effectively handle stressors. Although individuals may be referred to Sol Stone from inpatient or outpatient facilities, there is an expectation that those entering the program are searching for a more effective way of coping with life. With support, individuals begin to utilize different ways of communicating and tolerating stress and emotions. They begin to discover themselves and to create the life they desire.

Non-Institutional Setting
Sol Stone Center is housed in a Victorian home built in the 1800’s. It is located in a residential neighborhood.

Metabolic Testing
Individuals suffering from eating disorders often are not able to see or believe that they are harming the body. Baseline metabolic testing (measuring resting energy expenditure and how the body adapts to being underfed) is done when a patient is admitted. Individuals can be at or above normal body weight and still be doing damage to the body. The metabolic testing shows bodies that are at high risk for short-term and long-term medical problems and can help identify individuals whose bodies are fairly resilient.

Body Composition Analysis
Neither weight nor BMI is a true measure of how malnourished an individual may be. They are also not accurate measures of recovery. Body composition analysis takes into consideration the complete body composition. For example, if an individual has a higher percentage of lean mass, his/her ideal body weight would be more. Body composition analysis is also very helpful in assessing and understanding how the body changes during the refeeding stage. Changes in body composition help to guide the nutritionist in making meal plan changes and patients begin to accept that improvement in lean body weight is good and helps them begin to accept weight changes.

Fresh Wholesome Food
Meals are prepared daily by our chef using fresh wholesome ingredients. Vegetarian options are always available and prepared fresh. Kosher options are available upon request.

Length of Program
Our program is 10 ½ hours Monday thru Friday and 5 hours on Saturday. Although it is a partial hospitalization program, the length of the day allows for the supervision of three meals and two snacks. Sol Stone provides several more hours of treatment a week than in a typical partial program, and our treatment outcomes are enhanced because of the longer day.

Friday Program
On Fridays our patients plan and prepare a community meal. Bruce, our nutritionist, ran a four-star restaurant and is a master at making eating an enjoyable experience. The dining room décor is based on the theme of the meal. Everyone takes part in the festivities. The entire staff dines with the patients.

Saturday Program
One of the most difficult things for a patient to do is to take care of themselves when they have a busy day. When this happens, patients will oftentimes skip their meals or snacks. Saturday is designed to be a typical day for an individual. They will need to get up and have breakfast, plan their snack, leave midmorning for an outing, and then have lunch at a restaurant. Depending on the treatment level of the patient, there will be different challenges.

Programming for Binge or Compulsive Eating or Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)
It is often difficult for individuals struggling with binge or compulsive eating or Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) to access benefits to be treated at a higher level of care, even though such treatment may be necessary for their recovery. Short-term lengths of stay help to break cycles of symptom use and allow the individual to see what a balanced eating plan should be. Too often these individuals will underfeed the body and then overeat. It is not unusual that these individuals are hypometabolic (the body burning less than it should because there has not been enough intake early in the day). This type of disorder needs to be understood in order for treatment to be effective. It is not as simple as helping them a diet or exercise plan. These are the most prevalent types of eating disorders but are rarely treated.

Supervised Residential Housing
We have a twelve-bed supervised residence for individuals in treatment. Located a few blocks from Sol Stone, Hoffman House provides transitional housing for women currently enrolled in the program. Furnished with all the comforts of home, Hoffman House provides security to individuals who often feel unsafe or have lost their sense of control. Although monitored, residents are expected to self-manage eating disordered symptoms and behaviors when the program is not in session.

Transitional Program Flexibility
Transitioning back to home or another living situation is a very challenging step for an individual leaving treatment for an eating disorder. We work closely with third-party payers to design a transition program that will be most helpful for the patient. Carefully thought-out transition programs are designed based on the patient’s past experience with step-down stages, the proximity to the program, the type of family situation, and many other factors.

Expressive Therapies
Several hours a week are dedicated to expressive therapies. We have found that a combination of experiential therapies in addition to group psychotherapy help a patient continue in their healing process. These groups provide patients an opportunity to identify, express and transform underlying emotions which may be difficult to communicate verbally. These groups include art therapy, poetry therapy, and Yoga.

Body Work
In conjunction of overall treatment goals, patients may be recommended for individualized sessions exploring the body/mind connection, which may include massage therapy and/or gentle Shiatsu.

EMDR
In conjunction with overall treatment goals, some patients may be recommended for additional skills in reducing anxiety. Patients are assisted with EMDR “response installation skills, i.e. increasing ability to tolerate distress as patients increase awareness of underlying triggers. (Due to the level of this partial hospitalization program, EMDR is not used to address the original trauma.)

Case Management
Case management is an integral part of Sol Stone. We assess and identify the needs each individual and their family and coordinate, monitor, evaluate, and advocate for a combination of multiple services to meet each patient’s specific needs. The purpose of such standards is to enhance the ability to maintain a healthier living style.  

Weekly Treatment Team
At Sol Stone, the treatment team consists of the clinicians and the patient. Treatment planning is collaborative with clinicians offering recommendations based on goals negotiated between the patient and therapists. Each patient meets with the entire clinical staff to review progress and recommendations for the following week.