Sol Stone’s treatment philosophy is based on research that concludes that persons with eating disorders continue their disordered eating if they remain either socially isolated or in non-supportive social settings. In addition, they also continue disordered eating if they have limited knowledge of how their eating patterns impact their health currently and long term or are unable to integrate this knowledge into their daily lives. Furthermore, eating habits that have become compulsive require structured, systematic Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT) strategies that are very difficult to implement in less intensive, outpatient settings.

Due to the complexities of eating disorders, individuals often experience a sense of alienation, or aloneness, often causing them to discount the recommendations of outpatient providers. They often view these recommendations as not applicable to them and tenaciously hold on to their eating disordered symptoms as key parts of their identities. This leads to non-adherence with treatment recommendations and often to insufficient engagement with psychotherapy and medication therapy.

Sol Stone is designed to address these treatment challenges, often faced in less intensive outpatient settings, through establishing a therapeutic community of patients and staff. Participants interact for ten and one-half (10.5) hours each weekday and for five (5) hours each Saturday. Patients eat all meals at the program, developing and deepening the practical skills of meal planning and healthy eating. The supervised meals also reinforce the strategies of effective treatment. The program utilizes the power of group therapy, in which the support of peers counters isolation, alienation and lack of support. As patients progress towards recovery, they become models for others, helping others to counter resistance by accepting treatment and integrating knowledge. As patients improve and help others, they develop a sense of mastery and become less likely to believe they need their eating disordered symptoms to gain a sense of control in their world.

Case management is also a core component of the program, as it provides a comprehensive treatment plan for a continuum of care, which starts prior to admission and extends beyond discharge. This ensures patients’ access to the necessary outpatient services for ongoing treatment progress.

The comprehensive vision of Sol Stone brings together all the elements of care that encourage and support patients through the process of recovery. With the highest quality of care as its primary goal, Sol Stone continues to evolve through ongoing staff education and periodic assessment and modification of treatment modalities in keeping with current research and innovations in the field.