The Renata Elizabeth Withers Centre for HOPE

About Us 

The HOPE Program is a provincial day treatment program committed to helping change eating disorder symptoms, challenging thoughts and behaviors, and developing new means of coping with everyday stressors.

The program strives to provide a trusting, supportive and consistent environment for individuals and their families on their journey to wellness.

Who do we see?

• Clients 15 years of age and older.
• The client must meet the criteria foran Eating Disorder, as described in the DSM-IV (The Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders), i.e. anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) excluding binge eating disorder.
• A physician referral is required.
• The client must be aware of the referral and agree to participate in group-based therapy.
• The client must be medically stable as assessed by his or her Family Physician, Internist or Pediatrician.
• It is mandatory that the client in the HOPE Program continue to be followed by his or her Family Physician.
• We do not accept referrals for  eating difficulties (e.g. fear of swallowing, weight loss management) or binge eating disorder.

While treatment goals are individualized according to the needs of the client, the goals of the program generally include:

• Improve relationship with food
• Restore weight where applicable
• Interrupt the binge/purge cycle where applicable
• Create/improve healthy interpersonal relationships
• Normalize eating
• Improve sense of self-worth
• Improve body image
• Support families  
  

The Referral and Intake Process

• Adolescents under the age of 18 will be assessed by the Adolescent Medicine Team and referred to the HOPE Program, if appropriate.
• For clients 18 years of age and older, the referring physician will complete the Mental Health and Addictions Referral Form.
• If the referral meets program criteria, the following information will be faxed to the referral source:
  - A letter outlining the medical responsibility of the Family Physician.
  - The services provided by the HOPE Program Treatment Team.
  - HOPE Program Intake Form.
  - Medical Instability Guidelines.
• The team will meet to review the referral and to determine client’s suitability for the program.
• A member of the team will contact the client, referral source, and family physician.
  

Phone: 709-752-3616
Fax: 709-777-2042