Getting to the root cause of eating behaviors in a supportive environment.
Learn more about our program from our Director of Eating Disorder Programming, Dr. Anita Johnston, PhD, CEDS.
There is a pronounced need for binge eating disorder treatment centers, but finding the right binge eating treatment center can be a challenge. Upon first glance, it may appear that there are a large number of treatment options, however, it’s important to understand that not all binge eating disorder treatment centers are truly equipped to address the complex psychological and emotional components of the diagnosis.
When trying to choose the right binge eating disorder treatment center for you, many important factors must be considered including:
Treatment setting or environment - Do you prefer more clinical or homelike? More time indoors or outdoors?
Frequency of individual and group therapy sessions
Treatment philosophies
Therapeutic modalities used i.e. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, trauma-informed therapy, or other holistic therapies
The National Eating Disorders Association reports that among 9,282 English-speaking Americans surveyed in 2007, 3.5% of women and 2.0% of men had suffered from binge eating disorder (or BED) in their life. BED affects more than three times as many people as anorexia and bulimia combined. In addition, NEDA reports that BED is more common than HIV, breast cancer, and schizophrenia [1].
Around 40% of people with BED are male, and up to now, BED has typically manifested in a person’s late teenage years or early 20s. However, there have been more and more reports of binge eating disorder among women, young children, and older adults, especially within the context and culture of COVID-19.
Three in every ten people who are searching for weight loss treatments exhibit signs of BED, and due to the pervasiveness of “diet culture,” these individuals are often steered towards other programs or “treatments” that focus on weight loss or behavioral modification without exploring the true roots of their binge eating. These individuals are then not adequately treated for Binge Eating Disorder because they have not received the intensive psychotherapy that will lead to long-term sustainable recovery and they will often continue to struggle with food and eating throughout the course of their lives.
Our binge eating disorder treatment center is composed of experienced and competent professionals who specialize in delivering effective, sustainable treatment for binge eating and other eating disorders, along with related conditions. We have the expertise and experience to help you heal…for the long-term.
‘Ai Pono Hawaii is one of the world’s leading binge eating disorder treatment centers. With our location in Maui, Hawaii, ‘Ai Pono binge eating treatment center provides BED patients with proven, world-class binge eating treatment. What makes our center truly exceptional is that, among the large number of binge eating treatment centers available, our clinical team has more than three decades of experience when it comes to treating patients who suffer from binge eating and other eating or feeding disorders.
The paradox is that binge eating disorder appears to be all about food, but we know that it is not really about food. Effectively treating binge eating requires more than simply abstaining from binging.
Guided by our decades of experience as an effective binge eating treatment center, we believe that the best way for patients to begin healing from BED is by first getting to grips with the adaptive function of their binging. The individual and treatment team work together throughout the course of treatment to understand the mental and emotional drives behind eating behaviors. Once patients are able to uncover why they eat what they eat, they can start to develop alternative coping skills in order to more appropriately move through life without leaning on food to make us feel (or not feel) certain ways.
At ‘Ai Pono, we are driven by our mission to provide the best binge eating disorder treatment to all patients, no matter their gender, age, or background. We provide three levels of care including: binge eating residential treatment, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient care. We offer individual, family, and group sessions based on each patient’s therapy and treatment program.
At ‘Ai Pono Hawaii we take pride in the fact that we have over 35 years of experience as a binge eating disorder treatment center. Our current Director of Eating Disorder Programming, Dr. Anita Johnston, founded the Anorexia & Bulimia Center of Hawaii in 1982 and developed Hawaii’s first inpatient eating disorders treatment program at Kahi Mohala Hospital in 1986. She also created the very first eating disorders Intensive Outpatient Program in the U.S. on the island of Oahu in 2001. Our center offers the most extensive and longest-running residential eating disorder treatment program in the State of Hawaii.
For more than three decades, hundreds of patients from all over the world have chosen us to walk alongside them on their journey to recovery from Binge Eating Disorder, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and other eating or feeding disorders. Our binge eating treatment center has also provided holistic treatment to people who struggle with Body Dysmorphia, Night Eating Syndrome, Laxative Abuse, Body Image Distortion, and other related conditions.
‘Ai Pono Hawaii excels as a binge eating disorder treatment center in the following ways:
Our clinical team has been providing comprehensive, holistic binge eating disorder treatment for more than 35 years. Our passion and drive is reignited everyday by the success stories of our current and recovered patients.
Our team works hard to continually build upon their knowledge and further shape our clinical program in order to stay as one of the most trusted and effective binge eating disorder treatment centers in the world. We never stop learning and improving what we can do so we can give the best for our patients, who deserve the most effective and latest evidence-based treatment.
’Ai Pono’s Director of Eating Disorder Programming, Dr. Anita Johnston, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist, iaedp Certified Eating Disorder Specialist & Supervisor, and author of Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Transform Their Relationships with Food Through Myth, Metaphor, and Storytelling, which has been published in six languages. She also authored book chapters in Eating Disorders: Bridging the Research-Treatment Gap and The Psycho-spiritual Clinician’s Handbook, along with numerous articles in professional journals. Dr. Johnston’s leadership has helped our program to stand out as one that is truly unique.
Accessibility is addressed both in our treatment philosophies as well as our financial options. As a binge eating disorder treatment center, we are a body inclusive, Health at Every Size informed program. We do not treat binge eating disorder using restrictive or punitive approaches. We integrate an “all foods fit” philosophy to help patients gain knowledge and insight around their food choices and regain trust in their own ability and intuition when it comes to sustainability nourishing themselves inside and out.
We also do our best to make binge eating disorder residential treatment as accessible as possible to people of varying backgrounds and financial situations. In line with this, we accept most major insurance as well as Hawaii State Medicaid programs. In addition, we offer exceptional support for veterans and military families: ‘Ai Pono Hawaii is actually one of the few binge eating disorder treatment centers that accepts Veterans and Tricare insurance.
Many binge eating disorder treatment centers claim to provide holistic treatment; but at ‘Ai Pono Hawaii, we can assure you of a truly comprehensive therapy that addresses the whole person, such as:
Hawaiian Cultural Groups
Narrative Therapy/Storytelling
Full Moon Letting Go/Intention Setting Gatherings
Mindfulness/Mindful Walking
Sound and Art Therapy
Visits to Local Cultural Sites
In addition to being a binge eating treatment center, we are also able to address most co-occurring conditions including: depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We offer trauma-informed care: specialized therapy for patients who have experienced trauma, using proven therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), somatic therapy, and brainspotting.
Finally, at our binge eating residential treatment patients get to enjoy our beautiful, peaceful setting. We have gone through great lengths to make sure that our center provides the highest level of comfort, serenity, and security for our patients, so that patients are able to focus and connect with their recovery journey.
As one of the most trusted and longest-standing binge eating disorder treatment centers in the country, ‘Ai Pono is the best binge eating disorder treatment center for patients to nourish, balance, and heal — far away from the everyday stresses of city life.
Our binge eating disorder treatment center provides three distinct levels of care. The right program for you or your loved one would depend on your own needs and situation, and free phone assessments are available in order to determine how we can best serve you.
‘Ai Pono Hawaii offers comprehensive and holistic binge eating disorder residential treatment for women who present with medical, therapeutic, and nutritional needs. Our nursing staff provide binge eating residential treatment patients with 24/7 assistance. We hold one-on-one psychotherapy sessions three times per week along with intensive group therapy. To boost the therapy’s effectiveness, we highly encourage patient’s support systems to join in their healing process as well.
*We have resumed normal operations for this program. For complete details, please read our latest COVID-19 guidelines.
Intensive Outpatient is a special type of treatment available for individuals of all gender identities who struggle with BED or other eating disorders. In our IOP, therapy takes place from 5:30-8:30pm at least four days per week. It includes nutrition education, group psychotherapy, and meal support. IOP is available in-person at the ‘Ai Pono Hawaii binge eating treatment center, and also virtually for Hawaii residents.
*This program is currently offered in virtual format only and only for residents of Hawaii.
Despite the fact that we offer three program types or levels of care, many of our recovered patients have seen the most sustainable results after receiving binge eating disorder residential treatment.
Intensive, holistic treatment – The top benefit of staying at ‘Ai Pono Hawaii’s binge eating disorder treatment program is that patients can receive a far more intensive and immersive treatment versus what is offered on an outpatient basis. This can produce better outcomes and lessen the risk of relapse after treatment completion.
Less distractions – The peace and comfort offered in our binge eating residential treatment program frees up patients from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. This enables them to focus on taking the necessary steps toward full recovery from their binge eating disorder
24/7 professional support – Binge eating disorder residential treatment gives patients the nonstop support they need from experts in the field of binge eating treatment. As a result, patients are more likely to complete their treatment successfully and really dig down deep into understanding their eating behaviors to forge sustainable change. In addition, staying in one of the world’s leading binge eating disorder treatment centers enables patients to receive inspiration and support from other people who are on similar journeys to recovery
Greater chance of full recovery – Ultimately, due to the many advantages above, binge eating residential treatment often brings better results, especially for patients who have been struggling for a long time or whose symptoms are severe.
[1] https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-research-eating-disorders
[2] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder
