Comprehensive care to address medical, nutritional, and psychological needs.
Learn more about our program from our Director of Eating Disorder Programming, Dr. Anita Johnston, PhD, CEDS.
We know that choosing among the many bulimia treatment centers found online can be challenging. There appear to be many options, but many bulimia treatment centers offer similar sounding models and approaches, or, are not fully equipped to treat the medical and psychological complexities of bulimia nervosa.
Surveys report that roughly 1.5% of the US female population and 0.5% of the US male population had suffered from bulimia. These figures may seem small, but these percentages actually translate to 4.7 million females and 1.5 million males suffering from bulimia [1].
Eating disorders affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and genders and this is certainly the case with bulimia. Although bulimia is mainly diagnosed among teenagers and young adults, it has also been seen in people as young as 6 years old, as well as in senior citizens. An estimated 10-15% of people with bulimia are male and homosexual and bisexual males are at greater risk for developing bulimia than heterosexual males [2].
Without getting prompt treatment, people who suffer from bulimia nervosa may experience the following physical and psychological symptoms:
Inflammation or rupture of the esophagus (due to self-induced vomiting)
Gastric rupture (during a binge)
Tooth decay and/or staining due to repeated purging
Bowel issues such as constipation and irregularity
Higher risk of peptic ulcers and pancreatitis
Electrolyte imbalance that may cause irregular heart rhythms
Psychological issues such as (but not limited to) anxiety and depression
Overall poor life satisfaction and low quality of life
Moreover, there is a higher risk of suicide among people who suffer from bulimia (it is actually the leading cause of death in this population). All this said, bulimia treatment centers can be very effective in managing this eating disorder and permanently ending the destructive binge-and-purge cycle. Furthermore, residential bulimia treatment (as well as other treatment types) can also help in reversing many — if not all — of the adverse health effects brought about by this disorder.
Given the array of medical and psychological symptoms and effects of bulimia nervosa on the mind and body, you can understand why a comprehensive, holistic treatment program would be necessary to address this disorder.
At ‘Ai Pono Hawaii, we recognize the complexity of eating disorders and know that treating bulimia entails more than just getting a person to stop themselves from engaging in disordered behaviors. We are aware that disorders involve a complex interplay of symptoms and causes and work with patients through intensive individual and group therapy in order to uncover the hidden meaning behind their behaviors in order to resolve the eating disorder completely.
We truly believe that individuals who struggle from eating disorders like bulimia are intelligent, and sensitive individuals who have turned to food, eating, or not eating as a method of coping and/or communication. Through our decades of experience as an effective bulimia nervosa treatment center, we realize that patients need to first acknowledge and accept the adaptive benefits of their eating disorder in order to discover the true meaning of food freedom.
When patients make their way to us, we stay by their side and assist them throughout the entire process, helping them learn and apply life skills for dealing with their bulimia in order to achieve long-term — typically permanent — recovery.
Located on the scenic island of Maui in Hawaii, ‘Ai Pono Hawaii bulimia treatment center offers professional residential bulimia treatment as well as other treatment programs to people who are struggling with this eating disorder. Our center’s staff consists of highly experienced and qualified professionals who specialize in providing effective and long-term treatment for bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders.
Here at ‘Ai Pono, we are motivated by our mission to treat bulimia patients - whatever age, gender, or other background they may have. We offer two distinct levels of care: residential bulimia treatment and intensive outpatient care, including a virtual intensive outpatient program. We organize various types of sessions (individual, family, or group), depending on the unique individualized treatment plan.
We believe that those who arrive at ‘Ai Pono were led to us for a reason, and we are eager to be your partner in your journey toward healing from bulimia.
We are proud to say that ‘Ai Pono Hawaii has more than 35 years of experience as a bulimia nervosa treatment center. As a matter of fact, our center offers the longest-running and most comprehensive eating disorder treatment program in the whole Hawaii island.
For over three decades, we’ve had the honor of being trusted by hundreds of patients who wish to permanently heal from Bulimia Nervosa, Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and other eating and feeding disorders. We’ve likewise given holistic treatment to patients who suffer from Laxative Abuse, Body Dysmorphia, Night Eating Syndrome, Body Image Distortion, and other detrimental conditions.
These are the main reasons why you (or your loved one) can trust ‘Ai Pono Hawaii as your bulimia nervosa treatment center:
Our clinical team has provided holistic treatment for bulimia and many other eating disorders for over 35 years now. Every day, our passion in our work is enkindled by the high rates of recovery among our patients.
Director of Eating Disorder Programming, Dr. Anita Johnston, PhD, CEDS is a highly respected expert in the field of eating disorder (ED) treatment. She is the author of the book Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Transform Their Relationship with Food Through Myths, Metaphors, and Storytelling (which can be purchased via Amazon) as well as an accomplished speaker and practicing psychotherapist.
Our driven staff at ‘Ai Pono continuously seek new knowledge and to refine and evolve our treatment methods in order to remain as one of the leading bulimia treatment centers in the globe and give our beloved patients the most effective, updated, and evidence-based therapies and treatment plans that suit their unique conditions.
As a trusted bulimia nervosa treatment center, our vision is to provide comprehensive, evidence-based treatment for all of our patients. As such, we are well-versed in treating not only eating disorders but comorbid conditions as well. Such conditions include (but are not limited to) anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
‘Ai Pono Hawaii aims to provide truly holistic and all-inclusive bulimia treatment to anyone who needs it. We strive to make residential bulimia treatment (along with our other levels of care) as accessible as possible to anyone who’s struggling with this disorder. As testament to our efforts, we are in-network with most major insurances including Hawaii State Medicaid programs.
On top of that, we provide outstanding support for veterans and military families: We are one of the only bulimia treatment centers that honor Veterans insurance through the Veterans Administration. We are also in-network with a range of Tricare plans in order to serve as a world-class bulimia nervosa treatment center for spouses and children of military personnel.
Many bulimia treatment centers claim to offer holistic treatment; however, we at ‘Ai Pono Hawaii guarantee a thoroughly comprehensive therapy that will help patients all their life, instead of simply serving as a temporary solution.
We understand that individuals have different ways of learning and experiencing the world, therefore we provide a range of approaches and modalities in order to facilitate a creative and accepting treatment environment. Some of these groups include:
Ecstatic dance
Art therapy
Metaphor therapy
and many more!
In addition, we provide trauma-informed care: specialized therapy for people who are experiencing the effects of some type of trauma. Our trauma-informed eating disorder treatment program integrates effective, evidence-based therapies like somatic therapy, brain spotting, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Lastly, patients who choose to receive residential bulimia treatment at ‘Ai Pono will find themselves in the beautiful and quiet town of Wailuku, Maui- between the Ian Valley State Park and the ocean. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that our center offers unparalleled serenity and comfort for patients, transforming it into an ideal setting for recovery from bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders.
As one of the longest-standing and most trusted bulimia nervosa treatment centers in the world, ‘Ai Pono is a true haven for bulimia patients to nourish, balance, and heal themselves without having to deal with the daily stresses of life. For these reasons, we are confident that ‘Ai Pono Hawaii is the ideal place for you or your loved one to start their journey of recovery.
Our bulimia treatment center offers different treatment options for people who are ready to start their journey of healing from bulimia. Here are our three levels of care for bulimia patients, each with distinctive advantages (Note: The right program for you or your loved one depends on your unique situation and needs. We are always happy to complete a free phone assessment to assist you in determining which level of care is most appropriate at this time).
As one of the most trusted bulimia treatment centers in the world, ‘Ai Pono Hawaii offers integrative residential bulimia treatment that focuses on patients’ medical, nutritional, and therapeutic needs. The residential treatment setting means that we are able to provide our patients with round-the-clock support. Individual psychotherapy sessions occur three times per week, in addition to once weekly sessions with a Registered Dietitian, and a variety of groups. To enhance the effectiveness of therapy, we encourage patients’ family members and other loved ones to take part in their healing process.
*We have resumed normal operations for this program. For more information, kindly read our latest COVID-19 guidelines.
Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a special type of treatment accessible for both males and females who suffer from bulimia or other eating disorders. In the IOP, therapy is conducted for 3 hours per evening and includes group psychotherapy, nutritional education, and meal support for three (3) to seven (7) days per week depending on each patient’s individual needs. We offer IOP an in-person at our Maui bulimia nervosa treatment center, as well as a virtual program for all residents of Hawaii.
*Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the IOP program is only available virtually for residents of Hawaii.
Bulimia is particularly challenging to treat because many individuals engaging in bulimic behaviors may feel a strong degree of shame around their behaviors and try desperately to keep their struggles a secret. Largely for this reason, it has been reported that only approximately 1 in 10 people with bulimia receive treatment [2]. This means bulimia is often not diagnosed until someone has been engaging in behaviors to the point that their eating disorder has caused severe symptoms on their health, relationships, job, or other aspects of their life.
Although ‘Ai Pono Hawaii provides three types of programs or levels of care, many of our recovered bulimia patients have gotten the best outcomes after staying in our residential bulimia treatment center. These patients are admitted to our center at the start of their program and stay here until they finish their program.
Intensive, holistic treatment – The greatest advantage of staying in ‘Ai Pono Hawaii bulimia treatment center is that you’ll receive a more intensive and immersive treatment compared to the outpatient program. This can lead to better results, including a lower risk of relapse after patients complete their treatment. For patients with bulimia, it is often helpful to be in an environment where engaging in binging and purging is made impossible in order to provide the mind and body with the respite necessary for participating in the deeper psychological work that is necessary to truly heal from bulimia.
Fewer interruptions – Our serene and homely bulimia nervosa treatment center allows patients who avail of residential bulimia treatment to retreat from many of the stresses and distractions of the “outside world.” This empowers them to devote their valuable attention and time to achieving full recovery from their disorder.
Round-the-clock expert guidance – Residential bulimia treatment at ‘Ai Pono Hawaii provides patients with support 24/7 from professionals in the field of bulimia treatment. Working with a multidisciplinary team means that patients have access to psychiatric, psychological, dietary, and medical care in order to treat their eating disorder holistically. In addition, residential bulimia treatment means that patients get to be inspired and receive moral support on a daily basis from fellow patients.
Higher chance of long-term recovery – Finally, because of the benefits previously mentioned, residential bulimia treatment usually leads to better outcomes, particularly for patients who have been struggling for an extended period, whose symptoms are severe, or who have not experienced success at a lower level of care or another program.
[1] https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-research-eating-disorder
[2] https://mirror-mirror.org/facts-staticstics/statistics-on-bulimia
