Take the first step...

Comprehensive Assessment

Treatment Planning

Intensive Outpatient Treatment

Partial Hospital Program

​Support Groups

Community Referrals

Click here to request an evaluation

Our Philosophy.

​Every person walking in the door has a unique story and personal set of strengths, obstacles, and needs. Often, those suffering with Eating Disorders carry additional diagnoses such as Mood or Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or Attention Deficit Disorder. Personality, social, vocation, family, and relationship issues are often part of the clinical picture. Additionally, Eating Disorders present a wide array of medical risks that need to be factored into the treatment plan. Although there are many issues, symptoms, and challenges that Eating Disorder sufferers share, we will always tailor each treatment plan to the needs and goals of the individual.

Our Approach.

Treatment at Narins EDC incorporates multiple kinds of psychotherapy. These include cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, psychoeducation, exposure therapy, and structural family therapy. In our IOP, these different but complementary approaches are integrated flexibly to meet the needs of the individuals in program on any given day. Skill building, effective communication of emotions, distress tolerance, improving relationships, and the pursuit of personal therapy goals are emphasized in a primarily process group focusing on the application of skills within the context of each participant's life. Best of all, the connection and collaboration between participants adds to feelings of being supported, appreciated, and celebrated along the journey to recovery.

2430 North Forest Road

​Suite 130

​Amherst, N.Y. 14068

MAIN: (716) 688-5372

FAX: (716) 428-5694

narinsedc@gmail.com

PHP

Narins PHP is a comprehensive partial hospitalization program that provides evidence-based eating disorder treatment for adolescents, adults, and families in a comfortable, respectful environment. Participation is five days a week, seven hours each day, with supervised therapeutic meals in addition to multidisciplinary psychotherapeutic and medical treatment. Participants will have the opportunity to benefit from individual, group, and family therapy, individualized nutrition therapy, medical and psychiatric consultation, and case management. PHP schedule is Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Nutrition Rehabilitation

During the early stages of eating disorder treatment, it is important to “re-learn” how to eat. This is much more difficult than it sounds, as those struggling with eating disorders cannot always interpret hunger and full signals as these become compromised by medical issues as well as anxiety about what, when, and how much to eat. This makes “intuitive eating” ("eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full") almost impossible and tends to cause an increase, rather than decrease, in Eating Disorder symptoms. While in treatment at Narins EDC, participants learn why and how mechanical eating is recommended in early recovery, how long this method of nutrition rehabilitation should be used, and when it is appropriate to move through stages of flexible structured meal planning, semi-intuitive eating, and intuitive eating. These stages are not necessarily mutually exclusive or linear; rather, they describe different ways of approaching meal planning to maximize success in recovery. The ultimate goal of the nutrition rehabilitation component of Narins EDC is to help participants normalize behavior around food so that a wide variety of foods can be enjoyed in a wide range of situations without undue fear or anxiety. This goal is accomplished through nutrition education, development of meal planning and preparation skills, and exposure to a variety of foods in a supportive, therapeutic setting. As treatment progresses, participants are encouraged to expand the variety of food settings as well as companionship during meal-times so that food concerns need no longer interfere with the social aspects of eating.

Group Therapy.

A major component of PHP involves group therapy. A wide variety of groups are offered each week. These groups include Recovery Skills [including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)], Psychotherapy, Art Expression, Family Issues, Meal Planning, Nutrition Education, Cookshop, and Wellness. Specific content of each group is adapted to fit the therapy needs of a given group. Emphasis is placed on transferring insights and skills learned in group to the home environment. As a major benefit of PHP involves receiving intensive treatment while living at home, involving (and improving) support systems outside of treatment are viewed as an important contributor to success in long term recovery. Friends and Family Support Group is held weekly in order to support and educate families and friends in positive, productive ways to promote such recovery.

Individual Therapy

Each patient is assigned to a designated therapist on the first day. Patients meet with their therapist for about an hour each week in total. These sessions may include brief check-ins, crisis contacts, treatment and discharge planning, and more in-depth exploration of individual issues. Patients also meet on a weekly, individual basis with the NEDC Dietitian, Psychiatrist, and Medical Consultant.

IOP

Narins EDC Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) offers a way to supplement patient care for those who continue to struggle with symptoms despite working with an outpatient team. With the addition of a therapeutic meal, group therapy, meal planning support, and skill-building, our IOP provides a strong focus on integrating all aspects of therapeutic intervention into everyday life. This approach enhances treatment outcome and encourages resilience and persistence in achieving each individual's optimal outcome.

In addition to serving as an adjunct to outpatient therapy, Narins EDC Intensive Outpatient offers the opportunity to step down to IOP from higher levels of care such as Partial Hospital treatment settings. This allows for a more gradual transition and extended support as the individual readjusts to recovering in their home environment. Participants work on meal planning, skill building, and addressing the struggles and successes each group member is facing in their personal recoveries. As a group, participants will share a therapeutic meal that has been individually developed by the outpatient dietitian and brought in from home.

Narins IOP Schedule: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30 pm until 6:30 pm.

Groups

*Friends and Family Group

Fridays from 5:00-6:00 pm

Friends and Family Group is available to family members and friends of patients who are currently in treatment at Narins EDC. Friends and Family are invited by the patient and/ or treatment team to learn more about eating disorders, treatment, causes, and providing proper support at home. Equally important, friends and family will learn how to take care of themselves and other family members who are impacted by the eating disorder. Come with questions!

Aftercare Group

Wednesdays from 6:00- 7:00 pm via Zoom

Aftercare Group is an ongoing, weekly support group for graduates of Narins EDC who wish to stay connected with others who are actively pursuing recovery. Although everyone's recovery journey is full of ups and downs, this is a group for those who are willing to fight for recovery with everything they've got. All attendees must have an outpatient therapist as individual counseling or crisis management cannot be provided. Graduates of the former Buffalo Centre for the Treatment of Eating Disorders are welcome as well... please call to discuss is this group is right for you. **Let us know if you need a Zoom link!**

Specialty Groups

Narins EDC offers specialty outpatient groups to meet identified needs in the community. These groups might focus on the transition from higher levels of care, adolescent groups, trauma-informed groups, or eating disorder recovery skills. We are continually developing and offering groups as need arises. Contact us to see if there is a group that is right for you!

It is important to know that Admission to NEDC is voluntary, and we work with many people who are ambivalent about recovery. All you need is to be willing to give the program a try. The program recommendation is based on many factors, such as symptom severity, risk, functional impairment, response to previous treatment, quality and availability of support system, and other individually-determined criteria. The program is not chosen based on what you feel comfortable with or willing to do but rather on the type of treatment that has been empirically- proven to have success in treating the presenting concerns. For example, if someone has symptoms meeting criteria for our Partial Hospital Program, it is generally ineffective to “try IOP first” due to convenience or not being ready to commit to PHP. Reasons for recommendations will be explained in detail at the evaluation. Please remember, our recommendations are designed to maximize your success in meeting your recovery goals!

Referrals from a Higher Level of Care

​

For those seeking to admit to Narins EDC as a step-down from a higher level of care such as inpatient or residential treatment, it is important to start the process as soon as you are aware of a tentative discharge date from the referring (higher level) facility. First, the referring clinician should reach out by phone or email to alert us that you may be interested in our facility. We then need you (with therapist help if necessary) to go on our website and register. There is a button on the home page to request an evaluation which will take you through this process. We usually need some lead time for those coming from residential/ inpatient, so it is recommended to doing this as soon as possible. Once insurance is verified, a phone evaluation will be scheduled, records sent from the referring facility will be reviewed, and a determination of your appropriateness for our facility will be made. We would then need blood work and EKG (must be within 2 weeks of admission to our facility).

What’s New

@narinsedc

Confidential

Survey

Since joining the Eating Disorder Treatment world in 2016 at the tender age of 3 months, Joy has gained extensive experience and supported the recovery process of many. Her French name Joie de Vive translates to an exuberant "Joy of Life", and she has certainly lived up to her name. From her role as eager receptionist, happily greeting everyone who walks in the door, to her favorite job of snuggling or playing with anyone in need, Joy brings her friendly, playful, loving personality to work each and every day. She loves to roll over, fetch endlessly, and offer a "high five" upon request.

“I have been so grateful to Narins and Dr. Welchoff for the change they brought to my life. I found myself surrounded by a compassionate team who truly cared about my physical and mental well being. Day in and day out I was met with kindness, empathy, smiles, and laughter. Narins allowed me to start taking back everything my eating disorder had stolen from me, and for that I can not thank them enough. Thank you so much for everything. I would not be where I am today if it were not for you and the NEDC staff."

Narins Eating Disorder Center is conveniently located on the north edge of the University of Buffalo North Campus.

STREET ADDRESS:

2430 North Forest Road, Suite 130

Amherst, N.Y. 14068

PHONE:

716-688-5372

FAX:

716-428-5694