Research shows that eating disorder treatment is most effective when it uses a multidisciplinary approach (i.e., working with several different types of providers). Every Equip patient or family is matched with a dedicated team of eating disorder specialists, which includes a therapist, dietitian, and medical provider. You’ll also be supported by a coach with lived experience: patients connect with a coach who has recovered from an eating disorder themselves, and family members connect with a coach who has supported a loved one through recovery. Every Equip provider is licensed and specialized in eating disorders, and receives ongoing training at Equip.

One of Equip’s main differentiators is our clinical model. Equip has an internal training program that certifies our clinicians in order to deliver evidence-based modalities virtually, and we have a comprehensive research team dedicated to tracking and ensuring effectiveness. Unlike other programs, Equip is proven to work for medically stable patients needing a high level of care who might otherwise seek in-person IOP or PHP programs. In fact, 87% of Equip patients are high acuity

Another differentiator is our multidisciplinary care teams, which consist of a medical provider, therapist, dietitian, and coaches with lived experience. This care team not only collaborates with each other but also closely with referring providers.

This leads to another significant differentiator, our industry-leading outcomes. 70% of patients improving to subclinical symptom levels and 84% meeting weight restoration goals by the end of treatment. After discharge, 76% of patients report that eating disorder symptoms only interfered with daily life “a little” or “not at all” during the previous 28 days.

Equip is in-network with most major insurance plans, and you can check your coverage with our insurance screener. Our team will also verify your insurance information before you start at Equip to make sure we are in-network for your insurance and review how your plan coverage will impact any cost share (copays or coinsurance) you may be responsible for. If Equip is not in-network with your insurance, we offer a private pay option. A financial counselor will work with you directly to review costs and options such as HSA/FSA eligibility.

Length of treatment varies from patient to patient, but the average patient in remission discharges after 51 weeks. This may sound long, but the length of treatment is specifically designed to prevent relapse, which is so common for these illnesses. Additionally, since patients go through treatment from home, treatment doesn’t impede their lives or the lives of their loved ones, and many of our insurance partners provide coverage for at least a year.

Generally, treatment begins as a high-touch process with several appointments per week, and gradually becomes a lower-touch experience as each patient moves through their treatment journey and toward recovery.

Our provider team includes trained and licensed therapists, medical providers, and dietitians, all of whom specialize in eating disorders, as well as certified mentors for both the patient and the people supporting them.

Every therapist is licensed (with licenses such as LCSW, LMFT, AMFT, and others) and has training in eating disorder treatment. Therapists undergo approximately 80 hours of training and supervision in their first three months at Equip. Our medical providers are MDs (physicians, pediatricians, or psychiatrists), registered nurses, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners with training in eating disorders. Medical providers complete 30 hours of training when onboarding with Equip, and nurses complete 50 hours of training. Every dietitian has been licensed as an RD and has experience working with patients with eating disorders. They complete 30 hours of training.

Our coaches are Equip employees who either have lived experience with an eating disorder (meaning they have recovered from an eating disorder themselves) or have helped a loved one recover from an eating disorder. Coaches also receive over 30 hours of specialized mentorship training through Equip.

All Equip providers receive ongoing training and supervision, including 24 hours of continuing education. You can learn more about our in-depth, evidence-based training curriculum and advanced certifications on our provider training page.