Eating Disorder and Trauma Treatment
At We Conquer Together, we understand that true healing requires looking beyond the surface of a diagnosis to understand the whole person. As one of the premier eating disorder and trauma treatment centers in California, we provide a highly specialized, integrated approach for individuals facing complex challenges. Our facility specifically offers comprehensive residential treatment that addresses the deep, often painful intersections between past trauma and present behavioral struggles. We know that overcoming these hurdles requires a space built entirely on safety, trust, and compassion.
By cultivating a serene healing environment, we give our clients the security they need to focus entirely on their well-being and lasting recovery. Our specialized eating disorders protocols are designed not just to manage symptoms, but to uncover and treat the root causes of distress. Through our dedicated eating disorder treatment program, we offer individuals a lifeline, utilizing trauma-sensitive methodologies that honor their unique experiences and promote genuine, sustainable change.
Before exploring specific treatment modalities, it is vital to understand the philosophy that guides them. Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an overarching framework that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma on an individual’s life and understands the potential paths for recovery. Instead of asking the traditional medical question, “What is wrong with you?”, this approach asks, “What happened to you?” It is rooted in the understanding that an individual seeking help is more likely than not to have experienced trauma, meaning that every interaction is designed to be delivered in a way that can support healing or has the potential to be re-traumatizing..For many people, unresolved trauma is the primary driver behind severe mental health conditions and deeply entrenched disordered eating. TIC ensures that all healthcare professionals and providers are fully trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, and staff. This framework shifts the focus from merely correcting behaviors to actively building physical and emotional safety, empowering the individual, and fostering collaborative healing.
Contact our admissions department today and receive a free verification of benefis. Professionals are standing by for you or your loved one and ready to answer any questions you may have.
At our treatment center, Trauma-Informed Care is not merely an add-on; it is the foundational pillar of our entire treatment approach. We seamlessly integrate trauma therapy into every aspect of our highly structured, evidence-based curriculum. We recognize that the loss of control is a core element of trauma, so we prioritize giving our clients a voice and a choice in their own recovery journeys, fostering a renewed sense of agency.
We facilitate healing across various levels of care to ensure continuous support. While our primary focus is intensive inpatient and residential care, we also work closely with individuals to coordinate stepping down into a partial hospitalization program (PHP) or an intensive outpatient (IOP) outpatient program through a trusted referral network. This seamless transition process ensures that the trauma-informed principles introduced during their stay remain a constant source of stability.
The relationship between trauma and an eating disorder is incredibly complex. Trauma often severely distorts a person’s body image, leading to life-threatening conditions such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. A trauma-informed perspective helps both the client and the clinician understand that behaviors like purging, the misuse of laxatives, or chronic overeating are often desperate coping mechanisms used to manage overwhelming emotional pain or regain a false sense of control over the body.
By focusing heavily on safety rather than rigid compliance, we effectively treat a wide spectrum of issues, including ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and OSFED. Our goal is to gently restructure eating patterns and normalize food intake without causing re-traumatization. Through this careful methodology, we help individuals rebuild their self-esteem and develop healthier relationships with their bodies and their nutrition.
Healing overlapping diagnoses requires an approach that prioritizes safety and grounding. When treating mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder alongside eating disorders, traditional clinical methods can sometimes overwhelm a dysregulated nervous system. We recognize that disordered eating behaviors frequently serve as a desperate coping mechanism to manage unresolved psychological pain.
To effectively treat these co-occurring disorders, we utilize a suite of evidence-based trauma therapy modalities. By modifying our interventions to ensure the individual always feels secure, our clinicians safely dismantle destructive cycles without causing re-traumatization. This includes:
Utilizes sensory immersion and frequency-based vibration to regulate the central nervous system, helping clients reach a state of deep physiological calm and neurological balance.
Helps individuals safely reconnect with physical sensations and hunger cues, repairing the mind-body disconnection caused by trauma and overcoming body image distortions.
Assists clients in identifying and reframing negative core beliefs stemming from past abuse, dismantling the internal narratives that fuel severe anxiety and disordered eating patterns.
Teaches practical distress tolerance and emotional regulation skills, empowering individuals to safely manage emotional triggers without resorting to harmful coping mechanisms like purging or restricting.
Utilizes physical action and expression—such as yoga and joyful movement—to process deep psychological wounds, fostering a renewed sense of bodily autonomy and self-esteem.
Implementing this sensitive approach goes far beyond clinical sessions; it requires comprehensive integration into the daily operations of an eating disorder treatment center. From the very first phone call to the day of graduation, transparency and safety lead the way.
We apply these principles meticulously across all phases of the treatment program:
Choosing to seek help is a tremendously courageous step, especially when navigating the deeply intertwined challenges of a traumatic past and complex eating behaviors. At We Conquer Together, our dedicated professionals provide extensive treatment options and compassionate interventions designed to honor your journey. Whether through transformative individual sessions, supportive group therapy, or comprehensive medical oversight, our mental health programs are strategically structured to empower you and restore your hope.
Our facility proudly operates at the highest clinical standards, adhering to rigorous joint commission guidelines to ensure every individual builds practical coping skills for life. As a leading destination for comprehensive care, we are deeply committed to helping adults and adolescents alike reclaim their lives from the shadows of their past. Reach out to our admissions team today to learn more about how our specialized therapies can guide you or your loved one toward a brighter, healthier future.
Dr. Kelly Gonderman is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in clinical practice, supervision, and program administration. She earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Biola University’s Rosemead School of Psychology and has developed broad clinical expertise in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, eating disorders, co-occurring substance use, and personality-related concerns.
As Clinical Director at We Conquer Together, Dr. Gonderman specializes in fostering supportive and structured therapeutic environments where clients can heal, build resilience, and develop lasting skills for long-term well-being.