Eating Disorder Treatment Centers of Louisiana (EDTC) recently opened August 2025
• When were you there?
I was there from August-October 2025
• What level(s) of care did you do (e.g., inpatient, residential, PHP, IOP)?
They only have residential right now.
• If applicable: Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, I believe so. It’s all one floor and there aren’t any stairs.
• How many patients are there on average?
They can take up to 17 I think, but when I was there we only had 3, and I believe they still only have 3.
• What genders does it treat?
Female
• If applicable: Do they support the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary people?
I’m not sure. You would have to call and ask admissions.
• How often do you see a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist (therapist), nutritionist, nurse, etc?
medical doctor once a week, psychiatrist once a week or more if needed, therapist individually 1-2X a week and available for check-ins if needed, dietitian 1-2X a week, nurse available 24/7 but seen for meds, vitals, and weights in the mornings.
• What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
1 RA, 1 nurse, 2 therapists, 2 dietitians, 1 family therapist/CEDS, and 1 yoga therapist.
• What sort of therapies are used (e.g., DBT, CBT, EMDR, ACT, exposure therapy, somatic experiencing, etc.)?
DBT, CBT, ACT, ERP, Yoga therapy, breath work , Tapping, nutritional therapy, expressive therapy, art therapy, weekly restaurant and grocery store exposures, family therapy, IFS, etc
• Describe the average day:
6:15am-7:15am wake-up, vitals/weights, meds, get ready for the day/showers
7:15am-7:30am Prep breakfast
7:30am-8:15am Breakfast
8:30am-9:15am Yoga Therapy/Morning Walk
9:15am-9:30am Bathroom Break
9:30am-10:15am Lab work/ Psychoeducation/ Grocery Outing on Wednesday for those on levels Purple and Green /Process Group/Psychoeducation
10:15am-10:30am Bathroom Break and prep snack
10:30am-10:45am AM snack
11am-12pm Process Group/ Community Meeting on Thursday / Cooking Class on Friday
12pm-12:30pm Bathroom Break and prep for lunch
12:30pm-1:15pm Lunch and Post-Meal Processing/ Tuesdays Restaurant Outing for those on levels Purple and Green
1:30pm-2:15pm Movement/Breathwork or Afternoon Walk
2:15pm-3:15pm Psychoeducation/Meal Planning/ Group/ Nutrition Group/ Meal Planning
3:15pm-3:30pm Bathroom Break and prep PM snack
3:30pm-3:45pm PM snack
4pm- 5:15pm Study Hall (Time to do therapy or nutrition homework) or Media Lab on Tuesdays (Where you get your phone for 45 minutes for those on Purple and Green Levels)
5:15pm-5:30pm Bathroom Break and prep for dinner
5:30pm-6:15pm Dinner and Post-Meal Processing
6:15pm-8:00pm Mail Time/Chores/TV/ Free Time
8:00pm-8:15pm Bathroom Break and prep Night Snack
8:15pm-8:30pm Night snack
8:30pm-10pm Night meds/vitals, get ready for bed/ showers if on Green Level, Journal, Write letters, etc
10pm Lights Out
You can be pulled for individual sessions by your team therapist, dietitian, doctor, etc during any group time or snack (for ERPs with dietitian)
• What were meals like?
3 meals, 3 snacks. Staff support at the table. We didn’t have assigned seats, but we mostly chose to sit in the same spot. You could use coping cards, pictures, we decorated our own placemats, you could bring a stress ball if that helps, we would play conversational games, listen to music, etc. Staff would ground, encourage, or remind you of your coping tools as needed. Breakfast was continental and served at the center. Lunch and Dinner was made by the chef at there Substance Abuse Center nearby and delivered to us. In the beginning staff would plate your food, but when approved you could portion and plate yourself with staff observation and support. You had to eat what was on your meal plan from meal planning days. You could pick from 2 options and if both were food you were allergic to or extreme fears, you could make a sandwich instead but you had to have dietitian approval. Also you could have something besides water with both meals and snacks and it was encouraged by the dietitian. Options were tea, lemonade, variety of juices, milk, or water. You would choose this when meal planning and if you wanted to change it you had to have dietitian approval.
• What sorts of food were available or served?
Pretty much anything you can think of. American, Mexican, Italian, Sandwiches, Chinese, etc. It was on a rotating schedule of 3 or 4 weeks I think. The chef was amazing and the food was great quality in my opinion. Sometimes they would also order in from restaurants, but that only happened 5 times while I was there. Large variety of snack options.
• Did they supplement? How did that system work?
Yes. If you didn’t complete your meals you would have to supplement based on percentage complete. So if you completed 25% you would supplement 6oz, 50% you would supplement 4oz, 75% you would supplement 2oz. You would write your own percentages and then staff would agree or disagree, sign it and then determine overall percentage to know how much supplement to pour. Supplements were Ensure or Boost and you could choose from Strawberry, Chocolate, or Vanilla. You had 10 minutes following meals to drink your supplements. When you were done you could leave the table and head to the living room for post-meal processing. Staff supervised supplementation as well and would encourage if needed.
• What is the policy of not complying with meals? Do most people complete their meals/snacks?
Supplementation. If you are having to supplement a lot or extremely often or if you are refusing supplements as well, the dietitian would pull you into the office and discuss what was going on and you would make a plan together. If not complying continued you would have a treatment team meeting and discuss and your level status could be lost/privileges could be put on hold until meal compliance improved. The meal support was very helpful so most of us were completing most meals and snacks or almost completing at least.
• If applicable: Do they treat ARFID? If so, do they have a separate approach to meals for ARFID?
They do treat ARFID. Not sure if they have a separate approach or not. You would have to ask, but it’s individualized treatment plans so they probably do.
• Are you able to eat vegetarian? Vegan?
Not sure. You would have to ask or speak to the dietitian.
• What privileges are allowed?
Media Lab, Phone Time, Music, Fun Outings, Visitation, Off No Flush, Night Showers, Day pass, Personal Snack choices
• Does it work on a level system?
Yes. Everyone starts on Soft Reset/Blackout period as well as Level Yellow there first week. This means no calls, no media lab, no outings, no visitation, and on no flush/bathroom supervision, and staff plating food.
Then as long as you are participating, engaging in treatment, and having some meal compliance you move to level Purple after your first week.
Level Purple you get most privileges. Media Lab, Outings, Phone Time, Visitation/Family Programming, Plating yourself, still on no flush but off cracked door supervision. Still morning showers only and no day passes. Then once you are fully engaging in treatment, are mostly completing your meal plan, and making progress toward discharge you move to Level Green. On Level Green you are off no flush, and you have all level purple privileges as well as Night showers and day passes.
• How do you earn privileges?
By participating, following rules, engaging in treatment, and meal compliance. Basically by making progress.
• What sort of groups do they have?
Psychoeducation, Process Groups, Meal Processing, Nutrition Group, Cooking Class, Expressive Arts, etc
• What was your favorite group?
Psychoeducation because I like learning new things.
• If applicable: Is the program trauma-informed?
Yes
• What did you like the most?
The structure and the supportive, experienced, and compassionate staff.
• What did you like the least?
Having to get lab work every week and not having more phone time.
• Would you recommend this program?
Yes. I would highly recommend EDTC. I personally had a great experience and will forever be grateful for the staff and everything they did for me. They helped me feel safe and supported and gave me my hope for a future back.
• What level of activity or exercise was allowed?
Yoga therapy every day, and morning or afternoon walks with staff sometimes. You could also walk the Labyrinth in the Wellness room if you wanted.
• What did people do on weekends?
Weekends we had same meal and snacks schedule, Only 1 group Process Group and visitation was on Saturdays from 1:30pm-3:30pm and Fun Outings were Sunday at the same time. We would go on walks, you had plenty of free time, we had deep cleaning on Saturdays in the morning and you could go outside more on the weekends. Weekends were a time to rest and recharge for the next week ahead. You could also catch up on any homework you didn’t get to complete during the week. Phone time was also on the weekends.
• Do you get to know your weight?
No. Blind weights
• If applicable: How fast is the weight gain process?
Every person is different because every body is different. I will say for me personally I was on meal plan A (weight restoration) until my last two weeks there. But some people start on Meal Plan B (Maintenance) so it really depends on the person and your treatment plan.
• What was the average length of stay?
They say 30-90 days. Insurance only let me stay 55 days and made me step down to PHP too early, unfortunately.
• What was the average age range?
While I was there 20-25, but I think they currently have some older patients now as well. So they will take 18+.
• How do visits/phone calls work?
Visitation on Saturdays from 1:30pm-3:30pm for levels Purple and Green. However, Family Group was from 12:30pm-1:30pm and was required by family members/loved ones before visiting. The only people allowed to visit were people with ROIs signed. Same thing with phone calls. The person had to be an ROI and you only had 15 minutes to use total a weekend. Phone times were Friday after dinner until Sunday before evening snack. You could use the phone any time there was free time. But you only had 15 minutes to use total. So whether you wanted to talk to 3 people for 5 minutes or 1 person for 15 minutes. It was up to you. Again only for levels Purple and Green. You could also make calls/FaceTime or text people during media lab time on your own phone if you wanted as well. Media Lab is once a week for 45 minutes.
• What is the electronics policy (e.g., cell phones, iPods, Kindles, laptops, tablets)?
You only get your electronics during Media Lab so once a week for 45 minutes. You can do anything except go on any type of social media. Staff monitor media lab to ensure this rule is followed and if you are caught being on social media you could lose media lab privileges for a determined time chosen by your team.
• For adolescents: Did they provide time to do schoolwork or offer academic support?
They don’t treat adolescents. Only Adults
• For inpatient/residential: Are you able to go on outings/passes?
Yes. If on Levels Purple or Green. Restaurant Outing is on Tuesdays, Grocery Store Outing on Wednesdays, and fun outing on Sundays. Some of our fun outings were Movies, book store, shopping, crafts stores, park, etc. When on level Green you could have a day pass to go somewhere with an ROI for up to 6 hours.
• What kind of aftercare do they provide?
Before discharge you have to complete a relapse prevention plan and do discharge planning with your whole team. They coordinate transfer to a PHP or IOP somewhere. Or make sure you have outpatient therapist and dietitian appointments set up. They also now have Alumni support group.
• Do they help you set up an outpatient treatment team?
Yes. They can assist with helping you find a dietitian and therapist.
• Are there any resources for people who come from out of state/country?
I know I came from out of State and I know they work with you financial wise. Whether that’s scholarships, a discounted out of pocket, payment plan, or single case agreements.
• Other?
If you have any other questions, let me know.