Eating Disorder Treatment Centers of Louisiana (EDTC) is a new treatment center located in Covington, LA. EDTC offers residential treatment for adult women.
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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.
So you have to sign a release of information giving the facility permission to speak and disclose any information to anyone that you want to be able to call?
You have to sign an ROI in order to call that person on the centers phone, during phone time on the weekend. However, during media lab when you are on your actual phone you can call or text whoever during those 45 minutes.
That is absolutely wild to me. No way am I going somewhere that requires me to allow them to disclose my medical information to anyone that I want to call from their phone. Thanks for clarifying!
It is just like any other ROI form. It is up to you what you check off or don’t check off on the form. You can only call ROIs for confidentiality and safety purposes. To ensure you aren’t just calling random people or people that can hinder your progress in treatment.
Yes
Was also there with this client. Awesome experience. Would recommend!
So ive been everywhere and I am ao scared bc this has been lifelong. I want to try here but I am sooo scared. Did it reaaaaaally help? Have you been elsewhere and what made here different if so?
I’m trans but AFAB, and I’m currently at a low bmi and I was wondering if anyone knew whether I could potentially go here? There seem not to be many options in state.
Also, does anyone know if they offer a SEED track, I keep getting rejected because of it.
I went to River Oaks in New Orleans a few months ago and it was incredibly helpful! They are well versed in all eating disorders and the program is heavily individualized, unlike most places I’ve been. It’s a smaller program and in more of a hospital setting but there’s cooking group twice a week and outings. I’d be happy to answer any of your questions about it 🙂
I don’t think this is River Oaks page? I could be wrong, but I think Eating Disorder Treatment Center of Louisiana is a different program than River Oaks? They both are just located in Louisiana, but I don’t think River Oaks is affiliated with this program. It’s just confusing because the name of this program makes it sound like it’s referring to all ED treatment centers in Louisiana lol, but I think this is its own distinct individual program that is a different program than River Oaks. This program is residential, where as River Oaks is Inpatient , and this program is women only, where as, I’m pretty sure River Oaks ED unit is co ed, though it tends to have mostly female patients, men can go to River Oaks too. I have been to River Oaks trauma program though (which shares a unit with their ED program) and while I didn’t have the greatest experience at River Oaks trauma program, the ED program seemed pretty good, and the two programs do have some combined groups, and the patients on the ED side seemed like to it! But I think C was asking about Eating Disorder treatment center of Louisiana , not River Oaks. I think it’s just confusing because the name makes it sound like it’s referring to all ED treatment centers in Louisiana lol
Yes you’re right, they are not affiliated with each other. EDTC is a residential on the North Shore about an hour from New Orleans (where River Oaks is). But as there are only really these two options in Louisiana I wanted to give some insight. River Oaks is a co-ed IP and in a hospital unit that also houses patients there for a trauma program. The therapy is intense because the therapists see both trauma IPs and ED patients. From my experience, they operate more like a residential program than an inpatient. I know EDTC is essentially brand new and they’re strictly female only so if you are looking for somewhere gender inclusive, there were two male patients in the ED program at River Oaks when I was there.
Never mind, I see you were mentioning River Oaks because C said there aren’t many ED treatment options in Louisiana. Sorry, I misunderstood and thought you mistook this as River Oaks’s page on EDTR. My bad. I see- you were mentioning River Oaks as another treatment option in Louisiana, I misunderstood. Though I do think the name of this facility is confusing, because it kinda does sound like it is referring to all ED treatment centers in Louisiana lol
the person above was asking about a SEED approach, which River Oaks definitely does not support.
Thanks C! could you maybe do a review following the template?
Hi, EDTCL is a new residential but I have heard good things from friends who went there. I had a good convo with their director about the program this winter and she was very willing to spend the time to talk through the program. It might be worth calling. They do not have a SEED track, SEED is very uncommon to find and there are only a few programs in the country that offer it. Have you been in treatment before?
I’m so glad to hear you had a good conversation with them, I have been to treatment before, I’ve been through three or four IP places, two also as IOP/PHP as step-down, and multiple individual outpatient, and honestly it’s just gotten worse following each.
If you need a SEED approach, I don’t think EDTCL offers that. I doubt any ED program at a residential level of care will offer that. If you really need a SEED approach, ED IP programs that are located in medical hospitals will be the most likely to be able to accommodate your needs. The only true SEED program that I am aware of is at Sanford. I’ve heard that Center for Change and Princeton can sometimes do more harm reduction approaches for SEED patients on a case by case basis, but I don’t think it’s that common at either program, and from what I understand, CFC and Princeton only do that in unique circumstances, but it couldn’t hurt to call them and explain your specific circumstances and see if they’re able to accommodate a harm reduction approach for you. Sanford is the only program that has a true SEED program.
SEED programs are generally for patients who are over 30, have been to IP numerous times with little success, who have very low BMI, and have not been able to maintain recovery for an extended period of time, and have struggled with their ED for a very long time with very few periods of recovery during that time frame. It’s a harm reduction approach meant for patients who have had long term severe EDs for a while whom treatment hasn’t historically helped them maintain periods of recovery. If that applies to you, I think the programs I listed above are the only ones that are known for sometimes doing harm reduction approaches for SEED patients. Acute also accepts patients who would be classified as SEED patients , but they do not allow a harm reduction approach. Other than the programs I mentioned, medical stabilization programs that are located in medical units in hospitals (which are rare and most of them don’t accept patients over 26) might potentially be able to accommodate a SEED approach depending on your circumstances and the specific program, but there are very few programs like that that accept people over 26 who aren’t local to the area they’re located in.
I think the only program in the US that offers a true SEED program is Sanford’s inpatient ED program.
Hi, I m in dire need of a treatment center. I have been in and out programs since I was 12 (I’m 20 now)and so many of them have been traumatic and made things worse. They just focus on shoving food down your throat and making you be a certain bmi (I know nutritional stabilization is important but there are so many more crucial components to ed recovery) all that being said I heavily struggle with depression, ocd, anxiety and trauma that leads to my ed behaviors which manifests in control of food with measuring/weighing and counting and also emotional overeating/compulsive binging. I’m looking for a place that truly understands that food is NOT the issue, (it’s so much deeper than that) and really utilizes an individualized, trauma safe, somatic work to healing and recovery. I have some specific questions and if anyone that has been here could please help answer that would be so deeply appreciated. They are mostly about what kind of autonomy you had in this program. What integrative/somatic therapies are offered, are they good with trauma and ocd and depression? Was movement groups incorporated? How do they do with support and philosophies around food.
For context I have been to places that did exchanges and then others that did plate method and honestly exchanges were very rigid for me and then plate method was confusing and just frustrating. Overall right now my main goal is to find flexibility and more intuitive way in eating that works for my body and lifestyle. Also I’m very all or nothing with food and other centers have pushed the clean your plate habit onto me, which has now made it very hard to listen to my fullness and leave food on my plate. Do you think this place could help challenge that and become more flexible with eating?
I do not want to go to another program that will leave me traumatized and feeling even more unsafe in my own body and around food. Thank you for reading. My email is Paulina_bj@icloud.com and I would love to talk to anyone that went here!
I have not been there personally, but If you don’t like the exchange system, I have heard that Center for Change in Utah has an intuitive eating approach as opposed to an exchange system. Intuitive eating is generally a better approach for people who struggle with bingeing or compulsive eating or people who struggle with the compulsive feeling to always clean your plate (as opposed to listening to hunger and fullness cues). Intuitive eating is all about learning to listen to your hunger and fullness cues.
I don’t know how good Center for Change is at treating bingeing/compulsive eating. Like most ED programs, they do primarily cater to Anorexia. And I haven’t been there personally, but if you go on Center for Change’s review page on this site, there are some very thorough reviews, which might be able to give you a sense of if they would be a good fit for you or not.
I remember reading a review of CFC that said they now have some therapists who do IFS, which is a therapy for people with trauma. While I don’t think CFC generally treats co occurring trauma in general, if you need to work on your trauma alongside your ED in order to recover from the ED, you could maybe request to be assigned to one of their individual therapists who do IFS? I haven’t been there so I could be wrong about that, but I think I remember some of the reviews on CFC’s page on here say that some of the therapists do IFS for trauma in individual sessions for people who need that for co occurring trauma
On the flip side, it reads like CFC is not a program that will meet a person where they are at. ie I do not eat pork chops, not even pre ed…serving pork chops with no alternative isn’t going to get me to eat or supplement bc a fair alternative wasn’t given. I HATE sausage. Give an alternative and I will do my best, don’t and I’m not supplementing for something I’ve never been willing to eat in my entire life.
feel like this program wouldn’t work for people who have texture issues or any trauma foods. There is no amount of exposure work that would ever get me
to eat a pork chop or sausage. That’s not restriction based, it’s texture and if I’m forced to attempt it,
I gag, possibly vomit and cannot attempt to eat anything else.
i have childhood
religious meat trauma and my goals don’t include eating things i abhor.
I’m so sorry that happened to you ❤️