Seeking Teen Eating Disorder Treatment? Meet UCSD Adolescent Admissions Clinician Andi Fessler
Is your teen suffering from an eating disorder? Seen pediatrician after pediatrician and not gotten a straight answer on what your child needs? It can be so heart-wrenching to watch your teen struggle and not know how to help them. In San Diego, you just want your kid to be having fun with friends, going to the beach, sitting around bonfires, and living a happy life. One wonderful resource we have is the University of San Diego Eating Disorders Center (UCSD EDC). They have an amazing adolescent program that uses the gold standard of evidence-based treatment for teens—Family Based Treatment (FBT). Andi Fessler is the adolescent admissions clinician for this program. I’ve known Andi for a few years (she actually used to work with one of my former doctoral students!). She is a compassionate, caring person who really empathizes with the challenges families face when a teen has an eating disorder. In this blog, she provides key information about the first steps families will take when they call UCSD EDC for help.
Why did you choose to become an eating disorder specialist in San Diego?
Throughout my graduate training, I became interested in populations coping with complex trauma, which initially led me to working at a non-profit for survivors of sexual trauma and intimate partner violence. While working with this population, I found many of my clients experienced disordered eating, and eating disorder symptoms. In an effort to best serve my clients, I invested time into ED trainings and research. I found the more time I invested, the more I realized this is the incredible and resilient population with whom I was meant to work.
What kind of treatment do you provide?
We offer Partial Hospitalization Programming (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP). Family Based Treatment (FBT) is the primary foundation of our pediatric and adolescent programs and patients receive individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, phone coaching, and dietary support. All individuals in program also work with a psychiatrist. Parents are heavily integrated into their child’s care and receive in-vivo meal coaching, multi-family Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) groups, family therapy and Parent Management Training to ensure they are speaking the same therapeutic language as their child. DBT is the primary foundation of our Adult program, which also utilizes the modalities listed above.
Besides eating disorders, what other co-occurring issues do you treat?
As eating disorders are often comorbid with other psychological disorders, UCSD provides various “tracks” designed to createspecialties within each programs. Specifically, our pediatric program provides Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) interventions to target OCD, and our adolescent program provides evidence-based anxiety groups for various anxiety disorder diagnoses. Adolescent and adult programs also have a track designed for athletes who require tailored support to safety transition back to sport.
How long have you been working with eating disorders overall, and how long have you been in San Diego?
I have been a proud San Diego resident since 2012, and grew up in nearby Temecula. I obtained my graduate degree from the University of San Diego in 2015 and have now been working at UCSD EDC for four years.
What happens when someone first calls you at the UCSD eating disorder program?
At UCSD EDC, treatment and support starts with the first call. The patient, parent or loved one speaks directly with a clinician specialized within the program of inquiry (i.e., pediatric, adolescent, or adult). The clinician learns about the behaviors and symptoms currently causing distress, and provides psychoeducation on eating disorders and the evidence-based treatment we provide. We understand how overwhelming it can be to take the first step in care exploration, and we take pride in providing families support and guidance from the very first conversation.
What happens during an in-person assessment at the UCSD eating disorder program?
Patients will meet with a nurse for evaluation prior to meeting with the clinician to ensure stability of vitals. Next, the family and patient will meet with an Admissions Clinician. During the comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment, the family and patient discuss the history and presenting symptoms of the eating disorder as well as co-morbid features (anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, self-harm, suicidality, etc.). The clinician and family explore treatment options most appropriate given their loved ones symptoms, as well as following steps so that families leave the evaluation with a plan of action for support.
How are parents involved in the assessment process?
Parents are a critical part of the evaluative process at UCSDEDC. In true keeping with the mission of FBT, we believe parents are the experts on their teens/children, and we are the experts on eating disorder treatment, making us invaluable to one another in their child’s evaluation and treatment. Parents will participate in the evaluation both collaboratively with their child/teen, as well as hold discussion with the admission clinician privately during the assessment. Within our adult clinic, adults seeking treatment are welcome to have parents involved in their assessment as a support as well.
What do you wish people knew about getting treatment for eating disorders?
Eating disorders are complex, neurobiologically rooted diseases that affect all demographics and walks of life. My wish is for more people to have access to the evidence-based research that demonstrates that these diseases are far from a choice, and often influence some of the brightest and most talented of people
How can people learn more and contact you?
Call me anytime! Anyone is welcome to phone our main line (858-534-8019) and ask to be transferred to me personally for consultation. I am always happy to speak with anyone exploring treatment options for their child or family member. I am also always happy to provide consultation to other providers who are exploring if UCSD is the right place to refer their patients.
Share one fun fact about you that a lot of people don’t know.
I have two French Bulldogs, one of whom is deaf, and we have trained her to recognize a variety of hand signals for communication!
——————————
Hey everyone, I really appreciate you reading my blog! Have a wonderful day. :)
Marianne
If you are struggling to find eating disorder treatment in San Diego, give me a call for your free 15-minute phone consultation at (858) 699-3754, and I will help you get where you need to be!
You can find more information about me on Instagram @drmariannemiller or on my Facebook page.