STEP® Program

Van Dusen Nutrition® launched STEP® nearly 2 years ago, an in-person program for eating disorders intended to fill a gap in the levels of care. Leigh Van Dusen, the practice Owner and Director of Clinical Operations, developed the program after observing for nearly two decades the lack of gradual and incremental steps throughout the continuum of care and subsequent increased risk of relapse. STEP® was originally designed to sit below the IOP level of care and above the outpatient level of care. However, with need being high and most local programs being virtual throughout the pandemic, STEP® expanded to include an IOP level of care and IOP+ level of care.

Currently, individuals are assessed for level of care and recommended to either STEP® (2 days or evenings/week), STEP®-IOP (4 days or evenings/week), or STEP®-IOP+ (4 days or evenings/week plus 5-10 individual services/week). STEP® is a highly specialized and individualized eating disorder program based in experiential and exposure work. Programming centers in hands-on, behavioral work to guide and support individuals in developing the necessary skills to live and flourish independent of their eating disorders.