New Columbus Program to Treat Trauma and Eating Disorders in Tandem

COLUMBUS, OH – March 17, 2026 – A new, highly specialized treatment program is set to launch in Columbus, aiming to break the devastating cycle between trauma and eating disorders. The Emily Program, a national leader in behavioral health, announced it will open its Trauma and Eating Disorder Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) on March 30th. The in-person program is designed for adults whose struggles with food and body image are deeply intertwined with past traumatic experiences, offering an integrated approach that treats both conditions simultaneously. By combining its decades of expertise in eating disorder care with an evidence-based trauma therapy known as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), the initiative seeks to provide a more holistic and lasting path to recovery for a population whose needs have often gone unmet.

The Deep-Rooted Link Between Trauma and Disordered Eating

The launch of this integrated program addresses a well-documented and critical need within mental healthcare. Research consistently highlights a profound connection between trauma and the development of eating disorders. According to data published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, an estimated 43.8 percent of individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder reported experiencing more than one traumatic event. Other studies place the figure even higher, with some finding that more than half of all eating disorder patients have a history of trauma. The prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in this group is often double that of the general population.

For many, disordered eating behaviors emerge as a desperate, albeit maladaptive, coping mechanism to manage the overwhelming emotions that follow a traumatic experience. Feelings of powerlessness, shame, guilt, and a shattered sense of safety can lead individuals to seek control through food restriction, binging, or purging. Trauma can also intensify underlying issues like self-criticism, perfectionism, and poor body image, which are known fuel for eating disorders. Experts have long recognized that when the root trauma is left unaddressed, treating the eating disorder in isolation can be a frustrating, cyclical process, with a high risk of relapse. By failing to treat the co-occurring conditions together, the underlying wounds that drive the behavior remain, making full and sustained recovery an elusive goal.

Integrating Evidence-Based Therapies for Comprehensive Healing

At the core of the new Columbus program is the integration of two powerful, evidence-based treatment models. While patients receive the comprehensive eating disorder care The Emily Program is known for, they will also engage in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a specific and highly effective form of psychotherapy for PTSD. CPT is considered a first-line treatment for trauma and holds the strongest recommendation in nearly all major clinical practice guidelines. The therapy focuses on helping individuals identify and challenge distorted thoughts and beliefs—often called "stuck points"—that have developed as a result of their trauma. These stuck points, such as "It was my fault" or "The world is completely dangerous," can trap a person in a cycle of fear and negative emotion. Through structured sessions, CPT helps patients re-examine these beliefs and develop a more balanced and healthy perspective on the traumatic event, themselves, and the world. Research has shown CPT to be highly effective not only in reducing PTSD symptoms but also in addressing co-occurring conditions, making it an ideal modality for this integrated program.

The program's structure is designed to provide intensive, multifaceted support. "The depth of expertise of our Columbus staff allows us to provide the thoughtful, specialized care this region needs," said Jenny Beck, Executive Director of The Emily Program’s local centers. Patients will participate in a daily regimen that includes therapy groups, individual CPT and eating disorder therapy sessions, and one-on-one nutrition counseling. The schedule also incorporates medical and psychiatric care, therapeutic supported meals and snacks to rebuild a healthy relationship with food, and multiple daily mindfulness-based grounding practices to help manage distress. This comprehensive model ensures that both the psychological wounds of trauma and the complex medical and behavioral aspects of the eating disorder are addressed in a coordinated fashion.

Filling a Critical Healthcare Gap in the Midwest

The establishment of this program in Columbus is a strategic move to fill what has been described as a significant void in regional healthcare. While many treatment centers offer "trauma-informed" care, a dedicated Partial Hospitalization Program that explicitly integrates an evidence-based protocol like CPT specifically for this dual diagnosis has been difficult for patients to find in Ohio and the surrounding states. "Across Ohio and the broader Midwest, we have long recognized a gap in the industry when it comes to providing treatment to clients with eating disorders and trauma histories," Beck noted in the announcement. "This intersection represents an underserved subset of patients whose treatment needs have not been sufficiently met."

This lack of specialized, integrated care has historically forced individuals and their families to either travel long distances to the few centers offering such programs or attempt to piece together treatment from separate providers, a process that is often disjointed and less effective. By creating this program, The Emily Program is positioning its Columbus facility as a destination for specialized care, serving not only the local community but also individuals across the region who require this level of treatment. M Mullan, Clinical Director of The Emily Program Columbus, stated that the launch was a "natural and clinically important step" in the organization's mission. "We are proud to bring this level of integrated, evidence-based care to Columbus to better support individuals whose recovery requires addressing both conditions together," Mullan said.

Ensuring Access to Life-Saving Treatment

Recognizing that the cost and complexity of navigating insurance can be a major barrier to receiving care, The Emily Program has established a framework to improve accessibility for its new program. The organization is in-network with a wide array of major insurance companies in Ohio, including Aetna, Anthem BCBS, Cigna, Medical Mutual of Ohio, and United Healthcare/Optum, among others. This broad network is intended to streamline the financial process for a majority of potential patients in the region. The admissions team provides dedicated support to help individuals and families verify their insurance benefits, understand potential out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and co-pays, and handle the crucial step of obtaining prior authorization from insurers before treatment begins. For those who may not have adequate coverage or face financial hardship, the program also offers guidance on alternative options. This includes discussing potential payment plans and connecting families with non-profit organizations like Project HEAL, which provides grants to help cover the cost of eating disorder treatment for those in need. This commitment to navigating the financial aspects of care is a critical component of making this specialized treatment a realistic option for the people who need it most.