For BIPOC individuals
Eating disorders do not discriminate—they affect individuals of every race, ethnicity, and cultural background. Yet, systemic inequities, cultural stigma, and a lack of representative care often create barriers to healing for BIPOC individuals. Within’s BIPOC program delivers specialized, culturally responsive eating disorder treatment that honors your identity, respects your culture, and validates your lived experience.
Treatment that sees the whole person
Our BIPOC group is designed for individuals seeking eating disorder treatment in an environment where culture, community, and identity are recognized as important parts of healing.
We understand that experiences with food, body image, healthcare, family dynamics, and mental health are often shaped by cultural and societal influences. Treatment is tailored to honor those experiences while providing evidence-based clinical care.
What makes this program different?
- Culturally responsive, identity-affirming care
- Treatment that considers the impact of systemic racism and marginalization
- Opportunities to connect with others who share similar lived experiences
- Flexible virtual care that reduces common barriers to treatment
- Specialized BIPOC-focused support groups
Common focus areas include:
- Cultural relationships with food and body image
- Experiences of discrimination, bias, and marginalization
- Weight stigma and societal pressures
- Family and community expectations
- Building self-compassion and resilience
- Accessing care that feels safe, relevant, and inclusive
Why inclusive, accessible care matters
Despite the persistent myth that eating disorders primarily affect White individuals, research confirms they occur at similar rates across all racial and ethnic groups.
However, BIPOC individuals remain significantly less likely to be diagnosed or access care. Within’s research highlights these critical disparities, revealing profound inequities in how BIPOC individuals are screened, diagnosed, and connected to treatment utilization.
These disparities may be influenced by:
- Limited access to culturally competent providers
- Financial and insurance barriers
- Stigma and shame surrounding mental health treatment
- Distrust in healthcare systems
- Fear of not being heard or understood
- Lack of awareness about eating disorder symptoms and treatment options
Our goal is to help remove these barriers so more individuals can receive the care they deserve.
Levels of care for BIPOC individuals
BIPOC patients receive treatment through Within's full continuum of care, allowing support to be tailored to individual needs and symptom severity.
IOP
Enhanced intensive outpatient program (IOP)For individuals who need intensive support while maintaining responsibilities at work, school, or home.
Flexible treatment schedules
Individual therapy
Nutrition support
Group programming
Psychiatric services as needed
PHP
Enhanced partial hospitalization program (PHP)For individuals who need a higher level of support and structure.
Multiple hours of treatment per day
Individual therapy
Nutrition counseling and meal support
Psychiatric care
Group therapy
Medical monitoring as clinically indicated
Patients may transition between levels of care as recovery progresses and clinical needs change.
Within provides both enhanced PHP and IOP levels of care for patients ages 13 and older.
Our treatment approach
Treatment combines evidence-based eating disorder care with a commitment to cultural humility and individualized support.
Approaches may include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Nutritional rehabilitation
- Meal support
- Psychiatric evaluation and medication management
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
These approaches help you to:
- Restore a healthy relationship with food
- Reduce eating disorder symptoms
- Improve emotional regulation
- Address body image concerns
- Build coping strategies for stress and discrimination
- Strengthen recovery skills in everyday life
Treatment recommendations are individualized based on each person's unique needs, goals, identity, and recovery journey.
Why inclusive, accessible care matters
A safe, judgment-free communityTo bridge gaps in culturally responsive care, Within offers a dedicated BIPOC process group facilitated by BIPOC providers.
This specialized space allows individuals to process eating disorder recovery alongside peers, addressing cultural dynamics and intersectional experiences often neglected in standard clinical settings.
Group discussions may explore:
- Culture and identity
- Food traditions and family expectations
- Race, ethnicity, and body image
- Weight stigma
- Diet culture
- Socioeconomic influences on health and recovery
- Societal Pressures
The goal is to foster connection, understanding, and mutual support among individuals with shared lived experiences.
Care team
Patients work with a multidisciplinary team of eating disorder specialists who collaborate throughout treatment.
Your care team may include:
- Therapists
- Registered dietitians
- Psychiatrists
- Nurses
- Care coordinators
- Group facilitators
Within's diverse clinical team is committed to providing compassionate, personalized care that respects each patient's background, preferences, and lived experiences.
What to expect
Within's fully virtual model allows patients to receive specialized treatment from home while remaining connected to family, work, school, and community.
Programming may include:
- Individual therapy sessions
- Nutrition counseling
- Meal support
- Psychiatric appointments
- Skills-based groups
- Process groups
- Recovery-focused assignments and resources
Patients can access treatment through Within's virtual platform, which includes:
- Secure telehealth sessions
- Messaging with the care team
- Self-guided recovery content
- Scheduling and care coordination tools
This allows patients to practice recovery skills in the environments where they live their daily lives.
Who this program is for
This program may be a good fit for individuals 13 years and older who:
- Identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color
- Are struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating
- Want treatment that acknowledges the role of culture and identity in recovery
- Have felt unseen or misunderstood in previous treatment experiences
- Are looking for a more inclusive and culturally responsive approach to care
We treat several types of eating disorders, including:
Benefits of our program
The Within program is designed to help BIPOC individuals to:
- Reduce eating disorder symptoms
- Improve their quality of life
- Improve their relationship with food and body image
- Increase their confidence when navigating recovery
- Foster greater connection to supportive communities
- Improve their overall emotional wellbeing
Help us understand your needs so we can support you
Call us today to learn more about our personalized treatment programs. A healthier life free from eating disorders is in reach.