What to Expect
Our team has diverse and integrated strengths, talents and resources to support your needs. Thank you for taking this step in your healing journey.
The residential nature of the program means that there are always opportunities for reflection, learning and growth. Exploration and sharing takes place within a group setting during the module. The experience of living in community is profound as it offers a sense of belonging and inclusion and allows for mutual support. Struggling with an eating disorder can be a very lonely, painful existence. We understand this. Some of us have been there.
Arrival Times:
- Retreats – Doors open at 6pm
- Modules – Doors open 3pm
If you arrive prior to this time, you will be able to wait in the front lobby until team is ready.
Program Schedule:
Programs run from 9am until 9pm with a full day of group learning, community and personal opportunity time.
A sample day looks like this:
8:00am Breakfast
8:30am Team Meeting
9:00am Group Session
11:30am Personal opportunity time
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Group Session
3:30pm Personal opportunity time
5:30pm Supper
6:30pm Group Session
9:00pm Personal opportunity time
10:30pm Wind down
11:00pm Shhh! Lights out
Dining and Kitchen Info:
- The program at BridgePoint is Holistic in approach, and therefore does not focus on food or eating. Dining together in community is an important part of the program. Participants will also serve an integral part in the preparation of meals.
- BridgePoint provides three meals and snacks as part of the program. The food services team provides homemade baking, soups, some breakfast and noon food prep, and the evening meal prep. We try our best to provide participants with healthy and nutritious menu choices.
- Please let the registrar know as far in advance of your program as possible, if you have food sensitivities or allergies. If your allergies are severe enough to require you to carry an epi pen, please inform us as well. We do our best to accommodate special diets, but we cannot guarantee that all requests can be offered. It may be best to bring some of your own specialty foods. There is a participant fridge onsite that you can store your food items in. We do provide some vegetarian choices, some which would be suitable for vegans. Our kitchen is not equipped to provide Kosher/Halal meals and cannot provide the level of Gluten Free foods that someone with Celiac disease would require.
- We ask you not to binge on community food, so please bring your own binge food if you think you will require it.
- There is always a continental-type breakfast available which includes boiled eggs, a variety of cold cereals, apples, oranges, bananas, yogurt, cottage cheese, sliced cheese, nuts, margarine and butter, peanut butter, jam, honey and home baking such as muffins or scones or quick breads like banana bread. Occasionally a hot cereal will be offered. The toaster area includes Whole Wheat and Rye breads.
- At the noon and evening meal there is always a salad bar that includes lettuce, seasonal vegetables, cottage cheese, cheese, boiled eggs, seasonal fruit, vegetable dips, condiments, a variety of pickles, and a nut tray. Also the toaster area is always available. Other salad bar ingredients can include an alternative protein (canned salmon or tuna; salads such as bean, potato or pasta etc; beans or lentils).
- The noon meal always has a crock of soup or chili available, and will sometimes be vegetarian.
- The evening meal consists of a protein, starch and vegetable, or a casserole type dish.
- Proteins served include a variety of beef, pork, chicken or turkey, fish, eggs, cheese/dairy, legumes or lentils.
- Starchy sides may include potatoes, sweet potato, rice, pasta, quinoa, couscous or breads.
- Vegetables may be frozen, canned or fresh, and is often chosen by participants assigned helping prepare the evening meal.
- There is always coffee, tea, milk, apple or orange juice and water available. We also provide Almond or Coconut milk from time to time for those with lactose sensitivities.