A Day in the Life:
Starting Treatment at Lotus
April, 2026
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“I wish I knew that I didn’t have to be anxious, that Lotus is a safe space. Recovery is longer than one often thinks. It is not graduating from a treatment center, it’s not just weight restoring. It is everyday. It is an awareness that you want more for your life than what your ED can give you, and the commitment that you will work everyday to achieve that.”
- Previous client
Making the decision to get help can feel overwhelming. For many people, the days leading up to treatment are filled with anxiety, shame, exhaustion, and uncertainty. You may spend time coping the only ways you know how, then feel stuck wondering what to do next.
At some point, something shifts. You start looking at treatment options. You read websites, compare programs, and imagine what it might be like to actually make the call.
Then you find Lotus.
With lots of insight from our clinical team, we’ve put together just one example of what beginning treatment can look like. Every person’s story, timeline, symptoms, needs, and treatment plan are different. If you’re considering treatment and want to learn more about what your next step could look like, our team is here to talk.
*The below is a hypothetical exploration of what beginning treatment at Lotus could look like from a first person perspective. This is not a treatment plan.
The Turning Point
Sunday: you feel anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed. You find that food and/or body image struggles are preventing you from living the life you want. You feel out of control.
Monday: guilt, shame, and fatigue set in. You feel uncertain about what to do next, the thought of asking for help feels distressing, and you avoid things like dinner with friends, choosing instead to keep everything to yourself.
Your First Call
Tuesday: you’re fed up with feeling tired and alone. You start looking at the websites of different treatment programs, trying to imagine what help might actually look like. Then you find Lotus, read about their approach, take a deep breath, and call (855) 852-4968. . (You can also email us or submit a consultation request online.)
That’s when you meet Gabe. He calmly answers your questions, explains the free, no-commitment assessment process, and walks you through next steps. If you decide to move forward, they send a follow-up email with everything you need to begin the intake process.
In that email is:
The medical clearance form
Link to submit insurance information
Access to the portal to complete the admissions application and self assessment
Getting Started
Wednesday: You begin completing the next steps at your own pace:
Submit your insurance information (verification typically comes back within one business day)
Create your client portal
Complete the admissions application and self-assessment
Schedule an appointment with a provider (MD, DO, NP, or PA) to complete your medical clearance
There’s no pressure to move faster than you’re ready for, but the more quickly these steps are completed, the sooner you can move forward.
The In-Between
You go to your MD appointment, where you complete a physical exam, EKG, and labs. Afterward, your doctor faxes the medical clearance form to Lotus. Once your intake materials are complete and your medical clearance is received, the admissions team reaches out to schedule your assessment (typically within 3–5 business days).
Before your assessment, you’ll sign consent and release forms through your portal.
Your Assessment
Assessment Day: scared, uncertain, perhaps regretful, you log on to the assessment and meet Sue. Over the course of 60 minutes, she asks questions about food, trauma, and other lifestyle factors, and you share as much as feels comfortable.
Sue explains that the Clinical Director will review the information and determine the appropriate level of care, and that she will call back in a couple days with the recommendation. You feel a bit of relief, but you’re still uncertain. You can’t concentrate at work or school.
Behind the Scenes
The day after your assessment: you feel numb and distressed. Behind the scenes, Kayla is reviewing your information, consulting with providers, and determining the appropriate level of care. Then Sue calls back with the recommendation: PHP level of care 6 days a week. She talks you through the recommendation and what the next steps would look like, and you decide to accept.
Admission
Tuesday: Lotus receives your medical clearance, and Kayla reviews all of your data. Sue calls with a proposed admission date, Thursday! She sends over your admission paperwork, along with a welcome email from the admissions team. You’ll be scheduled for a brief virtual orientation (about 15 minutes) to walk through what to expect and answer any final questions.
Wednesday: You go grocery shopping and then join Gabe for a virtual orientation. He explains the program expectations, answers any questions you have about the admission paperwork, and helps you feel a little more prepared for your first day.
Day One and More
Thursday, Day 1: you feel nervous and anxious. You arrive at Lotus at 9:50 a.m. and ring the doorbell. Rone welcomes you in, orients you to the space, explains the schedule for the day, walks you through the check-in form, and helps you get settled.
At 10:10 a.m., you meet Angel for your first snack. There are fun intros, your peers are nice, and you sit back in the group space. At 11:00 a.m., your individual therapist, Jill, comes to get you from group for your initial session. She is nonjudgmental, focused on building rapport, and validates just how overwhelming all of this feels!
At 12:00 p.m., it’s time for lunch. At 1:00 p.m., you meet with psychiatry and are introduced to Dr. G. At 2:00 p.m., you return to the group, and at 3:00 p.m., you check out and head home.
Friday, Day 2: you come back! The daily theme is body image. You attend group at 11:00 a.m., lunch at 12:00 p.m. (still feels scary), and at 1:00 p.m. you meet Kalia for your first individual nutrition session. At 2:00 p.m., you rejoin group.
Saturday: it’s your day off and the first day you try following your meal plan on your own. It’s really hard, and it doesn’t go perfectly. Your supporters attend Friends and Family Group with Kim.
Sunday: you return to program feeling unsure about how to talk about what you ate, or didn’t eat, on Saturday. You learn that the process is not punitive, and that honesty is more important than perfection. You also get to do a fun outing and meet Melissa.
Monday: you have a follow-up session with Jill, along with groups and the rest of your usual programming.
Tuesday: you continue settling in, possibly have a follow-up with Dr. G, and receive your schedule for the upcoming week.
Wednesday: Anna sends out the weekly email with your schedule and reminders.
Thursday: Friends and Family Supported Dinner with Rone.
And then, slowly, the rhythm starts to become more familiar. You keep showing up.
*Our program is always evolving. Details accurate as of May 2026.
Reach out to admissions to learn more about our programs and services.
📞 Call 855-852-4968
📧 Email info@thelotuscollaborative.com
📋 Fill Out a Consultation Request Form
*We’re in-network with insurances and work with Medi-Cal referrals.
Written & Created by Lea Horsley & Anna Riverso
Explore more of our blogs with behind the scenes peeks into our day-to-day programming!