Eating Concerns TX Team

Auburn University offers a multidisciplinary tratment team, Auburn University Eating Concerns Treatment Team (AU ECTT), to serve students seeking treatment for eating concerns or related problems.

Understanding AU ECTT

Auburn University offers a multidisciplinary treatment team, Auburn University Eating Concerns Treatment Team (AU ECTT), to serve students seeking treatment for eating concerns or related problems. The team consists of professionals from Student Counseling & Psychological Services (SCPS), Auburn University Medical Clinic (AUMC) medical providers, and a registered dietitian. Students who are interested in an assessment and treatment for an eating concern or related problem should schedule an intake appointment with a senior staff clinician at SCPS. During the intake appointment, a complete assessment will be undertaken. Each client who presents with eating issues will be staffed by the treatment team to determine appropriate action.

What to Expect From Appointments

The preferred initial contact with AU ECTT is through SCPS where a psychological assessment will be completed. Students should call SCPS (844.5123) to schedule an initial intake appointment. Students seen initially through other AU ECTT providers will be referred to SCPS for a psychological assessment.

When meeting with a member of AU ECTT, students can expect the following:

At the intake session, a senior staff clinician will ask the student for information about eating, exercising, and purging behaviors. If a student with an eating concern is considered appropriate for treatment by AU ECTT, then the student will sign a contract for treatment. As a part of this contract, the student will be referred for a physical exam at AUMC with the AU ECTT medical provider. The student will also be referred to the AU ECTT registered dietitian for a nutrition assessment. The student will sign release of information forms so that members of AU ECTT can discuss the student’s treatment. The student may also be asked to sign a release of information form so that the AU ECTT members can speak with an identified party (i.e., physician, parent, partner, etc.) should the team have concerns regarding the health of the student. AU ECTT meets weekly during the fall and spring semesters to monitor each student’s progress.

In following appointments, the psychologist/counselor will facilitate psychological treatment services, which may include individual, group therapy, and coordinate treatment services with AU ECTT.

An AUMC medical provider will provide the student with an initial medical assessment and follow-up medical treatment services. The student will be asked by the SCPS senior staff clinician to undergo a complete medical assessment within one week of the student’s initial contact with AU ECTT. If a student is referred by AU ECTT for a psychiatric evaluation, then a psychiatrist will provide the student with an assessment and follow-up treatment.
A registered dietitian will provide the student with a nutrition assessment and follow-up nutrition care. If possible, the initial nutrition assessment should be scheduled within 2-3 weeks of the student’s initial contact with AU ECTT. This is largely dependent on the student’s completion of all necessary paperwork which is required by the dietitians prior to the consultation. A $45 fee will be charged for the initial consultation; follow-up appointments are $20 each. All fees are billed to the student’s account.

In the event that the student’s presenting condition warrants more intensive and long-term care, as determined by AU ECTT, the student will be provided an appropriate referral outside of the university setting. Although AU ECTT strives to provide high-quality services, there are times that the team will refer a student to an outside provider and monitor the referral until the student is firmly established in working with the new provider.

Auburn University Medical Clinic

Medical Provider
Patricia Keeney, CRNP
334.844.4416

Student Counseling & Psychological Services

ECTT Coordinator
Sarah Schwartz, Ph.D.
334.844.5123

Health Promotion and Wellness Services

Registered Dietitian
334.844.1528