The CIRCARA Disordered Eating & Nutrition Program at CREOKS provides specialized, compassionate care for individuals and families in Oklahoma who are navigating the challenges of disordered eating. This may include concerns related to Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) or other feeding and eating challenges, along with body image and excessive exercise concerns. Our program is designed to offer personalized, evidence-based treatment within a supportive and understanding environment.
The CIRCARA Program is one of the first of its kind in Oklahoma and the nation, within a community mental health setting – making specialized eating disorder care more accessible than ever before. Along with our parent company, CREOKS Health Services, CIRCARA is a program supporting the underserved in our community, including those with Medicaid and Medicare as well as private insurance. CIRCARA is H.A.E.S.-aligned and decidedly disconnected from diet culture. Our program is age and gender inclusive.
Our multidisciplinary team works collaboratively to provide medical, nutritional, psychological and care coordination support to create a holistic and personalized treatment experience. Our goal is to help individuals and families generate a care plan based on their own unique needs and circumstances. We do this work to support recovery, restoration of health and build resilience for sustainable wellness.
The CIRCARA approach has five key elements:
1. Individual Therapy
2. Family Therapy (including other systems of support)
3. Nutritional Rehabilitation
4. Case Management & Care Coordination
5. Medical & Psychiatric Support
Eating Disorder Therapy Services
CIRCARA therapy providers offer specialized care for children, adolescents and adults who have developed disordered eating or nutritional instability. Our Therapists create a safe, inclusive and empowering space for individuals wherein recovery is possible. Family involvement is an essential part of treatment, particularly for children and adolescents. Best practices include family and other systems of support for adults as well.
We provide relational, client-centered care with Evidence Based Treatment, such as:
• Support for identifying and addressing unhelpful thoughts about food and body image (CBT)
• Building emotional regulation and coping skills (DBT)
• Support for living in alignment with your values (ACT)
• Strengthening family relationships and support systems (FBT, ABFT) to improve communication and reduce conflict – especially around food, meal planning, body image, etc..
Nutrition Services
When meeting with their dietitian, clients will first build a better understanding of their nutritional health. This includes reviewing day-to-day habits, recent food intake, medical history, current medications and supplements, along with height and weight. Nutritional rehabilitation includes reviews of lab work, DXA results and vital signs.
At CIRCARA, we collaborate to improve nutritional health and overall wellbeing. Each client will develop a personalized plan of care, generate goals that expand the variety and quality of nutritional intake and address disordered thoughts affecting their nutritional stability.
Case Management
The CIRCARA team provides advocacy and collaboration with schools, medical providers and families. We provide partnership and coordination of care for individuals transitioning to a higher level of care when necessary (e.g., Inpatient, Residential, or Partial Hospitalization Programs). We work to ensure continuity of care and support for transitions between higher and lower levels of care.
Medical & Psychiatric Support
The CIRCARA team coordinates with physicians and psychiatrists for medical monitoring, medication management, lab work and bone scan (i.e., DXA) results, as needed. We ensure a whole-person approach with integration of physical and mental health care.
The Circara Team
Heather Gilliam
Director of Psychological & Allied Health Services
Heather Gilliam, PsyD is the founding Director of CIRCARA Disordered Eating & Nutrition Services at CREOKS. Dr. Gilliam is a Licensed Health Service Psychologist in Oklahoma with expertise in general clinical psychology, eating disorders, body image concerns, solution-focused family therapy and program development. Dr. Gilliam’s published work is related to integrating faith and spirituality into a wholistic approach to treatment.
Adriana Tucker
Registered Dietitan
Adriana Tucker MS, RD, LD is a registered Dietitian in Oklahoma and a founding team member of CIRCARA Disordered Eating & Nutrition Services at CREOKS. She has nearly a decade of experience providing nutritional care. With a passion for working with the eating disorder population, she has experience providing care in the inpatient and outpatient settings. When working with individuals or families, Adriana strives to find realistic, attainable and sustainable goals to support their journey to wellbeing.
Cori Loffer
Special Programs Therapist
Cori Loffer, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and founding team member of CIRCARA Disordered Eating & Nutrition Services at CREOKS. She specializes in treatment for eating disorder concerns for individuals and families across the lifespan, using a relational approach informed by evidence-based modalities. As a U.S. Air Force veteran and board member of the Oklahoma Eating Disorder Association, Cori is dedicated to advancing innovative, accessible care for all individuals and families.
Laurie Ferrer
Director of Nursing
Laurie Ferrer, RN, BSN, MHA, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC is a Licensed Practicing Nurse and a founding team member of CIRCARA Disordered Eating & Nutrition Services at CREOKS. Laurie has more than 20 years of experience in the medical field and a focused specialization in mental health for the past six years. Laurie’s background has equipped her with a dual lens on family dynamics and psychiatric care. She combines clinical expertise with accessible, stigma-free and trauma-informed care to support and empower patients and their families. Her patient-centric philosophy centers on safety, dignity and sustained recovery. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to understanding the psychological, emotional and physiological factors that influence eating behaviors and overall wellbeing., evidence-based interventions.
Resources
Health at Every Size
The Health at Every Size® Principles serve as the guideposts for our work. They are the enduring beliefs underlying our work, even as the world changes, as science evolves and new information emerges. The Health at Every Size® Framework of Care serves as a roadmap for providers to become HAES®-aligned. Health at Every Size® Providers work to include all elements of the framework of care into their learning and practice. Health at Every Size® is an ever-evolving model and HAES®-aligned Providers are committed to the continuous learning to stay up-to-date. LEARN MORE.
Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders
F.E.A.S.T. walks alongside families as they navigate the challenges of their loved one’s eating disorder. We provide parents and caregivers with transformative peer support, education, empowerment and community through a multitude of top-notch free programs and services. LEARN MORE.
National Eating Disorder Association
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is a leading organization committed to fundamentally changing how eating disorders are understood and treated. By providing education, resources, and early intervention, and by advancing research, NEDA supports the nearly 30 million people who will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime. We envision a world that offers compassion, connection, and hope to all who struggle. LEARN MORE.
Oklahoma Eating Disorder Association
Oklahoma Eating Disorders Association (OEDA), a not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to the prevention of disordered eating, eating disorders and negative body image by raising awareness, providing education and serving as the leading resource of support and identification of treatment resources throughout Oklahoma and neighboring states. LEARN MORE.
Call the NEDA confidential helpline: 1-800-931-2237
Monday – Thursday from 9 am – 9 pm and Friday from 9 am – 5 pm (EST)
National Alliance for Eating Disorders
The National Alliance for Eating Disorders (formerly The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness) is the leading national nonprofit organization providing referrals, education and support for all individuals experiencing eating disorders and their loved ones. They raise awareness; eliminate secrecy and stigma; promote access to care; and support those susceptible to, currently experiencing, and recovering from eating disorders. LEARN MORE.
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
ANAD is the leading nonprofit in the U.S. that provides free support peer-services to anyone struggling with an eating disorder, regardless of age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation or background. Our nationwide network of volunteers understand first-hand the ups and downs of the recovery journey—because they, too, have lived the experience of an eating disorder. ANAD empowers volunteers to help others through their own recovery. LEARN MORE.