If you are a physician, bariatric surgeon, primary care provider, dietitian, or therapist looking for somewhere to refer an adult patient who needs more than weekly outpatient therapy, Bariatric Counseling Center (BCC) is built for exactly that step. BCC provides an accredited Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for adults with binge eating disorder, food addiction, compulsive overeating, and weight-related depression and anxiety, in the Medical Center area of San Antonio and by telehealth across Texas. BCC holds The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval, and we make the referral process simple so your patient does not fall through the gap between needing more help and getting it. This page explains who is a good fit, how the program works, and how to refer.
Which Patients Are a Good Fit to Refer
BCC is the right level of care for adults whose eating concerns are not being resolved by standard once-weekly therapy or a meal plan, but who do not require inpatient or residential admission. Consider a referral when you see:
Patients with binge eating disorder, food addiction, or compulsive overeating who need structure and accountability beyond a weekly session. Bariatric patients, before or after surgery, who are struggling with the behavioral and emotional side of eating that surgery does not address, including patients experiencing post-surgical loss of control or behavior transfer. Patients on GLP-1 or dual-pathway medications such as semaglutide or tirzepatide who have quieter appetite but persistent emotional eating, binge patterns, or weight-regain risk. Patients whose depression or anxiety is tightly bound to weight and eating. And overeaters who have cycled through diets, apps, and willpower and need a clinical program rather than another behavioral tip.
BCC serves adults only and does not treat adolescents. BCC’s primary focus is binge eating disorder, food addiction, compulsive overeating, and the bariatric and GLP-1 behavioral lane, rather than anorexia or bulimia as a primary presentation. BCC does not provide inpatient, residential, or partial hospitalization care, and does not prescribe medication, so it coordinates cleanly alongside your medical management.
How the Program Works, So You Know What You Are Referring Into
BCC’s IOP is a structured, time-defined program rather than open-ended therapy. Most patients complete it in about three months across roughly 30 sessions, with schedules built so working adults can attend without leaving their jobs: morning sessions Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, evening sessions Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, and a Saturday group from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
The clinical model is evidence-based and multidisciplinary. Treatment draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT), delivered through a mix of group, individual, and family therapy. The team includes licensed clinical psychologists and licensed professional counselors, registered dietitians, a registered nurse, and a professional chef, with mindful eating practice, cooking classes, and guided grocery store tours integrated into care. This combination, under Joint Commission accreditation, is why BCC describes itself as the only program of its kind in Texas. Your referred patient receives coordinated psychological and nutritional care in one program rather than a fragmented set of separate appointments.
Coverage, Logistics, and How to Refer
BCC accepts most major insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Tricare, Humana, UMR, Carelon, Oscar, Imagine Health, Sana, MultiPlan, Meritain Health, ComPsych, Curative, 90 Degree Benefits, and Healthcare Highways. CareCredit is available for patients who prefer a payment plan, and BCC files insurance appeals on the patient’s behalf at no cost, which removes a common barrier that stalls referrals. Care is delivered in person in San Antonio and by telehealth throughout all of Texas, so you can refer patients in Austin, Houston, Dallas, McAllen, and rural communities to the same program. Note that BCC does not offer Spanish-language services, so please factor language needs into your referral.
To refer a patient, call BCC at (210) 942-0049 or direct the patient to bariatriccounselingcenter.com. The intake team verifies benefits, explains the program to the patient, and keeps the referring provider informed with the patient’s consent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I refer an adult patient for binge eating or food addiction treatment in San Antonio?
BCC offers an accredited adult IOP for binge eating disorder, food addiction, and compulsive overeating in the Medical Center area of San Antonio and by telehealth across Texas. Call (210) 942-0049 to start a referral.
Is BCC an appropriate referral if my patient is on a GLP-1 medication?
Yes. Many referred patients are on medications such as semaglutide or tirzepatide and still struggle with emotional eating, binge patterns, or weight-regain risk. BCC supplies the behavioral layer alongside your medical management and does not prescribe, so the roles stay clear.
What level of care is BCC, and when is it not the right fit?
BCC is an intensive outpatient program, a step above weekly therapy and below inpatient or residential. It is not appropriate for patients who need medical stabilization, inpatient, residential, or partial hospitalization care, or for adolescents.
Do you treat bariatric surgery patients?
Yes. BCC specializes in the behavioral and emotional side of eating before and after bariatric surgery, including post-surgical loss of control and behavior transfer, which most surgical programs are not staffed to address.
Will I be kept informed after I refer?
With the patient’s consent, BCC coordinates with referring providers so you stay informed about participation and progress.
Refer With Confidence
When a patient needs more than you can offer in a weekly visit, you want to refer them somewhere structured, accredited, and genuinely specialized in the behavioral side of eating and weight. That is what BCC provides for adults across San Antonio and Texas.
Call (210) 942-0049 or visit bariatriccounselingcenter.com to refer a patient or to talk through whether the program fits a specific case. We make the next step easy for you and for them.