Pica Treatment

If you or someone you love is struggling with persistent cravings for non-food items, pica treatment can help you understand what is happening, reduce risks, and build safer routines that last. If a sharp, toxic, or obstructive item may have been swallowed, seek emergency care or contact poison control for guidance.¹,²,⁴

Empower Health Group coordinates admissions and care pathways through our Empower Health Group headquarters in Boca Raton, which is an administrative office, not a treatment facility. Our teams collaborate with you on a practical plan that blends medical, nutritional, and behavioral care, delivered through partner centers in Massachusetts, California, and Florida.¹,²,⁴

Pica Treatment at a Glance

Pica treatment addresses a feeding and eating disorder characterized by repeated ingestion of non-nutritive items for at least one month at a developmentally inappropriate age. It can lead to complications such as gastrointestinal obstruction, dental injury, parasitic infection after soil ingestion, and exposure to toxins like lead, which is why timely evaluation matters.¹,²,³,⁴

What Is Pica, Signs, and Health Risks

People often describe pica symptoms as ongoing urges to eat items such as dirt, clay, paper, hair, chalk, or ice. These behaviors can appear in children, pregnant people, and adults, and sometimes occur alongside anxiety traits, OCD features, autism spectrum conditions, ADHD, or developmental differences.¹,⁴,⁵ If you or a loved one is exploring broader supports for co-occurring concerns, see how we coordinate care across conditions on our mental health page.

Left unaddressed, risks include bowel obstruction or perforation, dental trauma, infection, and heavy-metal exposure.¹,²,³,⁴,⁵ Clinicians also consider context, such as access to risky items at home or school, stressors, and nutrition. Red flags include abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody stools, choking episodes, or any sign of poisoning. In those situations, urgent medical attention is recommended while a longer-term plan is developed.²,⁴,⁵

Evaluation and Diagnosis

Families often ask, “How is pica diagnosed?” A clinician starts with a careful history of items ingested, frequency, settings where access occurs, and co-occurring conditions. Physical examination focuses on abdominal tenderness, oral or dental injury, and signs of anemia. Targeted labs typically include a complete blood count and iron studies because iron deficiency anemia and pica commonly occur together.²,⁴

Environmental exposure is a crucial part of the workup. When risk factors are present, a blood lead test for pica is recommended, followed by confirmatory testing and exposure-reduction steps based on venous blood lead levels.³ Depending on findings, a plan may also include stool testing if parasites are suspected, dental referrals for enamel damage, and imaging if obstruction is possible.²,³,⁴

To see how therapy integrates with medical and nutrition care, explore our therapy programs. We offer therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), in addition to individual, group, and family therapy, plus we offer alumni support.¹,²,⁴

How We Treat Across Levels of Care

Our approach to pica treatment is multidisciplinary. Medical providers monitor labs, manage complications, and coordinate imaging or specialist referrals. Registered dietitians assess iron status and overall nutrition, then shape meal plans and supplementation when indicated.

Therapists use CBT to map triggers and build replacement behaviors, and DBT skills to support emotion regulation, impulse control, and distress tolerance. Family sessions align home routines with the plan so gains stick between visits.¹,²,⁴,⁵

We match intensity to risk using a stepped continuum described on our levels of care. Some clients benefit from a partial hospitalization program (PHP) for eating disorders when daily structure and closer medical oversight are needed. Others step to intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) for eating disorders as urges decline and safety improves, then continue in traditional outpatient care. For severe ingestion behaviors, unsafe home settings, or significant medical concerns, short-term residential stabilization may be recommended before step-down.²,⁴

Many individuals living with pica also manage anxiety, trauma histories, or substance use. When those needs are present, our integrated pathway supports both safety and recovery through coordinated services on our dual diagnosis page. This alignment helps you address mood, safety, and habits at the same time without bouncing between disconnected providers.

Where We Treat

Admissions and benefits verification are coordinated through our Boca Raton headquarters, which handles administration only. Clinical services are delivered through four partner centers, so that you can receive care close to home. If you are comparing regional options, our location hub outlines where we coordinate care across the network.

The Grove Recovery Center by White Lotus, Leominster, Massachusetts

Visit The Grove Recovery Center by White Lotus, which serves Worcester County and North Central Massachusetts, including Leominster, Fitchburg, and Worcester. Coordination focuses on therapy access, medical follow-up, nutrition services, and practical safety planning so progress continues at home.

White Oak Recovery Center, North Hollywood, California

Visit White Oak Recovery Center. It serves the San Fernando Valley, including North Hollywood, Burbank, and Studio City. We align therapy schedules with work or school, arrange medical monitoring when indicated, and plan step-downs to maintain momentum over time.

Southern California Addiction Recovery, Reseda, California

Visit Southern California Addiction Recovery. Reseda, Northridge, Encino, and Tarzana are just some of the areas we serve. Clients access CBT and DBT skills groups, individualized therapy, and family involvement aimed at safer daily routines while new habits take hold.

Lantana Wellness Center, Lantana, Florida

Visit Lantana Wellness Center. This center serves Palm Beach County, including Lantana, Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, and West Palm Beach. Outpatient and step-down services emphasize urges tracking, hazard reduction, relapse-prevention skills, and coordinated medical follow-up when needed.

Across these centers, our team coordinates pica treatment with local specialists when imaging, endoscopy, or dental procedures are needed, so you receive the right care at the right time.

What to Expect in Your First 30 Days

Your first month of pica treatment centers on clarity, safety, and practice. During week one, we review history, complete targeted labs, and build a written home safety plan that reduces access to risky items. Weeks two through four emphasize measurable goals, skills rehearsal, nutrition support, and regular feedback loops so the plan evolves with real-world progress. If iron studies are abnormal, your medical provider will walk through options and follow-up testing.²

Because pica can overlap with other feeding difficulties, our team screens for restrictive patterns and sensory sensitivities. When appropriate, we share cross-education and resources, and if needed, we can connect you to our guide to eating disorder programs. We track practical markers such as frequency of urges, success with replacement behaviors, and any gastrointestinal symptoms. If new risks appear, we adjust quickly, which may include a brief escalation in the level of structure for stabilization, followed by a planned step-down.²,⁴

Frequently Asked Questions