Eating disorders due to their complex nature require a collaborative approach to treatment. Eating disorders are generally characterized by a negative relationship with food, body, and/or movement. Eating disorders have both physical and psychological consequences. Many people who struggle with eating disorders also have a co-occurring diagnosis including but not limited to OCD, anxiety, PTSD, depression or body dysmorphia. Within the realm of outpatient treatment, therapists play a pivotal role in guiding individuals toward recovery and healing. Keep reading to learn 4 ways how therapists help with eating disorders.
Understanding the Spectrum of Eating Disorders
Before delving into the role of therapists in outpatient eating disorder treatment, I wanted to mention the variety of eating disorder diagnoses and behaviors that we see. Like, anorexia, bulimia, “atypical” anorexia, and binge eating disorder. We also see ARFID and various forms of disordered eating that might not technically meet the DSM V criteria, however, still require support from a team to heal. We have several blogs about various eating disorder diagnoses, including ARFID, Binge Eating Disorder (BED), and Atypical Anorexia. I would encourage you to check them out to learn more!
So, what is a therapist’s role in eating disorder recovery? Let’s review 4 ways how therapists help with eating disorders:
1. Creating a Safe Space
First and foremost, it’s important for a therapist to offer a safe and compassionate space for a person to talk about their eating-disordered thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The safer the environment, the more comfortable a client will be in talking more deeply about what fuels their eating disorder. Thankfully, one of the skills of a therapist is empathetic listening!
2. Unraveling Root Causes
The eating disorder research shows us that eating disorders stem from a mix of a bunch of different factors. These factors include genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Therapists play a role in helping clients unravel the various underlying causes of the eating disorder. A therapist might discuss how other mental health diagnoses overlap with the eating disorder as well.
3. Discussing Coping Strategies
Many clients use their eating disorder as a coping strategy, so one role of the therapist in outpatient recovery is to support clients in finding coping tools to replace the eating disorder. Therapists may collaborate with clients to develop personalized coping skills tailored to their unique needs and circumstances. These may include mindfulness practices, emotion regulation techniques, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and self-care rituals aimed at fostering resilience and self-soothing in moments of distress.
4. Facilitating Healing
It’s very possible that a client will reach out to a therapist as their first line of support for an eating disorder. Because of this, it’s important a therapist has referrals to build a multidisciplinary team to work collaboratively with. Some of the providers a therapist should consider referring to include an eating disorder dietitian, a physician, and a psychiatrist.
If you’re interested in learning more about the role of dietitians in eating disorder treatment check out our blog, “What Does a Dietitian Do?”
Finding Value Outside The Eating Disorder
Clients in recovery are ultimately working toward a life outside of their eating disorder and disordered habits. A therapist can support clients in finding a way to connect life to values, which leads to a journey of healing and growth. The hope is clients can learn to cultivate self-awareness through therapy, leading to them gradually reclaiming agency outside of their eating disorder.
Final Thoughts on the Role of a Therapist in Eating Disorder Recovery
Thanks for reading our blog, “How Do Therapists Help With Eating Disorders?” As we’ve seen, therapists provide invaluable support through specialized techniques, empathy, and personalized care. They guide individuals towards healing, helping to reshape relationships with food and self-image. If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that seeking professional help is a vital step towards recovery. Together, with the expertise and compassion of therapists, the journey towards a healthier relationship with food and oneself is possible.
Contact Us
Courage to Nourish is a group of eating disorder specialized dietitians. We have in person locations in Alexandria, Virginia, Columbia, Maryland. and College Park, Maryland. We offer virtual services across the state of Virginia, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. We offer individual nutrition therapy. As well as support groups. We would love to guide you in building a better relationship with food.
Contact us for more information. And to schedule a discovery call. Also, sign up for our client or clinician newsletter!
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Alex is the founder and owner of Courage to Nourish. She opened Courage to Nourish to create a practice that aligns with her values in eating disorder recovery. She is a Certified Eating Disorder Dietitian and Approved Supervisor through iaedp. Alex loves working with children, high school and college students as well as athletes. Additionally, Alex is a proud anti-diet dietitian and works with her clients through a Health At Every Size © and intuitive eating framework. Read more about Alex here.
