Comprehensive Support for Eating Disorders: Insights Into Psychodynamic Therapy and Mental Health Approaches

Medically reviewed by Nikki Ciletti, M.Ed, LPC

Updated December 3, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Eating disorders (ED) can affect the mind and body in complex ways, which is why it’s typically important to take a holistic approach to treatment and recovery. Here, you’ll learn how to find support for eating disorders, including medical interventions, therapy, and self-help strategies. With this guide, you’ll be equipped to find effective treatment and make meaningful progress towards overall health.

Getty/Vladimir Vladimirov

Struggling with an eating disorder? Therapy can help

Connect with a therapist

Understanding eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions characterized by abnormal eating behaviors. Body image issues are a common feature of many eating disorders, though disordered eating behaviors can occur for a wide range of psychological reasons.

Among the most common eating disorders are:

Anorexia nervosa: characterized by extreme food restriction, fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image, often leading to severe weight loss
Bulimia nervosa: involves cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like vomiting or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain
Binge eating disorder: marked by recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food, often rapidly and to the point of discomfort, without subsequent purging behaviors

These disorders can lead to severe physical health concerns if untreated, including poor nutrition, organ damage, and other effects. Effective treatment for eating disorders typically involves a multidisciplinary approach, combining psychotherapy, medical interventions, and family counseling as well as ongoing self-care practices.

Professional treatment options

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that typically don't resolve without professional intervention, so seeking help if you notice symptoms is usually crucial. Comprehensive treatment generally involves some or all of the following components.

Medical interventions

If you’re seeking support for an eating disorder, your primary care provider might be your first point of contact. They will assess your overall physical health and can refer you to various specialists for further treatment. These could include a psychiatrist for mental health evaluation and medication management, a registered dietitian for meal planning and education, and mental health professionals for therapy and counseling.

Mental health support

Mental and behavioral health interventions are usually crucial for eating disorder recovery, as they can help address the underlying psychological factors that contribute to disordered eating behaviors. The following types of talk therapy are supported by evidence for treating eating disorders:

Cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders (CBT-ED): CBT-ED helps individuals identify and change distorted thoughts and behaviors related to food and body image. Its effectiveness is well-supported by research, making it a leading treatment option.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): DBT is a form of CBT that emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness. Many find this approach helpful for managing intense emotions and reducing harmful behaviors.
Interpersonal therapy (IPT): IPT focuses on improving communication and relationships to reduce symptoms of eating disorders. For those who struggle with social, or relationship issues related to their disorder, IPT may be an option to consider.
Psychodynamic therapy: Psychodynamic therapy may be used to explore and address unconscious conflicts and emotions that may drive disordered eating behaviors. While less common than other treatments, it may still be recommended in certain cases.

Family counseling

Particularly for children and adolescents with eating disorders, family counseling can be an important part of treatment. Family-based therapy (FBT) for eating disorders is one approach specifically developed to help those in ED recovery by empowering families to take an active role in treatment. In FBT, a therapist may help family members learn to manage meals, address eating challenges, encourage healthy eating patterns, and create a supportive home environment.

Inpatient and outpatient programs

In some cases, inpatient care may be necessary to help individuals restore a healthy weight and manage physical symptoms. For less severe cases, or for those who have progressed from inpatient treatment, outpatient and day treatment programs offer a structured yet flexible approach to recovery, allowing individuals to attend daily therapeutic programs while still maintaining their regular responsibilities.

Getty/FatCamera

Online and community resources

In addition to care offered by medical and mental health professionals, people with this kind of mental illness often benefit from seeking support in other places too. Some examples include eating disorder hotlines, support groups and online communities, or apps and digital tools designed to aid the recovery process. Remember that these forms of support are generally recommended in combination with professional care, not as a substitute for it.

Hotlines and helplines

If you’re struggling with compulsions related to your eating disorder, a helpline can offer immediate support. Eating disorder helplines are typically staffed by trained volunteers who can guide you towards appropriate resources and professional help.

Support groups

Whether in-person or online, eating disorder support groups can be valuable, allowing people with similar challenges to share experiences, exchange advice, and find encouragement. They may also provide opportunities to connect with a peer mentor or “recovery buddy,” which can be helpful.

Online communities and forums

People in ED recovery often find it valuable to connect with others through online communities as they pursue other forms of treatment. Forums can be a space to vent, share experiences, and seek advice from others in similar situations.

Apps and digital tools

ED recovery apps may help you develop healthier eating patterns and monitor emotions over time. Ask your doctor for a recommendation if you’re interested in these tools. It may also be worth exploring mindfulness apps for your recovery, as mindfulness can be crucial for regaining control in overwhelming moments.

Self-help strategies for eating disorder recovery

Therapy and medical support are typically crucial for eating disorder recovery. In addition, self-help strategies like those below can be important as well. These strategies empower you to take an active role in your healing, helping you build resilience, manage emotions, and develop healthier habits.

Develop healthy coping mechanisms

Because disordered eating behaviors tend to be an unhealthy coping mechanism for difficult or unpleasant emotions, developing healthy coping mechanisms is usually a vital part of treatment. Examples can include distraction, mindfulness and relaxation techniques, journaling, positive self-talk, and healthy self-care habits, among others. You can ask your therapist for advice on coping mechanisms to adopt.

Build a balanced lifestyle

Eating disorders often disrupt multiple aspects of well-being, making it important to create healthy routines and habits during recovery. Some examples include getting enough sleep, exercising in a way that’s healthy and enjoyable, getting regular social interaction, and making time for activities you enjoy.

Learn to manage triggering situations

Triggering situations are the specific circumstances, thoughts, or emotions that contribute to eating disorders. It’s important to identify and understand yours as part of recovery. With this awareness, you can develop strategies to help you cope with them without resorting to disordered eating.

Cultivate self-compassion

To help you overcome the negative self-talk that often accompanies eating disorders, practicing self-compassion may be helpful. This can look like aiming to speak to yourself the way you’d speak to a cherished friend and giving yourself grace when you experience challenges and setbacks. Positive affirmations can be helpful too, as can engaging in fulfilling, confidence-building activities.

How to support a loved one with an eating disorder

If you are supporting a loved one in their recovery journey, it can help to understand what they might need from you in terms of emotional and practical support. Here are some tips that may help:

Educate yourself: Learn about the particular eating disorder your loved one is living with to help you understand its challenges and complexities.
Listen without judgment: Offer a caring and empathetic ear, even when you may not fully understand their feelings.
Avoid triggering topics: Try to focus on feelings and experiences rather than food or weight. Avoid commenting on their appearance in general.
Encourage professional help: If they are not yet in treatment, you might gently suggest some resources for professional support and offer to help them connect.
Promote healthy behaviors: Encourage positive habits without pressure or criticism.

Getty/SDI Productions

Struggling with an eating disorder? Therapy can help

Connect with a therapist

Online mental health support for eating disorders

If you are living with an eating disorder, ongoing mental health support in addition to in-person care from medical staff and nutritionists can be pivotal in helping you achieve lasting recovery. If you struggle to regularly travel to in-person therapy appointments in addition to other care appointments, you might consider online therapy instead.

With BetterHelp, you can attend weekly virtual sessions with a licensed mental health professional from anywhere you have an internet connection. Plus, research suggests that online therapy can be as effective as in-person sessions. It may be preferable for those seeking a convenient, flexible, lower-cost alternative to traditional therapy.

Takeaway

Recovering from an eating disorder generally requires a comprehensive treatment approach, including psychotherapy, nutritional guidance, psychiatric management, and, in some cases, medical monitoring. Support from loved ones is often crucial, making family counseling a worthwhile consideration as well. In addition to professional treatment, practicing self-care strategies, self-compassion, and healthy coping mechanisms can be essential.

Frequently asked questions

Read more below for answers to questions commonly asked about this topic.

How can I find the right type of support for eating disorders for a loved one?

There are many organizations focused on providing support for friends, peers, parents, and other family members to help their loved one with an eating disorder (ED). Here are a few resources:

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) offers screening tools, a directory of treatment providers and nutrition counseling, and resources for free and low-cost support options.
The National Alliance for Eating Disorders (NAED) offers similar resources and a helpline available Monday through Friday, 9 am to 7 pm EST.
The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa’s website offers virtual support groups, recovery mentors, a treatment directory, and approach guides for a variety of topics related to eating disorders. They also have a helpline available Monday-Friday, 9 am-9 pm CST.

Can you ever fully recover with support for eating disorders?

Full recovery from an eating disorder is possible, though the experience and outcomes can vary significantly among individuals. Additionally, there might be different degrees of recovery. Full recovery doesn’t necessarily mean one will never think about food or body image in an unhealthy way ever again (although that is possible, too), but rather, these thoughts are no longer overwhelming or all-consuming. Recovering fully from an ED might involve working on several areas. These include:

Physical

With medical and nutritional support, many can regain a healthy weight, nutritional balance, and overall physical health. Physical recovery is often one of the first aspects addressed in treatment, as ED can cause life-threatening conditions like cardiovascular problems, brain damage, multiorgan failure, and severe electrolyte imbalances. Individuals with such conditions can often recover, although it might take considerable time and medical treatment.

Emotional and psychological

Part of recovery involves addressing underlying mental health issues. EDs often cooccur with other mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), substance use disorders, and personality disorders.

Relationships and socialization

Eating disorder recovery often involves repairing or rebuilding social connections, improving self-esteem, and re-establishing trust in interpersonal relationships. In many cases, this involves attending family therapy or peer-led support groups.

What are the most effective treatments for binge eating disorder?

Effective treatment for binge eating disorder (BED) often combines psychological, nutritional, and sometimes pharmacological approaches. Depending on the disorder's severity, individuals might require a residential treatment program or hospitalization, particularly in cases when the individual needs medical care or is experiencing a medical emergency. Therapeutic approaches might include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), family-based treatments, and interpersonal therapy (IPT).

Nutritional education and counseling are often included in a BED treatment plan. Working with a registered dietitian can help individuals eat healthily with balanced eating patterns, understand hunger and fullness cues, and eliminate restrictive dieting behaviors that often lead to binge eating. Pharmacotherapy is also frequently used as a first-line therapy in patients without access to or who decline psychotherapy or who prefer medications. Some patients successfully supplement their clinical treatments with mindfulness-based approaches, self-help programs, group therapy, and other complementary methods.

How can you help someone with an eating disorder?

Supporting someone with an eating disorder can be challenging—but also integral to their recovery. Here are some ways you can help:

Educate yourself by learning about different types of eating disorders, symptoms, and treatment options.
Create a non-judgmental and safe space for healing. Emphasize you’re there to help without pressure or conditions.
Listen actively with patience and compassion.
(Gently) encourage professional help from a therapist, dietician, or physician specializing in eating disorders.
Avoid conversations about dieting, weight, or exercise that might create stress or reinforce unhealthy thought patterns.
Practice self-acceptance and body positivity or neutrality in your own words and actions.
Offer everyday, practical support. For example, engage in a shared hobby or activities they enjoy.
Take care of your mental, emotional, and physical health, too.
Express love and validation

What is a support group for eating disorders?

Eating disorder support groups gather to share experiences with ED and solidarity. They might serve as a safe spaces for people experiencing shame, guilt, or invalidation associated with an ED—creating a community in which participants feel supported, understood, and valued.

What are some coping strategies for eating disorders?

Coping strategies for eating disorders can help individuals manage challenging situations, regulate emotions, and reduce urges to engage in disordered behaviors. Here are some effective support strategies:

Use grounding and mindfulness techniques such as mindful eating, deep breathing, or the 5-4-3-2-1 technique.
Try journaling and self-reflection
Challenge negative thoughts and create positive self-affirmations
Engage in activities or hobbies you enjoy
Practice emotional regulation skills
Follow your therapist’s or nutritionist’s directions on how to approach mealtimes and eating patterns
Set boundaries with media and social media
Cultivate a support network of trusted friends, family members, and peers
Use relaxation techniques
Work with your therapist on goal setting and achievement

What organization offers support for eating disorders?

The National Eating Disorders Association, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Eating Disorder Foundation, and National Alliance for Eating Disorders are a few examples of organizations that help individuals with eating disorders and their loved ones.

What resources are available for people with eating disorders?

The above organizations provide resources like care directories, psychoeducational materials, research and advocacy information, support groups, and information for families and caregivers of people with eating disorders.

Where should I go if I have an eating disorder?

Individuals with eating disorders should speak to a mental health professional with specialized experience working with patients with eating disorders. They might also refer you to a physician or registered dietitian with the same specialization. If you’re unsure of where to begin, any of the support organizations listed above can help.

Which governmental agency can help someone with an eating disorder?

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) provides resources to individuals with mental health issues, including eating disorders.

Healing from eating disorders is possible

Get started with a therapist

The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.

Get the support you need from one of our therapistsGet started

Top Categories

See all categories