Eating Disorder Therapy Resources For Patients And Families

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can be debilitating and may result in severe medical consequences. They generally involve unhealthy behaviors around the consumption of food. Eating disorders are sometimes related to concerns about body image, and they can also be a maladaptive coping mechanism for processing stress or other negative emotions. There are various types of therapy that may help reduce eating disorder symptoms and promote r recovery, a few of which we’ll explore here in addition to covering resources and additional ways to seek support.

Seeking support for signs of an eating disorder?

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What are eating disorders?

The American Psychological Association defines eating disorders as “any disorder characterized primarily by a pathological disturbance of attitudes and behaviors related to food.” While these conditions are related to eating and often have physical health effects, they are mental illnesses that usually involve underlying psychological components and require mental health treatment. Eating disorders can affect anyone of any age, race, gender, sexual orientation, body size, or weight. 

What causes eating disorders?

Scientists haven’t been able to isolate a single cause of eating disorders. Instead, it's thought that they develop due to a combination of factors. Some examples of risk factors for eating disorders include: 

• Genetics
• Any co-occurring mental illnesses
• Certain personality traits like perfectionism
• Adverse childhood experiences or other past trauma
• Bullying or peer pressure
• Family dieting

Common eating disorders: Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, there are seven different types of eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are some of the most common.

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa, usually referred to simply as anorexia, is a mental illness that involves an intense fear of gaining weight. As a result, a person may implement drastic and often dangerous measures to lose weight or avoid gaining it. These measures can include fasting or severely restricting food, misusing laxatives, and excessively exercising. People with anorexia can have severe medical complications as a result of their weight loss and/or nutritional deficiencies, which can be fatal if left untreated. 

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa, usually referred to simply as bulimia, is an eating disorder that focuses on two specific disordered eating behaviors: binging, or eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, and purging, or engaging in compensatory behaviors to “eliminate” the food, like forcing oneself to throw up. While people with bulimia may not experience the same kind of dramatic weight loss as people with anorexia, they can still have severe health complications, like electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal issues, and tooth decay. 

Binge eating disorder

Binge eating disorder involves the type of binging associated with bulimia without purging behaviors. People with binge eating disorder may engage in binges when they are struggling with some type of negative emotion, using binge eating as a maladaptive coping mechanism. People with binge eating disorder often experience rapid weight gain and associated health complications. 

The importance of therapy in recovery from eating disorders

Types of therapy for eating disorders

Some form of talk therapy is usually a key component of eating disorder treatment, typically in combination with medical and nutritional support and lifestyle changes. Some of the most commonly used types of talk therapy for eating disorders are cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on the relationship between thoughts and behavior. It’s based on the idea that thoughts can influence a person’s behavior, so shifting or reframing problematic thoughts may subsequently lead to a decrease in undesired behaviors. CBT is used to treat a wide variety of mental illnesses. Research suggests that it can be significantly effective in addressing eating disorders as well, in which unwanted and sometimes intrusive thoughts could trigger someone to engage in disordered eating patterns. 

Dialectical behavior therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is another form of therapeutic treatment that research suggests may be effective for eating disorders. It may help address some of the impulsivity often associated with disordered eating behaviors. 

DBT combines many of the techniques associated with cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness practices designed to raise awareness of what situations may cause stress. It also involves strategies to address that stress and build stronger relationships to help protect against future stressors. 

Other resources used to help people with eating disorders

National organizations such as the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and government agencies like the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) provide a wealth of information about eating disorders. They may also offer eating disorders therapy resources to help you connect with treatment. You could contact your nearest eating disorder treatment center for additional guidance. 

Support groups as an additional eating disorder therapy resource

Along with traditional individual therapy, many people also find support groups to be helpful in pursuing eating disorder recovery. Support groups can be a source of education and resources, and they can also provide a safe space for people with eating disorders to connect with others experiencing similar challenges. Support groups for partners, loved ones, and families affected by an eating disorder are available in many places as well.

How to find the right therapist for eating disorder treatment

When seeking a therapist to treat an eating disorder, you should generally look for a provider who specializes in treating eating disorders. If you are drawn to a specific form of eating disorder therapy, like dialectical behavior therapy it could help to also find a therapist with training in that area. Organizations like the National Eating Disorder Association offer locator tools to help you find specialists and both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs for eating disorders.

Also know that it is completely acceptable to change therapists if you don’t find you have a solid rapport or feel comfortable with the first one you try. Your therapist will not take it personally and will likely have therapists they can refer you to, or you can use online therapy services to find a more suitable match. 

Seeking support for signs of an eating disorder?

Get advice from an online therapist

Online therapy for people with eating disorders

Eating disorders research suggests that shame plays a significant role in both eating disorder treatment and recovery—namely that people who experience high levels of shame related to their illness may be less likely to seek support from a mental health care provider. While having a mental illness and seeking treatment is nothing to be embarrassed about, social stigma on the topic can be pervasive.

In these situations, online therapy may be a more comfortable option for seeking this type of treatment. Speaking to a therapist in an online format may provide a bit of distance between the client and their therapist, so those who are feeling shame may be better able to open up and authentically engage in their treatment. 

Psychological researchers have found that online therapy may have no significant difference in efficacy levels compared to traditional in-person therapy for treating eating disorders. For example, one study specifically examined an online therapeutic intervention for treating symptoms of bulimia. Its findings suggest that engaging in online therapy helped reduce symptoms at a similar rate to traditional in-person therapy.