Finding Eating Disorders Therapy Near Me

Affecting people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, an eating disorder can severely impact a person's physical, emotional, and social functioning if left unaddressed. Whether you're looking for help for yourself or a loved one struggling with an eating disorder, learning about eating disorders, signs of an eating disorder, and approaches to treat eating disorders may be helpful. Below, explore information about eating disorders and possible ways to address them. 

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Types of eating disorders

Eating disorders are behavioral conditions involving disordered eating patterns, which are often accompanied by distressing thoughts and emotions. A person with an eating disorder can experience disturbances in their physical, psychological, and social function, impacting their whole being. The most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder (BED). Other eating disorders include avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), rumination disorder, and other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED).  

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a condition in which a person avoids food, restricts food, or eats minuscule amounts of food. A person with anorexia may become preoccupied with their weight and experience a distorted body image, believing they are overweight when they are not. 

There are two subtypes of anorexia: restrictive and binge-purge. In the former case, a person may primarily restrict the amounts of food they eat to control their intake of calories. Contrarily, in the binge-purging type, one may limit food in some scenarios but consume large quantities of food and purge it through vomiting, laxatives, or diuretics in others. Symptoms of anorexia include the following: 

• Unhealthy thinness or weight loss 
• An intense fear of gaining weight
• Distorted body image 
• A self-esteem contingent on one's ability to control body weight and shape
• Physical signs like brittle nails, dry and yellowish skin, constipation, tiredness, anemia, and more severe physical symptoms, sometimes leading to death 

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a condition in which one alternates between eating large amounts of food (binge eating) and purging food. After binge eating, a person may attempt to “compensate” for overeating by forced vomiting, fasting, excessive exercising, or taking laxatives or diuretics. Symptoms of bulimia nervosa may include:

• Fear of gaining weight 
• Frequent binging and purging patterns 
• Inflamed, sore throat
• Swollen salivary glands
• Gastrointestinal problems

Binge eating disorder

Binge eating disorder is a condition in which a person eats large quantities of food in a short amount of time. Unlike bulimia, a person with a binge eating disorder may retain the food they consume without attempting to purge it. For binge eating disorder, symptoms can include:

• Eating after becoming full 
• Eating extensive quantities of food in a short amount of time
• Eating alone or secretly
• Eating fast
• Feelings of guilt and shame after bingeing 
• Significant distress 
• Eating until uncomfortable or sick
• Sadness 
• Low self-esteem 

Eating disorders and mood disorders

Some individuals with eating disorders also experience mood disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. When experiencing co-occurring illnesses, holistic treatment approaches that address the emotional and behavioral aspects of having an eating disorder may be most supportive. Findings suggest that those with bipolar disorder may be particularly susceptible to having eating disorders and physical health challenges and illnesses. 

Treating an eating disorder

Eating disorder treatment often involves a multidisciplinary approach. After receiving an initial evaluation and possible diagnosis, a recommendation for treatment may be made. Depending on the situation, a person may receive combined psychological and nutritional counseling and psychiatric and medical care to stabilize their physical condition in more serious cases. A person may receive different levels of care depending on their needs and how well they are functioning and responding to care. 

A multidisciplinary approach to address eating disorders 

Eating disorder professionals include psychiatrists, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), nutritionists, medical doctors, yoga instructors, and others. A certified eating disorder specialist may have accreditation from the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. These professionals would have the credentials of a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) or a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Consultant (CEDS-S). 

Types of treatment for eating disorders can include but are not necessarily limited to intensive outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, residential, and inpatient treatment. Professionals who care for someone with an eating disorder may collaborate to offer integrated treatment for individuals grappling with disordered eating, enabling specialists to address the complex factors of eating disorders from multiple angles.

Therapeutic approaches to address an eating disorder

Psychotherapy (talk therapy) is often one of the most effective ways to help individuals address the underlying factors that may be affecting their relationship with food. Through therapy, clients can learn to manage symptoms and reframe unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaving. Therapy for eating disorders includes the following approaches. 

H3 Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and enhanced cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-E) 

CBT aims to help people identify unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior. Once these patterns have been identified, a person may begin to recognize distorted thinking patterns, learn coping skills, and develop confidence in their ability to manage challenging situations. The enhanced form of CBT, CBT-E, is specifically intended to address eating disorders. 

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) 

Combining principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness, DBT aims to help people accept their reality and learn ways to change aspects of their lives, which may include modifying unhelpful behaviors and learning to manage difficult emotions. Those with bipolar disorder, for example, may receive a recommendation to be treated with DBT, as they often experience more significant emotional challenges. 

Family therapy or family-based treatment

Primarily used in children and adolescents with eating disorders, family-based therapy considers family support vital in recovery. Family is included to help people manage various aspects of recovery, including maintaining healthy eating patterns and meal planning. 

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and commitment therapy aims to help people come to terms with uncomfortable thoughts and feelings (acceptance) while committing to changing unhelpful behaviors concerning their values and goals. ACT encourages more flexible thinking and responding to situations while emphasizing behavioral changes. 

Understanding binge eating and binge eating disorder 

Binge eating involves eating extensive quantities of food in one sitting or within a short time. Binge eating disorder is understood to be a condition arising from biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors and is the most common eating disorder in the United States. However, some people may engage in disordered eating through binge eating without meeting the criteria for the disorder. 

A person with binge eating disorder often believes they lack control over what or how much they eat and may become distressed. When a person binge eats at least once a week for three months, they may be considered to have binge eating disorder. Binge eating is also associated with other eating disorders, including bulimia and anorexia. However, unlike bulimia nervosa and the binge-purge subtype of anorexia nervosa, those with binge eating disorder usually do not engage in purging food by vomiting or other means. 

Resources for binge eating disorder and other eating disorders

Several resources for eating disorder treatment are available, including but not limited to the following: 

• The National Alliance for Eating Disorders (NEDA): NEDA offers free, therapist-led support groups, referrals for care, education, and other resources.
• The JED Foundation: The JED Foundation offers information and resources about binge eating disorder.
• The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD): ANAD offers support groups, helpful articles, and research links to support people with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. 

Addressing binge eating disorder

Those looking to treat binge eating disorder may seek evaluation and possible diagnosis when symptoms negatively impact daily life and self-esteem. Eating disorder therapy may involve nutritional counseling and medical care, as well as psychiatric and psychological counseling that investigates the underlying factors that contribute to a person having an eating disorder. Some people with mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder, also experience binge eating disorder, so treatment aims to encompass a more holistic approach. 

Approaches that address binge eating and binge eating disorder

Therapeutic approaches that address binge eating disorder include but are not limited to:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Interpersonal therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Behavior weight loss therapy 

In some cases, a person who receives eating disorder therapy for binge eating may be given medication or prefer medication to psychotherapy. Medication may also be recommended when a person has a diagnosed mood disorder, such as depression or anxiety. 

The BetterHelp platform is not intended to provide any information regarding which drugs, medication, or medical treatment may be appropriate for you. The content provides generalized information that is not specific to one individual. You should not take any action without consulting a qualified medical professional.

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Alternative therapy for eating disorders

Many people grapple with their relationship with food and their self-image. Therapy can encourage you to cultivate a healthier relationship with yourself, fostering new habits and perspectives. However, if you find in-person therapy inconvenient, you might be unsure where to turn. In these cases, online therapy through platforms like BetterHelp is available, allowing you to have sessions with a licensed therapist from the comfort of your own space. You can speak to a therapist via phone, video, or live chat, which can be helpful when you're grappling with behaviors that no longer serve you. In addition, online therapy may be more cost-effective than face-to-face options without insurance. 

Online therapists often use cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), an approach that can help you break unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaving. Several studies support the use of CBT delivered online. One study evaluated the effectiveness of guided, self-help CBT-E delivered online to address binge eating, indicating that treatment either reduced or led to full recovery of binge eating. These results led the researchers to conclude that guided CBT-E "appeared to be an efficacious treatment."

Takeaway

You’re not alone if you’re experiencing disordered eating or an eating disorder, which can cause various complications when unaddressed. There are many therapeutic modalities available for people struggling with disordered eating behaviors and the distress they may cause. Eating disorders therapy near you may first involve an evaluation to find an appropriate approach and level of treatment for your condition. If in-person therapy is inaccessible to you or you are seeking additional support in managing symptoms of an eating disorder, you may also consider online therapy.