If you are struggling with an eating disorder, finding the right therapist is essential to your recovery. There are many different types of therapists who specialize in eating disorders, so it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of therapists and how to find the right one for you.
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Defining Eating Disorder
Eating disorders are mental disorders defined by abnormal eating habits that negatively affect a person’s physical or mental health. They include binge eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. This condition is serious and requires treatment from a qualified professional.
Moreover, eating disorder not only refers to the food we eat but also our relationship with it. It encompasses how we feel about ourselves, our bodies, and the act of eating. It can manifest in different ways and affect people of all ages, genders, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. There are some of the common symptoms that might be an indicator that you have an eating disorder:
- Preoccupation with food, weight, and appearance
- Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
- Self-esteem is heavily influenced by body shape and size
- Disruptions in normal eating patterns, such as skipping meals or bingeing
- Excessive exercise
- Purging through vomiting or the use of laxatives
- Feeling out of control around food
- Withdrawing from social activities and interests
If you think you might have an eating disorder, it’s important to seek professional help. In fact, most people with eating disorders need treatment from a team of specialists, which may include a registered dietitian, mental health counselor, and physician.
So, you need to find the right eating disorder therapist that will help you in your journey to recovery.
Types Of Therapies For Eating Disorders
There are different types of therapies for eating disorders, and it is important to find the right one for you. Some of the common types of therapies include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a type of therapy that focuses on changing negative thoughts and behaviors. It can be used to help treat anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. It aims at helping you understand your thoughts and feelings about food and your body, and how these thoughts and feelings affect your behavior. And these thoughts could be about:
- food
- weight
- body image
- low self-esteem
- appearance
For these thoughts to change, you need to learn how to challenge and change them. You will also learn new skills to help you cope with your eating disorder.
Family-Based Therapy (FBT)
FBT is a type of therapy that involves the whole family. It is used to treat anorexia nervosa in children and adolescents. It focuses on helping the family to support the child who is recovering from an eating disorder. The therapist will work with the family to help them understand the eating disorder and how they can help the child recover.
In this type, you will more likely to learn about:
- the effects of the eating disorder on the family
- how to support your child during treatment
- how to communicate effectively with your child
In fact, this type of therapy has been shown to be more effective than individual therapy for treating anorexia nervosa in children and adolescents.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
IPT is a type of therapy that focuses on your relationships with other people. It can be used to treat anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. It aims to help you understand and manage your emotions, and how your relationships with other people affect your emotions. And these relationships could be with:
- family members
- friends
- partners
- coworkers
In this type of therapy, you will learn about:
- communication skills
- assertiveness
- emotional regulation
- boundaries
IPT is believed to be as effective as CBT for treating eating disorders.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a type of therapy that combines CBT with mindfulness. It can be used to treat anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. It aims to help you understand your thoughts and feelings about food and your body and to develop healthier coping skills.
If you’re considering DBT, it’s important to find a therapist who is trained in this type of therapy. Because this therapy works to balance your emotions, it’s important to find a therapist who is able to understand and empathize with your feelings.
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (ACT)
It is a mindfulness-based behavioral therapy that has been shown to be helpful in treating eating disorders. This type of therapy focuses on helping people accept their thoughts and feelings without judgment. And learn to move forward in their lives despite them.
This therapy aims to help people increase their psychological flexibility. Which is the ability to be present at the moment and take action that is in line with their values. Also, it is believed that this therapy can help people who struggle with eating disorders to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings without getting wrapped up in them.
So, these are some famous and evidence-based therapies for eating disorders. You can talk to your therapist about which one may be right for you.
How To Find The Right Therapist?
When you are looking for a therapist to help you with your eating disorder, it is important to find someone who specializes in this field. There are many therapists out there who claim to be experts in treating eating disorders, but not all of them have the necessary training and experience.
Here are some tips on how to find the right therapist for you:
Ask around
This is the first and probably the most important step. Talk to your friends, family, or anyone else who has been through an eating disorder and ask for recommendations. If you don’t know anyone who has been through an eating disorder, you can try searching online forums or support groups.
You can also ask your doctor or any other health professionals you trust for a referral. Also, it is important to make sure that the therapist you are considering is someone who is covered by your insurance.
Do your research
Once you have a list of potential therapists, it is important to do your research. You can start by looking up their credentials and making sure they are licensed and qualified to treat eating disorders. It is also a good idea to read reviews from other patients to get an idea of what their experience was like.
You should also make sure that the therapist you are considering is a good fit for you personally. For example, if you are struggling with anorexia, you may want to look for a therapist who specializes in that particular disorder. You should also consider things like whether or not the therapist is comfortable working with people of your age, gender, and sexual orientation.
Check credentials
Make sure the therapist you are considering is certified by the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP) or another reputable organization. It is also important that they have experience treating patients with your specific disorder.
In fact, checking credentials should be one of your top priorities when choosing any kind of therapist. Because it is such a sensitive topic, you want to make sure you are working with someone who is qualified to help.
Look for an experienced therapist
An eating disorder therapist should be experienced in the field in order to help you the most. You can look for this information on their website or by asking them directly. If they are not forthcoming with this information, it may be best to move on to someone who is more open.
It is important for you to understand that an experienced therapist will have seen a wide range of cases. This means that they will be more likely to understand your unique situation and how to best help you. In fact, they will also have a better understanding of the latest research and treatments for eating disorders.
Location and budget
This is really essential. You need to make sure you can afford the therapist and that they are in a convenient location. If you have to travel an hour each way. It will quickly become a burden and you may be less likely to stick with therapy. Although there are some great online options these days, which can make location less of an issue.
Another key factor is whether or not your insurance will cover the cost of therapy. Many therapists only accept cash-paying clients because the reimbursement rates from insurance companies are so low. So be sure to check with your therapist about this ahead of time.
Choose with whom you feel comfortable
In therapies, a comfortable level is key for the success of it. It is difficult to open up and be vulnerable with someone if you don’t feel safe with them. Trust your instincts when meeting with a potential therapist. If they make you feel uncomfortable in any way, move on to someone else.
You should also feel like your therapist “gets” you. If you’re not clicking with someone, it’s OK to switch therapists. It might take a few tries to find the right fit, but it will be worth it in the long run.
So, these are some tips to find the right eating disorder therapist. Also, please keep in mind that the most important thing is to just get started with therapy. The sooner you start, the sooner you will begin to feel better. We understand how hard it can be to take that first step. But it is so worth it!
Conclusion
To conclude, it is essential that you find an eating disorder therapist who you feel comfortable with. Do your research, ask around, and trust your gut instinct. The most important thing is that you reach out for help when you need it. Moreover, don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion if you feel like something isn’t working. Recovery is possible, and you deserve to get the help that you need. Remember, there is no shame in getting help and recovery is possible!
You can also contact Mantra Care. The team of expert mental health professionals will be more than happy to provide you with guidance and support. Mantra Care provides mental health services around the globe at convenient and affordable prices. You can also book a therapy or download our free Android or iOS app.
In addition, Mantra Care has a registered dietitian to help you make the best food choices for your journey, as well as a team of highly qualified and certified personal trainers to help you recover from an eating disorder. Visit our website or give us a call today!
