What is eating disorder therapy?
So you know you have a problem with food…but how will therapy actually help?
Here at SoCal Wellness Group, eating disorder therapy is what we do best.
And as a therapist who’ve been through eating disorder recovery myself, this is a topic that is very close to my heart. Many of us have a complicated relationship with food. From emotional eating to rigid diets, it's not uncommon to find yourself somewhere on the spectrum of disordered eating. But the good news is that help is available, and therapy can be a powerful tool in your journey toward healing and recovery.
In this blog post, we're going to explore the world of disordered eating, what it entails, the role of therapy in the healing process, and the various types of therapy available (as well as the therapy we offer here at SoCal Wellness Group in Tustin, CA).
So, grab a cup of tea and get comfy because we're diving deep into this crucial subject!
Understanding Disordered Eating:
Before we dive into the therapeutic approaches, it's important to understand what disordered eating is. Disordered eating refers to a wide range of problematic eating behaviors that can include but isn’t limited to the narrow definitions of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder. It can manifest in various ways, such as restricting food intake, overeating, bingeing, purging, or engaging in compulsive exercise. It might even just look like constantly obsessing about food, your body, or exercise! Disordered eating and a diagnosable eating disorder walk a fine line — both are valid and both deserve proper treatment and care.
Disordered eating and eating disorders are often rooted in complex psychological, emotional, and environmental factors. It's not merely a matter of willpower, and it's not something that can be solved by going on a diet or “just eating.” In fact, diets are more likely to make things worse! And reducing the issue to a matter of just choosing to eat differently really invalidates just how difficult that can be, and why it constitutes the title of “disordered” in the first place.
One of the most crucial aspects of disordered eating is its impact on an individual's mental and physical health. People struggling with disordered eating often experience anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and a range of physical health problems. It's a challenging road to walk alone, which is why therapy can be a lifeline for those on this journey.
The Role of Therapy:
Therapy is an invaluable tool in addressing disordered eating. It provides a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore the underlying causes of their eating issues, develop healthier relationships with food, and work toward recovery. That’s what we strive to do at SoCal Wellness Group, whether you’re one of our virtual clients or you come to therapy in-person at our Tustin office space. Here are some key ways therapy can help:
Identifying Root Causes: Therapists (like us) help individuals identify the emotional, psychological, or environmental factors contributing to their disordered eating and eating disorders. This insight is crucial for developing effective coping strategies and stopping the cycle from repeating itself.
Behavior Modification: Therapy assists in modifying problematic eating behaviors by teaching more supportive alternatives and providing tools to manage urges, and triggers. As therapist we know the eating disorder behaviors are often coping mechanisms, albeit not the most effective ones long-term! So we do our best to help you find ways of coping that work better than your disordered eating behaviors.
Emotional Support: The process of recovery can be emotionally challenging and totally exhausting. Therapists offer emotional support and a listening ear to help clients navigate their feelings and thoughts. At SoCal Wellness Group, our therapists are especially empathetic because we’ve struggled with eating disorders too! We get how hard it is, and can provide support from a place of really understanding disordered eating from personal experience.
Building Self-Esteem and Self-Worth: Disordered eating often leads to negative self-image and low self-esteem. Therapy can help individuals rebuild their self-worth and develop a more positive self-concept. Eating disorders can reduce your self-worth to be completely defined by what your body looks like. Therapy can help you find other more sustainable sources of self-worth and self-esteem beyond the body and food.
Developing Healthy Coping Mechanisms: Therapy equips individuals with healthier ways to cope with stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges, reducing the need for disordered eating as a coping mechanism. As mentioned earlier, changing your behaviors will also require you to develop new skills and tools to deal with life’s stressors and anxieties beyond relying on your eating disorder. In eating disorder therapy with us, you’ll leave equipped with the tools to manage the twists and turns of life without needing your eating disorder behaviors to help you manage through it.
Types of Therapy for Disordered Eating:
Now that we understand the importance of therapy, let's explore some common therapeutic approaches for disordered eating or the “how” of eating disorder therapy. This is what you can expect when you come to therapy at SoCal Wellness Group! Research shows us these are effective methods of treatment, whether you’re an online therapy client or one of our in-person clients here in Tustin, CA.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is one of the most widely used therapeutic approaches for disordered eating. It focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with disordered eating. CBT helps individuals learn to manage their triggers, develop healthier eating habits, and build resilience against relapse. The main idea is our thoughts dictate our feelings, and our feelings dictate our behaviors — if we can change the way we think about food and body, we can change the way we feel, and stop the harmful way we treat ourselves.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT is often used for individuals with complex emotional and psychological challenges. If you’re someone who feels your emotions are sometimes completely out of your control — DBT might be super helpful! It emphasizes acceptance and change, helping you to regulate your emotions and build a healed relationships with food and your body. You’ll learn ways to tolerate distress, feel in control of your emotions, and accept yourself without judgment.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy: Mindfulness-based therapies, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT), encourage individuals to become more aware of their thoughts, emotions, and eating habits. This increased awareness can lead to more mindful and intuitive eating. When you can really tune in and listen to what your body’s needs, it becomes easier to understand when your eating disorder is in control, vs. when your true core self is running the show. You can better meet your emotional needs when you learn to cultivate a mindful awareness of the mind, body, and soul.
Family-Based Therapy: Particularly effective for our teen clients with eating disorders, this approach involves the family in the treatment process. It aims to create a supportive and nurturing environment for recovery. We might have your parents join in on sessions to create a system of support that helps you challenge your eating disorder behaviors more effectively. FBT is great for accountability and many of our clients feel relieved that they’re not tackling recovery all on their own.
Nutritional Counseling: Working with a registered dietitian is often a vital part of therapy for disordered eating. While we at SoCal Wellness Group are not dietitians, we have a network of incredible RDs in the Tustin and Orange County area that we work with all the time to support our clients! Combining psychotherapy with nutritional counseling usually results in best outcomes for individuals struggling with eating disorders. Registered dietitians can provide guidance on creating a balanced and sustainable meal plan tailored to individual needs and can help you understand how to eating intuitively for your body.
Art and Expressive Therapies: Some individuals find relief through creative outlets like art therapy. This approach allows them to express their feelings and experiences in a non-verbal way. Our therapists at SoCal Wellness Group love to get creative with our clients! In addition to talk therapy, you might find yourself using art, movement, and writing to work through some of the deeper issues related to your eating disorder.
Group Therapy: Group therapy offers a supportive and empathetic environment where individuals can share their struggles, gain insights from others, and practice interpersonal skills. It’s important to know that you’re not alone on this journey, and there are others that really do get it. Stay tuned for group therapy offerings from SoCal Wellness Group! In 2024, we’ll be offering both online group therapy and group therapy for eating disorders in Tustin, CA.
The Path to Healing:
Recovery from disordered eating is a unique and personal journey. What works for one person may not work for another. That’s why we prioritize collaborative and individualized treatment at SoCal Wellness Group. However, there are some common steps that can guide your path to healing:
Seek Professional Help: The first and most crucial step is reaching out to a therapist or counselor who specializes in disordered eating (like us!). They can provide a comprehensive assessment and recommend the most suitable treatment plan. Book a consultation call with one of our skilled therapists today, and come visit us online or in-person in Tustin, CA!
Build a Support System: Share your journey with trusted friends and family members who can offer emotional support. You don't have to go through this alone, and trying to DIY your eating disorder recovery is never recommended. Let the people that love you help you out on this challenging road.
Educate Yourself: Understanding the nature of disordered eating, its triggers, and its consequences is empowering. Knowledge is a valuable tool in recovery. Your therapist at SoCal Wellness Group can recommend several helpful books, podcasts, and articles to help you understand disordered eating and eating disorders.
Set Realistic Goals: Be patient with yourself. Recovery takes time, and setbacks are a normal part of the process. Set realistic and achievable goals along the way. In therapy, we often tell our clients that recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s the long game, and definitely not a straight line! Expect slip-ups, expect challenges, but also expect healing with consistent effort over time.
Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself. Remember that healing from disordered eating is a significant accomplishment, and it's okay to stumble on the path to recovery. Treat yourself with kindness along the way. If that’s a difficult thing for you to do, we can talk more about it in therapy!
Stay Committed to Therapy: Consistency is key. Attend therapy sessions regularly, engage actively, and communicate openly with your therapist. We recommend all our new clients to meet at least on a weekly basis at the start of therapy. This frequency can help us address the challenges that come up, work consistently towards your goals, and start to make progress more quickly to get you out of the “danger zone” in your eating disorder.
Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize and celebrate the small victories along the way. Every step towards a healthier relationship with food and your body is a major success! Give yourself the credit you deserve for working hard and facing the things that scare you.
Stay Mindful: Incorporate mindfulness techniques into your daily life to help you become more aware of your emotions, thoughts, and eating patterns. At SoCal Wellness Group, our therapists will help you find mindfulness practices that work for you (we know meditation isn’t for everyone!).
Be Open to Adjustments: Therapy plans may need adjustments along the way. Be open to trying different approaches if something isn't working. We love hearing feedback from our clients when certain approaches we might be using aren’t doing the trick. Don’t be afraid to speak up when you feel like a technique isn’t helpful! We want you to feel empowered and in-control of your therapy too.
Focus on Long-Term Healing: Ultimately, the goal of therapy is not just to address the immediate issues but to build a foundation for long-term, sustainable healing and well-being. This won’t happen overnight! But keeping your sights set on the long-term goals of recovery can be motivating when the here and now gets hard.
At SoCal Wellness Group, we see therapy for disordered eating and eating disorders as a ray of hope for those who struggle with their relationship with food and body. It offers a path to healing, self-discovery, and a brighter future. Remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, and you are not alone on this journey. There's a supportive network of professionals and loved ones ready to help you navigate the path to recovery (like us!).
As you embark on this journey, know that every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory. Healing from disordered eating is a journey toward self-acceptance, a healthier relationship with food, and a brighter, more fulfilling life. It's a journey worth taking.
If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating, please don't hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional. And if you’re seeking eating disorder therapy in Tustin, CA, give us a call! We also offer online eating disorder therapy for all residents of California state.
There's hope, there's help, and there's healing.
Remember, you are worth it, and you are deserving of a life filled with joy, balance, and peace.
Are you ready to start therapy for your eating disorder or disordered eating?
We offer eating disorder therapy in Tustin, CA and online throughout California state!
Disclaimer: Please note that this blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating, it's essential to seek help from a qualified mental health professional.
