Eating disorders are one of the most deadly mental illnesses in the world. Some experts say that one in five deaths due to mental illness is from an eating disorder, and one out of every eight people with Anorexia Nervosa dies by suicide. Despite the prevalence of eating disorders, they are still widely misunderstood and underdiagnosed. This blog post will cover how to find a therapist specializing in eating disorders, and what you should know, if you or someone you know is looking for support.
Who Gets Eating Disorders?
An eating disorder is a serious disease that includes having maladaptive cooping skills to manage habits and thoughts. Approximately 30 million Americans are currently living with an eating disorder; while women are twice as likely to suffer from an eating disorder than men, men are more likely to die from the illness due to late diagnosis. Young women on the autism spectrum have a higher likelihood of experiencing an eating disorder than their neurotypical peers. The average age of onset for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa is 18, while the average age of onset for Binge Eating Disorder is 21. Several studies suggest that there is an inherited predisposition to disordered eating, however no one is immune to these disorders.
What Are The Different Types Of Treatment For Eating Disorders?
Treatment for eating disorders often adopts a team approach. Typically, mental health therapy is offered alongside nutrition education, medical monitoring, and sometimes medication. The most successful approach is one where the therapist, nutritionist, and prescriber collaborate in working towards the same goals, while the client takes in active role in their own recovery.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is one of the most commonly used approaches to treat eating disorders. DBT encourages individuals to practice regulating intense emotions, as well as managing relationships. Clients using DBT are encouraged to acknowledge that distressing situations and emotions exist, and they can practice skills to tolerate them.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another common form of treatment, as it explores the link among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that as associated with triggers for the behavior use. This therapeutic method can be helpful in offering the client a sense of control over their environment without resorting to harmful eating behaviors.
Other types of therapy that may be helpful are family therapy and group therapy. Family therapy is highly recommended, as an understanding support system correlates with more positive treatment outcomes. Additionally, eating disorders often occur in family situations where another dysfunction is present. Helping the family identify their unhealthy patterns and behaviors can encourage a shift in the family dynamics and have a positive impact on the person struggling with the eating disorder. Group therapy can be beneficial for those struggling with eating disorders. Eating disorders are typically isolating, and the group connection can provide support to clients, as well as challenge the isolation of the eating disorder. Group therapy led by a skilled professional allows people to connect with like-minded individuals who are working towards similar goals.
There are eating disorder treatment centers that can provide treatment to individuals who are recommended to have a higher level of care than outpatient therapy. This includes inpatient and residential treatment, down Partial and Intensive Outpatient Programs. These programs are widely available at various facilities that specialize in the treatment of eating disorders.
How Long Does It Take To Cure An Eating Disorder?
Since eating disorders take time to develop, they also take time to treat. Treatment at higher levels of care can be recommended for weeks or months at a time; there will always be a recommended after-care treatment plan in place prior to discharge from one of these programs.
Since eating disorders can be complex in nature, there is no specific timeframe for which a person will be “healed.” The best approach for those with eating disorders involves many different care providers, such as doctors, psychiatrists and therapists. People who need immediate health threats resolved can get this done quickly, but people working through the psychology of an eating disorder may require more time and ongoing work.
You can expect to experience tremendous healing as you establish new and healthier habits, and notice that with time the distressing thoughts and urges from an eating disorder can subside. It is recommended to have ongoing support after the symptoms are decreased in order to manage the eating disorder in the long-term.
How Will I Know I’m Working With The Right Therapist?
Therapists come from different educational backgrounds, including but not limited to Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW), and Psychologists (PhDs and PsyDs). Any of these clinicians are legally able to treat eating disorders, however not all therapists specialize in eating disorder treatment methods. It is most important to find a therapist that you can connect to and trust, and are willing to meet with over time. The therapist should make you feel at ease and be comforting so that you are able to express your feelings. The individual clinician should be licensed to provide therapy by Massachusetts or your state.
When searching for a therapist, consider popular directories such as Psychology Today, Zencare, and Good Therapy. These are great resources to refer to when searching online, as they often include a therapists’ specialties on their sites. You can also refer to your insurance plan to find providers who may be in your network.
How Will I Know If My Eating Disorder Therapy Is Working?
The therapeutic process is not linear, and therefore it can be difficult to know if you’re making progress. As you participate in therapy, you should begin to see opportunities to implement new coping strategies, or you might have moments of hindsight where you see you could have used new coping methods. Even the act of using an eating disorder behavior, followed by increased insight can demonstrate progress in the therapeutic process. If you are concerned about your progress in therapy, you should address this openly with your therapist so you can work together to set specific goals for your growth and healing.
What Does Therapy Cost And How Do I Pay For It?
There are many factors that go into determining the cost of therapy, including where you live and what type of treatment is needed. The average full-fee cost of a 50-minute therapy session in the Boston area can range anywhere from $150-$200, but rates vary depending on your therapist’s experience or specific geographical location, as well as their specific qualifications and training.
If you are able to use your health insurance, you will either be responsible for co-payments or the entire cost depending on your insurance plan and whether you have a high deductible or not. Most therapists will allow you to pay for your session costs with Health Savings or Flexible Spending Accounts. If you want to see a therapist who is not in-network with your insurance plan, you may be able to get the majority of the cost of each session reimbursed by your insurer. These are known as out-of-network benefits and you can call your insurer to find out if these benefits are included in your health plan.
Many insurance plans will cover more intensive treatment programs for eating disorders, as well as necessary medications and other medical interventions. A consultation with a representative from your insurance company will be helpful in organizing the most efficient and economical treatment approach.
How Do I Prepare For My First Session?
For the first therapy session, the best preparation is to try and keep an open mind, since therapy can be intimidating! It is normal to feel some anxiety as you go into your first session, and it is common to want to make a good impression. However, honesty is always the best way for a therapist to get to know you and your specific struggles. Approaching therapy with an open mind and willingness to heal makes it much more likely that positive change will happen. You could also reflect on your journey with eating disorders prior to the meeting, as this will likely come up.
How Do I Know When To Stop Going To Therapy?
If you have been in therapy for some time and feel you have met all of your original goals, you should consider discussing an end to your treatment. It’s recommended that you and your therapist check-in with your original goals frequently to make sure you’re both tracking your therapeutic progress. A 3-month check-in allows the therapist to do their best work with you, and gives you ample time to adjust your goals in the healing process.
If you are sure that the fit with the therapist is not a good one, you should also end therapy and find a different provider. Finally, you should always end therapy if your therapist does something you consider to be inappropriate or unethical.
How Can You Help?
I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in the Boston area with almost 10 years of experience treating individuals who struggle with eating disorders. Prior to becoming a clinician, I worked as a mental health worker at an eating disorder treatment center. After getting my Master’s degree, I returned to the same treatment center where I worked as a clinician and supervised meals, ran groups, conducted evaluations and provided individual and group counseling. Now, I conduct evaluations at the eating disorder treatment center, as well as have a private practice where I conduct therapy for individuals and their families. If you are interested in learning more about Spur Counseling, me, or my approach, please reach out!
