TREATMENT
About the Clinicians
Treatment Options

EDUCATION
What are Eating Disorders?
Medical Complications
Family Guidelines
Nutrition
Exercise
Health and Weight
Suggested Reading

Several therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, or psychodynamic therapy, or a combination of these approaches, are the treatment of choice for adults with eating disorders. Research indicates that family therapy approaches are most effective with children and adolescents, especially those with duration of illness less than three years.

With the establishment of a trusting therapeutic relationship, patients often discover that motivation for participation in therapy, restoration of healthy eating, and desire to let go of eating disordered behaviors increases. Patients learn positive coping skills to handle difficulties instead of relying upon eating disorder symptoms. One learns to identify, reassess and change dysfunctional thoughts, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that contribute to the maintenance of the eating disorder. Individual therapy allows for a safe place in which to identify, explore and verbalize fears one may have about recovery and moving beyond an eating disorder. Relapse prevention techniques are learned and practiced throughout the process so that frequency and duration of “slips”, or times of return to disordered behaviors, do not become full-blown relapses into the eating disorder. Also, therapy helps associated problems such as anxiety, depression, emotion and impulse regulation, self-esteem and body image.

There are many goals involved in individual therapy for the treatment of eating disorders. Reduction and elimination of symptoms, restoration and maintenance of healthy weight, development of positive attitudes toward weight and appearance, development of a positive body image, as well as establishment of a healthy, not excessive, exercise lifestyle are some of many important goals. Recovery from an eating disorder is a challenging and difficult journey of growth and change, but full recovery is possible, and individual therapy is a key component in the process of effective and lasting treatment.