EATING DISORDER HELP
Treatment for eating disorders is tailored to your specific presentation and symptoms, typically incorporating a blend of psychological therapy, nutrition education, medical monitoring, and occasionally medications.
Additionally, addressing other health complications arising from the eating disorder is crucial, as these can become severe or life-threatening if left untreated for an extended period. If standard treatment proves ineffective or results in health issues, hospitalization or an alternative inpatient program may be necessary.
A systematic approach to eating disorder treatment is essential for symptom management, achieving a healthy weight, and sustaining overall well-being.
Initiating Treatment: Whether initiated by a primary care practitioner or a mental health professional, a referral to a specialized team is beneficial. This team may include:
A mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, providing psychological therapy.
A registered dietitian offering nutrition education and meal planning.
Medical or dental specialists addressing health issues resulting from the eating disorder.
Involvement of partners, parents, or family members, particularly for adolescents living at home.
Communication among all involved parties is vital for monitoring progress and adjusting treatment accordingly.
Long-term Management: Managing an eating disorder is often a prolonged challenge, necessitating regular visits to the treatment team even when symptoms are under control.
Establishing a Treatment Plan: Collaboratively, you and your treatment team devise a plan that addresses your needs, defines treatment goals, and outlines guidelines. This includes managing physical complications and identifying available resources, with a focus on affordability.
Psychological Therapy: Central to eating disorder treatment, psychological therapy involves regular sessions with a trained practitioner. Various therapies, such as cognitive-emotional behavioral therapy and family-based therapy, may be employed to normalize eating patterns, modify unhealthy habits, and enhance coping skills.
Nutrition Education: Registered dietitians contribute to your treatment by improving understanding of the eating disorder and devising plans for appropriate nutritional habits, addressing issues like malnutrition or obesity.
Medications: While medications alone cannot cure eating disorders, they can sometimes be used in conjunction with psychological therapy. Antidepressants are commonly prescribed, especially for disorders involving binge-eating or purging behaviors. However, this necessitates a case-by-case evaluation, because many will not require any medication once they are nutritionally stabilized.
Hospitalization: In severe cases with significant physical or mental health problems, hospitalization may be necessary. Day treatment and residential programs offer structured interventions, including medical care, therapy, and education.
Ongoing Treatment for Health Problems: Eating disorders can lead to persistent health issues, requiring continuous treatment and monitoring. These may include electrolyte imbalances, heart problems, digestive issues, nutrient deficiencies, dental problems, and mental health conditions.
Active Participation: As the primary member of your treatment team, active involvement is crucial. Your commitment, along with support from family and loved ones, enhances the effectiveness of treatment. The treatment team provides education, guidance, and support throughout the process.
Let’s have a talk to find out how I can best help you and your loved one
Meet me at my office location in person if we are in the same country or online.
I offer a free 15-minute initial call so that I can get a brief sense of:
What you are hoping for
To answer questions
To make initial recommendations
And to decide if you would like us to work together
Even though these conditions can be complex, they are treatable and recovery is possible. Some types of eating disorders are longer to treat, others may be treated much faster.
Eating disorders often co-exist with other conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse. These are important to address and work through within the treatment.
The best treatment will depend on the severity of the eating disorder presented.
Integrative Psychotherapy (IP)
Integrative Psychotherapy assesses each person’s unique characteristics before deciding on the best therapy treatment approach. These approaches are based on various schools of thought and applied depending on each person and their particular needs at each stage of the therapy process. The combination of these approaches such CBT, person centered, Gestalt, existential, family based therapy, hypnotherapy and others, offer clients more opportunity to learn and work through various challenging aspects of their struggles. It is the manner in which the trained therapist uses the various approaches that is key to successful outcomes.
Dr Alford adopts such method and includes other specific approaches based on every clients needs. His experience as an eating disorders practitioner has offered positive outcomes and recoveries to many.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Enhanced (CBT-E)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Enhanced is a form of CBT that has been developed, and improved in specific areas in order to address eating disorders and their core issues for instance distorted thoughts about shape and weight and perfectionism. It is conducted within a specific time period, so it has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The therapy is led by the therapist who sets goals and objectives for the person, giving the person ‘homework’ between sessions. The therapy is designed to specifically fit with each person’s particular eating disorder symptoms.
Mindfulness Therapy
The combination of Mindfulness Therapy and CBT has yielded the best results so far when provided in a safe and healing environment away from your daily routines. The advantages of an intensive approach allow for a faster understanding, assimilation and application that are necessary for recovery.
Mindfulness can help us detach from overwhelming and negative thoughts, feel calmer and clearer, and choose more positive responses and behaviours. It helps people to be more in the present moment and helps them step out of their conditioning, so they can see the situation clearer. Mindfulness-based stress therapy has very good results in decreasing stress levels and improving one’s quality of life.
OTHER TREATMENTS INCLUDE:
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Family-based Therapy
Nutritional Counseling
Emotional Freedom Tapping
Heart Coherence Biofeedback