The Best Eating Disorder Treatment Modalities
You are more committed to your eating disorder recovery than ever before, and you have realized that there are a ton therapies out there that dietitians and counselors use. It can be enormously overwhelming to find the right therapist and/or dietitian. One way to help you find a great team that is right for you is to have a brief understanding of the best therapies for eating disorders, and look for clinicians who practice them.
Austin Center for Eating Disorders (ACED) is an eating disorder specialty group practice in Texas, and we have done this homework for you using our combined years of experience, education, training, and sheer passion for eating disorder recovery. We rounded up the best evidence-based treatment modalities for the out-patient level of care, and summarized them below.
Some Quick Info About Eating Disorder Therapy
Your clinicians should be drawing from more than one modality, since eating disorders are so complex and intertwined in every single part of your life and being. Typically, we recommend using a more behavioral-focused modality as well as a more insight-focused modality, together.
The behavioral-focused piece provides you with something to do rather than using an eating disorder behavior in the moment of having an urge. This is where a behavior-focused modality comes in handy, offering a plethora of skills, tools, coping strategies, and healthy distraction methods. Examples of behavioral approaches to eating disorder treatment are DBT, CBT, ERP, and Harm Reduction. Read about them below.
On the other hand, you also need to better understand your eating disorder: how it helps you, what triggers it and why, where it comes from and how it is maintained, and who you are outside of your eating disorder. Here’s where the insight-oriented modalities come in handy.
With both of these approaches in place, your full and lasting recovery is much closer in reach.
We believe that full recovery is possible, and knowing a bit more about treatment approaches can be a shortcut to getting what you need. This is not an exhaustive list, of course, but it is pretty close!
Click below to learn more about our fully specialized and compassionate team of therapists and dietitians, who work with these modalities. You can also check out our FAQs page to learn about the eating disorders we treat, cost, and how things work.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that emphasizes the importance of balancing acceptance and change. DBT focuses on helping individuals with eating disorders learn to regulate their emotions, tolerate distress, and improve interpersonal relationships. DBT can include individual therapy, group skills training, coaching, and a therapist-dietitian team.
An example of DBT in eating disorder treatment may involve teaching an individual coping strategies to deal with overwhelming emotions that may trigger disordered eating behaviors.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT is a type of therapy that focuses on developing psychological flexibility through acceptance and mindfulness techniques. ACT aims to help individuals with eating disorders increase their acceptance of their internal experiences, including emotions, thoughts, and bodily sensations. The therapy also helps individuals commit to actions that align with their values.
An example of ACT in eating disorder treatment may involve teaching an individual mindfulness techniques to increase their awareness of their internal experiences and to help them develop greater acceptance of their emotions, thoughts, and bodily sensations.
Family-Based Therapy (FBT)
FBT is a type of therapy that involves the family in the treatment process. FBT is often used with adolescents who have eating disorders, and it focuses on empowering the family to support their loved one's recovery. The therapy involves three phases: 1) parents take control of their child's eating and weight gain, 2) parents gradually transfer control of eating back to the child, and 3) the family works together to improve communication and problem-solving skills.
An example of FBT in eating disorder treatment may involve helping parents understand how to take a leadership role in their child's recovery, and supporting them in helping their child learn to eat normally again.
FBT is not appropriate for all families, and in some cases can actually reinforce the eating disorder. There is plenty of contention about FBT in the treatment world, and it’s important to note that it is no longer the “gold standard” for eating disorder care.
Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
EFFT is a type of therapy that is similar to FBT but places a greater emphasis on the emotional experiences of both the individual with the eating disorder and their family members. EFFT aims to help family members understand and respond to their loved one's emotions in a supportive and empathic way.
An example of EFFT in eating disorder treatment may involve helping family members learn how to validate their loved one's emotions and how to respond in a way that is supportive and non-judgmental.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a type of therapy that is commonly used to treat trauma-related disorders, including eating disorders that are related to trauma. EMDR involves a series of eye movements that are designed to help the individual process traumatic experiences and memories.
An example of EMDR in eating disorder treatment may involve helping an individual process traumatic experiences related to their body image or food that may be contributing to their disordered eating behaviors.
Psychodynamic Theory
Psychodynamic therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on exploring unconscious thoughts and emotions. In eating disorder treatment, psychodynamic therapy may be used to help individuals understand the underlying emotional issues that are driving their disordered eating behaviors. An example of psychodynamic therapy in eating disorder treatment may involve exploring the individual's early childhood experiences and how they may be influencing their current relationship with food and their body.
Feminist Theory
Feminist theory emphasizes the importance of understanding the cultural and social factors that contribute to eating disorders, particularly in relation to gender and body image. Feminist therapy for eating disorders may involve helping individuals develop a more positive and empowered relationship with their body and challenging societal messages around beauty and worth.
An example of feminist therapy in eating disorder treatment may involve exploring how cultural and societal messages around thinness and beauty impact the individual's self-esteem and body and how these messages perpetuate gender inequality and sexism. The therapist may also encourage the individual to challenge these messages and develop a more empowered sense of self.
Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is an approach to treatment that prioritizes reducing the negative consequences of harmful behaviors rather than complete abstinence.
In the context of eating disorder treatment, harm reduction may involve focusing on reducing the frequency or severity of disordered behaviors rather than eliminating them altogether. For example, a harm reduction approach may involve helping an individual with binge eating disorder reduce the frequency and severity of their binges through the use of self-monitoring, coping skills, and support, rather than focusing solely on complete elimination of bingeing.
Health at Every Size® and Intuitive Eating
Health at Every Size® (HAES) and Intuitive Eating are two approaches to health and wellness that prioritize body acceptance and self-care over weight loss and dieting.
In the context of eating disorder treatment, these approaches can be helpful for individuals who have experienced weight stigma and body shame as a result of their eating disorder.
HAES emphasizes the importance of promoting health behaviors without focusing on weight loss or body shape.
Intuitive Eating focuses on helping individuals listen to and honor their body's hunger and fullness cues, rather than following rigid dietary rules.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Parts Work
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an approach to therapy that involves exploring the different "parts" of an individual's internal world, including parts that may be in conflict with each other.
In the context of eating disorder treatment, IFS may involve exploring the different parts of the individual's psyche that may be contributing to their disordered eating behaviors, such as an "inner critic" or "perfectionistic part." The therapist may work with the individual to develop a more compassionate and integrated sense of self that can help reduce disordered eating behaviors.
Relational Cultural Theory
Relational Cultural Theory (RCT) is an approach to therapy that emphasizes the importance of social connection and relationships in human growth and development.
In the context of eating disorder treatment, RCT may involve exploring the individual's relationships with family, friends, and significant others, and how these relationships may be impacting their eating disorder. The therapist may work with the individual to develop more supportive and meaningful relationships, and explore how these relationships can help support their recovery.
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) is an approach to therapy that emphasizes the importance of emotions in human experience and behavior.
In the context of eating disorder treatment, EFT may involve exploring the emotions that may be underlying the individual's disordered eating behaviors, such as anxiety, shame, anger, or guilt. The therapist may work with the individual to develop more effective ways of managing their emotions, such as through mindfulness or self-compassion.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is an evidence-based approach to treating anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and some eating disorders. ERP involves gradually exposing the individual to feared situations or triggers while preventing them from engaging in their usual compulsive behaviors.
In the context of eating disorder treatment, ERP may be used to treat individuals with disordered eating who engage in compulsive behaviors. The therapist may work with the individual to gradually expose them to triggering foods or situations, while helping them develop distress tolerance skills to manage the associated anxiety and urge to use an eating disorder behavior.
Get Specialized Support
The ACED team is an inclusive group of specialized therapists and dietitians who can help you to heal so you can get back to living your life.
We’re here to help. Schedule your complimentary 15-20 minute phone consultation to find out if the ACED team could be a good fit for you. If you’re ready, we’ll match you with your dream team.
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Legal disclaimer: The ACED team is comprised of mental health professionals licensed to practice in the state of Texas. Reading our blog does not create a therapist-client relationship between us. Our blog is designed for informational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for professional care. The contents of this blog should not be used to diagnose or treat illness of any kind, and before you rely on any information presented here you should consult with a trusted healthcare professional. If you are currently experiencing a mental health emergency please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.