What to Expect from Eating Disorder Therapy
Are you experiencing an eating disorder or think you may be? Seeking out support can be scary & yet it is so important. Eating disorders impact emotional, physical, and relational well-being & treatment and addressing this issue will transform your life for the better.
So, what can you expect from eating disorder therapy? Eating disorders are quite complex in terms of why you may be struggling, how the eating disorder looks, and what factors are impacting it. So effective treatment should be tailored to your unique situation and needs. In general, you can expect to do the following:
Your therapist will want to get a holistic understanding of who you are and will ask questions about:
your history (growing up, family experiences, etc.)
your relationships & support system
your beliefs & values
your day to day life (work, hobbies & interests, etc.)
Your therapist will help you explore your beliefs around food & bodies and where these come from, deconstruct the ones that don’t serve you, and build up beliefs that do. You will discuss things like:
how food was treated and discussed in your family
what was modeled to you in terms of eating, relationship to bodies, etc.
messages you’ve received about food & bodies from family, friends, peers, & society
Your therapist will support you in addressing underlying issues that are impacting the eating disorder. Some examples of this include:
address trauma you’ve experienced
identifying & working with neurodivergence
supporting you with the impacts of systemic oppression
building up coping skills around anxiety
Your therapist will help you begin to change the disordered eating behaviors, with support & guidance from a team of providers (i.e. a dietician and physician). Some things to keep in mind:
changing disordered eating behaviors is a slow & intentional process so it won’t all happen at once
having a team of providers, including a dietician and physician, is important to ensure your physical well-being and increased awareness of your body’s needs
Your therapist will help you build awareness of your body’s internal signals & needs, strengthen trust in your body, and move towards body neutrality. Through this you will be more able to attune to:
cues of hunger & fullness
emotional experience when eating
movement that feels good in your body
When you’re ready, your therapist can help you access more joy in food & your body. You deserve to:
access the communal and cultural aspects of food & cooking
experience pleasure in your body
find confidence in your relationship to your body & food
It’s possible to reclaim your life and work through the underlying issues that impact your relationship to food & your body.
If you’re seeking eating disorder therapy in Portland, OR (online in all of OR & WA), we’re here for you. Our clinician Lindsay Moldovan specializes in working with those experiencing eating disorders and/or their loved ones.
More About Lindsay
Lindsay approaches issues around food & body from a trauma-informed, intersectional, and HAES (Health at Every Size) lens. She is passionate about helping you reconnect with joy around food & cooking, finding neutrality & comfort in your body, and taking up space as your most authentic and aligned self.
Lindsay previously worked in an eating disorder treatment center where she received training & experience in evidence based treatment of eating disorders. She’s offers support to those with eating disorders and/or their partners.