Types of Eating Disorder Therapy

Eating disorders are a serious, often life-threatening mental health condition that affect people of all ages and genders. They impact a person’s body weight, mood, eating patterns and relationship with food.

Many eating disorder therapy near me have specific training in treating this condition. They may use one of several types of therapy to help you learn new behaviors and improve your relationship with food.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a commonly used approach. It teaches you how to recognize unhelpful thoughts and replace them with healthier ones. CBT also helps you practice healthy coping skills such as mindfulness, self-soothing and radical acceptance.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a form of CBT that focuses on embracing pain rather than avoiding it. It can help you develop a more compassionate relationship with your emotions and allow you to move through difficult experiences in a way that supports your recovery from an eating disorder.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is another type of therapy that combines CBT with practices like mindfulness, emotion regulation and distress tolerance. It may be delivered in a group setting with a therapist trained in DBT or via phone or video conference. You may receive worksheets, webinar suggestions or practice prompts to do between sessions.

Some people with eating disorders require inpatient care at a hospital or residential treatment program to manage their symptoms and regain a healthy weight. These programs can include day treatment or partial hospitalization and often include family-based therapy and nutrition education. Medication is also sometimes prescribed to treat binge-eating and purging behaviors.