Eating disorder treatment is a branch of therapy designed to help people with anorexia, bulimia, body dysmorphic disorder, and more. These conditions can significantly impact a person’s day-to-day life, changing the way they eat and interact with others. If you have an eating disorder and have considered getting treatment, there are options available to improve your quality of life and boost your self-esteem. The eating disorder specialists at Perspectives Of Troy Counseling Centers in Michigan would be happy to assist you.
Here is a step-by-step guide to eating disorder treatment so you know exactly what this program entails.
What Gets Treated With Eating Disorder Treatment?
Before we explain how eating disorder treatment works, we need to define what is categorized as an “eating disorder.” This is any thought pattern that affects a person’s diet, exercise regime, or view of their body. The most common types of eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, binging and purging, and chronic dieting (someone who consistently diets regardless of how much he or she weighs). Body dysmorphia and exercise addiction may also be treated with eating disorder therapy.
In many cases, eating disorder treatment comes after another form of therapy. For instance, a person may come in for depression therapy and reveal the eating disorder later on. Some patients are unaware of their eating disorder until they start talking to their therapist. In this instance, the counselor will refer the person to an eating disorder therapist for specialized treatment that complements the initial therapy program.
How Eating Disorder Treatment Works
There is no cookie-cutter method for eating disorder treatment. Everything is personalized to fit the needs of the patient. However, most programs start with an assessment to figure out what the symptoms, causes, and severity of the eating disorder may be. This gives the eating disorder therapist a path to follow when developing a treatment program.
After the initial assessment, the therapist will work with the client to create measurable, realistic goals. The goals may be centered around behavioral changes or physical improvements. At Perspectives Of Troy Counseling Centers in Michigan, we use client-guided therapy in our treatment programs. That means that you set the pace for your progression, with the assistance of a professional eating disorder specialist.
The goals you set for your body cannot be generic: “I want to throw up less.” Instead, you will need to assign values to the goals so they can accurately be measured: “I want to throw up 25% less than I do now.” With numbers on hand, you can figure out a plan to complete those goals.
As time progresses, you will start to reach each goal in your eating disorder treatment. Then you and your therapist will work together to create a new set of goals. In most cases, this is completed with the help of a nutritionist to ensure that you make the best decisions for your body. Your nutritionist can recommend foods to eat, exercises to try, or other steps to take to coincide with your therapy sessions.
Eating Disorder Treatment Involves Your Mind And Your Body
Eating disorder treatment is a two-sided process. The therapy helps you conquer the root causes of the eating disorder – depression, anxiety, bullying, trauma, verbal abuse, body dysmorphic disorder, etc. The work you do with a nutritionist will help you get your body to a healthy, manageable state. This holistic approach is tested and proven to help people overcome eating disorders.
Will I Ever Be “Cured” Of My Eating Disorder?
With eating disorder treatment, you can learn how to reverse negative thought patterns that caused your eating disorder or made it worse. However, there may come a time when you need additional therapy due to a “relapse.” At its core, an eating disorder is an addiction, either to food or to the pursuit of a perfect body. You may experience trauma or be put in a situation that pushes you into old habits.
No matter what the circumstances may be, you can get ongoing eating disorder treatment and therapy from the specialists here at Perspectives Of Troy Counseling Centers. Contact one of our Michigan therapy offices today to learn more about your options.