What Are the Roles of Eating Disorder Therapists and Dietitians in Recovery?
Written by Tiffany Lepa, NCC, LPC-Associate
Eating disorder therapists and dietitians go together like peanut butter and jelly, biscuits and gravy, and macaroni and cheese. They’re an essential and pivotal pair in the eating disorder recovery process! So what is each professional’s role? Read along to gain a better understanding of their unique roles and how their collaboration facilitates comprehensive care.
What Is the Role of an Eating Disorder Therapist in Recovery?
Therapists play a crucial role in addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of eating disorders. They primarily focus on uncovering the underlying factors that have contributed to the development of disordered eating behaviors, provide psychoeducation, explore the interpersonal impact of the disorder, and help clients build coping strategies.
Our therapists at Autonomy Therapy in Austin, TX approach eating disorder care through psychoeducation around Health at Every Size, identifying the function of eating disorders, challenging diet culture, rewriting more holistic narratives around “health”, exploring body image concerns, and building a sense of self-worth and identity outside of their bodies. Our goal is to help clients foster a stronger mind-body connection and to live authentic and values-aligned lives.
Eating disorders often coexist with other mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance use, and complex trauma. Therapists assist individuals in engaging more adaptive coping strategies to manage stress, triggers, and emotions outside of unhelped behaviors. Eating disorder therapists also work collaboratively with clients to explore the root causes around disordered behaviors, such as trauma, prior experiences, and family-of-origin.
They may use a variety of approaches including narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (also known as “parts work”), and somatic therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
What Is the Role of a Dietitian in Eating Disorder Recovery?
Dietitians have a specialized focus on nutrition to ensure that clients are receiving the proper nourishment needed to recover. Dietitians thoroughly assess an individual’s relationship with food, current habits, behaviors, preferences, and dietary needs. Through this personalized assessment, they start a plan to help clients fuel themselves and enjoy food again.
Dietitians provide education around nutrition, debunk myths around diet culture, support clients in tackling fear foods, and offer meal support. You might talk about your beliefs about food and rules around food. This work might also come up in your therapy sessions where your therapist can help you further unpack core beliefs and emotions around food, bodies, and movement. We recommend working with a Health at Every Size-aligned dietitian who can also provide support around intuitive eating and intuitive movement.
Who Else Might Be on My Recovery Treatment Team?
Treating eating disorders is complex and takes a holistic team. Recovery does not happen in isolation, which is why a strong support network of professionals, peers, and loved ones is needed. Other providers include psychiatrists or psychiatric nurse practitioners for medication management as well as a physician to monitor medical stability. We aim to collaborate with all providers to ensure holistic and lasting care.
How Do Therapists and Dietitians Work Together in Eating Disorder Recovery?
With client consent, therapists and dietitians communicate regularly to create a more cohesive treatment plan. They may share notes and insights, offer updates on progress, or consult with one another to ask questions that may fall into the other’s area of expertise. Eating disorder recovery is an intricate and nuanced process that requires a multifaceted approach.
Collaboration between therapists and dietitians is essential for addressing the intricate interplay between mental health and nutrition. By recognizing and appreciating the distinct yet interconnected roles of these professionals, individuals on the path to recovery can benefit from a comprehensive and supportive framework that nurtures both the mind and body.
Ready to start working with an eating disorder therapist? Our team of skilled clinicians is ready to support you virtually across the state of Texas or at our office in North Austin.
Fill out a contact form to get in touch or book a free 15-minute consultation call with our client care coordinator!
