Eating Disorder Therapy in Nashville: Why You Need a Specialist
Finding a therapist for eating disorder treatment in Nashville can feel overwhelming. Starting by searching for a therapist who is trained and specialized in eating disorder care is the first step.
Many therapists in Nashville provide high-quality therapy, though much of it is generalized. Eating disorders require clinical training beyond what is often behind standard, generalized talk therapy.
Eating disorders involve medical risk, the need for rewiring feedback loops that reinforce unhealthy behavior, and impact on the family system. Effective eating disorder treatment must directly address all of this and more.
How Eating Disorders are Reinforced Through Behavior:
Restriction, bingeing, purging, and other unhealthy eating behaviors are reinforced because they seek to meet a need a person has. Oftentimes it is difficult for one to identify other ways to meet these needs, thus the eating disorder is turned to. Common needs one is trying to meet often include needing to get away from discomfort, feeling in control, or seeking connection.
Without intervention, the pattern of turning to the eating disorder to meet needs gets reinforced.
Effective eating disorder treatment must include an understanding of how these needs manifest, how the eating disorder is meeting these needs, and an appropriate way to redirect these behaviors. Therapists trained to work with eating disorder care are trained in exposure work with food, helping one increase distress tolerance, and have an in-depth knowledge about how eating disorders work, both physically and mentally. It is important to find someone who can effectively help one interrupt unhealthy behavioral patterns, while also monitoring and working towards nutritional rehabilitation.
Eating Disorder Treatment Requires Medical Awareness
Eating disorders have among the highest mortality rates of any mental health disorder.
The medical risks associated with eating disorders include heart problems, hormone issues, GI distress and damage, and even tooth enamel erosion.
A qualified eating disorder specialist in Nashville understands this and works with a team of specialized providers to address each potential medical concern and monitor those. It is important that your provider understands the appropriate level of care, who and when to refer for more monitoring, and how to support you every step of the way.
This knowledge and awareness protects health and safety and promotes long-term recovery.
Co-Occurring Disorders Can Complicate Eating Disorder Recovery
It is not uncommon for eating disorders to be present alongside other mental health disorders. It often becomes a matter of differentiating symptoms and identifying how to treat each factor at play. Common co-occurring disorders include anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD, alcohol or other substance abuse disorders, and more.
Effective eating disorder treatment addresses how these conditions interact and treating each simultaneously.
What to Expect in Specialized Care
Individuals seeking eating disorder therapy are intelligent, capable, and self-aware. Having an eating disorder is not a moral failing or deficit of character. While insight is helpful, it is not a cure-all. Most talk therapy focuses on creating insight that can then help with desired behavioral change. This is important, however, often treatment for an eating disorder requires more nuance and insight is not enough to invoke change.
Specialized treatment includes:
Creating clear treatment goals with an entire treatment team
Medical and nutritional support
Acquiring insight and motivation for change
Direct challenging of food rules and behaviors
Increasing distress tolerance
Learning healthy coping skills
Clear monitoring of health and treatment progress
How Do I Know If My Therapist is Specialized in Eating Disorder Care?
Looking for a therapist means assessing for a good fit. While personality and therapy style is important, it is essential that your provider understand eating disorder care specifically. Here are a few characteristics to look for in an eating disorder therapist in Nashville:
Training and experience in eating disorder care
Use of evidence-based methods of care
Willingness and ability to properly coordinate with other providers on your care team
Knowledge of higher levels of care and when to refer
Ongoing continuing education in the eating disorder field
You are allowed to ask questions. Inquire about trainings, years of experience, and supervision. It is important that your care matches your needs.
If you are seeking eating disorder therapy in Nashville and want treatment designed specifically for eating disorder recovery we would be happy to provide a free consult call to assess whether specialized outpatient care is appropriate for you or your family.