If you’re looking for an eating disorder therapist, for yourself or for someone you love, you’ve already taken an important step. Reaching out can feel scary, especially when food and body image are tied up with so many feelings.
Eating disorders are serious, and they are also treatable. Finding a therapist with the right training can make a real difference in how supported you feel along the way.
We put this guide together to help you understand what specialized care looks like, which questions to ask, and how to take the next step at your own pace.
What Is an Eating Disorder Therapist?
An eating disorder therapist is a licensed mental health professional with added training and experience in helping people with eating disorders. That might be a psychologist, a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed professional counselor, or a marriage and family therapist.
Therapy is an important part of eating disorder treatment, which often also includes medical monitoring and nutritional support. Treatmentmay last anywhere from a few months to a few years.
Because eating disorders affect both the mind and the body, your therapist often works alongside other professionals. Understanding that team is a helpful next step.
Who Is on an Eating Disorder Treatment Team?
Many people work with a small team rather than one provider. Your team may include the following professionals.
- A therapist. Helps you understand and change the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connected to food and body image.
- A registered dietitian. Helps you rebuild a steady, flexible relationship with eating. Look for someone with eating disorder training, since this isn’t standard for all dietitians.
- A medical provider. Checks on your physical health and treats any complications.
- A psychiatrist or prescriber. Can help if medication is part of your plan, such as for co-occurring anxiety or depression.
- Family members. For young people living at home, parents are often closely involved in treatment.
Treatment also looks at other mental health concerns. People with eating disorders are at higher risk for co-occurring conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, and a good plan addresses those too.
Curious what kind of therapist would be right for you?
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What Types of Therapy Help With Eating Disorders?
Several approaches have strong research support. The best fit depends on the type of eating disorder, your age, and your needs.
Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E)
CBT-E focuses on the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that keep an eating disorder going. It is often used for bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder, and may also be used to treat anorexia nervosa, although more research on its effectiveness for anorexia nervosa is needed.
Family-Based Treatment (FBT)
In family-based treatment, parents or caregivers learn to support healthy eating at home until the young person can do it on their own. This approach appears to help, particularly for adolescents.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT teaches skills for handling strong emotions, tolerating distress, and building healthier relationships. It is often used when binge eating or some symptoms of bulimia are part of the picture.
You don’t need to choose an approach before you start. A skilled therapist can explain their recommendation and why they think it fits.
What Credentials Should You Look For?
Start with a state license, which confirms the therapist has met basic training requirements. Beyond that, some therapists hold the Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) credential. To earn it, a licensed professional must complete thousands of hours of eating disorder-specific experience, consultation with an approved specialist, coursework, and an exam.
A CEDS credential is a strong signal, though it isn’t the only one. Many skilled therapists have deep eating disorder experience without it, so asking about their training and caseload is just as useful.
How Do You Find the Right Eating Disorder Therapist?
If you’re not sure where to begin, a primary care provider can check on your health and refer you to a mental health professional. From there, reach out to a few therapists and ask a few key questions during a consultation.
- How much of your work focuses on eating disorders?
- Which approaches do you use, and why?
- Do you work with dietitians and medical providers?
- How do you involve family members, if at all?
- What would we do if I needed more support than weekly sessions?
How you feel with the therapist matters too. The bond between you and your therapist is one of the strongest predictors of whether therapy helps, so pay attention to whether you feel respected and free of judgment.
We created Mental Health Match to make this part easier, and it’s free to use. You answer a few questions about what you’re looking for, including the concerns you want help with, and we introduce you to five therapists who are well suited to help. Most offer a free consultation, so you can ask your questions before you commit. You can start with a few questions whenever you’re ready.
Browse Eating Disorder Therapists by State
If you’d like to browse on your own, you can start with eating disorder therapists in your state.
- Eating disorder therapists in California
- Eating disorder therapists in Texas
- Eating disorder therapists in Florida
- Eating disorder therapists in New York
- Eating disorder therapists in Illinois
- Eating disorder therapists in Pennsylvania
- Eating disorder therapists in Georgia
- Eating disorder therapists in Colorado
| Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk to a qualified healthcare professional about any medical concerns. If you are in crisis, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. |
