Trauma-Informed Care in Eating Disorder Treatment: Creating Safe Spaces for Healing
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. They are often intertwined with trauma, making treatment a delicate and multifaceted process. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of trauma-informed care in eating disorder treatment. Trauma-informed care is an approach in which therapists recognize that most people have been impacted by trauma, know the signs and symptoms of trauma, and can address those symptoms accordingly. In this blog post, we'll explore the significance of trauma-informed care in eating disorder treatment, the duration of treatment, and what folks can expect during their therapy process.
Why is trauma-informed care important for eating disorder treatment?
Trauma-informed care is paramount in eating disorder treatment because many individuals with eating disorders have experienced trauma in their lives. Trauma might include one-time or ongoing events like physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or other adverse experiences. Trauma can profoundly impact one's relationship with food, body image, and sense of self.
Eating disorders may have been a way to cope with overwhelming emotions or numbing painful memories. Trauma-informed care integrates trauma-sensitive interventions and coping skills training to help people develop more adaptive strategies for managing distress and regulating emotions without resorting to harmful behaviors.
By recognizing the prevalence of trauma and its potential triggers, trauma-informed providers strive to minimize re-traumatization by prioritizing physical and emotional safety, respecting boundaries, and fostering trust with clients. This sense of safety is essential for individuals to feel comfortable exploring difficult emotions and experiences in therapy.
In addition, trauma-informed care prioritizes the empowerment of individuals by honoring their autonomy and choices throughout the treatment process. Rather than imposing rigid treatment protocols or directives, providers collaborate with clients to develop personalized treatment plans that align with their goals, values, and comfort levels. This approach promotes a sense of agency and self-efficacy, empowering clients to actively participate in their recovery journey. This experience of trust and empowerment adds a layer of relational healing to eating disorder recovery.
How long does eating disorder treatment in Raleigh, NC take?
One of the most common questions people have when considering eating disorder therapy is, "How long will treatment take?" The duration of eating disorder treatment can vary widely depending on factors such as the severity of the disorder, how long someone has had an eating disorder, the presence of co-occurring conditions (e.g. anxiety, depression, substance use), and the person's readiness and commitment to recovery. While some may require a brief period of outpatient therapy, others may need more intensive, long-term care in residential or inpatient settings.
In my work with folks, we get into the weeds of their trauma and eating disorders, so the work generally lasts a bit longer. I would count on working together for at least six months and longer if you have a more complex mental health and life history. You can expect to meet with me weekly for a period of time and then taper to every other week as you maintain your recovery on your own.
Research suggests that early intervention and consistent, comprehensive treatment yield the best outcomes for individuals with eating disorders. Therefore, treatment may encompass various levels of care, including medical stabilization, psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, and psychiatric support. We can make treatment more efficient and effective using a team approach. People may have a little sticker shock and hesitance thinking about all the therapy and nutrition visits required to recover, but find that they get more out of their treatment in less time when they put more time, money, energy, and motivation into the recovery process from the beginning. Plus, folks find that they have a better experience overall when they have a collaborative team that addresses their unique needs and circumstances instead of trying to do recovery in bits and pieces with less support.
What is eating disorder treatment like?
Eating disorder treatment can be challenging but worth it. It involves addressing not only the symptoms of the disorder but also the underlying emotional, psychological, and interpersonal issues that contribute to its development and maintenance. When you work with me, you can expect that we’ll have some hard conversations but we’ll also laugh a lot. In the span of a visit we might talk about how ashamed you felt after a binge and then, later, laugh about something funny that happened on the way to work.
If you’re curious about what exactly to expect from therapy, here are five key components of eating disorder treatment:
Comprehensive Assessment:
Our first couple of visits will be about me getting to know your history. We’ll start by doing an initial intake with a written questionnaire to learn about your symptoms. I’ll also ask you questions about your life history, eating and body image pain points, and your goals for therapy. I may also refer you to a nutritionist, physician, or psychiatrist to get additional support to address your unique needs. After we gather all this information, I’ll make a treatment plan that will help guide us toward your therapy goals. We will collaborate on your plan of care so that you know what to expect and can give input.
Medical Stabilization:
For folks with severe or life-threatening eating disorders, medical stabilization is the first priority. This involves addressing any immediate health concerns, restoring nutritional balance, and monitoring physical health throughout the treatment process. If I chat with someone who has these types of needs, I’ll refer them out to a higher level of care. This could include in-patient or residential treatment. Some places I refer to include Veritas Collaborative Care or the Eating Recovery Center.
Regular Eating Disorder Therapy Visits:
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a cornerstone of eating disorder treatment. In eating disorder therapy, I’ll help you explore your relationship with food, body image, emotions, and past experiences. We’ll work on learning and practicing coping strategies that help you replace the eating disorder thoughts and behaviors with more adaptive, healthier strategies.
A huge part of therapy is building trust and a therapeutic alliance. Establishing a trusting and collaborative relationship between myself and my clients is paramount in eating disorder treatment. Many individuals with eating disorders have experienced trauma or have deeply rooted trust issues. That’s why it’s essential to approach therapy with empathy, compassion, and non-judgment. I’m here to hold you accountable and also work towards healing at your own pace.
My approach to eating disorder therapy
During our visits, we’ll also explore underlying factors that contributed to the development of an eating disorder. I see eating disorders as a once adaptive (but not anymore) strategy to deal with deeper emotional, psychological, and relational issues. We might address issues such as low self-esteem, perfectionism, trauma, family dynamics, or co-occurring mental health conditions. By delving into these root causes, my clients gain insight into their patterns of thinking and behavior, so they can make lasting changes.
Some eating disorder therapy interventions we might use are cognitive-behavioral strategies and somatic strategies. Cognitive (or thought-based) strategies help challenge eating disorder thinking and replace distorted beliefs about food, body image, and self-worth. Somatic strategies work on helping you build awareness of feelings and sensations that you may use the eating disorder to ignore. Somatic work can help you deal with distressing thoughts and feelings so that you feel more calm in your body.
Nutritional Education and Support:
Collaborating with registered non-diet dietitians is an integral part of eating disorder treatment. Generally, folks will meet with their dietitian weekly or every other week to start. Your dietitian can help you challenge diet culture myths, provide nutritional education, help with meal planning, and support normalizing eating behaviors. With dietetic guidance, clients learn to nourish their bodies in a way that promotes physical and emotional well-being, which is essential to the mental health work we do in therapy.
Relapse Prevention and Continued Support:
Recovery from an eating disorder is a journey that extends beyond the confines of therapy sessions. Therefore, I emphasize the importance of relapse prevention planning and ongoing support in maintaining progress and preventing setbacks. I will give you homework to use coping strategies, identify triggers, and build a support network to navigate challenges and setbacks that may arise along the way.
Trauma-informed care has revolutionized the landscape of eating disorder treatment by recognizing the profound impact of trauma on individuals' lives and recovery journeys. Therapy doesn’t have to be intimidating or scary. It can help you get insight, learn new coping strategies, and feel empowered so that you don’t need your eating disorder to survive life. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, know that help is available and recovery is possible. If you’re ready to ditch your eating disorder and need support, contact me to get started.
Getting started with eating disorder therapy in Raleigh, NC
Empower yourself with support by reaching out to Counselor Kate. My eating disorder therapy services are designed to provide compassionate guidance and personalized treatment options tailored to your needs. Take the first step towards healing and reclaim control over your well-being by following the steps below:
Schedule a consultation here so I can get to know you better.
Learn more about who I am.
Begin online eating disorder therapy or come see me in person!
Other services I offer in North Carolina:
My goal is to provide compassionate support to help individuals process and release trauma stored in the body with trauma and somatic therapy. Rediscover a harmonious relationship with food and your body through my intuitive eating services!