ABIDE-Association for Body Image Disordered Eating

Treatment is Available– Recovery is Possible

What Does Treatment Involve?
Early diagnosis and intervention significantly enhance the recovery process. The most effective and long-lasting treatment for an eating disorder is some form of psychotherapy or psychological counseling, coupled with careful attention to medical and nutritional needs. Ideally, this treatment is tailored to each individual based on severity of the disorder. The time length for recovery varies based on the factors of severity, motivation level, and amount of support.

Types of Treatment Options
Individual Therapy • Group Therapy • Family Therapy
Medical Management • Nutritional Counseling
Pharmacotherapy

Individual Therapy or Psychotherapy
Therapy usually addresses both the eating disordered symptoms and the underlying psychological, interpersonal, and cultural forces that contributed to the eating disorder. There are many different types of therapy available: cognitive-behavioral; interpersonal; relational; narrative; psychodynamic (to name a few). Many clinicians prefer cognitive-behavioral approached to monitor weight gain and maintenance and to address eating behaviors and use an additional approach to examine underlying issues that maintain the eating issues. It is important that you choose a therapist that has experience in the area of eating disorders, and that you feel comfortable with. Many insurance companies will pay for longer-term treatment for eating disorders, look into your insurance company’s policy to find out specifically what treatment is covered. Counseling and Psychological Services on campus at UC Davis can provide you with a referral in the area.

Group Therapy
Self-help, support and therapy groups can be helpful in conjunction with individual therapy. Groups tend to increase a sense of support and provide a sense of belonging. It is often helpful to interact with others who are struggling with the same issues. It is important that you choose a group that fits with the level of care that you need so that it is not disruptive to your treatment process.

Family Therapy
Family therapy has been used to examine interactions among family members, since unresolved conflict within the family is often implicated in the illness. Increasing positive family communication can be achieved through this type of therapy. Some or all of the family members attend.

Medical Management
Because eating disorders can cause life-threatening conditions, medical management in conjunction with therapy is important. Electrolyte balance, blood pressure and heart function should be monitored on an ongoing basis. This additionally aides in the recovery process by providing feedback about physical recovery.

Nutritional Counseling
A nutritionist can provide healthy caloric goals and plans to return to a balanced diet. It would be ideal to choose a nutritionist that has experience in the area of eating disorders. Nutrition page.

Pharmacotherapy (Psychiatric Care)
Sometimes there are additional issues that make it difficult for a person to recover from an eating disorder. Depression and anxiety are common co-occurring issues that can be effectively treated with medication. Your primary treatment provider should help you in determining if this could be a useful treatment option.
Hospitalization or inpatient living environment
Inpatient care or residential care is necessary when an eating disorder has led to physical problems that may be life threatening, or when it is associated with severe psychological or behavioral problems. Inpatient stays vary in length, but typically require a period of outpatient follow-up and care to continue addressing the underlying issues that an individual is dealing with.
There is also the option of attending a residential treatment program (programs where you live on-site for the duration of treatment). These programs are designed to be treatment intense by offering all of the above types of therapy in one setting. Individuals live in this setting for anywhere from a week up to a year depending on the treatment needs. Several of these programs can be found on our Resources and References page.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Lao-tzu (Chinese philosopher, 604 BC-531 BC)


TREATMENT

	Home About ABIDE Signs of... Body Image Treatment Communities Nutrition Media Activism FAQ Resources Handouts CYBW Sponsor Us Request a Program SUMMIT Eating Disorders & Outreach Program	*Treatment is Available– Recovery is Possible* What Does Treatment Involve? Early diagnosis and intervention significantly enhance the recovery process. The most effective and long-lasting treatment for an eating disorder is some form of psychotherapy or psychological counseling, coupled with careful attention to medical and nutritional needs. Ideally, this treatment is tailored to each individual based on severity of the disorder. The time length for recovery varies based on the factors of severity, motivation level, and amount of support. Types of Treatment Options Individual Therapy • Group Therapy • Family Therapy Medical Management • Nutritional Counseling Pharmacotherapy Individual Therapy or Psychotherapy Therapy usually addresses both the eating disordered symptoms and the underlying psychological, interpersonal, and cultural forces that contributed to the eating disorder. There are many different types of therapy available: cognitive-behavioral; interpersonal; relational; narrative; psychodynamic (to name a few). Many clinicians prefer cognitive-behavioral approached to monitor weight gain and maintenance and to address eating behaviors and use an additional approach to examine underlying issues that maintain the eating issues. It is important that you choose a therapist that has experience in the area of eating disorders, and that you feel comfortable with. Many insurance companies will pay for longer-term treatment for eating disorders, look into your insurance company’s policy to find out specifically what treatment is covered. Counseling and Psychological Services on campus at UC Davis can provide you with a referral in the area. Group Therapy Self-help, support and therapy groups can be helpful in conjunction with individual therapy. Groups tend to increase a sense of support and provide a sense of belonging. It is often helpful to interact with others who are struggling with the same issues. It is important that you choose a group that fits with the level of care that you need so that it is not disruptive to your treatment process. Family Therapy Family therapy has been used to examine interactions among family members, since unresolved conflict within the family is often implicated in the illness. Increasing positive family communication can be achieved through this type of therapy. Some or all of the family members attend. Medical Management Because eating disorders can cause life-threatening conditions, medical management in conjunction with therapy is important. Electrolyte balance, blood pressure and heart function should be monitored on an ongoing basis. This additionally aides in the recovery process by providing feedback about physical recovery. Nutritional Counseling A nutritionist can provide healthy caloric goals and plans to return to a balanced diet. It would be ideal to choose a nutritionist that has experience in the area of eating disorders. Nutrition page. Pharmacotherapy (Psychiatric Care) Sometimes there are additional issues that make it difficult for a person to recover from an eating disorder. Depression and anxiety are common co-occurring issues that can be effectively treated with medication. Your primary treatment provider should help you in determining if this could be a useful treatment option. Hospitalization or inpatient living environment Inpatient care or residential care is necessary when an eating disorder has led to physical problems that may be life threatening, or when it is associated with severe psychological or behavioral problems. Inpatient stays vary in length, but typically require a period of outpatient follow-up and care to continue addressing the underlying issues that an individual is dealing with. There is also the option of attending a residential treatment program (programs where you live on-site for the duration of treatment). These programs are designed to be treatment intense by offering all of the above types of therapy in one setting. Individuals live in this setting for anywhere from a week up to a year depending on the treatment needs. Several of these programs can be found on our Resources and References page. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Lao-tzu (Chinese philosopher, 604 BC-531 BC)