Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders
OR
Eating disorders (EDs) are complex mental health conditions that impact thoughts, emotions, and behaviors related to food, body image, identity and self-worth. The symptoms of an eating disorder are wide-ranging and can result in significant medical complications and can be extremely disruptive to all areas of functioning.
Symptoms can include:
restrictive or highly selective eating
binge eating
compensatory behaviors such as purging, compulsive exercise, or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or weight loss medications.
At our practice, we provide evidence-based treatment for eating disorders, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), to help individuals develop a healthier, more sustainable relationship with food and their bodies. We understand that eating disorders are emotional disorders at their core, and that the symptoms serve the function of managing and avoiding difficult emotions. We tailor treatment to not only address surface-level symptoms, but to address the underlying factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of the eating disorder.
Our compassionate, evidence-based, and structured approach empowers clients to address unhelpful belief systems, build freedom and flexibility around eating, and reclaim a value-driven life not controlled by food or body concerns.
How we Use CBT to Treat Eating Disorders
There is no specific cause for an eating disorder. Genetics play a part, as do experiences with our family and friends and society as a whole - particularly now with the growing focus on health and detrimental diet culture in America.
In cognitive behavioral therapy sessions with one of our practitioners, you’ll have a safe and non-judgmental space to:
Noticing the thoughts that contribute to your emotions
Learn what physical sensations are a part of your emotions
Explore how behaviors affect your emotional experience
Decide to do things differently and learn new skills for success
There’s hope for recovery from disordered eating with CBT.
There’s no shame in having an eating disorder. Eating disorders are very serious mental health issues that can sadly result in serious physical consequences. Statistically, eating disorders are the second leading cause of mortality among all mental health conditions.
Disordered eating is a normal part of our body and brain trying to protect us from difficult emotions, and it isn't anything to be ashamed of. Still, because stigma around eating disorders is so prevalent in our society, the experience is extremely isolating and getting help can feel overwhelming.
That’s where Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help. CBT is one of the leading evidence-based treatments for eating disorders, and is highly effective. With CBT, you’ll learn to get better at feeling your emotions so that you have more control over how you decide to respond to difficult situations.
We use CBT to help with a wide variety of issues related to disordered eating:
- Anorexia nervosa (AN)
- Bulimia nervosa (BN)
- Binge eating disorder (BED)
- Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)
- Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
- Pica
- Rumination disorder
CBT of Central & South Florida is the only multi-specialty CBT provider in the Central Florida area and one of few in the entire State.
Our therapists work with your treatment team to be an advocate for YOU.
It’s important to involve the support of a treatment team of providers so that you’ll have the most successful path to recovery. With CBT, we frequently recommend seeing:
A therapist
To walk with you through this emotion work
A dietician
To take the stress out of food planning & ensure you're getting energy boosting foods
Medical providers
To help keep you safe throughout the process
Our practitioners are passionate about collaborating with your treatment team and advocating specifically for our clients and their needs with eating disorder appropriate medical care. We can help you ask for things like:
not being weighed at every appointment
choosing not to see or be told your weight
not being encouraged to lose weight when it isn't helpful or medically appropriate
People who might be struggling with an eating disorder may notice that they:
experience physical symptoms like:
- feeling cold
- feeling dizzy when they stand up
- tingling in the hands and feet
- heart palpitations
have family or friends express worry and concern that they appear uncomfortable in certain food situations
feel uncomfortable going to restaurants, parties, people’s houses, or other social events because they are unsure what food will be available or are worried they might be expected to eat certain foods
find themselves canceling plans with friends or family because they're uncomfortable with how they look
find themselves distracted from work or school because they are thinking about food throughout the day, planning what to eat, and reorganizing food and meals
find it difficult to be present in conversations with people when food is around because they're concentrating on how the food will affect their body
Eating Disorders Frequently Appear Alongside Other Mental Health Issues like:
OCD
Health Anxiety
Substance Use Disorder
PTSD
Depression
Trauma
And certain life circumstances and identities are at higher risk, like:
2sLGBTQIAP+ community
Transgender and Gender Nonconforming folx
After military service
Starting School or College
Post-pregnancy
Anyone can benefit from CBT for eating disorders, even if they:
- Feel embarrassed sharing this with anyone
- Are not sure they want help or are fearful of seeking it
- Have had a family member or friend tell them that they're fine
- Have had a family member or friend tell them that they need to lose weight (OSFED)
- Are afraid of gaining weight
- Don’t think they have an eating disorder
- Have never been in therapy before
- Have tried other forms of therapy in the past to varying degrees of success
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy FAQ
-
We offer both in person and virtual appointments. Our in person appointments currently take place at our Orlando, FL office.
-
Most clients pay for our services out-of-pocket. Please contact our office to verify your coverage. Even if we can’t see you at our practice, we are happy to connect you with additional resources. We feel it is our job and responsibility to help you find the help you need.
-
We generally schedule weekly, 45 minute appointments for therapy.
If you are interested in more intensive therapy we offer several options, which can include multiple sessions per week and can range from 60 to 90 minutes or longer.
-
Yes. As CBT clinicians we have a specific way of helping people, but we recognize that it's not the only way. If we feel another form of therapy outside of our scope of practice is helpful, we will refer you to our best resources.
If you want to incorporate other methods of helping or healing, we'll integrate that into your treatment or provide a referral to another provider.
There's no shame in seeking help, and there is always hope for healing.