Finding a Binge Eating Disorder Psychotherapist: 4 things you need to know

By April Lyons MA, LPC

The struggle you face with binge eating disorder (BED) is cyclical and damaging. No doubt, you're tired and know it's time for a change. Fortunately, recovery is not a change you have to make alone. No more hiding. Or berating yourself. Or binging again out of so much internal frustration. Your BED is not weakness or related to willpower. It is not a sign of gluttony or worthlessness. However, your BED is a clear sign that you need help. And a sign that it’s time to reach out to an experienced binge eating disorder psychotherapist.

Why therapy?

Seeking therapy for binge eating disorder is necessary and vital for long-term recovery. It's true that therapy may put you on a path that is deeply personal and often times uncomfortable. However, finding a binge eating disorder psychotherapist makes BED conquerable. Therapy is imperative for the safe and lasting recovery of your mind and body. Therefore, there are some very important things to consider as you move forward. Obtaining healing and ongoing support for your health depend on several factors:

4 need-to-know factors for finding an effective binge eating disorder psychotherapist

1. Finding an effective binge eating disorder psychotherapist means recognizing that BED is specialized work requiring specialized training

All eating disorders require a therapist with training in that specialty. The work is complex and you'll want someone who is experienced. Furthermore, it is wise to do your BED homework. Educate yourself on current treatments and follow up on referrals and references. Most of all, be sure that your binge eating disorder therapist can provide a high degree of care regarding binge eating disorder specifically. Don’t be discouraged. Finding qualified help may take some time.Research and understanding of the treatment needs for BED are still evolving. It is fairly new on the scene of recognized eating disorders. Do ask questions about your selected therapist’s approach, ongoing education, and willingness to incorporate various forms of treatment.

2. Finding the most beneficial binge eating disorder psychotherapist means choosing someone that will help you with more than just your food issues.

When you feel terrible about your need to binge, please know BED tends to occur do to a cycle of restricting or dieting. In other words, it's a way your body takes over to get it's needs met. It can also be a temporary “comfort activity” in the face of emotional difficulty. Therefore, bingeing is often linked to co-occurring issues like trauma, depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders.Thus, the psychotherapist you choose needs to be well versed in such conditions and able to help you manage them more productively. 

3.Finding a compassionate binge eating disorder psychotherapist means that they will help you embrace emotional self-awareness for the sake of long-term success.

Seek out a therapist who provides consistent positive reinforcement and compassionate encouragement. He or she should demonstrate a strong desire to help you become more emotionally aware. In time, you'll become more adept at recognizing your bingeing triggers. You want to work with a professional whose primary interest is to help you-- through a comprehensive and customized treatment plan--  learn to manage your emotions and support your own recovery.A therapist who takes this approach can help you appropriately distinguish between physical hunger and emotional distress. In addition, such treatment can show you ways to regulate your emotions, to resist the diet mentality and quell the desire to soothe yourself with food

4. Finding a binge eating disorder psychotherapist that appreciates the mind-body connection can enhance more traditional approaches to BED treatment

Recent BED treatment research revealed that emphasis on weight control or weight loss is often counterproductive. The goal instead is to help instill or restore confidence and self-esteem as it pertains to your body.Binge eating disorder interrupts your ability to eat mindfully. To retrain your thoughts about food, body image, weight, and eating, you are best served by a therapist who will help you with one-on-one therapy sessions, trauma awareness and recovery, learning to eat intuitively, and more. Furthermore, working with a binge eating disorder psychotherapist who willingly connects you with a health at every size dietitian, physician, and support groups is crucial.All in all,  you may want to seriously consider a professional who is open to mindful meditation, relaxation or breathing exercises, yoga, and other body-centered techniques. There are studies that show they can be effective in BED treatment.

Taking the next step

You can fully recover from BED. The work you’ll do with your therapist of choice can be life-changing and challenging. It's amazing that you’ve decided to do it. With the aforementioned considerations in mind, you will be better equipped to select the therapist for you.I'm happy to help you better care for your mind and body. Please contact us so we can begin to stop the cycle. 

For more information about binge eating disorder treatment, binge eating disorder treatment. Serving Boulder, Longmont, Denver..