Eating disorder treatment usually involves an interdisciplinary team working together to support you through recovery. Here’s a summary of the roles of some of the potential team members.
General practitioners (GP’s)
GP’s can provide initial assessment and diagnosis of an eating disorder. They perform medical assessments and ongoing medical monitoring to ensure safety and appropriate intervention at all stages of the treatment process. GP’s are able to refer to other appropriate members of the care team, and often have a case management role within the team. They also can assess eligibility for an Eating Disorders Management Plan, which allows you to access Medicare rebated sessions with a psychologist and/or dietitian.
Psychologists
Psychologists are another key player in the assessment and diagnosis of eating disorders. Psychologists can are able to identify and address the many complex factors which can contribute to the development and maintenance of an eating disorder. They utilise evidence based treatment approaches to help you challenge and change eating disorder thoughts and behaviours, assist you to develop emotional coping strategies, support you through recovery, address other mental health concerns which may arise alongside the eating disorder, and can also help your support people understand the best ways to assit you in the process of recovery.
Dietitians
Dietitians are able to perform a nutrition assessment, identifying opportunities for change to meet nutritional needs. They can work together with you to develop and implement strategies to improve your nutrition intake and support the reduction of eating disorder behaviours. Dietitians can help increase understanding of the physical and psychological impacts of eating disorder behaviours. They challenge unhelpful dietary beliefs and myths to facilitate a more peaceful relationship with food. They can also help to address the nutitional components of other co-occurring medical conditions.
Support people
Your personal support people, including family of origin or chosen family, friends and support workers play their own important role in eating disorder treatment. It’s often these support people who first identify an issue and encourage access to treatment. Support people can help provide and prepare food and create a supportive meal environment. They can also help to provide positive distraction and support during challenging moments. Support people can also be involved in treatment by joining in on some of your sessions with the treatment team.
Other team members
Psychiatrists are another professional who can diagnose eating disorders, and they are often involved in the care team. Psychiatrists help to manage complex or co-occurring mental health conditions, prescribe medications if required, address medical concerns, and refer to other professionals as needed. They also play an important role in reviewing Eating Disorder Treatment Plans.
Depending on your needs, a care team may also involve other medical specialists, social workers, occupational therapists, counsellors, paediatricians, nurses, and peer workers.
The Mind Body Well team
At Mind Body Well, our team of psychologists and dietitians work together ro provide interdisciplinary care, in consultation with other members of the care team to deliver eating disorder therapy.
To learn more about our team of therapists you can CONTACT US, or complete the New Clients intake form below.