Treatment for Eating Disorders
All Psychologists and Dietitians at Mind Body Well have significant experience and skills in assisting with people with concerns about eating behaviours and body image. This can include people anywhere along a continuum from problematic eating behaviours and a concern with weight or shape, to those with formally diagnosed eating disorders.
At Mind Body Well, we use a non-dieting approach to understand the relationships people have with food and with their bodies, prioritising wellbeing and self-care. Our practitioners are aligned with the Health At Every Size movement, focussing on healthy thoughts and behaviours, rather than a particular focus on weight or size. You can read more about the Mind Body Well Philosophy.
Some people come to our practice specifically to focus on eating behaviours or recovery from an eating disorder. In this instance our clients may see one of our psychologists or our dietitian independently, or they may see both practitioners as a team, providing a more comprehensive approach to therapy. Our practitioners also work closely with other health professionals outside our practice to ensure consistency in your care. This may include your doctor, psychiatrist, allied health professionals, and complementary therapy practitioners.
Our Psychologists and Dietitians are highly skilled in providing therapy for people with Eating Disorders, with extensive experience with people experiencing the following conditions:
Restrictive eating behaviours
Compulsive exercise
Body image concerns
Body dysmorphia
Orthorexia
Concerns with weight loss or gain
Other eating behaviour issues
Therapy Structure
Assessment Phase
All therapy at Mind Body Well begins with an initial Assessment Phase, which may take between 1-3 sessions, depending on the complexity of the issues to be addressed in therapy. At the end of this Assessment Phase, your therapist will negotiate with you a Treatment Plan, which will outline:
the focus and goals of your therapy
the treatment approaches to be used
your treatment team - which may include either a Psychologist or Dietitian at Mind Body Well, or in many cases will include both
Treatment Phase
Each 'Phase' of therapy will have clear treatment goals, and a timeframe after which the effectiveness of therapy will be measured by you and your therapist. Some clients will have multiple 'phases' of treatment, whereas others may have more short term treatment.
Where necessary our practitioners will work closely with your treating Doctor to ensure that your medical care is prioritised.
contact us about psychological counselling, dietetic therapy and group therapy at our melbourne office and also online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to have an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders are serious mental health disorders, which can impact a person’s relationship with food, exercise and their body. There are different types of eating disorders and everyone’s experience can be different. Eating disorders are not a lifestyle choice or vanity, and treatment can effectively help.
What do all Eating Disorders have in common?
A common factor across all eating disorders includes a disrupted relationship with food and eating habits. This can present in different behaviours such as food restriction, binge eating, purging, dieting or selective eating habits. Many (though not all) eating disorders also feature a strong emphasis on body image, weight, shape, appearance or ‘health’. All eating disorders are serious, and can benefit from treatment.
What is Orthorexia?
Orthorexia is not formally recognised as an eating disorder diagnosis, but is gaining recognition and understanding. This pattern of disordered eating focuses on ‘clean eating’ or an obsession with ‘health’, including the quality, perceived benefits and morality of particular foods. Orthorexia can involve significant health consequences and disruptions in daily living due to the restrictive and obsessive relationship with food and body.
What is Body Dysmorphia?
Body Dysmorphia, or Body Dysmorphic Disorder involves an intense preoccupation with perceived ‘flaws’ or ‘defects’ in appearance, which is typically not noticeable to others. These perceived concerns typically involve specific facial or body features, and not concerns with overall weight or shape. People with body dysmorphic disorder may use repetitive or compulsive behaviours in an attempt to ‘fix’ or ‘hide’ the area of concern, e.g. make up, cosmetic procedures, mirror checking. Body dysmorphic disorder can have significant impacts on physical and mental health, including social isolation.
What is Muscle Dysmorphia?
Muscle dysmorphia is a subtype of Body Dysmorphic Disorder, where someone has a preoccupation with being insufficiently muscular or lean, which is distorted perception of their appearance. Muscle dysmorphia can involve obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviours with the purpose of trying to increase muscle mass e.g. compulsive exercise or gym use, substance or steroid abuse, and disordered eating. Muscle dysmorphia most often effects males, due to associations between muscularity and masculinity, although can affect anyone. Muscle dysmorphia can have serious physical and mental health consequences.
How dangerous is an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders can be very dangerous and potentially life-threatening. This can be due to the serious physical impacts of the disorder, which can affect every organ of the body. The mental health consequences can also be severe, including self-harm and suicide risk. In addition, the impacts on important areas of life are also significant, including on socialising, work/school and hobbies. That said, recovery is possible, and many health impacts can be reversible with appropriate treatment.
Who is most likely to have an Eating Disorder?
Anyone can have an eating disorder, regardless of age, gender identity, body size or shape, sexuality, race, culture, ability, economic status or profession. While eating disorders do not discriminate, some specific experiences put someone at higher risk of developing an eating disorder, such as experiences of trauma, discrimination, or pressure to conform to societal or cultural ideals. Remember that anyone can have an eating disorder, and you can’t tell just by looking at someone.
What are some of the facts about Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders can affect anyone - of any body size, gender identity, sexuality, race, socioeconomic or cultural background, ability or age
You cannot tell if somebody has an eating disorder by looking at them
Eating disorders are not a lifestyle choice, but are serious mental health conditions
Approximately 9% of Australians will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime
Dieting is the biggest risk factor for developing an eating disorder
Early intervention or treatment can help give the best outcome for recovery
Recovery from an eating disorder is possible, and treatment options are available at any stage
Can I clam Medicare rebates for Eating Disorder therapy?
The new Eating Disorder Management Plan was introduced by the Australian Government in November 2019. This plan enables an eligible client to access up to 40 sessions with a psychologist and 20 sessions with a dietitian for eating disorder treatment over a 12 month period. A valid Eating Disorder Management Plan and referral are required from a Doctor in order to access these rebate.
What type of therapy is best for an Eating disorder?
A range of evidence-based treatments are available for eating disorders, depending upon the therapist’s training and experience and preferences of the individual. The evidence-based treatments for eating disorders include:
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioural therapy- enhanced (CBT-E)
Dialectal behaviour therapy (DBT)
Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
Specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM)
Family based treatment (FBT; for young people and children)
Maudsley model of Anorexia treatment in adults (MANTRA)
Focal dynamic psychotherapy