Which Types of Therapy are Suitable for Treating Eating Disorders?

Welcome to the KMA Therapy Blog! Today we will be raising the subject on "Which Types of Therapy are Suitable for Treating Eating Disorders?"

First of all, what do you know about Eating Disorders? Did you know that the media plays a tremendous role in Eating Disorders such as Anorexia, and Bulimia around the world? Did you know that many adolescents wake up having to face themselves in the mirror, thinking and believing that they are not perfect the way they are? This is because of how our environment and the people in our society has raised them. It's also because of how their Family, Friends, Peers, Teachers influenced them. Eating Disorders are a major issue throughout the world today.

Now that you know the major factors of the development of Eating Disorders, let's have a questionnaire to see if you have an Eating Disorder.

• Do you binge, purge or use laxatives?
• Do you over-exercise after eating?
• Do you feel guilty about eating food?
• Do you over-eat?
• Do you obsess about your weight?
• Did you say yes to any of these?

If you said yes to any of these, you most likely have an Eating Disorder.

Do you have an idea on what types of characteristics people with this disorder has? Now we will describe about the characteristics that people with this disorder has.

People with this disorder may:

• Become anti-social
• Have a hard time at expressing emotions or needs
• Have extreme thoughts about food
• Tries to please everyone but not themselves
• Be a perfectionist
• Have intense mood swings
• Be in depression
• Believe that being thinner would help solve the problem
• Has a hard time sleeping
• Behaviour becomes more reserved

At KMA Therapy there are professionals who can help treat your Eating Disorder. The first step at KMA therapy would be your consultation session. This 50 Minute Intake Session is where our Psychotherapist Kimberly Moffit or one of our intake counsellors will help you recognize if you are feeling shameful or isolated because of your Eating Disorder and ask you about the characteristics you have about your Eating Disorder.

Due to the fact that there are different therapists at KMA, they would have different methods of treating you. We find it important to find the therapist that best fits your personality and your needs. It is very important to talk to your therapist about how you would like to recover and what your goals are to reach recovery. (If we believe that you would recover better with a medical team, we will refer you to an Eating Disorders Centre).

The two ways to treat Eating Disorders at KMA Therapy are:

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy: This type of therapy will help to figure out the unhealthy eating behaviours you have developed. One goal you will reach through this type of therapy is, is realizing how you use food to handle your feelings. Through Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, the therapist will help you learn how to refrain or fight against the emotional triggers that occurs in their daily life. Education in nutrition, management of balancing a healthy weight and learning relaxation techniques are crucial to you in this type of therapy.

Counselling and Psychotherapy (mixture): This type of therapy will find the root of the problem of your behaviour with eating. The root trigger may be because of workplace situations, relationships with your family, social environments and your emotions. Treatment plans are made by the KMA therapist which will help you to help free yourself from your behaviours and to take control back into your life. Counselling and Psychotherapy will help you to flourish tools and resources to show you a new way of eating and thinking, converse dysfunctional or irrational eating habits, and promote healthier living styles psychologically.