Eating Disorder Psychologist

Disorders wreak havoc on our emotional, mental, and physical states. Eating Disorder Psychologists act as a light shining into the subconscious world of their patients to find the hidden causes of an eating disorder.

To treat the condition, an Eating Disorder Psychologist must find the root cause of the patient’s destructive behavior. Whether it lies in low self-esteem, depression, or biological factors, it’s up to the Eating Disorder Psychologist to pinpoint it. A disorder is like a splinter hidden in a person’s psyche, and as an Eating Disorder Psychologist, you’re the Detective with a good mental magnifying glass ready to dig it out.

Treating patients begins with observation through talk therapy, followed by interpretation and diagnosis. It takes several appointments to discover their self-image and any risk factors from their past, such as a difficult home life. In between sessions, you review your notes to determine what type of treatment the patient needs.

After diagnosing the patient, you help them map out a recovery plan. Recovery could consist of one-on-one or group therapy, or medication.

If medication is required, you refer the patient to a Psychiatrist. You handle the rest of the treatment, and confer with the Psychiatrist on the best choice in medicine and how the patient responds. Underlying conditions, such as depression or anxiety, can worsen an eating disorder and must be treated as well. By offering patients a safe environment to come to terms with their problems, you help them move on to a healthier place in their lives.