Even though the prevalence and severity of eating disorders has become clear to clinicians and laypeople, it remains very difficult to find skilled practitioners who can assess these illnesses and find he best course for treatment.
There is no clear license or certificate that proves competence in treating eating disorders, so there is no deterrent for anyone to hang out a shingle as a specialist.
For patients and families, the result is frequently a haphazard search for an able caregiver with multiple ineffective or failed attempts. Anyone would quickly get frustrated and demoralized by the process.
Understanding eating disorders doesn’t just mean being familiar with the physical symptoms and effects of eating disorder behaviors. More important is what people with eating disorders call “getting it:” a crucial understanding of the eating disorder thought process that drives the illness.
Most people with eating disorders light up when a clinician understands these thoughts. It means they won’t feel different and alien. They won’t need to explain every thought and action. They’ll be able to talk freely and know they will be understood and won’t be judged. The result is a truly open forum of conversation.
Understanding the thought process is necessary but not sufficient. The second critical aspect of a clinician is hope for improvement and change. Instilling true hope that there is a path out of the confusion and torture of an eating disorder is a critical step in starting recovery. The hope cannot be hollow but has to reflect real experience and confidence.
Once a patient or family finds both understanding and hope, a therapeutic relationship can have real meaning. It can jumpstart a new path in life and meaningful change.
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