The pandemic changed the already confusing eating disorder treatment world immeasurably. The demand for treatment remains extremely high, and the avenues to find appropriate care are increasingly difficult to find.
A few major changes have had the most impact, and I will use the next few posts to discuss all the issues in detail. This post will focus on the few biggest ones.
The first big change is that virtual mental health treatment is quickly becoming the norm. In eating disorder treatment, virtual work is particularly hard since eating food together is an integral part of much of the work. Deciding whether virtual work can be helpful and when in person work is essential can be complicated.
The second change is the extraordinary array of options. The explosion of treatment programs, in person and virtual, therapists, coaching, support networks and mentor programs is dizzying. The number of clinicians professing eating disorder expertise is extraordinary, and there is no degree or certificate to prove any experience at all. Choosing providers has become very complex.
The third change is the enormous growth in residential programs funded by private equity firms. These programs are run at the corporate level by experienced clinicians and financiers aimed at growth, profit and eventually selling the company. Many of the day to day clinicians are inexperienced people early in their career and often at their first job. Some of them are excellent, but the varied skill levels are hard to assess. Providing the need for access of care is a boon to many but also has come at a cost.
These are the three most pressing changes to eating disorder treatment. I’ll discuss each one in more detail in the next several posts.
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