Eating Disorder Coaching Is Revolutionising Recovery And Improving Treatment Outcomes
An eating disorder coach bridges the gap between therapists, doctors, dietitians and carers, and is frequently titled the ‘missing piece of the puzzle’ when it comes to recovery.
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that affect people of all ages, ethnicities, genders and backgrounds. The conventional approach to treatment usually involves a team of therapists, doctors and dietitians. This has commonly been referred to as a ‘fractured sense of care’.
Statistics share this concern with conventional approaches leading to low treatment outcomes of less than a 50% recovery rate. This is not a recovery statistic we relate to at Natural Food Therapy, with more than 90% of our clients achieving true recovery.
How Is Eating Disorder Coaching Revolutionising Recovery?
An eating disorder coach bridges the gap between therapists, doctors, dietitians and carers (friends and family). Coaches are there to offer day-to-day support, facilitate change, explore difficulties and to help you stay motivated. Therapists and dietitians largely offer in-session support and are unable to offer this higher level of support that encourages lasting change.
Additionally, many who work through therapy find that they have a good understanding of themselves and why the eating disorder developed, yet remain feeling stuck and trapped by the illness. Coaching is a highly motivating and empowering approach that supports present and future, whilst delving into the past when necessary. It is a highly complementary and often life changing experience.
A previous recovery client shares:
“I have been inpatient in the past for a long period of time. I have seen multiple therapists and only felt more disempowered, ill, confused and not able to see me living life”.
She goes on to explain how coaching was the missing piece, after 16 years of battling with her eating disorder:
“Sasha used methods to help me start learning how to reconnect to myself and find who I am again. She helped empower me to make my own choices, whilst being a constant support throughout the process. It is hard work, but by using empowering tools and constantly reframing thoughts, I started to see shifts. She works from the root up and this approach has been the missing piece. For the first time I have hope that I will fully recover.”
What Is Recovery Coaching?
- An empowering and goal-orientated approach to recovery.
- Continuous support and motivation through the process.
- Supports past, present and future.
- A creative approach that works through limiting beliefs.
- An approach that helps you to shift eating disorder thoughts and behaviours.
- A focus on helping you to create the future of your dreams, without fear.
- Connects to your true values and helps you to let go of the eating disorder.
- Builds practical tools for true and lasting recovery.
How To Choose An Eating Disorder Coach
Many recovery coaches have been through their own experience of an eating disorder, providing them with a deep level of passion and understanding for this area. That being said, it is important for anyone working with eating disorders to have personally recovered.
Secondly, an eating disorder coach should have completed specific eating disorder training, taking a minimum of one year to complete. Ideally this would be in addition to a higher level qualification in a form of therapy and or nutrition. Rather than a replacement to therapy, many find coaching to be a powerful layer of support that carries them through recovery.
At Natural Food Therapy, our recovery coaches have specialist eating disorder training in addition to multiple supportive disciplines. These include Nutritional Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Emotional Freedom Technique, Life Coaching, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and more. This allows a multidisciplinary approach that supports clients further than single discipline coaches or therapists.
Some clinicians resist the idea of recovery coaching, worrying that coaches may not be recovered themselves, or that they are not qualified to work safely. This is why it is important to learn about your coach and what makes them qualified to support you prior to working with them.
Final Words
Eating disorder coaching is becoming a crucial part of recovery. Rather than purely in-session support or clinical sessions, it offers you support every step of the way, when you need it most. It allows you to learn tools and techniques to move forward in your recovery, without fear. It offers you a holistic and tailored approach that revolves around you. Rather than fractured support, you have someone who can understand you and is there for you throughout your recovery journey.
You can learn more about recovery coaching with us here.
