Therapy for Anorexia
At Serendipity Psychology, we specialise in providing compassionate, evidence-based therapy for individuals struggling with anorexia. Our tailored treatment plans focus on increasing self-awareness, developing effective coping strategies, and addressing the complex psychological and physical aspects of this serious eating disorder.
What is anorexia?
Anorexia is an eating disorder and a serious mental health condition characterised by people who maintain a low body weight by limiting their food intake. They may also combine restrictive eating with doing lots of exercise, making themselves sick after eating, or taking laxatives. Psychologists often consider anorexia as a ‘disorder of over control’ because those with this difficulty can use food as a way to keep control when they are feeling internally very out of control.
People with anorexia may develop ‘rules’ around eating. These may include rules about when and where they can eat as well as what they can eat. Sometimes these rules extend to other parts of their lives including to the ways in which they work, exercise, sleep and other leisure activities. Those with this difficulty commonly hold unrelenting standards for themselves and never feel they are good enough; we might also see this as perfectionism.
It is common for someone with anorexia to have ‘body dysmorphic’ perceptions of themselves. This means they may see themselves as much bigger or different to how other people see them, usually in a negative light.
It is important to remember that anyone can develop anorexia and even more important to remember that someone with a perceived healthy body weight can also be anorexic.
What are the symptoms and characteristics of anorexia?
Here are some but not all of the symptoms,
- Being untruthful about how much weight they have lost
- Strict dieting and food avoidance
- Counting the calories in food excessively
- Eating only low-calorie food, or otherwise limiting the type of food they will eat
- Missing meals (fasting), even if this means concealing and hiding food
- Avoiding eating with other people
- Taking appetite suppressants, such as slimming or diet pills
- Obsessive and/or rigid behaviour, particularly around food
- Excessive exercising – this might involve exercising when not physically well enough to do so, or feeling guilty or anxious about not exercising
- Repeated weighing and taking body measurements, checking themselves in the mirror, or conversely avoiding seeing their own reflection
- Perfectionism
- Dizziness, constipation, tiredness, bloating, hair loss
- Osteoporosis and other conditions associated with malnutrition
What is the treatment for Anorexia?
There are many psychological therapies that can be effective in treating anorexia. The aim of therapy is to increase self-awareness, coping strategies and reduce risk to psychological and physical wellbeing. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend the following therapies:
- Individual eating-disorder-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBTED)
- Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA)
- Specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM)
- Eating-disorder-focused focal psychodynamic therapy (FPT)
There is also a significant emerging evidence base in other psychological therapies including forms of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), particularly with radical openness (RO-DBT). We also know that family therapy can be invaluable when working with this condition.
The most important thing to consider when considering treatment for eating difficulties is that the physical risk can be significant. It is for this reason that those who fulfil diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder and who are at physical risk, must be supported by a professional team of clinicians experienced to support them. At Serendipity Psychology we offer evidence-based interventions for these difficulties and would assess accordingly to consider how we join up our care offer with involved clinicians from other organisations such as the NHS.
Contact us through our website, phone, email, or book an introductory call through our online calendar. Just give us your name, email, phone number, preferred call times, and how you found us. Let us know your challenges and goals
After we get your message, we’ll call you to learn more about your needs and preferences.
Once we schedule your first consultation, we’ll send you all the necessary documents and you’ll be on your way to achieving your goals. We’re excited to support you every step of the way.
If you’re considering therapy or looking to refer someone, please complete the referral form below. This will help us understand your needs and ensure that we can match you with the most suitable therapist or service. Once submitted, our team will review the information and get in touch to discuss the next steps.
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