If you’re struggling with binge eating disorder (BED) you know how utterly trapped and alone it can feel. Although it’s actually the most common eating disorder in the US, it may feel like no one seems to understand what you are going through. If you’re now thinking of starting treatment, maybe you really aren’t sure how to find the right binge eating disorder therapist.

Just reaching out for help can be such a huge victory. After all, there have probably been more than a few days when you’ve told your self to just “get it together already”, and tried to power through on your own, but the truth is it’s not that simple.

Fortunately, recovery from binge eating disorder isn’t something that you’ll need to tackle alone.

Maybe this sounds familiar? It’s 10 pm and you know you should be in bed. Instead, you find yourself staring down the kitchen pantry searching for the bag of chips you hid in the back. You grab them and tear open the bag. “Just a few,” you tell yourself. You start eating and before long it feels like you can’t stop. The train has left the station.

Before you know it, you are holding an empty bag. You don’t even remember eating the chips. You feel disgusting and you feel like a failure. The negative judgments start to pile on. You tell yourself you’ll do better tomorrow. You vow to be back on the plan. No more moments of weakness.

You know that you can’t go on like this, but is it time for therapy? What if it’s too hard to talk about it? It’s true that starting therapy can oftentimes be uncomfortable as you start to address ingrained patterns of behavior and ways of thinking. However, seeking professional help from a highly qualified therapist is really the best way to start to conquer binge eating disorder.

With help from the right, experienced binge eating disorder therapist, you’ll soon find that you can start to recover. If you’re ready to move forward and starting looking for an eating disorder therapist, there are some important things you should know about who is best equipped to help you get through this.

5 Must-Have Qualities for an Effective Binge Eating Disorder Therapist

Looking around the Internet you’ll probably find that a lot of people have different, oftentimes conflicting advice about how to tackle binge eating disorder. Maybe you’ve even asked a doctor or nutritionist for their input. It’s hard to know which approach to trust. Keep reading for the most important things to look out for when selecting a binge eating disorder therapist.

#1 The right binge eating disorder therapist truly specializes in eating disorders

Binge eating disorder has been getting a lot more attention from the medical and psychiatric communities these days. Up until recently, many mental health professionals may have only really been familiar with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. However, for a skilled eating disorder specialist, this diagnosis is actually nothing new.

Because of all of the increased attention binge eating disorder has been getting (which is great!) many clinicians may be eager to say that they are capable of treating BED. Unfortunately, though well-meaning, a lot of these therapists may not realize the true specialization and experience that is required to effectively treat a client with BED.

The right binge eating disorder therapist understands that while the behaviors may look different than those struggling with anorexia or bulimia, at its core, BED shares much in common with them. Namely – eating disorder behaviors serve as an important adaptive coping skill. At the same time, a binge eating disorder therapist should understand the distinctions and nuances in working with clients with BED.

#2 A binge eating disorder therapist understands the root of binge behavior

A common theme with those struggling binge eating those disorder (along with those looking to understand it better) is to focus on the binge, itself, as the primary “issue” or problem to be remedied. Many wrongfully assume that binge eating is an issue of lack of willpower or weakness. Unfortunately, this can often spur recommendations for restrictive eating plans or diets.

A qualified binge eating disorder therapist knows that the binge itself is likely a symptom of an eating pattern that is actually rooted in restriction.

Meaning, for many people with BED, there is usually a drive to diet, eliminate certain foods or food groups, and simply not eat enough food to truly nourish oneself. The binge is what lies at the outcome of this restrictive behavior: even though it’s the behavior that gets the most attention.

Therefore, a therapist equipped to treat binge eating disorder will never prescribe or support a diet or weight loss plan. Instead, the goal should be to normalize eating behaviors and try to really meet nutritional needs and create freedom around food choices. Moreover, if you are struggling with BED, your therapist should help lead you to a place where both your physical and emotional hunger needs are adequately met.

#3 You therapist should focus on the emotions beneath the behaviors

Yes, the behavior that gets the most attention and is often times the most distressing is the binge. It’s a feeling of being completely out of control, inability to stop eating, and the sense of immense shame and failure that follows. But the feelings that are underlying and perpetuating this cycle of behavior are actually what needs the most attention in therapy.

It’s not uncommon for binge eating disorder to develop in response to childhood trauma, whether emotional or physical.  Perhaps the binge behavior developed as a soothing mechanism when it was the best tool readily available.

No matter what the trigger, a binge eating disorder therapist should help you to put the pieces together, gain a greater awareness of thinking patterns that lead to bingeing, and help you to identify and practice alternative ways of coping.

#4 A binge eating disorder therapist should be size-inclusive and non-weight-shaming

As I touched on in the previous point – but it’s too important not to mention again – weight loss should never be a goal of binge eating disorder therapy.  In fact, it is so destructive that it’s completely contraindicated in treatment.

As a therapist, I understand how challenging it is for clients that may be in a larger body.  I understand that our culture is incredibly fat-phobic and far from size-inclusive or accepting.  I know that part of my job as a therapist many times is to help support my clients in negotiating their very existence in this difficult cultural environment.

Many of my clients know all too well the weight stigma and shaming dished out freely by many in the healthcare profession. A qualified binge eating disorder therapist will not be one of those individuals.

It’s absolutely not wrong and completely understandable that you may want to lose weight, but this goal is not conducive with establishing a peaceful relationship with food and your body.

Lastly, as a binge eating disorder therapist, I know better than to make any assumptions about eating disorder behaviors based on body size.  People in all body sizes can struggle with binge eating disorder, just as people in all body sizes might be struggling with anorexia.

#5 Your binge eating disorder therapist should be collaborative and empowering

Truly recovering from binge eating disorder involves a holistic and well-rounded approach.  As a therapist, I almost always ask that my clients concurrently see a non-diet, eating disorder specialist dietitian.  I will also ensure that my clients are under the regular care of a doctor to monitor any physical or medical needs.  It’s an invaluable part of my job to regularly communicate with these collateral providers.

Developing both the short term and long terms goals for therapy should also be a collaborative process.  Though the overarching goals of therapy will center around healing your overall relationship with food and your body, the steps taken along the way will look different for each person and I 100% understand this.  

As a therapist, I know that while I might be an expert in treating binge eating disorder, you are the expert in you.

One of the most important outcomes of therapy for me to nurture and help establish in my clients is a strong sense of connection to both their value and values.

Truly recovering from binge eating disorder requires developing a strong sense of self and deep connection to intuition.  I’m honored daily to help my clients find this.

As an eating disorder and body image therapist for nearly a decade, I work with clients at my office in Agoura Hills, CA and provide online therapy in California and New York. I’ve helped many people successfully recover from binge eating disorder.  If you want to learn how I can help you, give me a call now or click on the button below to get in touch to schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation.