Eating Disorders are a subspecialty. If a family or adult is looking for psychological services for eating disorders it is important to know that most physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, dietitians, pharmacists, etc., do NOT receive any training in eating disorder treatment. Every counselor or psychologist who has specialized in eating disorder treatment also works with a team—a physician and a dietitian and sometimes a psychiatrist. Eating disorders have many ramifications for the physical body, the emotional system and cognitive functioning and all areas of function need to be evaluated and monitored continuously.
Eating Disorders also take time to treat. The major dynamic involved is trust and control. Therapy is a very vulnerable process and the Eating Disorder patient is not going to come in and just open up. It will take longer to establish a therapeutic relationship with Eating Disorder patients than with people with other diagnoses. Eating Disorders have the highest rate of mortality than any other psychiatric diagnosis. So carefully selecting the treatment team, and giving the process the time it needs it very important.
Dr. Mary Franzen Clark, Eating Disorder Specialist
Alpha Psychological Services PC
