Motivated to maintain recovery from your eating disorder but are unsure how to do that now that you aren’t in a treatment center?
Transitioning from in-patient/residential or PHP treatment and worried about adjusting to a new “normal” without an eating disorder?
Find yourself wondering how you’re going to do recovery without the support of a built-in treatment team and recovery buddies?
Transitioning from intensive treatment to managing recovery AND life outside of treatment can feel daunting. You have invested so much of your time and efforts into recovery and the idea of losing all that you have worked so hard for is terrifying. You want to get back to your life, work, friends, and family, and yet, the uncertainty of being able to do recovery on your own is overwhelming.
Afraid that the lack of structure in your life will lead you to an immediate relapse?
Feeling lost in your identity now that you’re in recovery?
Anxious that your loved ones won’t know how to support you in a meaningful way?
The foundation you have built in a treatment center is the just the beginning of your life in recovery: you’ve come so far! You need a solid support system but may be afraid of being “too much” or “not enough” with friends and family. You don’t want to relapse and recovery is hard, hard work, why can’t the people in your life recognize this?
Going back into treatment is not what you want, but maybe you are already hearing the eating disorder voice calling you back to old, negative coping behaviors. And with COVID-19 and social distancing measures in place, you may be worried about feeling isolated, lonely and disconnected from meaningful social activities.
There is an amazing life that awaits you without your eating disorder, so they say, now the question is how to get there? You need to feel supported, understood, hopeful and motivated in your recovery efforts. More than anything you deserve a space to continue to build upon the foundation you have created and continue moving in the valued-living, recovery-centered life that you most want.
30 million people struggle with an eating disorder
According to the National Eating Disorder Association: “30 million people (10 million of those identifying as men) in the US alone will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their life.” Of those 30 million, 70% will NOT seek out treatment for their eating disorder.
You have already done the hard part! You have sought treatment and worked to interrupt the behaviors and ED narratives that have plagued you. You’ve worked on feeling your feelings, gained insight about the roots of your eating disorder, learned a ton of mindfulness skills and practiced eating a varied menu of food items. It’s ok and important to ask for help, especially during this transition back into life outside of treatment.
A holistic approach to recovering from an eating disorder
We know that eating disorders often result from early adverse childhood experiences and from trauma. As such, we use both a body-oriented approach along with cognitive-based approaches to heal and strengthen the connection between mind and body.
Treatment centers first focus on behavioral changes to interrupt the negative impacts of behaviors such as restriction, binging, purging, and excessive exercise. We have found that including your body as an ally in the healing process leads to more sustainable outcomes with the added benefit of improving your relationship with your body.
Therapy is a collaborative process built on trust, safety and compassion. We provide you with a solid understanding of how the nervous system works as well as concrete skills to help reduce eating disordered behaviors and mindset. We also help you learn how to listen to the language of your body so that you can be more response-able instead of reactive. As you learn how to listen to your body, you become much more empowered to take effective, skillful action.
Together, we will navigate and co-create a treatment plan that fits your needs, your pacing and your comfort level. It’s all about you!
Eating Disorder Therapy is also Available Online
With COVID-19 impacting everyday life, we offer online therapy via video as well as seeing clients in person. Click here to read about our in-person session safety protocols during COVID-19.
We prefer to do video sessions with clients so that we can see your face and body to make observations and help you tune into what’s happening there.
We use a HIPAA compliant video platform to ensure confidentiality. All you need is a phone, tablet or computer with a camera and an internet connection. If you live with people, we also recommend doing online sessions behind locked doors or putting a sign on the door, as well as using headphones.
You also have the option of doing a mixture of online or in-person sessions.
Perhaps you’re considering therapy for recovering from an eating disorder but have more questions…
I also struggle with anxiety and/or depression, can you help me with this too?
Eating disorders are often coupled with a mood disorder. And, yes, we are here to support overall improvement in reducing eating disordered behaviors as well as improving your mood. You will get a comprehensive education on how to regulate your nervous system without the use of negative coping behaviors that only prolong your suffering. We are also big on providing concrete tools that you can start practicing right away.
Is online therapy as effective as in person?
Some people really like online therapy because they don’t have to battle traffic and get to be in the comfort of their own home. Given COVID-19, we also support people practicing social distancing as much as possible. The skills and the education that we offer our clients can be easily practiced and learned while using a video platform.
We do offer some services that do require people to be in person such as Coregulating Touch and the Safe and Sound Protocol.
How long will treatment take?
The simple answer is that it will take less time the more you practice the skills and mindset shifts that you will learn in sessions. It also helps to have a treatment team in place with providers such as a dietician, psychiatrist, recovery buddies and an MD.
Do you accept insurance?
We don’t accept insurance at this time. However, if you are looking for reimbursement, we can provide you with the appropriate documentation to submit. We also encourage you to contact your insurance provider to confirm what your benefits are with “out of network providers.”
Recovery awaits you!
Recovery awaits you!If you are even on the fence about reaching out for support, or if it sounds like Somatic Therapy Partners may be the right fit for you, then give us a call to schedule your first session.
We see you, and there is so much love for you here!