List of Eating Disorder Professionals and Treatment Options

List of Eating Disorder Professionals and Treatment Options

Eating Disorder Therapists:

• Training and Degree: Licensed therapists with specialized training in eating disorders, holding degrees such as Master’s or Doctorate in Psychology or Counseling.
• Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Family-Based Treatment (FBT).
• Example: Jennifer Higley, owner of Wildflower Center for Counseling in Mount Pleasant, SC

Registered Dietitians:

• Training and Degree: Registered Dietitians (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and completed supervised practice.

• Services: Nutritional counseling and meal planning, education on balanced eating.

Nutritional Therapists:

• Training and Degree: Often hold certifications from accredited nutritional therapy programs, which may not require a degree in dietetics. Likely this is someone with an LMHC, LPC, LMFT, LCSW, MSW

• Approaches: Holistic nutritional approaches, personalized nutrition plans, focus on overall health and well-being.

Nutritionists:

• Training and Degree: Can range from a Bachelor’s degree in nutrition to certifications from various programs; not as regulated as dietitians.

• Services: General dietary advice and meal planning, support for healthy eating habits.

Medical Doctors:

• Training and Degree: Medical Doctors (MD) with specialization in areas such as psychiatry, pediatrics, or general medicine.

• Services: Monitoring physical health, medication management if necessary, regular check-ups to monitor health impacts of the eating disorder.

Eating Disorder Recovery Coaches:

• Training and Degree: Certification from accredited coaching programs (CPC), often with personal (lived) or professional experience in eating disorder recovery.

• Services: Achieve tangible recovery goals, feel supported through day-to-day, gain insight into block in recovery, accountability and motivation

• Example: Cosana Coaching

Inpatient Treatment Centers:

• Services: Facilities offering intensive treatment programs, 24/7 medical and psychological support, structured meal plans and therapy sessions.

Outpatient Programs:

• Services: Part-time treatment allowing for daily life activities, group therapy and individual counseling, support groups for ongoing recovery.

Support Groups:

• Services: Peer support groups for shared experiences, online and in-person options, community-based recovery programs, private membership-based support
• Example: Summer Bodies Private Support Group

Interventionists:

• Training and Degree: Professionals like Ashley Gaede, who specialize in facilitating interventions and helping families approach loved ones about their eating disorder.

• Services: Structured intervention planning, family support and guidance, connecting with appropriate treatment options.

Yoga Teachers Specializing in Eating Disorder Recovery:

• Training and Degree: Certified yoga instructors with additional training in eating disorder recovery.
• Services: Yoga practices designed to support body awareness, nervous system regulation, emotional regulation, and holistic healing.
• Example: Explore specialized programs like Chakra Yoga and Energy Healing Group Recovery Coaching Program offered by Cosana for a comprehensive approach to healing.

Certification Meanings & What to Look For:

• • Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (CEDS), which applies to licensed therapists, medical doctors, and nurse practitioners;
  • Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian (CEDRD), which applies to registered dietitians;
  • Certified Eating Disorders Registered Nurse (CEDRN), which applies to registered nurses;
  • Certified Eating Disorders Creative Arts Therapist (CEDCAT), which applies to Music, Art, Recreation and Dance/Movement Therapists.
  • Certified Professional Coach (CPC), which applies most often to folks with lived recovery experience