cont. from

Professional counseling is a very important part of recovery from anorexia. Individual counseling is frequently required for up to a year and may take as many as 5 to 6 years to fully provide relief from the psychological characteristics of the condition. Professional counseling usually is not started until after the person is out of a nutritional crisis since the person may temporarily lack the skills of reasoning or understanding. Types of professional counseling that are effective in treating anorexia include:

• Psychological counseling / CBT for Anorexia. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may be used to treat anorexia. CBT teaches how to change attitudes and behaviors about eating, weight gain, and recovery. While it is proven effective in treating other eating disorders (such as bulimia nervosa), research is ongoing to confirm its effectiveness in treating anorexia. Usual CBT treatment consists of 20 counseling sessions over several months, although with anorexia, the need for treatment may continue for years rather than months.
• Group counseling for Anorexia. Working with other people who have anorexia can be very helpful. People with the disorder can share triumphs and setbacks, offer encouragement, and make meaningful comments that might be helpful. However, it is important for the person to continue individual professional counseling in addition to attending group counseling.
• Family therapy for Anorexia. Sometimes family members unknowingly interfere with recovery from anorexia. Family therapy educates the entire family about anorexia and can be quite effective in treating this disorder. Initially, it can help the person with anorexia regain weight. Eventually, family therapy focuses on dealing with other family issues.
• Nutritional counseling for Anorexia. It is very important for people who have anorexia to receive nutritional counseling. A registered dietitian helps design a diet plan. The dietitian tries to shift the focus from counting calories to eating foods the person likes, in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. People with this illness need to gain weight each week until they reach a healthy weight for their height. Then it is important for them to stay at a comfortable weight. To help with weight gain, liquid food supplements such as Ensure or Sustacal may be used.
• Complementary therapy for Anorexia. A recent study suggests that the mineral zinc may aid in restoring weight in those receiving inpatient treatment for anorexia.10 However, more research is needed to confirm any benefit.

next: How To Support Someone With Anorexia and Help For Family Members

top . pages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 . send to friend . eating disorders site map

Reviewed: 03/2006