Providing proper treatment to a child with an eating disorder is essential to helping them live a healthy and emotionally satisfying life. While treating the physical symptoms of the disorder is important through medical doctors and nutritionists, it’s even more crucial to include counseling in the treatment plan. Therapy can help get to the root of the problem. Here’s what you need to know as a parent. 

How Therapy Can Help Treat Your Child’s Eating Disorder

Benefits of Counseling

Seeing a therapist will help your child develop problem-solving skills, emotion regulation skills, and healthier habits for coping with stress. They’ll address anxieties around food and teach methods for gaining control.

By learning how to monitor their eating habits and moods, children can improve their emotional health and relationships. This progress will eventually lead to normalized eating patterns, helping your child reach a healthy weight.

Types of Therapy

There are a few types of therapy that are effective for children with eating disorders. The first is cognitive-behavioral therapy, even more specifically dialectical behavioral therapy, in a one-on-one and/or group setting. This type of counseling puts the spotlight on the feelings associated with the eating disorder and helps children learn to recognize and change the thoughts that lead to the behaviors.

Children may also benefit from family-based therapy, which is a form of counseling that involves teaching parents how to help their children restore healthy eating patterns and address family dynamics affecting the youth. This type of therapy is particularly effective in treating anorexia. Family therapy’s focus is on improving family bonds and working together toward common goals. 

If your child has an eating disorder, contact Colleen Torrence, Med, LPC in Juneau, AK. This therapist received her Type C School Counselor Certification® in 1997 and has more than 20 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor. She combines her education and experience with compassion. The clinic welcomes residents of the Juneau, Douglas, and Auke Bay areas for in-person counseling sessions, as well as video chat sessions. Learn more about the practice online, or call (907) 789-9212 to schedule an appointment.