Finding A Therapist
The American Anorexia Bulimia Association, Inc. (AABA) and Colleen Thompson at the Mirror-Mirror Website provide excellent, detailed advice on what to look for in a therapist. I would suggest carefully reading their pages, but their recommendations can be summarized as follows:
- Someone you feel comfortable with
- Substantial experience in treating people with eating disorders
- A high success rate
- A flexible treatment approach (open to new ideas)
- Availability during emergencies
- Supportiveness
It is worth noting the differences in training among mental health practitioners. Psychologists have a Ph.D. degree and specialized clinical training. Most significantly, they must pass a written licensing exam given by their state or jurisdiction of practice. A psychologist's license should be prominently displayed in his or her office. By contrast, anyone who dispenses therapy can call him or herself a therapist. There are no licensing requirements. All clinical psychologists are therapists, but not all therapists are psychologists. In addition, many jurisdictions have licensing requirements for Certified Social Workers (C.S.W.'s), Masters of Social Work (M.S.W.'s), and Psy.D.'s (Doctorate of Psychology). Although these degrees provide training in clinical practice, they do not require candidates to produce a thesis with the scientific rigor expected of someone enrolled in a Ph.D. program.
Finding a psychologist is not a guarantee of effective treatment. The title simply indicates that the provider has met certain state licensing requirements. There are excellent non-Ph.D. therapists and terrible psychologists--and vice-versa. If you have any questions about a prospective therapist's qualifications, ask. Anyone worth his or her salt will be happy to tell you. Remember, you are the final arbiter.
If you live in the United States, AABA provides a nationwide referral service for sufferers. If you live outside the U.S., Cath's Links to Eating Disorders Resources on the Internet provides an international help directory.
Recovery
It is crucial to remember that true recovery is much more than the absence of starving or binge/purging. ANRED lists the following characteristics of recovered anorexics:
- Near-normal to normal weight
- Naturally occuring, regular menstrual periods
- Varied diet, including non-low calorie foods
- Few or no irrational food fears
- Healthy interpersonal relationships with family and friends
- Age-appropriate interest in romantic relationships
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