Cognitive Behavorial Therapy For Eating Disorders

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common type of treatment for eating disorders. This type of psychotherapy aims to help break large problems or situations into smaller more convenient parts and treats eating disorders in this same way. In the general community, little may be known about cognitive behavioral therapy as it is used to treat eating disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is based on the idea that all thoughts (cognition) and actions (behaviors) are related. This may not always be clear, so CBT aims to help individuals break down problems or situations into more manageable parts and examine the ways in which thoughts, emotions and actions are related to each other.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) allows individuals to examine the relationships between their thoughts, feelings and actions and in doing so allows individuals to understand that if they change the way that they think and feel, they will change the way that they act. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be attended either in private or group therapy sessions. CBT is a relatively short term healing, usually lasting not more than six months or so.

For individuals suffering from eating disorders, accepting the relationships between thoughts, emotions and actions is highly important. Once these relationships are understood, the individual suffering from an eating disorder can restore the negative thoughts and emotions which have led to abnormal food and eating behaviors and with more positive thoughts and emotions that will lead back towards a healthy lifestyle. However, in order for these relationships to be clear, it may take several weeks of tracking thoughts, feelings and food and eating behaviors before the individual will accept this proof. Often therapists ask individuals to keep a journal or food diary in order to more accurately record their thoughts, feelings and actions towards food and eating during a given period of time.

But unfortunately cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) does not cure eating disorders. The recovery from an eating disorder is a long journey, and there may be relapses along the way. When relapses occurs, attending "top up" therapy sessions may make a difference. In addition to teaching individuals how to identify the links between their thoughts, emotions and actions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) also teaches individuals how to avoid and tolerate stressful situations, and how to best deal with stress to avoid a relapse into disordered eating. In addition, CBT also teaches individuals that they themselves hold the power to their recovery, which can be comforting to individuals who feel that their lives are otherwise out of their control.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is only offered by qualified, trained therapists so a referral from a hospital or clinic is one way of accessing this type of therapy. Engaging a private professional is another means of accessing cognitive behavioral therapy. Often eating disorder occurs due to emotional breakdown or stress. Many people suffer from eating disorder due to depression. If a person needs treatment for his or her eating disorder a history of their eating habits need to be kept into consideration before any treatment.

• Janny Raines
• 11/04/2009, 12:59 AM
• 0 Comments