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Trauma Therapy for Eating Disorders

Complex PTSD (Trauma) and Eating Disorders

69% of women report experiencing trauma throughout their lifetime and 1 in 4 eating disorder patients report symptoms of complex PTSD. PTSD is the second highest co-morbid disorder associated with eating disorders. 

 

At Recovered and Restored we know the path to healing isn’t easy but it's 1000% worth it. We also know your trauma wasn’t your fault. At R&R we will gently work with each client and go at their own pace. Our therapists use a trauma-informed approach and several eclectic models to assist clients on their healing journey. 

Trauma-Informed Care

Woman feeling ill on her bed, resting with a cup of coffee. PTSD is a common co-occuring issue with eating disorders. This trauma can meke the symptoms of your eating disorder worse.

There are 5 key principles of trauma-informed care.

  1. Safety

  2. Choice

  3. Collaboration

  4. Trustworthiness

  5. Empowerment

 

Below are brief descriptions of the modalities we use when working with trauma and these 5 principles are fundamental in each one. 

Mindfulness for Trauma-Informed Eating Disorder Therapy

Eating disorders often cause us to feel disconnected from our bodies and our mind. Mindfulness means awareness and it allows clients to build awareness as they work through recovery and reconnect their body and their healthy self. Mindfulness is commonly understood as the awareness that arises when paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Mindfulness is one of the 4 components of DBT therapy to learn more about DBT and eating disorder recovery click here.

Examples of Mindfulness Therapy in Eating Disorder Recovery: 

  • Mindful eating 

  • Self-soothing with our senses 

  • Mindful/Joyful Movement 

  • Breathwork

Cognitive Processing Therapy for Eating Disorders

​Cognitive processing therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that is effective in reducing or eliminating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. When you think CPT with eating disorders we are hoping to decrease the avoidance of the trauma while targeting symptom usage. CPT uses Socratic dialogue and is able to tie in the healthy self versus the eating disorder concepts. It is similar in its questioning to motivational interviewing. 

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Benefits of CPT:
  • It’s time-limited typically 12-16 sessions. 

  • It targets transdiagnostic factors like avoidance, negative core beliefs and underlying eating disorder urges and behaviors.

  • It educates and empowers the client 

  • Uses impact statements to help clients understand the event without the risk of re-traumatization

 

CPT sessions are normally divided into 2 parts of treatment. The first half of treatment focuses on developing rapport and trust as well as psycho-education and helping the client understand their thoughts and feelings around the trauma. The second part of CPT treatment focuses on the client helping regain control gaining safety trust power intimacy self-esteem and so much more.

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CPT helps build a bridge between healing from the trauma and healing from the eating disorder.

Close up of couple holding hands. Online trauma therapy for eating disorders can help you process past traumas so you can build a better future. Our online eating disorder therapy in Pennsylvania can help.

Creative Arts Therapy for Eating Disorders

Creative Arts Therapies is an umbrella term for the use of art, music, drama, dance or movement, poetry/creative writing, play, and sand play within the context of rehabilitation, therapeutic or medical setting. Creative arts therapy can activate different parts of the brain to create new neuro-pathways to help promote healing in the brain. 

Benefits of Creative Arts Therapy

  • ​Helping clients restore their relationship with movement.

  • Creative arts therapy creates a bridge between isolation and distorted thinking patterns

  • Helps provide an alternative to traditional talk therapy

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Recovered and Restored Eating Disorder Therapy Center

 

If trauma from, your past is robbing you of your future, our online therapy services in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Florida are here to help you regain control safely and effectively. Our team of skilled professionals specializes in eating disorders and their related traumas! Led by recovered individuals that can relate to where you are at on your journey, we want nothing more than to help you live your best life! If you are thinking about reaching out for help here are some basic steps to get you started on your journey to healing past traumas.

 

  1. Fill out our quick and easy contact form online and someone will get back to you within 24 hours.

  2. Now that you’ve reached out, take a minute to get to know our team here. We encourage you to get to know us, our specializations, and our credentials.

  3. Begin your journey to health and wholeness! You CAN do this!

 

Other Mental Health Services Offered in PA, NJ, DE, MD, SC, and FL

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At our eating disorder therapy center, we understand that every journey to healing is unique and has its own ups and downs. That’s why we offer a wide variety of services related to eating disorder recovery, not just trauma therapy! We also offer Weekly Support Groups, Nutrition Services, and Family and Parent Therapy as well as Coaching, all tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual. We offer our services online in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina, and Florida! If there is something you need on this journey of eating disorder recovery we are here to offer our support and understanding in a safe and non-judgmental environment. 

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Hands forming a heart capturing the sunset. Trauma from the past can make it impossible to build a future. Our online eating disorder treatment in Pennsylvania can help you move forward! Learn more here.
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