Key Takeaways
- Group therapy can be an important part of eating disorder treatment.
- Unique benefits of group therapy for eating disorders include building a support network, accountability, and motivation.
- Participating in group therapy can positively impact your long-term eating disorder recovery outcome.
Updated by: Julia Zakrzewski
Eating disorders can affect a person’s mental and physical health. But they can be treated successfully.
Early detection and a combination of social support, therapy or counseling, and sometimes medication are often key to treating the condition.
Group therapy is a vital resource for people seeking treatment for their eating disorder.
For some, group therapy is the first step they take on the road to recovery.
Group therapy can offer unique benefits in comparison with one-on-one therapy, including building a support network of peers, accountability, and non judgemental problem solving.
Keep reading to learn more about group therapy and how it can help treat eating disorders.
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What is Group Therapy for Eating Disorders?
Group therapy is the treatment of a group of patients with the same or similar condition by one or more healthcare providers, usually a psychologist or psychotherapist.
Many groups for eating disorders are designed to treat a specific condition or disorder, like binge-eating disorder, anorexia, and others.
People who participate in group therapy may use it as their only outlet for counseling.
Others may engage in both group therapy and one-on-one therapy as part of their treatment plan.
Though group therapy and support groups share similarities, there are a few key differences.
Group therapy for eating disorders is led by a healthcare professional experienced in working with individuals to establish healthier relationships with food.
By contrast, most support groups are led by volunteers or peers.
Notably, support groups are not a replacement for group therapy or therapy in eating disorder treatment.
Benefits of Group Therapy for Eating Disorders
There are several unique benefits of group therapy for eating disorders.
Depending on your individual needs and preferences, these benefits may outweigh the limitations of this treatment modality.
1. Support from Peers
The nature of group therapy enables participants to offer and receive support from peers experiencing similar thoughts, struggles, and feelings.
This support network helps individuals to feel less alone, but it also gives people an opportunity to improve their sense of self by helping others.
2. Accountability
Building a support network also creates a meaningful channel of accountability for those setting goals for their recovery.
Regularly sharing personal challenges and wins in group therapy helps many people to stay accountable to their recovery process.
3. Motivation
Most groups include members who are in different stages of their treatment.
For members in earlier stages of recovery, seeing and hearing feedback from members further along in their journey can provide motivation to stay committed to the process.
4. Sense of Community
Successful group therapy fosters a sense of community between its members.
This community can work to instill hope, share knowledge, and promote healthy behaviors among its participants.
5. Increased Socialization
Being around people may be comforting, especially if you’ve felt isolated by your eating disorder.
Depending on your personality—it might be nice to spend time around others and be more socially active.
Limitations of Group Therapy
There are limitations of group therapy that are important to consider when weighing your treatment options.
We’ve reviewed big-picture limitations below, but if you have any specific concerns, you can address them with your healthcare provider or dietitian.
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Less Personal
The structure of group therapy makes it less personal when compared with one-on-one counseling or therapy.
The thoughts, feelings, and challenges you share in group therapy aren’t just shared with one other person, they’re shared with multiple people.
Similarly, some of the strategies recommended by group leaders are generalized for the entire group rather than just one patient.
The less personal nature of group therapy also means that you’ll have less time dedicated to your individual recovery.
Though there are plenty of opportunities to learn from the journey of others, the time invested in each session is divided among all members of the group.
Limited Confidentiality
Healthcare providers and group leaders are bound to the same confidentiality laws as in one-on-one counseling.
This means that any provider or leader of group therapy cannot share your medical history, diagnosis, or personal information with others, unless someone’s safety or life (including your own) is believed to be at risk.
However, peers are not bound to these same confidentiality laws.
Patient confidentiality can be difficult to uphold in group therapy for this reason, making this type of treatment less confidential than one-on-one sessions.
Social Anxiety
Everyone is different, and some social settings may cause feelings of anxiety—including group therapy.
If being around others makes you feel anxious, try doing these simple exercises to try and calm your nerves before your session starts:
- Practice public speaking at home. Doing this exercise may help you feel more comfortable speaking in a group environment.
- Challenge your thoughts. This method is often taught in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and a specialized mental health counselor can help you embrace this approach.
- Complete deep, belly-breathing. Taking your time to inhale and exhale to help your body calm down.
- Limit your intake of stimulants before group, including highly-caffeinated beverages and foods, alcohol, and other substances.
- Bring a friend. Sometimes having a familiar, trustworthy face beside you can help you feel more relaxed in a social setting.
What to Expect in Group Therapy
Building a strong support system of peers in group therapy can have a positive impact on your recovery.
Here’s what to expect in this treatment setting:
- Most groups consist of one qualified group leader and 5-15 patients.
- Members can be at different stages of recovery.
- Groups typically focus on a shared condition or goal.
- Group members are expected to commit to joining every session until they find relief from their symptoms (some members stay in group therapy for weeks, others for years).
- There are a variety of therapy styles that can be used in group therapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
- Many people will benefit from a combination of group therapy and individual therapy as part of their treatment plan.
The Long-Term Impact of Group Therapy
Group therapy can have a positive impact on mental health treatment.
When treating psychiatric and behavioral conditions broadly, research shows that patients report a reduction in their symptoms when participating in group therapy.
When looking at the impacts specifically for eating disorder treatment, one 10-year follow-up study found that participants who followed through with group therapy as part of their treatment were considered in better health than those who dropped out of their group therapy course.
Another study evaluating the efficacy of group therapy on binge-eating disorder (BED) found that group therapy helped to improve participants’ body image, among other factors that contributed to the condition.
How to Find Group Therapy for Eating Disorders
There are several resources you can use to find group therapy sessions for eating disorders.
Some of these groups meet in-person and others meet online.
Keep in mind that just as with one-on-one counseling, it can take some time to find the right group or therapist for you.
If you don’t have a positive experience after your visit group therapy session, don’t get disheartened.
There are many different groups out there that may be a better fit.
Consider trying out a few different groups before committing to one in order to find a group that’s best for your needs and therapy goals.
Online
The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) has an online treatment directory for group therapy sessions across the United States.
The dropdown menu on the left enables you to select “online” only options.
In-person
The ANAD directory can also help you to find in-person group counseling options near you.
Another option is to contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders’ toll-free helpline (866-662-1235) for free referrals to treatment and care, including group therapy.
This hotline is confidential, run by licensed therapists, and open Monday through Friday from 9am to 7pm EST.
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Takeaway
Group therapy can be an excellent treatment option for people seeking peer support, accountability, and motivation during their eating disorder recovery.
There are online and in-person group therapy options available, and if you have questions, your dietitian and healthcare team can review groups with you.
Some potential benefits of attending group therapy include:
- Receiving extra support from peers.
- Having accountability.
- Feeling motivated to continue on your recovery journey.
- Having a sense of community.
- Being more social.
If you’re unsure about whether or not group therapy is right for you, consider searching for a group specific to your condition and needs.
How a Dietitian Can Help
Having multiple avenues of support can help to improve your recovery outcomes.
Working with a registered dietitian in addition to participating in group therapy can set yourself up for success when redefining your relationship with food.
You may not know what to expect if you’ve never met a dietitian before. Here are examples of questions you can ask:
- What eating disorder coping skills can I learn?
- Are there any eating disorder apps that can help with recovery?
- How do I tell my loved ones I have an eating disorder?
- What kind of meal plan should I follow during recovery?
You can find a dietitian through Nourish to start healing your relationship with food.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Group therapy sessions are led by healthcare professionals versed in multiple types of psychoanalytic techniques. Most groups incorporate more than one technique depending on the patient’s needs at any given time.
Though teenagers and young adults are the age group most affected by eating disorders, people of any age, racial or ethnic background, body weight, or gender can be vulnerable to the condition.
The exact cause of eating disorders, including anorexia, is not known. However, experts believe that the condition is influenced by several factors at once, including genetics, biology, behavior, psychology, and social environment.
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