Skills Class 18 - Melting Away Resistance in Treating Eating Disorders

CBT is evidence based and has been shown to be an effective treatment for Eating Disorders. That being said, Resistance is extremely powerful and is one of the reasons clinicians find Eating Disorders so diffiin any cult to treat. Unlike other addictions, Food cannot be avoided and in fact, strict adherence to Restricting Food ways leads to Binge and Compulsive Eating, only to maintain a cycle of Eating Disorder Behaviors. Patients often begin treatment with a wish to change and a frustration with these behaviors. However, without a careful understanding of their Resistances to change; not as pathology, but rather as vital to their needs and sense of well being, therapy hits a wall, frequently leading to a feeling of ‘push/pull, exactly what is experienced internally for the individual.

As a clinical and Eating Disorder Teacher and Supervisor, TEAM CBT’s focus on clarifying Outcome and Process Resistance with each patient early on in the treatment phase, drastically improved outcomes as obstacles and the resistance to change is identified early on. This skills training will identify typical Outcome and Process Resistance with different Eating Disorders. Methods like paradoxical focus, and Advantages of Symptoms are also identified to amplify Empathy and to increase team building and help our patients push for the change, rather than pushing against the therapists' agenda for change.
Safety issues and ways use the Gentle Ultimatum to make sure therapists don’t feel pressured by any medical issues will also be touched on in order for the patient to be the one pushing for change while the therapist is not motivated by fear of their patient’s safety. We already have many methods in our toolbox with CBT to offer. Knowing how to work with Resistance arms the clinician with tools to set the agenda collaboratively and builds resilience for the challenges that emerge on the road to recovery from an Eating Disorder