Group Therapy and Eating Disorders

Sharing Thoughts, Emotions and Events Within a Structrued Group

May 31, 2009

The group setting is a therapeutic approach to the treatment of eating disorders. There are several types of treatment groups to facilitate in the recovery process.

Ever wonder what people (male and female) discuss when in a treatment group setting? The group leaders, generally licensed therapists, within the parameters of the treatment program, plan the type of group methods used.

Educational Groups

Taking on the ambiance of a general classroom atmosphere, these types of groups generally present facts regarding the subject matter. Regarding eating disorders, the goal of educational groups would be to educate as cumulatively as possible regarding disordered eating, addressing as many subject areas as possible.

When a patient/client is resistant to treatment, educational groups are, for the most part, a non-confrontational approach to raising awareness regarding disordered eating and the risks involved. General homework assignments may be given and people are encouraged to share.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Groups

Another group approach focuses upon how thinking and behaviors impact disordered eating. For instance, group members will be encouraged to share how they think about themselves and the way their thoughts impact their eating habits. Members may be assigned homework.

This method is designed to flush out delusional or irrational thinking that impacts or has lead to disordered eating and replaces the negative thoughts and behaviors with positive alternatives.

Psychodynamic Groups

These types of groups, depending upon the willingness of the members and their abilities to share and reflect upon their own internal compositions, address the emotions, rationale and events within the members' lives that may have been catalytic to the development of eating disorders.

For instance, perhaps someone became bulimic, because, in his or her mind, putting on weight was a coping mechanism by which to repulse a sexual offender. Or, the reverse could also be true. For instance, perhaps someone became anorexic, thinking, "If only I were perfect, this wouldn't be happening to me." Thus, this particular member sought to remedy the situation by trying to obtain bodily perfection.

Psychodynamic groups rely on the risk every member takes that what he or she shares will be respected regardless of what the group may think. Being able to trust the group for support and help is absolutely a requirement. This may be difficult to do at first, because generally, the group members do not know one another and they all must take a risk to trust one another.

Benefits of Group Therapy

Eating disorders can be very isolating, since one of the flags of disordered eating is to hide the starvation or binging/purging, behaviors, etc. Group therapy allows the members to see and feel that they are not unique and not alone with their conditions. Groups therapies allow the members to talk about their disordered eating habits and the consequences as well as all other relative subject matter in an atmosphere that is not or should not be critical or condescending.

Group therapy also aids in the refining of social, communication and interpersonal skills. This is a safe arena for addressing issues that are questionable. The therapists will always help the members in communicating whatever needs to be communicated.

Advanced groups are able to direct and move along with only the mentoring of a trained, licensed therapist. Newer groups often need direction from the therapist or group leader. In conjunction with individual and family therapy, group work can be highly motivating and rewarding in the move towards recovery.

Sources

The copyright of the article Group Therapy and Eating Disorders in Eating Disorders is owned by Jeannie Delahunt. Permission to republish Group Therapy and Eating Disorders in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.