Why is Group Therapy Important in Eating Disorder Recovery?
Written by CCTC Staff Writer
Eating disorders are characterized by a range of unhealthy eating behaviors that can have serious consequences on an individual’s physical and mental health. These disorders are often accompanied by feelings of shame, isolation, and low self-esteem, which can make it difficult for sufferers to seek help. Group therapy is an important part of eating disorder recovery because it provides a supportive environment where individuals can share their experiences, learn from one another, and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Read on to learn more about:
What group therapy is
Benefits of group therapy for those in eating disorder recovery
What groups are helpful in eating disorder treatment programs
What to expect in group therapy
What exactly is group therapy?
Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy that involves one or more therapists working with a small group of patients or clients. It can be an extremely effective treatment option for a variety of mental health disorders, including eating disorders. According to more than 50 clinical studies, group therapy produces at least the same degree of improvement for many disorders. Studies also show that treatment in group therapy exceeds Society of Clinical Psychology standards for efficacy for Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Panic Disorder, PTSD, Social Anxiety, OCD, Eating Disorders, and some Personality Disorders.
Groups are part of most eating disorder treatment programs at all levels of care. This includes Residential Programs, Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP).
There are also outpatient group therapy options that may be facilitated by a clinician through a treatment program or a private practice.
Related: 9 Things to Remember Before Starting an Eating Disorder Treatment Program
Benefits of group therapy
There are many benefits to participating in group therapy for eating disorders. In a supportive and understanding environment, individuals can:
Share their experiences with others who understand what they are going through
Learn about healthy coping mechanisms and ways of thinking about food and their bodies
Develop a sense of self-acceptance
Identify faulty thinking patterns and thoughts
Understand that the behaviors they feel shame around are not that uncommon among others struggling
Share and celebrate recovery wins to stay motivated, or discuss the difficulties that they are facing to receive support
Learn and practice coping skills
Receive and share feedback with others in the recovery process
Practice being open and vulnerable
Building self-esteem
Having accountability for your recovery
What type of groups may help in eating disorder recovery?
There are many different types of groups with different focuses. Some common groups that may be a part of a treatment program include:
Therapeutic Meal Support
This group is designed to provide a space for people in treatment to eat together and practice eating with the support of their peers and a clinician. Each program differs, but in many, you may share your hunger and fullness before and after eating, your goals for the meal, your wins, and challenges, and provide support and feedback to peers.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This skill group will help participants learn how to change the thoughts and behaviors that are keeping them from fully recovering.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
This skill group focuses on teaching skills to help people tolerate difficult emotions, improve relationships, and make better decisions.
Psychodynamic Therapy
This group will help you understand how your past experiences are affecting your current behaviors around food and your body.
Interpersonal Process Group
This group will focus on the relationships between group members and how they interact with one another. Any issues within the milieu can be addressed in this group.
Body Image Group
This group will help participants feel more comfortable and accepting of their bodies. Topics may include the spectrum of body image, influences of negative body image, coping with triggers, and finding body neutrality or acceptance.
Relapse Prevention Group
This group is designed for people who are in the maintenance or early recovery phase to help prevent a relapse. The group will discuss high-risk situations, early warning signs, and effective coping mechanisms.
Art Therapy
This group is designed for people to express themselves through art. It’s a safe space to share your thoughts and feelings without having to use words. Art therapists will provide different prompts to get the creative juices flowing, but you are free to create whatever you feel drawn to.
Family group therapy
This group will invite family members to join their loved ones and other families. The group with family members can be a positive experience to help everyone feel less alone in the recovery process and provide support and feedback to others in a similar situation.
Support groups
These groups provide a space for individuals to share their experiences and offer support to one another.
Process groups
These groups explore the emotions and thoughts that are associated with an eating disorder.
What to expect in group therapy?
The first step is finding a therapist or treatment center that offers group therapy as part of their programming. Once you have found a program or group that you feel comfortable with, the next step is attending the first session. It’s common to feel nervous before a group, but try to remember that everyone in the group is there for the same reason - to recover.
The therapist will likely go over some ground rules for the group at the beginning of the first session. These rules are designed to create a safe and supportive environment for everyone in the group. After the ground rules have been established, the therapist will likely guide the group in a discussion about the topic of the day. The topics will vary depending on the focus of the group, but some examples include body image, disordered eating behaviors, triggers, and emotions.
At the end of each session, the therapist may ask if there’s anyone who wants to share a closing thought or comment. This is voluntary, but it can be helpful to process the group experience before leaving.
It’s important to remember that group therapy is not a quick fix and recovery takes time. It’s also important to find a group that you feel comfortable with and that offers the type of help that you’re looking for.
If you are interested in learning more about group therapy to support you or your loved ones' eating disorder recovery, we invite you to reach out to our team at Central Coast Treatment Center. A member of our Admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and group therapy that is part of our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).