Expert: Leigh-Anne Persing, PA-C - 5/6/2007

Question
Hi. I was wondering if you had any experience with what the treatment for eating disorders is like, mainly Bulimia I guess.

To make a long story short I have been purging for a full year now with periods of restrictions and my current therapist really wants me to see a specialist in eating disorders. I really like my therapist but if I had any health insurance I would most likely go see a specialist.

If I were to see someone in private practice who specializes in ED's, how would the treatment be different than seeing a therapist in private practice who doesnt specialize in ED's? What would the specialist tell me that my regualar therapist cant?

Thanks,
Kari

Answer
Any therapy is better than none... but those specializing in EDs are more well-versed in the specific treatments, such as dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. And they know exactly the right questions to ask in order to pull info out of you and really get you to realize the meaning of your eating disorder and where it comes from. But like I said... any therapy is better than none, so if you can't afford the specialist then at least stick with the therapist you are seeing now