NEDA TOOLKIT for Parents
Finding Treatment for Your Loved One’s Eating Disorder
Getting a diagnosis is only the first step towards recovery from an eating disorder. Once you have a diagnosis, the
next step involves identifying availability of clinical resources for treatment. Several major factors will likely play a
role in determining the best type of treatment for your family member:
• Specific eating disorder diagnosis
• Medical/psychiatric status
• Location in the country
• Availability of local experts and programs
• Insurance coverage
• Ability to pay in the absence of insurance
• Family/patient preferences on the most appropriate type of treatment
• Likelihood of recovery in outpatient treatment
Many people utilize a treatment team to treat the multi-faceted aspects of an eating disorder. Treatment teams
commonly include the following types of providers:
• Physician (primary care physician, pediatrician, cardiologist, etc.)
• Psychotherapist
• Dietitian
• Psychiatrist
• Additional therapists as required (yoga therapist, art therapist, etc.)
• Case manager at your insurance company (if needed)
For more information on different types of treatment, see the glossary on page 41 at the end of this section.
A large portion of eating disorder sufferers can be treated as outpatients, so make sure that your physician has
experience with these conditions. Needing to seek a higher level of care is fairly common and not a sign that
recovery is impossible. A primary care physician, such as a pediatrician, internist, or family doctor, may have
referrals to local therapists and dietitians who have experience in treating eating disorders, as might other
specialists like adolescent medicine physicians and gynecologists. Not all areas have such clinicians available, nor
are all physicians familiar with eating disorder treatment.
If you can’t get any referrals from your physician, there are still some ways to find good treatment providers. The
following websites have lists of outpatient therapist and treatment programs that address eating disorders:
• National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/find-treatment
• Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) http://aedweb.org
• Local chapters of IAEDP professionals http://www.iaedp.com/overview%2017%20Chapters.htm
• Certified Family-Based Treatment providers http://train2treat4ed.com/
• ED Referral.com http://www.edreferral.com
Local colleges and universities may have lists of nearby therapists for students with eating disorders, so it might be
worthwhile to call their counseling or health center to ask for a referral. Larger treatment programs in your state or
bordering states may also have a network of therapists and treatment providers who work with eating disorders.
Page | 30