Living With Food: The Science Supporting Eating Disorder Treatment

By Dr. Mark Warren

I’ll be speaking at the Renfrew conference in November with Jenni Schaefer on the topic of Professionals in Recovery: Then and Now – Stigma and Secrets, Science and Support. The issue of professionals who are in recovery, and how they discuss history of their disorder with their clients is a topic that has been discussed quietly for many years and recently has been more openly considered. The literature describing the impact on clients who are working with individuals in recovery has also begun to emerge. A landmark study by Nichole Barbarich in 2002 surveyed professionals in the Academy for Eating Disorders, finding that approximately 1/3 of female respondents (most of the respondents were females) had a history of an eating disorder or eating disorder treatment. The percentage for men was much lower. Given this level of prevalence of professionals with an eating disorder history, the time is clearly right for an open discussion on eating disorder professionals and recovery.

Recent surveys have suggested that virtually all treatment centers are open to the idea that people with a history of an eating disorder who are recovered are good candidates for employment. This represents a significant change from 15 years ago, when people who had recovered from an eating disorder were often fearful of discussing it within the field and tended to keep their histories a secret. I believe there are multiple reasons for this change: One is that we are more hopeful about recovery so that for a professional to say they are recovered is more accepted as the truth. The second is that clients have expressed and continue to express that it is helpful to them to know professionals who are recovered and who can provide an example of a life in recovery. Third, we are more aware of the impact of shame on those who suffer from these disorders. The ability to join with others in a conversation about their experience helps to diminish that shame.

There are of course many complications for professionals and their relationship with their clients when it comes to discussing their mental health histories. It is crucial that a provider be fully recovered if they are to practice, has adequate supervision, and is associated with a treatment center that provides a supportive atmosphere to encourage them in their recovery. When the proper pieces are in place, the presence of recovered professionals can be an important and positive part of eating disorder treatment for clients.

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Contributions by Sarah Emerman