Why You Should Hire an Eating Disorder Coach
Adding an eating disorder coach to your recovery team may mean a faster recovery time
As someone in recovery from bulimia (six years and counting!), I know how effective constant contact with an eating disorder professional can be. I had the privilege of going to in-patient treatment for 42 days and weekly therapy and dietitian sessions. Even with all of that hard work, it still took me about seven years to recover from bulimia. Of course, I’ll never know for sure, but I think if I had an eating disorder coach in addition to my therapist and dietitian, I could have recovered in 1-2 years.
Why Should I Hire an Eating Disorder Coach in St. Louis, MO?
When you’re struggling with an eating disorder, the “gremlins” (aka negative self-talk) as Brené Brown calls them, are a daily struggle. Heck, they’re even an hourly or minute-ly struggle! When you decide to take that first courageous step into recovery, the gremlins are SCREAMING at you to give it up.
“You don’t deserve recovery.” They’ll say.
“Face it, you’re too far gone. You’ll never recover.”
Sound familiar?
Eating disorder coaches are there with you every day to help you turn down the volume of these toxic thoughts.
Therapists are usually the first eating disorder professional you come in contact with when you decide to get help. Their role is invaluable and I recommend EVERYONE in recovery finds a good eating disorder therapist...
...but it’s not their job to be with you every day.
Cue: Eating Disorder Coaching in St. Louis, MO!
Daily messaging back and forth, meal support, and weekly video sessions are some of the most helpful tools I offer my clients as a coach. Being able to type out and/or voice out your struggles as you go through your day is INCREDIBLY empowering. It forces you to not only get your thoughts out of your head but to also allow an eating disorder professional to hold space for you and to give you feedback. This tool has been a number one favorite among my clients!
It is not easy being accountable to an eating disorder coach on a daily basis but it is some of the most helpful work for immediate growth. Daily feedback forces you to look inside yourself in order to awaken to your wisest, most compassionate recovery mind.
Just as important, eating disorder coaches are available for weekly meal support and grocery trips! These are often the most intimidating spaces in recovery. Having a compassionate professional with you for mealtime or grocery shopping is key. I remember in my own recovery from bulimia how devastatingly triggering the bulk section in grocery stores could be. I wish I could go back in time as my present eating disorder coaching self and hold my past bulimic self’s hand!
Meal support can be done either in a virtual group with others who are in recovery or 1:1 with the eating disorder coach. I offer free weekly meal support Mondays at 7:30 EST on Instagram Live, and @covid19eatingsupport on IG is a wonderful account for free meal support as well! It’s helpful to process the difficult feelings as they come up with a meal before, during, and after. Meal support is also an invaluable tool to track your recovery process. Remember, recovery is not linear! Over time, you will start to see the results of your hard work in recovery as you breeze through meals and snacks without crippling anxiety!
Team approach for eating disorder treatment, counseling, and eating disorder coaching in St. Louis, MO
Working closely as a team with other eating disorder professionals is also incredibly useful. Each time I speak with a dietitian, online therapist, or doctor about a specific client, I am always blown away at the strength of the team as a whole. It also reaffirms the importance of my work as coaches are able to update the entire team on how the client is doing on a day-to-day basis. It’s easy to leave out important details with your doctor when you only see them for 20 minutes. Coaches keep everyone updated.
The only downfall to eating disorder coaching is that it is not currently covered by insurance. In the meantime, most eating disorder coaches are willing to work with at least a couple of clients on a sliding scale. In my case, I work with one pro-bono eating disorder client per quarter.
If you have any further questions about eating disorder coaching, feel free to send me an email ( caseyurban@icloud.com ), or message me on Instagram ( @caseyurban ). If my story teaches you anything, know that you CAN recover! Eating disorders are not easy, but they are highly treatable. Take it from me - a woman who thought I would be in my disorder forever - you can do it!
Casey Urban
Instagram: @caseyurban
I can help, too, with Eating Disorder Coaching or Eating Disorder Treatment in St. Louis, MO!
As a HAES therapist, I can help! I offer therapy for all things eating disorders, body image, and perfectionism. I am able to work with anyone through online therapy in Missouri and online therapy in Wisconsin. Or, I’m happy to see you in my St. Louis-based counseling practice. Regardless of where are, you are on this eating disorder recovery journey, I’m here to help. When you’re ready to begin therapy in St. Louis-based counseling practice, follow these steps:
Contact Embodied Self Counseling for a 20-minute consultation
Build a team of people in your corner.
Other Counseling Services Embodied Self Counseling Offers:
Counseling for eating disorder treatment is one of the many services provided at Embodied Self Counseling’s St. Louis office. I offer online therapy in Missouri and online therapy in Wisconsin to accommodate your busy schedule. If you have "stuff with food" that others don't get, you could be a good fit for my eating disorder treatment. Additionally, I provide a unique approach to working with atypical anorexia and perfectionism. I offer eating disorder treatment for men too. I am also adept at working with athletes if you’re dealing with anxiety and uncertainty from the sport you’re in. If you’re ready to get support, call now and begin therapy!