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Eating Disorder Therapy

Eating disorders are serious mental conditions. Individuals with eating disorders are at considerable risk, which often have significant impacts on all aspects of a person’s life – physical, emotional, and social. The earlier an eating disorder is identified, and a person can access treatment, the greater the opportunity for recovery and improved quality of life.​

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Our dedicated psychologist, trained in eating disorder therapy, has significant experience and skills in assisting people with concerns about negative eating behaviours and body image. This can include people anywhere along a continuum; from problematic eating behaviours and a concern with weight or shape, to those formally diagnosed with an eating disorder.

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Our Services

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At Eden Psychology, we offer collaborative, client-centred, evidence-based assessment and treatment of eating disorders in adults and adolescents.​

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Our treatment is provided by a registered psychologist who is Eating Disorder Credentialed, a nationally recognised accreditation from the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) and the Australian and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED). Eden Psychology is the only community-based clinic with this accreditation in the greater Bendigo region and premier choice in treatment of eating disorders in north central Victoria.​

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We assist clients with initial screening for eating disorders, mental health assessment, care team coordination, treatment, and relapse prevention.​

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We provide support with nutritional, physical, and psychological recovery and behavioural change by working closely with other health professionals to ensure consistency in your care. This may include your GP, psychiatrist, dietician, as well as families and other supports.

 

Who is this service for?

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Like many mental health issues, eating disorders involve a number of different symptoms. This means that each person’s life experience is unique and not everybody’s issues fall into a neat diagnostic category. You might find you only experience a few of the symptoms associated with a particular type of eating disorder or that you can relate to multiple diagnoses. You might even notice that your symptoms have changed over time.​

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Wherever you fall on the continuum, we have many ways to assist you in overcoming negative patterns of eating and body image concerns. At Eden Psychology we see people who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder (listed below), as well as those that are concerned about their eating behaviours and the relationship with their bodies.​​

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  • Anorexia Nervosa

  • Atypical Anorexia Nervosa

  • Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

  • Binge Eating Disorder

  • Bulimia Nervosa

  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder

  • Body image concerns

  • Disordered eating / Eating concerns (including emotional eating, dieting etc.)

  • Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OFSED)

 

Our approach / evidence-based treatment

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Enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-E)

This is a manualised evidence-based treatment that focuses on addressing the behaviours, thoughts, and emotions associated with an eating disorder as well as developing alternative coping strategies to manage these. CBT-E is considered the most effective treatment for eating disorders and it involves establishing regular eating patterns, reducing dietary rules and restraint, minimising compensatory behaviours, reducing shape and weight concerns, and improving body image and self-esteem.​

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CBT-E is recommended as a first-line treatment for adults with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, atypical anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and OSFED; and as an appropriate alternative for adolescents with a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder (along with the family involvement) where family therapy is not indicated.​

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CBT-E consists of four stages. For people who are not significantly underweight, CBT-E generally involves an initial assessment appointment followed by 20 treatment sessions. With people who are underweight treatment needs to be longer, often involving about 40 sessions over 40 weeks.

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Family based therapy (FBT)

This is a structured treatment that aims to empower parents to help their child to recover from an eating disorder within their home environment. FBT focuses strongly on weight restoration and the parents’ involvement in re-nourishing their child.​

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The psychologist coaches the family to manage problematic eating disorder behaviours and identify barriers to refeeding. Throughout the treatment the parents gradually return control of eating to their child whilst managing any lapses. Once the young person is maintaining a stable, healthy weight and in control of their eating, the focus of treatment shifts to addressing normal adolescent issues and strengthening a sense of identity without the eating disorder.​

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FBT is recommended for the treatment of adolescents experiencing anorexia nervosa. FBT would also be suitable for young people with atypical anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa (of low frequency and/or limited duration).

FBT consists of three phases and typically occurs over a 12-month period, although treatment time varies and is dependent upon a person’s progression through each of the three stages.

 

Can I clam Medicare rebates for eating disorder therapy?

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People experiencing eating disorder symptoms can access treatment through an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan (EDP). This plan enables an eligible client to access up to 40 sessions with a psychologist for eating disorder treatment over a 12-month period. A valid Eating Disorder Management Plan and referral are required from a GP in order to access this rebate.​

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We also accept MHCP referrals and can assist you with obtaining an EDP as a part of your initial sessions.

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Find out more about Eating Disorders here

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