Home InsightsMind, Body, Spirit: An Integrative Approach to Eating Disorder Treatment

Mind, Body, Spirit: An Integrative Approach to Eating Disorder Treatment

4 Minutes

Edited & medically reviewed by THE BALANCE Team

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The treatment of Eating Disorders is incredibly complex. These conditions can impact every aspect of one’s life: biologically, socially, and psychologically. We often find that these disordered eating patterns are trauma-related. That trauma can be abuse, neglect, or even early attachment issues. Eating Disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental health disorders. They are not to be taken lightly. At The Balance, we understand that effective treatment requires a wide range of techniques, especially ones that are not so cognitive. Although CBT is one of the top treatment styles for these conditions, it has been proven to be not so effective. It only helps about 50% of individuals struggling with the disorder. We gathered insight from our Clinical Director, Dr. Sarah Boss, and our Director of Psychotherapy, Gita Chaudhuri, to understand how eating disorders develop, the core symptoms, and The Balance’s therapeutic approach to healing them at their core.

Eating disorders center around the idea of control: wanting it or the lack thereof. An individual either restricts eating and weight or excessively eats or purges. All of these behaviours have an anaesthetizing effect on emotional or internal states. We know from imaging studies that this has huge implications on the neural systems in the brain. This is what makes the treatment so complex. Individuals come with serious physical symptoms, and those have an impact on the brain. This affects executive functions, visuospatial processes, self-image perception, emotional regulation and reward processing.

The symptoms of eating disorders affect all areas of life. They affect life on a biological level (nervous system), a psychological level (sensitivity, emotions), and a social level (attachment, family, and relationships). Examples of symptoms include social isolation, rigid rituals around food, bingeing or fasting to excessive exercise, self-induced vomiting, and abuse of diet pills or laxatives. This is just a glimpse, as they manifest differently for each individual.

It’s important to note that individuals with eating disorders need their symptoms. The symptoms are like protectors for vulnerable parts; they have a functionality. Their symptoms give them a sense of control, a release from stress, or allow them to feel empowered. They are protectors. We have to work with them.

The current studies say that 9% of the population has an eating disorder, but we believe it is much higher than this. Recently, we’ve also seen a shift towards a younger population; children as young as 8 or 10 are developing these disorders. The healthcare system is becoming increasingly overrun due to these issues. The time spent in the hospital can be re-traumatizing for the individual, as many work with force-feeding practices. Of all mental illnesses, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate. About 26% of people with eating disorders will try to commit suicide at some point. This fact is why eating disorders must be taken seriously, and treated at their root rather than just the symptoms.

At The Balance, we use both top-down and bottom-up approaches to treating eating disorders. We tackle not just the symptoms but the root causes of the issue. We work to support changes at the brain level with attention to mental, somatic, and spiritual issues. We define spirituality as having a sense of self and being connected to the world. It has to do with our relationships, both with ourselves and others.

No matter what disorder we are treating—anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder—we see a deep sense of detachment to what’s going on inside of them. This detachment happens on an emotional and physical level. That detachment means they are not in touch with themselves. We aim to restore that safe connection to the self through various techniques.

We use a Polyvagal theory-informed approach with techniques like the Safe and Sound Protocol, which focuses on using music to stimulate the vagus nerve. By regulating the nervous system, we can slowly restore the body to a state of safety. We know that the last thing individuals with eating disorders want to be asked is how they feel or what they are sensing in their bodies. This can be very threatening to them. When we work with the nervous system before the brain, we allow the client to reconnect to themselves without being re-traumatized.

From there, we address the neurobiological roots of the disorder that are interfering with the core structure of the self. These are the early roots of the individual. If we don’t consider this, the individual cannot get better.

In order to effectively treat eating disorders, it requires a holistic, cross-method approach. At The Balance, we work with techniques like integrative medicine, systemic therapy, the IFS model, somatic experiencing, and safe and sound protocol. We work with mindfulness techniques like yoga, breath work, sound healing, Qi Kung, and massage. We address the family dynamics, and work to build up healthy communication tactics within the family system.

Techniques we use to treat Eating Disorders:

Functional & Integrative Medicine
Nutritional Support and Supplement Plans
System Therapy, IFS Work, and CBT
Somatic Experiencing
Safe & Sound Protocol
ROLFING
Physical Therapy & Personal Training
Mindfulness-based practices: Qi Kung, yoga, breath work, massage, acupuncture, lymphatic drainage
Sound Healing
Art, Music & Equine Therapy
Family Dynamics, Couples Therapy

HOW THE BALANCE CAN HELP WITH Insights

The Balance RehabClinic is a leading provider of luxury addiction and mental health treatment for affluent individuals and their families, offering a blend of innovative science and holistic methods with unparalleled individualised care.