Becoming an Eating Disorder-Informed Therapist: Key Takeaways from Lily Thrope’s Webinar with BALANCE
Becoming an Eating Disorder-Informed Therapist: Key Takeaways from Lily Thrope’s Webinar with BALANCE
Written by Lily Thrope
On February 13, 2026, I had the honor of joining BALANCE Eating Disorder Treatment Center and its CEO, Melainie Rogers, for a clinician training titled Becoming an Eating Disorder-Informed Therapist.
This webinar created space for thoughtful, complex questions from clinicians who want to strengthen their work with eating disorders and disordered eating. I’m always encouraged by how many therapists are actively seeking to provide more ethical, informed, and collaborative care.
Below are some of the key themes I spoke about, and what I believe truly defines an eating disorder-informed therapist:
Eating Disorder Treatment Requires a Multidisciplinary Team
If there’s one thing I emphasize over and over again, it’s this: eating disorder treatment is rarely a solo endeavor.
Eating disorders often intersect with ADHD, trauma, ARFID, medical instability, and significant body image distress. As outpatient therapists, we have to constantly ask ourselves not just “Can I manage this?” but “Who else needs to be involved to best support this client?”
I strongly advocate for building a trusted referral network that includes:
Eating disorder-informed dietitians
Physicians who understand medical risk in EDs
Psychiatrists
Higher levels of care (IOP, PHP, residential) when needed
Becoming an eating disorder-informed therapist means embracing collaboration, not working in isolation.
Differentiating ADHD and Restrictive Eating
One question I often receive is how to differentiate ADHD-related executive functioning challenges, like “forgetting to eat,” from restrictive eating patterns driven by an eating disorder.
The reality is that these presentations can overlap significantly.
This is where comprehensive assessment and collaboration become essential. Working with a dietitian who understands ADHD can help clarify whether we’re seeing neurodivergent eating patterns, restriction, or a combination of both.
Surface-level explanations rarely tell the full story. Careful, ongoing assessment is key.
Addressing Weight Stigma in Eating Disorder Care
One of the most important discussions during the webinar centered on clients in larger bodies who are presenting with restrictive symptoms but struggle to access higher levels of care.
This is an issue that deeply concerns me.
Weight stigma continues to impact eating disorder treatment. Clients in larger bodies may be misdiagnosed or denied appropriate referrals despite significant medical and psychological risk.
As clinicians, we can:
Help clients build language for self-advocacy
Communicate directly with referral sources
Seek weight-inclusive providers
Ensure we are not unintentionally reinforcing bias
Eating disorders do not have a “look.” If we are truly eating disorder-informed, our care must reflect that.
Taking “Subclinical” Disordered Eating Seriously
I treat disordered eating with the same level of seriousness as a diagnosed eating disorder.
Diagnosis is not based solely on frequency of restrictive behaviors. It also involves medical impact, body image distress, and how much the eating behaviors are disrupting someone’s life.
I often recommend:
A full medical assessment and lab work
Screening tools such as the SCOFF questionnaire
Increased session frequency
Referral to an eating disorder-informed dietitian
Adding meal support when appropriate
Higher level of care is not always the first step, but increased support often is. Early intervention matters.
Eating Disorders as Coping Strategies and the Grief of Recovery
I deeply resonate with the perspective that eating disorder behaviors function as coping strategies.
Often, these behaviors regulate overwhelming emotions or create a sense of control. When we begin to interrupt the behaviors, clients may experience an influx of emotions that had previously been suppressed.
This is why I think of recovery as a grief process.
Clients are not just changing behaviors, they are letting go of something that once helped them survive.
At the same time, insight alone is not always enough. In some cases, behavioral stabilization must come first. There is a delicate balance between exploring root causes and ensuring medical and behavioral safety.
Ongoing Assessment in Recovery and Trauma Work
For therapists doing trauma, EMDR, attachment work, or art therapy with clients who have eating disorder histories, continued screening is essential.
Even long-term recovery requires:
Annual physicals
Updated screening tools
Awareness that trauma processing can reactivate symptoms
Recovery is not a static state. It is an ongoing process that benefits from continued monitoring and collaboration.
Determining Level of Care and Ethical Referrals
One of the most complex clinical decisions we face is determining when outpatient therapy is no longer sufficient.
My general approach includes:
Establishing a short outpatient trial period (often 2–3 weeks)
Ensuring a dietitian and medical provider are involved
Monitoring for measurable improvement
Referring to a higher level of care if clinical or medical concerns persist
I also highly recommend consultation with eating disorder supervisors or treatment centers when navigating these decisions.
Becoming an eating disorder-informed therapist requires humility, collaboration, and an ongoing commitment to learning.
Continuing to Grow as an Eating Disorder-Informed Clinician
The eating disorder field continues to evolve. Our understanding of ARFID, ADHD overlap, harm reduction approaches, and weight-inclusive care has expanded significantly in recent years.
If you are a therapist seeking:
Eating disorder consultation
Guidance on assessment and screening tools
Support determining level of care
Help building a multidisciplinary treatment team
I offer clinical consultation and supervision through Thrope Therapy. Providing ethical, effective eating disorder treatment is complex work, and you don’t have to do it alone.
If you are looking for an eating disorder therapist, schedule a free 15-minute consultation today or email us at hello@thropetherapy.com with questions or to learn more.
