Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders From a Therapist's Perspective

Eating disorders (EDs) have been researched from the perspectives of patients and various clinicians over several decades. Although mental health clinicians (MHC) are predominantly responsible for facilitating the clinical aspects of recovery work, research indicates that little attention has been paid to their contributions. Consequently, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the perspectives of these professionals and their potential value to treatment providers in the allied professions. To address this gap, the present study explored the specialized professional experiences of MHC in order to gain insights into their views of this work, professional preferences, and desired treatment changes. Based on their substantial practice experience, MHC views may be exceptional and valuable to allied professionals in the ED field. Using an integrative foundation of psychodynamic, family systems, and feminist theories, this study employed a phenomenological methodology with 8 MHC ED professionals who engaged individually in recorded and transcribed semistructured interviews. Categories in the transcripts supplied descriptive data in a context sufficient for analysis without the use of broad or axial coding systems. Findings from the study revealed unique, specialized, clinical MHC perspectives that can be generalized to inform and empower mental health disciplines while supporting ED clients. Among the specific, specialized themes were the multifaceted and complex nature of EDs, the importance of an individualized and personalized treatment approach, access to secure treatment, and broadened ED-specific education. Findings from this research may impact social change and inform the existing literature by proposing initiatives for client and clinician improvements in the ED treatment arena toward enhanced quality of care.