How Does Group Therapy Help Eating Disorders? Benefits & Limitations

Eating disorders can affect a person’s mental and physical health.

But they can be treated successfully. Early detection and a combination of social support, therapy or counseling, and sometimes medication are often key to treating the condition. 

Group therapy is a vital resource for people seeking treatment for their eating disorder. For some, group therapy is the first step they take on the road to recovery. 

Group therapy can offer unique benefits in comparison with one-on-one therapy, including building a support network of peers, accountability, and non judgemental problem solving.

Keep reading to learn more about group therapy and how it can help treat eating disorders. 

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What is Group Therapy for Eating Disorders?

Group therapy is the treatment of a group of patients with the same or similar condition by one or more healthcare providers, usually a psychologist or psychotherapist. 

Many groups for eating disorders are designed to treat a specific condition or disorder, like binge-eating disorder, anorexia, and others. 

People who participate in group therapy may use it as their only outlet for counseling. Others may engage in both group therapy and one-on-one therapy as part of their treatment plan.

Though group therapy and support groups share similarities, there are a few key differences.

Group therapy is led by a healthcare professional experienced in working with individuals to establish healthier relationships with food.

By contrast, most support groups are led by volunteers or peers. Notably, support groups are not a replacement for group therapy or therapy in eating disorder treatment. 

Benefits of Group Therapy for Eating Disorders

There are several unique benefits of group therapy for eating disorders.

Depending on your individual needs and preferences, these benefits may outweigh the limitations of this treatment modality.

1. Support from Peers

The nature of group therapy enables participants to offer and receive support from peers experiencing similar thoughts, struggles, and feelings.

This support network helps individuals to feel less alone, but it also gives people an opportunity to improve their sense of self by helping others. 

2. Accountability

Building a support network also creates a meaningful channel of accountability for those setting goals for their recovery.

Regularly sharing personal challenges and wins in group therapy helps many people to stay accountable to their recovery process.

3. Motivation

Most groups include members who are in different stages of their treatment.

For members in earlier stages of recovery, seeing and hearing feedback from members further along in their journey can provide motivation to stay committed to the process.

4. Sense of Community

Successful group therapy fosters a sense of community between its members.

This community can work to instill hope, share knowledge, and promote healthy behaviors among its participants.  

Limitations of Group Therapy

There are limitations of group therapy that are important to consider when weighing your treatment options. 

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Less Personal

The structure of group therapy makes it less personal when compared with one-on-one counseling or therapy. 

The thoughts, feelings, and challenges you share in group therapy aren’t just shared with one other person, they’re shared with multiple people. 

Similarly, some of the strategies recommended by group leaders are generalized for the entire group rather than just one patient.

The less personal nature of group therapy also means that you’ll have less time dedicated to your individual recovery.

Though there are plenty of opportunities to learn from the journey of others, the time invested in each session is divided among all members of the group.

Limited Confidentiality

Healthcare providers and group leaders are bound to the same confidentiality laws as in one-on-one counseling.

This means that any provider or leader of group therapy cannot share your medical history, diagnosis, or personal information with others, unless someone’s safety or life (including your own) is believed to be at risk. 

However, peers are not bound to these same confidentiality laws.

Patient confidentiality can be difficult to uphold in group therapy for this reason, making this type of treatment less confidential than one-on-one sessions.  

What to Expect in Group Therapy

Building a strong support system of peers in group therapy can have a positive impact on your recovery.

Here’s what to expect in this treatment setting:

• Most groups consist of one qualified group leader and 5-15 patients. 
• Members can be at different stages of recovery.
• Groups typically focus on a shared condition or goal.
• Group members are expected to commit to joining every session until they find relief from their symptoms (some members stay in group therapy for weeks, others for years).
• There are a variety of therapy styles that can be used in group therapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy. 
• Many people will benefit from a combination of group therapy and individual therapy as part of their treatment plan.

The Long-Term Impact of Group Therapy

Group therapy can have a positive impact on mental health treatment.

When treating psychiatric and behavioral conditions broadly, research shows that patients report a reduction in their symptoms when participating in group therapy.

When looking at the impacts specifically for eating disorder treatment, one 10-year follow-up study found that participants who followed through with group therapy as part of their treatment were considered in better health than those who dropped out of their group therapy course. 

Another study evaluating the efficacy of group therapy on binge-eating disorder (BED) found that group therapy helped to improve participants’ body image, among other factors that contributed to the condition. 

How to Find Group Therapy for Eating Disorders

There are several resources you can use to find group therapy sessions for eating disorders.

Some of these groups meet in-person and others meet online.  

Keep in mind that just as with one-on-one counseling, it can take some time to find the right group or therapist for you. 

If you don’t have a positive experience after your visit group therapy session, don’t get disheartened.

There are many different groups out there that may be a better fit. 

Consider trying out a few different groups before committing to one in order to find a group that’s best for your needs and therapy goals. 

Online

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) has an online treatment directory for group therapy sessions across the United States.

The dropdown menu on the left enables you to select “online” only options. 

In-person

The ANAD directory can also help you to find in-person group counseling options near you.

Another option is to contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders’ toll-free helpline (866-662-1235) for free referrals to treatment and care, including group therapy.

This hotline is confidential, run by licensed therapists, and open Monday through Friday from 9am to 7pm EST.

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Takeaway

Group therapy can be an excellent treatment option for people seeking peer support, accountability, and motivation during their eating disorder recovery.

If you’re unsure about whether or not group therapy is right for you, consider searching for a group specific to your condition and needs.

How a Dietitian Can Help

Having multiple avenues of support can help to improve your recovery outcomes.

Working with a registered dietitian in addition to participating in group therapy can set yourself up for success when redefining your relationship with food.

‍You can find a dietitian through Nourish to start healing your relationship with food.