EMDR for Eating Disorder Recovery

EMDR has become a well-known treatment for trauma, but it can be used for so many other issues as well. In my experience, it can be particularly helpful in aiding eating disorder recovery, really cementing the changes that clients are making with talk therapy and regular nutrition sessions. Part of why it has become such an integral part of my therapy practice for eating disorders is because of how comprehensively it treats the issue. Eating disorder behaviors or thoughts can be targeted, but you can also use those as the “jumping off point” to understand the deeper issues, which can then also be targeted with memory reprocessing. Here are 6 ways I have used EMDR to effectively treat a client’s eating disorder.

• 1. Shift negative beliefs about self that reinforce eating disorder

  Eating disorder behaviors are often the tip of the iceberg - the easily observed behaviors “above the water line.” Underneath the water line are deeper issues that fuel the eating disorder, ranging from anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, abuse, chronic stress, diet culture, family values, and more. What EMDR really gets at are the negative beliefs about yourself - “I’m not good enough.” “I’m not worthy.” “I’m not safe.” “I’m powerless.” “I have no control over anything.” EMDR targets memories that are foundational in those beliefs, and once those start to shift, so does the eating disorder, as those negative beliefs are no longer fueling it.

• 2. Disconnect "positive" feelings from eating disorder behaviors

  For some people, they have a positive connotation with their eating disorder behaviors - “It feels so good to feel hungry.” “The relief I feel after a purge is unlike any other coping skill I have.” “I feel like a better version of myself when I’m not eating and losing weight.” EMDR can target these thought patterns and disconnect that “positive” connotation since it’s not really positive, but a maladaptive way to reinforce thoughts and behaviors.

• 3. Undo effects of trauma or stress that fuel eating disorder

  This goes back to the tip of the iceberg analogy. Often times, there is something deeper than any actual eating disorder urge or behavior that needs to be resolved in order for the eating disorder to fully disappear (or at least feel less overwhelming). EMDR can target memories related to trauma, stress, attachment issues, dysfunctional relationships, diet culture values from childhood, and perfectionism. When this happens, the eating disorder has less of a “job” to do because you don’t need it to cope with these things anymore.

• 4. Shift focus to strengths and positive beliefs about self that promote recovery

  EMDR isn’t all about distress and trauma though! It’s also equally important to use it to embrace your strengths. This can be done by thinking about handling future stressors in a different way after memory reprocessing is complete, or by looking at strengths that already exist inside you and reminding yourself of the ways you’re already using them. This can be done around strengths like assertiveness, boundary-setting, or compassion, and positive beliefs (often acquired during reprocessing) like, “I am enough,” or “I have power over my life.” When you feel an intrinsic sense of worth, agency, and safety, the eating disorder isn’t really needed anymore.

• 5. Strengthen helpful coping skills to utilize instead of eating disorder

  Often after reprocessing painful memories, clients report that they begin handling stress differently. Maybe instead of restricting or purging, they start calling friends or FaceTiming them for mealtime accountability. For others, their relationship with exercise changes so that it can be genuinely healthy, used for the positive mental health benefits it can provided when not done in excess.

• 6. Meet need of eating disorder in new, effective ways

  All eating disorders meet some kind of need. Sometimes it makes someone feel worthy, sometimes they feel more in control. Those are very valid needs that any human being needs to function in this world - it’s just not helpful to meet that need through an eating disorder. By understanding the function of the eating disorder and reprocessing memories that involve that need not being met, you learn new ways to feel that sense of worthiness, control, etc.