You’ve opened a few therapist websites, read their bios, and started comparing them. Now you’re trying to figure out who to contact—and what to say when you do.
Finding help for concerns about food or your body can feel personal before you’ve even made an appointment. You might be wondering whether your concerns are serious enough, or whether someone will understand what’s been happening.
You don’t need a diagnosis before reaching out. Eating disorders can affect people at any body size, and appearance alone doesn’t tell you how someone is doing.
A few questions can help you decide whether a therapist’s experience and approach fit your needs.
“What experience do you have with eating disorders?”
Look beyond a list of specialties. Ask about the therapist’s training and the concerns they work with regularly.
You can keep it simple: “I spend a lot of time thinking about food and feeling guilty after I eat. Is that something you work with?”
If you’re looking for help for a teenager, ask about experience with that age group and how parents or caregivers may be involved. You can also ask how privacy is handled.
“What would treatment involve?”
Therapy approaches vary. Ask the therapist to explain how they work and why they would recommend that approach for your concerns.
What might you talk about in sessions? Would there be things to practice between appointments? How would you decide what to work on first?
You should be able to understand the explanation without needing to look up every other word.
“Would I need other support?”
Eating disorders can affect physical health as well as emotional well-being. Depending on your needs, care may include a medical provider, a registered dietitian with eating disorder experience, and a therapist. Some people need more support than weekly outpatient appointments can provide.
Ask how the therapist helps determine the appropriate level of care and whether they coordinate with other professionals when needed.
“How will we know whether therapy is helping?”
Think about what you hope will become easier. Perhaps you want meals to take up less mental energy. Maybe you want to stop avoiding plans because food will be involved, or spend less time checking your appearance.
Bring those hopes into the conversation. Ask how you’ll set goals together and what happens if you feel stuck.
Pay attention to how the conversation feels
It’s understandable to feel nervous or embarrassed. You don’t have to feel completely comfortable right away.
Still, notice whether the therapist listens, takes your concerns seriously, and answers your questions respectfully. You can say, “I’m worried you’ll think this isn’t a big enough problem,” or “I’m not ready to explain everything yet.”
Practical questions matter, too. Ask about fees, availability, and appointment options so you can consider whether ongoing sessions will work for you.
If you’re looking for eating disorder and body image therapy in Coral Gables or Miami, Jennifer Pankow-Martinez, EdS, LMHC works with teens and adults, with telehealth available throughout Florida.
Learn more about her approach and ask about getting started.