Frequently Asked Questions
eating disorder RECOVERY coaching Questions
As an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, our role focuses on the present and your recovery goals. While we may discuss your past to provide context and understand patterns you want to change, we do not diagnose, treat, or identify the pathology of your eating disorder. These responsibilities fall under the expertise of licensed mental health practitioners, such as therapists or psychiatrists, who are trained to diagnose and treat eating disorders and other psychological conditions.
Our work as your recovery coach is centered on the here and now of your recovery. We help you navigate real-life situations, support the goals set by your treatment team, and reinforce behavior changes through ongoing collaboration with your healthcare providers.
Unlike traditional therapy, which often involves structured 50-minute sessions in an office setting, recovery coaching offers greater flexibility and real-world application. As your coach, we can provide support during daily scenarios, for varying lengths of time, and even outside of traditional business hours, ensuring you have the tools and guidance needed in real-life moments of recovery.
Registered Dietitians (RDs) are licensed professionals with specialized training in nutrition and dietetics. Licensing requirements vary by state but typically include a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, a minimum of 1,200 supervised practice hours at an accredited facility, and passing a national exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. For example, in Texas, these criteria must be met to practice as an RD.
As an Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, our role complements the work of your registered dietitian. While RDs focus on developing and overseeing meal plans tailored to your nutritional needs, we provide practical, day-to-day support to help you implement those plans. This includes assisting with meal planning, grocery shopping, and meal preparation. We can also provide in-the-moment support during meals, helping you navigate challenges as they arise and reinforcing your recovery goals.
Services Within a Recovery Coach’s Scope of Practice:
- Meal and Outing Support: Provide guidance during meals, shopping trips, or other outings.
- Challenging ED Thoughts: Help you manage eating disorder thoughts and behaviors in difficult situations.
- Strengthening Your True Self: Support you in building resilience to counteract eating disorder patterns.
- Referrals to Professionals: Suggest seeking advice from licensed clinicians or physicians for diagnoses or treatment and refer you to registered dietitians for meal plans or nutritional advice.
- Current Recovery Work: Focus on addressing your present thoughts and behaviors, rather than resolving underlying psychological issues or trauma.
A recovery coach’s role is collaborative, practical, and supportive, working alongside your treatment team to ensure you have the tools and encouragement needed for real-world recovery.
If you’re further along in your recovery and looking to address lingering beliefs or behaviors that are holding you back, we can explore this during our initial consultation. In most cases, we recommend that you have at least a therapist or dietitian as part of your healthcare team so we can coordinate care and support your goals effectively.
Our work with clients is focused on the here and now of present thoughts and behaviors in real-life scenarios that are often difficult and challenging for someone struggling with an eating disorder to face. Performing exposure and response prevention work with clients allows you more time to work with the client on underlying, larger psychological issues or specific nutritional-related goals that are not within my scope of practice.
Where applicable, our CCI training also allows us to share and use our personal experiences with eating disorders in a safe and healthy way so that we can be a source of hope and inspiration that recovery is possible. This peer perspective allows us to understand the complexities a client faces both while suffering with and recovering from an eating disorder.
Virtual coaching offers flexibility, allowing you to receive personalized support from the comfort of your own home or wherever you feel most comfortable. This approach is especially helpful for navigating real-life challenges in your everyday environment, such as meals, social events, or managing triggers.
Whether you’re just starting your recovery journey or looking for additional support, virtual coaching provides the tools and guidance you need to move forward. Contact us today to learn more or schedule your first session.
I am not a licensed medical or mental health practitioner, nor am I a licensed or registered dietitian. I do not diagnose or treat medical or mental health conditions, and I do not prescribe specific meal plans. My services do not replace those of licensed professionals. If you need a diagnosis or treatment for any physical or mental health concern, please consult a licensed clinician, physician, or registered dietitian. The content on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, nutritional, or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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