Evolving Minds Counselling
and Psychology
CBT-E Therapy for Eating Disorders
in Sydney and the Sutherland Shire
When thoughts about food, eating, weight or your body begin to shape how you eat and how you feel about yourself, changing those patterns can be difficult. You may understand that something needs to change while still feeling caught in restriction, binge eating, purging or rigid food rules.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Enhanced (CBT-E) is an evidence-based psychological treatment developed specifically for eating disorders. It aims to help you understand what is keeping the eating disorder going and begin changing those patterns.
At Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology, our psychologists and counsellors provide CBT-E for adolescents and adults across Sydney and the Sutherland Shire. Appointments are available in person at our Menai practice in the Sutherland Shire and online across Australia.
What is CBT-E?
CBT-E, or Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Enhanced, is a form of CBT for eating disorders. It is a transdiagnostic approach, meaning it can be used across different eating disorder diagnoses.
The approach focuses on understanding the factors that are maintaining the eating disorder and how thoughts, emotions and behaviours can interact to keep these patterns going. Therapy is individualised according to the difficulties that are most relevant to you.
What eating disorders can CBT-E help with?
CBT-E can be used in the treatment of a range of eating disorders, including:
What does CBT-E therapy involve?
CBT-E begins with developing an individual understanding, or formulation, of your eating disorder and identifying the factors that may be maintaining it. This formulation is developed collaboratively with you, guides the focus of therapy and is reviewed as therapy progresses.
As therapy progresses, you work on changing these patterns. Depending on your needs, this may include establishing more regular eating, reducing restriction, addressing binge eating or compensatory behaviours, challenging rigid food rules and working with concerns about weight or body shape.
Later sessions focus on strengthening the changes you have made, preparing for setbacks and developing strategies to maintain progress beyond therapy. You and your clinician regularly review progress and adjust the focus of therapy where needed.
Is CBT-E only about changing eating?
No. While changing eating patterns is an important part of CBT-E, therapy can also address other difficulties that are contributing to the eating disorder.
Where relevant, this may include perfectionism, low self-worth, interpersonal difficulties or difficulty managing emotions. The focus depends on the factors that are most important in understanding and supporting your recovery.
How long does CBT-E take?
CBT-E is generally delivered over a defined course of therapy. The number and frequency of sessions can vary depending on the eating disorder, its severity and your individual needs.
Your clinician will discuss the recommended approach with you and review your progress throughout therapy.
Where appropriate, treatment may also involve working alongside your GP, dietitian, psychiatrist or other members of your treating team.
Who provides CBT-E?
CBT-E is a psychological treatment for eating disorders and may be provided by appropriately trained mental health clinicians. At Evolving Minds, our team works regularly with eating disorders and includes an ANZAED Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician.
Psychological therapy and dietetic care have different but complementary roles in eating disorder treatment. While CBT-E focuses on the psychological and behavioural processes involved in the eating disorder, dietetic care provides specialised nutritional assessment and support.
Where both are required, your clinician and dietitian can work collaboratively as part of your treating team.
CBT-E therapy in Sydney and the Sutherland Shire
Our psychologists and counsellors provide CBT-E for adolescents and adults across Sydney and the Sutherland Shire. CBT-E is one of several evidence-based approaches we use as part of our broader eating disorder therapy services.
Appointments are available in person at our Menai practice in the Sutherland Shire and online across Australia.
If you’re unsure where to begin, our Client Care Team can help. Call 02 8519 4197 or use the button below to request an appointment.