Recovery coaching is relatively new in the eating disorder field although it has been used in the addiction and substance abuse field for some time. The job of a coach is not to provide additional therapy but to support the therapeutic work you are doing with your client by helping them apply it to behavioral change. My work with clients is skills-based and focused on the present. I meet with clients to discuss and do assignments about motivation for recovery, practical techniques they can use to manage emotions and change behaviors, and also work with them on building a life outside of their disorder. In addition these types of sessions, I offer in person support for exposure exercises such as meal sessions, grocery and clothes shopping, or even yoga classes or other social situations. I also offer text and phone support to clients so they can reach out when they are struggling. We’ve all known clients (or been a client in my case) who was working hard in therapy and making seemingly good progress on deeper issues but who was not making significant changes to their actual eating disordered behaviors. Coaches help bridge this gap by adding accountability and additional support between therapy sessions and by keeping the client focused on making behavioral changes. While your work with your clients likely touches on strategies for behavioral change as well, having someone whose role is dedicated to the “here and now and how” as I like to call it can also free up your time to focus on the deeper issues, the “whys”. 

 

I am also an extra set of eyes and ears for you an a reliable reporter of what is happening for your client between your sessions. To this end, I consider open and ongoing communication with my clients outpatient team to be fundamental to the work I do with clients. I hope that the work I do with clients can help inform the work you are doing and vice versa. Clients can struggle to be completely transparent with their treatment team about behaviors and how they are handling challenges you may set for them. Because my job is to be present for some of these challenges and to have communication about behaviors and how they are utilizing recovery skills, I can then pass on valuable information to you. I can also encourage clients to bring topic to therapy that come up during our work together.

 

Lastly, as someone who is recovered from an eating disorder, I am also able to provide an example of what that looks like and proof that it is indeed possible. For clients who have not interacted with someone who is recovered this can provide hope and motivation to stick with the treatment process even when it is difficult.