Group Therapy in Eating Disorder Recovery: Finding Healing Through Community

Isolation and Eating Disorders

Sometimes it just starts with wanting to be a little healthier and eat more fruits and veggies and work out more. 

In our current culture that idealizes thinness, leanness, beauty, fitness and “health”, these behaviors actually do not get in the way too much of our social relationships.  In fact, maybe we even start going to the gym with a workout buddy or join a group of coworkers on who can get in the most steps or lose the most weight.  We feel part of a club.  A sense of belonging.  Togetherness.

Until we see our body change (or perhaps not change enough) and decide to cut out just a little more.  Maybe add some extra workouts or exercise more intensely.  And sometimes, doing this enough causes our body to be in such depletion, we end up overeating.  Or staying in bed all weekend.

It’s at this point the isolation begins to hit a little more.  Oh sure, we still show up to work or school, hangout with our friends or family, go to church, that sort of thing.  But we “can’t eat” what’s being served because it doesn’t fit our diet or maybe because we binged the day before and we’re trying to make up for it.  Or maybe the isolation really hits a little more simply because we’re so focused on calculating our calories for the day or thinking about our next workout that we can hardly pay attention to what the people around us are doing or saying.  So we just smile and nod and go about our day.

And then the isolation really hits.  We turn down social invitations because the food that’s being served is just too much and we’re afraid we’ll get out of control if we even take one bite.  And then we feel bad about turning down the invitation and not seeing our friends and family for a long time, so we have thoughts like “they would have more fun without me anyway, I’ll just stay here and they probably won’t even miss me.”  Or maybe our behaviors around food or exercise have become more obviously problematic at this point that we are more prone to hide and not expose our family and friends to our painful secret.  And yet it feels too emotionally painful to really stop our behaviors. 

So we feel stuck. We know about eating disorders. We want recovery and healing, but have no idea where to start.

Connection and Community

At Rock Recovery, we get it.  Some of us have even been right there where you’ve been!  And we want you to know we’re here for you.  Our group therapy programs will help get you started on that next step toward healing and recovery from an eating disorder.

While we do not think of eating disorders as addictions, a quote from the addiction community comes to mind that we like to share:  “The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety, it’s connection.” 

We think the same is true for eating disorders.  Being recovered isn’t just about healing your relationship with food and body, it also includes healing your relationship with self and others.  Others can include so many.  Maybe it’s your marriage.  Or with your family.  Or with your closest friends. Maybe your community of others includes God and your church family.

We offer community in so many different ways.  One way is through group therapy. 

Group Therapy

Whether you consider attending in one of our virtual eating disorder therapy groups or our in person groups, you’ll be given a very warm welcome by the group therapist and invited to participate in the most comfortable way for you.  Many new group members prefer to observe in the first few groups, while others dive right in to the process.

Breaking Bread is a weekly, eating disorder process group that begins with sharing a meal in the first hour and connecting with community by processing a therapist-led directive in the second half of the group.

In both of these groups, we desire for all group members to build a positive shared experience around meal time.  This includes celebrating together when recovery milestones are reached and encouraging and supporting each other when the eating disorder attempts to interrupt the healing process.

Group therapy often involves getting to know and supporting each other through shared experiences. In the isolation part of eating disorders, we can often feel very alone.  As though no one knows what we’re going through.  And certainly, it can feel as though no one could possibly understand.  So when one group member shares openly about an experience that you relate to, you begin to feel a bond with that individual. 

And healing and connection occur when group members can feel a sense of community through compassion, understanding, empathy and support.

At Rock Recovery, we’re big believers that full recovery is possible. Building a sense of community is one of the ways we help others in their journey.  If you have ever thought about group therapy and are curious what it might be like to experience healing in your eating disorder recovery process through community, will you reach out to us?  You can get in touch with us here.  We’d love to hear more about your journey and build our community with you!

Meredith Riddick served on the Rock Recovery team in 2019 as the organization's Clinical Program Director. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Eating Disorders Specialist-Supervisor. Meredith primarily treats eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, and relationship issues. In addition to her clinical work, Meredith provides supervision for therapists seeking certification as eating disorder specialists. Learn more about Meredith through her private practice, Harmony Therapy Group.