Finding Comfort in Community: Peer Support in Eating Disorder Recovery
The road to recovery from an eating disorder looks different for every person.
We often hear the question from our clients, “How long will this process take?”. The reality is, there’s no set time that it takes to be fully free from an eating disorder.
However, there is one theme that we see across the recovery journey: You can’t do it alone. Whether you’re working with one person (like a therapist, dietitian or recovery coach), or you’re working with an entire treatment team, true healing happens when you have a community to support you.
Why is peer support such an important part of recovery?
For many who go through the treatment process, group counseling and support groups are a major part of the healing journey. In higher levels of care, like residential treatment centers or intensive outpatient programs, group therapy is often built into each client’s recovery program.
Here are just some of the benefits to joining an eating disorder support or therapy group:
Break free from isolation & build accountability: Eating disorders can fester and worsen when you isolate yourself from others. In the midst of your struggle, it can feel like no one could ever understand what you are going through. Joining a group offers a space for you to connect with others who truly get it and build accountability with your fellow group members.
Gain insight from your peers: Groups are a powerful space to learn from others with a shared lived experience. In a recovery group, you can learn from both the group therapist and your peers who are going through the recovery process with you.
Create meaningful relationships: Some of my strongest relationships have been built through life’s toughest seasons. When you join a recovery group, you’re given the chance to connect with incredible people with similar life goals - to be fully free from disordered eating. You can create strong bonds through the powerful experience of healing together.
When you add group support into your existing treatment plan, your chances for recovery without relapse become even stronger than just therapy alone.
“Rock was such an amazing experience and was truly one of the keys to my recovery. I found that sense of community and connection I so desperately needed in an outpatient setting. We laughed together, we ate together, and we cried together…We helped each other through dinner and supported each other when life felt too hard and recovery felt unattainable.” - Rock Recovery Program Graduate, Lizzie
What therapy groups and support groups does Rock Recovery offer to help me navigate eating disorder recovery?
So you’re ready to connect with a group, but where do you start? At Rock, we believe in the power of community in recovery and that’s why so many of our programs are offered in a group setting.
Whether you are looking for group counseling or a faith-based support group that will allow you to connect with a community of others who get what you are going through, we have a space for you:
Breaking Bread Meal-Support and Therapy Group: Find weekly group support around mealtimes in a therapist-led counseling space. Confront fear foods in a safe setting and gain important skills to help you build coping skills and navigate recovery.
Bridge to Life Body Image Therapy Group: Process your goals and work toward body acceptance through a Health at Every Size(R) lens in a therapist-led setting with a group of your peers.
Set Free Devotional Support Group: Does faith play a role in your recovery? This weekly, morning devotional support group offers an inclusive space for those who wish to gain deeper community, accountability and encouragement in their recovery journey.
New ID or Lasting Freedom: Offered quarterly, these six-week support group series will help you navigate different topics across the eating disorder recovery spectrum, including intuitive eating, body image, identity and more.
If you live in DC, MD or VA and you’re interested in learning more about how our eating disorder counseling groups can support you in recovery, you can schedule a consultation with our clinical team at https://go.oncehub.com/RockRecovery.
If you’re looking to join a support group that allows you to bring faith into the healing process, then our faith-based support groups would be a great place to start. Click here to learn more. Not interested in faith-based groups? See what support groups our partners offer on our resources page here.
Remember, healing happens in community and group support can be a great place to start or continue your recovery journey. We believe that full freedom is possible for you!
Kristyn Soto became Rock Recovery’s second full-time staff hire in October of 2017. With an educational background in Psychology, Kristyn has always been passionate about increasing access to mental health services, especially for those who struggle in BIPOC communities. Since joining the Rock team, Kristyn has worked closely alongside the Executive Director to help Rock grow from a one-program organization to a community cornerstone across Greater DC.