Group Therapy for Eating Disorders | Anderson, Indiana

You are not alone. We are in it together.

Collaborating with a diverse group of women who share similar feelings and experiences battling an eating disorder is a powerful vehicle for achieving lasting recovery.

Group therapy offers an excellent opportunity and support for clients to learn and process together. There are a great number of benefits from group therapy including normalizing (group members learn that they are not alone in their battles), support and acceptance (group members learn compassion and empathy for themselves and others), interpersonal skills, and confrontation of unhealthy behaviors. At Selah, you will find a diverse group of women and girls who are understanding and eager to live life together in recovery. Not everyone will have the same triggers or severity of symptoms; it is helpful to know that you are not alone. Many of our clients find lifelong friendship and a special bond with their Selah family.

There are many different types of group therapies available for our clients. Individualized treatment plans will outline how they fit in the overall schedule, and best help clients meet their goals. A bonus that comes from participating in a group is the chance to role play challenging situations. This comforting and safe environment is great for building confidence and practicing recovery skills. Some groups may even take outings to practice in real life. For example, take a shopping challenge to the local mall.

Group Therapy at Selah House

Odyssey Behavioral Healthcare’s AVP of Clinical Services, Kate Fisch, LCSW, discusses group therapy and eating disorder treatment at Selah House.

Group Therapy And Support

These types of group therapy and support include:

Equine Therapy: Selah House follows the EAGALA Model (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP). In this model, a licensed mental health professional, an equine specialist, and horses collaborate in utilizing specifically designed activities with the clients. EAP is an experiential therapeutic approach where clients learn about themselves and others by participating in these activities and then processing what occurred during the session.

Joyful Movement Groups: These groups, led by a dietitian, are an opportunity to explore the mental health benefits of movement. Additionally, these groups are designed to realign clients with their body’s in a positive way and help lay the foundation for a new, healthy relationship with exercise.

Art Therapy Groups: offers clients an opportunity to explore intense or painful thoughts and emotions in a safe and supportive environment. The group will use a wide variety of art materials to create a visual representation of thoughts and feelings. Through creating art and reflecting on the art processes and products, clients can increase awareness of self and others, cope with deep emotions, enhance cognitive abilities, and enjoy the life-affirming experience of making art.

Spirituality Groups: This is often called our “Selah Group.” It helps clients look at their spiritual journey and explore their thoughts and feelings around God, spirituality, and religion. Clients usually complete and process their spiritual timeline along with other activities.

Process Groups: This includes all of the clients and allows the clients to process their thoughts and emotions related to their recovery. This group allows the clients to share with each other their goals, successes, accomplishments, struggles, and disappointments.

Further Group Therapy Options

Toolbox Group: is a group that helps clients create a recovery toolbox and tools to aid in recovery. Moreover, items clients put in their box vary. However, these usually include meaningful items that promote recovery, and that can become positive emotional “triggers” during difficult times.

Body Image Group: Body image group helps clients move from the Eating Disordered Body Image to the Recovered Body Image. Some of the tasks clients complete during this group include visually expressing negative body images and beliefs, creating transition body images, creating a goodbye letter to the negative body image/ED, and completing a body trace/positive body image.

Writing Group: is a group that provides another form of expression and healing. Additionally, this is a physical way of recording fear, pain, memories, problems, thoughts, and feelings.

Nutrition Group: is an educational group led by the dietitian where clients are given factual information about food, nutrients, and portion sizes, and more.

Meal Planning Group: is a group where clients discuss and practice meal planning and prepare and cook the meal they plan for that night. Moreover, this group is led by the dietitian and clients intuitively eat the meal they prepare.

Body Awareness Group: is an experiential group where the psychotherapeutic use of movement is applied. Furthermore, this furthers the emotional, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual. Body Awareness group emphasizes the mind and body.

Learn More About Selah House

Are you ready to take on the challenges of an eating disorder in your life? If so, learn more about our therapies at Selah House. For example, these include:

We are here to ensure your safety and comfort during this difficult time. For more information, contact Selah House today at 765-442-3551.

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Learn More About Our Eating Disorder Therapy Services

REVIEWED BY

Kate Fisch, LCSW

Kate Fisch is the AVP of Clinical Operations for Odyssey’s Eating Disorder Network. With 17 years of clinical leadership and direct client care experience in the eating disorders field, she has a history of innovation, clinical training, and resource development in a variety of eating disorder treatment settings supporting families, clients, and clinicians.

Group Therapy