CBT-E stands for cognitive behavioural therapy - E  (for eating disorders)

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CBT-E has been developed by Professor Christopher Fairburn and his team at the University of Oxford and is one of the most successful treatments for eating disorders.

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CBT-E is transdiagnostic, which simply means your CBT-E therapist will tailor the approach to your individual eating disorder, whether thats anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder.

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What does CBT-E involve?

The CBT-E programme has been designed as a programme running for 20 weeks as this has been proven to be the most effective in helping an individual recover from the eating disorder. Sessions are typically weekly to ensure momentum is kept up to aid the supportive nature of changing that individuals behaviour.

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What are the stages in CBT-E?

 

Stage One

Our focus is on gaining a mutual understanding of  your eating problem and helping you to modify and stabilise your pattern of eating. There is also emphasis on personalised education and the addressing of concerns about weight. It is best if these initial sessions are twice a week. We can if required, ask our dietitian's to recommend a meal plan or guide to support you with your nutrition needs..

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Stage Two

In the brief second stage, progress is systematically reviewed and plans are made for the main body of treatment (Stage Three).

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Stage Three

Consists of a run of weekly sessions focused on the processes that are maintaining the person’s eating problem. Usually this involves addressing concerns about body image, body shape and weight and eating; enhancing the ability to deal with day-to-day events and moods; and the addressing of extreme dietary restraint.

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Stage Four

Our emphasis shifts onto the future. There is a focus on dealing with setbacks and maintaining the changes that have been obtained.

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Generally a review session is held some months after treatment has ended. It provides an opportunity for a review of progress and the addressing of any problems that remain or have emerged.

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With people who are underweight, treatment may need to be longer, often involving around 40 sessions over 40 weeks. In this version of CBT-E, weight regain is integrated with addressing eating disorder psychopathology. Before embarking on weight regain, patients and therapists spend the first weeks of this treatment carefully considering the reasons for and against this change. The goal in CBT-E is that patients themselves decide to regain weight rather than having this decision imposed upon them. During the final step of weight regain the patient becomes accomplished at maintaining their weight.

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