Eating disorders require specialist clinical training. The Royal College of Psychiatrists, Beat, and NICE all emphasise that generic therapy or counselling without eating-disorder-specific training is not equivalent to specialist treatment. The clinical issues — including physical health risk, psychological complexity, family dynamics, and the often ego-syntonic nature of the condition (where symptoms feel part of the self rather than a problem) — require a clinician who has been specifically trained.

HCPC-registered psychologists with eating disorder specialism have:

• Doctoral or equivalent postgraduate training in psychological science
• Specific training in one or more of the NICE-recommended eating disorder treatments — CBT-ED, MANTRA, SSCM, or family-based therapy
• A duty under HCPC standards to recognise the limits of their competence and to refer or work jointly with medical colleagues where physical health risk is significant
• Statutory accountability through HCPC’s Fitness to Practise process
• Ongoing supervision, which is particularly important in eating disorder work

Eating disorder treatment also often involves coordinated medical care alongside psychological therapy — for example with a GP, a dietitian, and sometimes a psychiatrist. Specialist clinicians are familiar with this multidisciplinary working and will help you arrange it where needed.