All staff members at CEDAR Associates are licensed and experienced in the treatment of eating disorders. In order to treat eating disorders, therapists must fully understand and have experience in treating a variety of psychological disorders and issues, including depression, anxiety, personality disorders and sexual abuse. Eating disorders never occur in isolation; they are always shared with another primary or secondary diagnosis.

Our team at CEDAR Associates consists of psychologists and clinical social workers with advanced training and certification, and nutritionists who specialize in the nutritional and behavioral aspects of eating disorders and who work with the psychotherapeutic team. Our therapists are comfortable with all the issues that often accompany the symptoms of an eating disorders, including sexual abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. If deemed appropriate, we do not hesitate to refer our clients to a cadre of consulting psychiatrists and medical personnel—which include physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners— to whom we refer on a regular basis. We're also happy at CEDAR Associates to work in concert with physicians, psychologists and psychiatrists who are currently working with patients who could benefit from our services. Our system at CEDAR is set up in a way that continually informs all medical and mental health practitioners as to what is transpiring in the course of their patients' processes.

Individuals who claim to treat eating disorders without having been trained as a psychotherapist, licensed as a professional mental health practitioner and gained sufficient experience in treating eating disorders must not be treating eating disorders. Particular care should be taken when choosing a nutritionist, as nutritionists who claim to understand and treat the psychological issues of eating disorders without being licensed as mental health practitioners may not be adequately prepared to treat the psychological aspects of eating disorders.

If you are in doubt as to whether a practitioner has adequate knowledge to treat an eating disorder, here are a few questions that may be helpful during an initial interview:

1. •Ask the practitioner how he or she treats eating disorders. If the answer appears sound and comprehensive, trust your instincts.
   

2. •Does the practitioner work with a team of professionals—such as a physician, a psychiatrist, and a nutritionist—experienced in treating eating disorders?
   

3. •Where did the practitioner receive his or her training, and for how long has he or she been treating eating disorders?
   

4. •Are eating disorders his or her primary specialty?
   

5. •Since eating disorders occur within the context of other psychological disorders, ask if the practitioner is clinically trained to treat depression, self-harm—such as cutting—and incest. Ask if s/he can provide family therapy, particularly when treating a child or adolescent.
   

6. •A nutritionist must never treat an eating disorder without working in conjunction with a psychotherapist unless the nutritionist is also a trained and licensed mental health practitioner.
   

If you’re still in doubt after speaking with the individual, feel free to contact us and we'll help you decide if the practitioner's treatment methods seem sound.