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College, Psychology Majors and Eating Disorders
Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Director of Content and Social Media at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope
The field of eating disorders is a growing one and there are many options for professional growth and development.
Within the field of eating disorders are the option to work in several different professions, such as a psychologist, counselor/therapist, psychiatrist, medial physician, social worker, registered dietitian, nurse and more.
Most commonly, individuals in recovery typically will see a psychologist, therapist, or counselor who specializes in eating disorder recovery as part of their comprehensive care and treatment.
Responsibilities of an Eating Disorder Psychologist
What are the duties of a psychologist involved in eating disorder treatment? A psychologist specializing in eating disorders will evaluate, assess, and development a treatment plan for the patient that addresses the mental and emotional issues related to the eating disorder.
The psychologist will also work with the patient through various forms of therapy and psycho-education to promote healing and to help an individual develop more appropriate and healthier coping mechanisms in lieu of eating disorder behaviors. The work of a psychologist in eating disorder treatment is invaluable to a person seeking recovery from an eating disorder.
Becoming a Psychologist Specializing in Eating Disorder Recovery
If you are interested in working with the eating disorder patient population, particularly as a therapist or psychologist, you may consider choosing a psychology major while in college. Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology can help ensure that all of all the needed psychology coursework is covered, which is especially necessary when applying to graduate school.
Once a bachelor’s degree is complete, it is possible to enroll for a master’s degree, which can include more specialized study in the field of psychology. With many graduate programs in psychology, there is the option to choose electives in the field of interest, which can give opportunity to work with eating disorder specialists who may already be practicing in the field.
Supervised internships are typically part of a graduate program in psychology, in which a student can learn and have hands on work with the trained eating disorder psychologist. Having supervised training with patients who have eating disorders is a crucial component of the education aspect of becoming a psychologist trained in the field of eating disorders.
If you are a college student deciding on your major and are interested in learning more about the field of psychology, consider networking with individuals in the field, whether on campus or by connecting to a specialist who may be practicing in your community. Having the opportunity to shadow a psychologist may help you understand if this is indeed an area you want to pursue for your own career.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts there!
Are you a college student majoring in psychology? What do you enjoy about this field?
About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.
As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on September 6, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
