Exploring Clinician Attitudes Towards Treating Eating Disorders: Bridging Counselor Training Gaps

Authors

Adriana C. Labarta, Mercer UniversityFollow
Taylor Irvine, Florida Atlantic UniversityFollow
Paul R. Peluso, Florida Atlantic UniversityFollow

Document Type

Empirical Research Article

Keywords

eating disorders, clinician attitudes, counselor education, graduate training, clinical practice

Subject Area

Counseling, Counselor Education

Abstract

Eating disorder (ED) clinicians may face various challenges in practice, including burnout and feelings of incompetence. Several deficits may contribute to these challenges, such as graduate education and treatment gaps. In this study, 109 interdisciplinary clinicians were surveyed regarding their personal attitudes, experiences, and challenges in treating EDs. Among the various results, quantitative and qualitative findings highlighted the lack of graduate education as the primary challenge to effectively treating EDs, as well as the need for more ED research and culturally responsive care. Recommendations to enhance ED education and counselor training are provided, including managing countertransference and advocating for specialized coursework. Lastly, critical directions for future research are discussed.

Recommended Citation

Labarta, A. C., Irvine, T., & Peluso, P. R. (2023). Exploring Clinician Attitudes Towards Treating Eating Disorders: Bridging Counselor Training Gaps. Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 17(1). Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/jcps/vol17/iss1/2