Specialised Help or normal?

[Squiffy01]

Just wondering if it is possible to receive help from someone that does not specialise in eating disorders? I’ve been seeing someone for 2 years now (only just back after 6 month break after having baby) and i have built a good relationship with him but a couple of times he has broached the subject of is he experienced enough to give me the help I need. The thought of starting over with someone new terrifies me and also don’t really want to see someone who specialises.

Sorry I’m not clear

Is your new partner suggesting he provide counselling in some form to help you overcome an eating disorder?

If correct, then the issue is not whether ok to have someone who doesn’t specialise. The issue is whether it’s ok to have a new partner provide you with help. And that’s a definite NO

Romax. Sorry I was unclear in my post the I’ve been seeing someone for 2 years I meant therapist not a personal relationship

In my experience, no. I'm sorry. I know it's hard when you've built up a relationship but someone who is inexperienced can easily do more harm than good (I speak from experience as I ended up suing two HCPs for the damage they caused trying to treat my ED without the right experience/knowledge).

Do you mind me asking what sort of damage they did and how?
He has worked with a few clients with eating disorder before but does openly admit he is no expert.

Not at all - one basically didn't believe that I had a problem, the other told me that what I was eating was absolutely fine and suggested just drinking apple cider vinegar to help my digestion (at the time I was eating very few calories - digestion was not my biggest issue). I saw another specialist in ED a few days later and he said I was about a week away from hospitalisation. Neither were badly intentioned (well, the first may have been) but they were far outside their area of expertise and that there are some specific characteristics of EDs which make them different to treat than other types of mental illness.

I do a mixture of both. I have anorexia. I'd been seeing my therapist for about 18 months when she told me that if I didn't go to my GP she would have to break confidentiality as she was concerned for my health (didn't originally go to see her for ED). She is not a specialist in eating disorders, but has continued to see me alongside specialist NHS outpatient services. She's happy to keep seeing me as long as I keep up medical monitoring. For me, my relationship I have built with her over the last 2.5 years is essential to my recovery. So I guess what I'm saying is I don't think it has to be one or the other, it can be both if the relationship you have built with your current therapist feels important to you. Have you been to your GP about your eating disorder?

Thanks Calypso for that insight.

Glitteringfishy I haven’t been to the GP recently about t as I don’t think it warrants it. I’m 31 and was in and out of hospital during my teens (private hospital and in different country so wasn’t at deaths door or anything only just under weight. My weight has been normal since then even the times I start to obsess about it and lose some something happens (new boyfriend, new job, moving... just life really) that stops me going too far.
2 years ago I just thought it was time to try and sort my shit out as although my weight has been fine my head has never really recovered. So found the person I now see and like him, think we have made progress with why my head and thinking is like it is, more progress than I’ve made with anyone before but it was just this comment of his that got me thinking maybe I need to see someone who has more experience??

But I also think I would look a bit of a fool trying to get help for an eating disorder.