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Experiential therapy is a form of insight-driven or action-based therapy that immerses a patient in an environment, setting, or experience.
When combined with other evidence-based treatment methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), experiential therapies can be a beneficial tool for treating eating disorders. (13)
These feelings can be channeled through a number of media, activities, scenes, or settings, with techniques used at experiential therapy sessions varying by the specific modality. When guided with the help of an expert, these types of experiences can help reveal feelings both surface level and subconscious, and uncover insight into both past and present situations.1
Experiential therapy is used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN), binge eating disorder (BED), and bulimia nervosa (BN).
Many different types of therapies fall under the umbrella of experiential therapy, including:2,3,4
Experiential therapy is frequently used to help treat eating disorders and trauma, which often co-occur, but it can also help treat eating disorders alone, or with other co-occurring conditions.
When treating eating disorders, experiential therapies like art therapy, psychodrama, and music therapy are typically combined with evidence-based treatments, including:2
Different types of experiential therapy help in different ways, but the overall idea of experiential therapy work is to offer alternative avenues for expression. This often happens by tapping into the "right" side of the brain, which is connected more to creative artistic processes.4
Without having to be filtered through the more logic-driven "left brain," these feelings can be expressed more purely and directly. This can be especially helpful for those who don't feel as comfortable verbalizing concerns they may be experiencing. It can also help people unlock feelings or ideas they were not even consciously aware of harboring.
When used to help with eating disorders specifically, experiential therapy aims to help someone understand and confront negative emotions they may be experiencing around food, self-esteem, or body image. Additional support from CBT or other talk therapy treatments can help patients develop further understanding and strategies for alleviating harmful thoughts and behaviors.
Experiential therapy can be incredibly therapeutic and healing for people recovering from an eating disorder, although, as with other types of therapy, every patient’s experience is different.
At Within Health, our virtual eating disorder program integrates a variety of experiential therapies into treatment, including:
Our treatment providers understand that different types of care may be more helpful for different types of patients, and we are committed to helping patients recover from eating disorders through a range therapies and immersive experiences.
Although we do offer more well-known experiential therapies in our treatment plans, we can also tailor experiential activities for our patient's specific history and needs. For example, if someone is stressed about going shopping for new clothes during eating disorder recovery, we may create an experiential opportunity for them to go shopping with the assistance of their care partner and other patients.
Disclaimer about "overeating": Within Health hesitatingly uses the word "overeating" because it is the term currently associated with this condition in society, however, we believe it inherently overlooks the various psychological aspects of this condition which are often interconnected with internalized diet culture, and a restrictive mindset about food. For the remainder of this piece, we will therefore be putting "overeating" in quotations to recognize that the diagnosis itself pathologizes behavior that is potentially hardwired and adaptive to a restrictive mindset.
Disclaimer about weight loss drugs: Within does not endorse the use of any weight loss drug or behavior and seeks to provide education on the insidious nature of diet culture. We understand the complex nature of disordered eating and eating disorders and strongly encourage anyone engaging in these behaviors to reach out for help as soon as possible. No statement should be taken as healthcare advice. All healthcare decisions should be made with your individual healthcare provider.
Experiential therapy is an umbrella term for action-based or experience-based therapies that allow patients to access their inner feelings.1
A range of experiential therapies can be used to help treat eating disorders. Specific recommendations depend on a patient's unique needs and history, though art therapy, psychodrama, and music therapy are commonly utilized.
Within offers many different types of experiential therapy, including but not limited to: art therapy, mindful movement, mealtime support, grocery support, and psychodrama.
Our multidisciplinary care team can help determine what types of therapy should be included in the best treatment plan for you or your loved one.
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