Nutrition therapist

The treatment of eating disorders or any other type of difficult relationship with food requires the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team. In addition to the role of the physician and the psychologist, the figure of a nutritionist specialist in eating disorders (ED) is important to overcome the ED.

Thanks to working in a team (psychologist-nutritionist and physician), we can ensure a full recovery of people who suffer from this type of disordered behavior. However, the nutritionist, like the rest of the professionals, must be specialized in this subject. The treatment will be completely different from that of a person who does not suffer from this type of difficulty.

A nutritionist is a qualified and legally recognized health professional. Their role is to accompany people who might need advice on food, nutrition and dietetics and offer help for eating disorders.

Therefore, we also include here people who have any kind of eating tendencies or eating behavior that needs help to improve their quality of life at a physiological and social level.

The nutritional treatment is a process of accompaniment with a holistic and multidisciplinary approach. The psychologists and psychotherapists of the center, as well as doctors and nutritionists, work together.

Each patient is unique and not everyone needs the same type of help. This is the reason why treatments are adjusted to the needs of each patient. Our way of working is not to offer a diet but to elaborate together with the patient an action plan. Our goal is to help our patients to improve their quality of life through nutritional accompaniment.

We offer nutrition sessions in Barcelona and online for those who want or need to seek psychological treatment. We specialize in nutritional support for people with an eating disorder and obesity. By working as a team, our approach is multidisciplinary.

Apart from individual sessions, we offer a group process focused on working on the relationship with food. The program is for patients with eating disorders, obesity or complicated relationships with eating.

The individual sessions and the group program can be carried out separately or in a complementary way. We aim to offer help for eating disorders to each patient with personalized attention adapted to their needs and possibilities.

• The first session is the first approach to understanding the eating problem. During this session we carry out a personalized interview and identify the patterns, habits, vicious cycles, obstacles, etc. and we propose a plan of change. In addition, it helps us understand the current nutritional health and be able to recommend the best treatment modality complementary to the individual therapy process.
• We do follow-up sessions every 1-2 weeks. We check the progress and difficulties, re-evaluate goals, and offer emotional and motivational support to achieve change and overcome the eating disorder.
• During the clinical sessions, our team meets and we discuss the progress of our patients. We decide on the areas of overlap between psychology and nutrition. The goal is to offer the best quality of our treatments and to ensure they are complementary.

Physical therapy plays a crucial role in the treatment of eating disorders by helping patients reconnect with their bodies and improve both physical and emotional well-being. Individuals with eating disorders often face challenges such as muscle weakness, bone density loss, and postural imbalances caused by malnutrition and harmful habits. Specialized physical therapy interventions aim to restore strength, improve mobility, and support bone health, addressing these physical consequences directly.

Beyond physical recovery, guided therapeutic exercises foster a healthier perception of the body and reduce stress, both of which are essential elements in the recovery process. By promoting mindfulness and a positive connection to physical activity, physical therapy helps patients regain confidence in their bodies and develop sustainable, healthy habits.

A multidisciplinary approach to comprehensive care

Effective treatment of eating disorders requires a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach. The physiotherapist works closely with a team of healthcare professionals, including nutritionists, physicians, and psychotherapists, to design a personalized plan for each patient.

• The nutritionist focuses on reestablishing dietary balance and addressing nutritional deficiencies.
• The physician monitors clinical health and oversees any medical complications.
• The psychotherapist addresses the patient’s mental health and emotional challenges.

The physiotherapist complements these efforts by targeting the physical and functional aspects of recovery, enhancing the overall outcomes of the treatment plan. This holistic, team-based approach ensures that all dimensions of the patient’s health—physical, emotional, and psychological—are supported, leading to a more complete and sustainable recovery.

• Initial assessment: In the first session, we conduct a detailed interview and personalized physical assessment to identify potential concerns such as postural, biomechanical, or structural issues. This evaluation is tailored to the individual’s needs and aims to understand their habits, lifestyle, and relationship with physical activity and body movement. By assessing overall physical health, we recommend complementary treatments that best support the individual’s therapy goals.

• Collaborative planning: Once a diagnostic impression is established in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, we set specific objectives and share a comprehensive intervention plan with the patient to reach an agreement.

• Ongoing support and follow-up: Follow-up sessions are held weekly or bimonthly, focusing on tracking progress, addressing challenges, and adjusting objectives as needed. These sessions also provide emotional and motivational support, fostering a positive environment to help patients overcome eating disorders and embrace sustainable change.

• Mind-body connection: Through various interventions, physical therapy encourages focus on internal needs rather than solely on thoughts or perceptions about the body. These practices aim to connect the body and mind through mindful movement and breathing exercises, promoting a healthy relationship with physical activity and movement.

Therapeutic techniques

Our approach integrates a variety of techniques, including:

• Therapeutic exercise
• Therapeutic pilates
• Mindfulness and meditation
• Sensory integration

For individuals already experiencing physical consequences, we use targeted interventions to restore the body’s integrity and function. These include treatments like posturology and manual therapy to aid recovery and rebuild a connection with the body.