"It's a very tricky area": exploring the use of experiential knowledge of recovered eating disorder professionals in eating disorder treatment

Abstract

Objective

A substantial number of therapists in the eating disorder (ED) field have experienced an ED themselves, yet research on professionals using their personal ED experience as a therapeutic tool is scarce. This study explores the perspectives of recovered ED professionals (REDPs) who intentionally employ their experiential knowledge in ED treatment, examining its use, advantages, and challenges.

Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 REDPs using a topic list with open-ended questions based on our research aim and a previous literature review (Bijkerk et al., 2024). Results REDPs play a key role in treatment, with self-disclosure occurring in various forms. Experiential knowledge of REDPs offers benefits like motivation, hope, and understanding, but also challenges such as potential client burden or misguidance. Successful implementation of experiential knowledge requires organizational adjustments (supervision, work guidance and adequate training) and the REDPs’ responsibility to create the right conditions for using their experiential knowledge efficiently. Conclusion Applying lived experience in practice by REDPs requires additional competence as it places these professionals into a difficult position of having to balance self-disclosure with ethical risks to clients and the risks to one’s personal and professional self. Moreover, beneficial use of experiential knowledge in practice requires organizational support.