In Part 2 of our conversation with eating disorder specialist with Dr Alissa Knight, we dive deeper into one of the most complex areas of mental health treatment: the overlap between OCD, eating disorders, autism, trauma, and ARFID.
How do clinicians untangle symptoms when OCD and eating disorders are working together? What happens when OCD disguises itself as an eating disorder, or when an eating disorder hides behind OCD? And how do you know where to begin treatment when both conditions are causing significant distress?
Dr Alissa shares her unique, person-centred approach to formulation, treatment planning, and building trust with clients who have often been misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or passed between services. She also provides practical insights into working with ARFID, including how Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) can be adapted to help people gradually overcome intense fears around food.
This episode is packed with clinical wisdom for psychologists, therapists, students, families, and anyone interested in understanding the deeper relationship between OCD and eating disorders.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why OCD and eating disorders so commonly occur together
• How OCD can unintentionally protect and reinforce eating disorder behaviours
• The difference between OCD-driven food restriction and eating disorder pathology
• How to determine which condition to treat first
• Why collaboration and client buy-in are essential for successful treatment
• The role of trauma, autism and nervous system dysregulation in eating disorders
• Practical ways to adapt ERP for ARFID treatment
• Why rapport is often more important than any therapy model
• The biggest mistakes clinicians make when working with eating disorders
• How to help clients feel safe, understood and empowered in treatment
Dr Alissa also shares a powerful reminder for clinicians: your greatest therapeutic tool isn't a treatment manual, it's your ability to connect with another human being.
Whether you're treating OCD, ARFID, anorexia nervosa, or working with complex presentations, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what effective and compassionate care can look like.
To learn more about Dr Alissa Knight follow this link
www.melbournewellbeinggroup.com.au
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