Frequently Asked Questions

This depends on the individual situation and goals for counseling. Unfortunately, there is not a set time frame. For some, it might be relatively brief if the struggle is minimal and goals are achieved quickly. For others, it may be a more lengthy process. It is often dependent on severity of symptoms and how long they have been occurring. Severity and duration of symptoms will often be a good indicator of how long treatment will last.

The gold standard of treatment for an eating disorder is to be under the care of a counselor, dietitian, and physician who all specialize in eating issues. The dietitian is an essential part of the team because they help an individual reestablish a healthy relationship with food. An individual with an eating disorder often knows what they should be doing with food. The specialized dietitian helps a person move toward that goal and helps an individual understand what has kept them from being able to achieve that goal. In the case of weight restoration, the dietitian helps restore a person’s weight to a healthy range in a safe manner.

The physician monitors medical stability of each individual. They manage medical complications that may arise due to weight restoration, purging behaviors, or any other problems associated with eating disorders.

The counselor helps a person work through the psychological, emotional, and behavioral components involved with an eating disorder. The counselor should help an individual understand how their eating disorder developed, what maintained behaviors, and how to protect from behaviors reoccurring in the future.

YES! Eating disorders are a psychological condition that can result in severe physical effects. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate compared to any other mental health condition. In order to effectively treat an eating disorder, you need to see a specialist. A specialist has been trained to treat eating issues and has education and skills that are specific to this condition. If care is not specialized, symptoms can remain undiagnosed and untreated.

This depends on each situation. Often it is helpful to meet weekly as counseling begins in order to develop a relationship, clarify goals, and gain momentum. The goal of counseling, however, is to not need it indefinitely. As soon as a person is ready to transition to less frequent sessions, that will be recommended. Similarly, as soon as a person is ready to discontinue treatment, that is also recommended. Timing of these milestones are determined between the patient and psychologist.

No. Dr. McCune Shyver is not a medical provider and does not prescribe medication. If medications are needed, Dr. McCune Shyver will refer you to a physician for recommendations. She then collaborates with the prescribing physician to coordinate care.

Yes. Dr. McCune Shyver has extensive experience treating both anxiety and depression, as these issues often co-occur with eating disorders. These conditions must be addressed in addition to the eating disorder for the best treatment outcome.