Occupational Therapy for Eating Disorders
Rebuilding confidence, balance, and purpose through personalised therapeutic support.
Anorexia EXPLAINED?
What Is Occupational Therapy for Eating Disorders?
Occupational Therapy (OT) is a holistic, person-centred approach that supports individuals to re-engage with daily activities, routines, and meaningful roles that may have been disrupted by an eating disorder. Through practical, evidence-based interventions, OT helps people rebuild independence, confidence, and well-being in the everyday tasks that shape a fulfilling life.
1.25M
people living with an eating disorder
The Role of an Occupational Therapist in Recovery
Our occupational therapists work collaboratively with clients to build life skills, reduce anxiety around daily tasks, and achieve balance across self-care, work or study, relationships, and meaningful activities.
46%
of Adults feel unhappy about appearance
Why Occupational Therapy Matters in Eating Disorder Treatment
Eating disorders can significantly impact functioning across many areas of life. OT bridges the gap between psychological therapy and day-to-day living, helping clients put therapeutic gains into practice in real, practical, and sustainable ways.
How Occupational Therapy Supports Recovery
OT empowers individuals to rebuild structure, stability, and confidence in daily routines, using a combination of emotional exploration and practical activity. Sessions help clients gradually reintroduce valued occupations, develop healthier coping strategies, and reconnect with relationships, goals, and interests that support long-term wellbeing. This approach is gentle, collaborative, and tailored, guiding clients to make steady progress at a pace that feels safe and supportive.
Restoring Daily Routines and Independence
OT supports clients to gradually rebuild the routines that make daily life feel manageable and meaningful again. This might include creating a sustainable morning or evening routine, planning balanced meals around study or work, practising food shopping, organising a weekly structure, or building confidence with independent travel or attending social events. These small, steady steps help reduce avoidance, increase consistency, and reintroduce a sense of competence and autonomy while providing accountability.
OT helps clients identify the situations, environments, or sensory experiences that heighten anxiety or trigger eating disorder behaviours. Sessions might explore grounding techniques for use on public transport, coping strategies for mealtimes at university or work, or graded exposure to places that feel challenging (such as cafés, gyms, supermarkets, or social spaces). Clients learn practical, repeatable skills they can carry with them across home, school, work, and community life.
Managing Emotional Triggers and Stress
What Happens During OT Sessions?
A Supportive and Collaborative Process
OT at The London Centre is collaborative and compassionate. Clients are supported to progress at their own pace, with an emphasis on empowerment, autonomy, and restoring an identity beyond the eating disorder.
Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Eating Disorders
How Occupational Therapy Fits into Treatment at The London Centre
Occupational Therapy forms an important part of our multidisciplinary approach. Working alongside psychological therapy, dietetic support, and psychiatric care, OT can help ensure progress made in sessions is reinforced across everyday life.
Our occupational therapist collaborates closely with our clinical team to provide integrated, evidence-based, and flexible support, available both in person and online. Every care plan is tailored to the individual, their circumstances, and their recovery goals.
Who Can Benefit from Occupational Therapy?
OT can support individuals at any stage of recovery — whether returning to daily activities following inpatient treatment, embedding new routines as part of ongoing outpatient therapy, or addressing long-standing difficulties with independence, structure, or confidence. It is also helpful for those experiencing co-occurring challenges such as anxiety, low motivation, perfectionism, neurodivergence, or difficulties with sensory processing or social interaction. Sessions are appropriate for adolescents and adults and can be adapted depending on emotional, cognitive, and physical readiness.
FAQ’s
FAQs About Occupational Therapy for Eating Disorders
Start your journey
Take the First Step Towards Recovery
Rebuilding a meaningful and balanced life after an eating disorder is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone. Occupational Therapy can provide the practical, emotional, and structured support needed to help you regain confidence and move forward with clarity and hope. If you’d like to explore whether OT could support your recovery, we’d be very happy to speak with you.