Authors: Scout Silverstein, Emil K. Smith, and Marcella Raimondo
In ‘Impact of LGBTQIA+ discrimination on eating disorders’, part of the recently published book Trauma-Informed Approaches to Eating Disorders, the authors draw attention to the unique factors that LGBTQIA+ communities face that contribute to and complicate their experiences of trauma and EDs, including how ED treatment itself can contribute to trauma experienced by LGBTQIA+ populations. They also offer recommendations for improving ED treatment for this population and highlight the strengths of LGBTQIA+ communities, including how queer community and alternative family structures can be integral to recovery. The authors hope that drawing attention to these factors will highlight the need for further research in this area and encourage clinicians to keep these factors in mind when treating LGBTQIA+ clients with EDs.
Key Insights:
· Trauma-informed care in this context necessitates focusing and building on an individual’s resilience while simultaneously validating and normalizing ED behaviors as a strategy to survive in a hostile society.
· Trauma-informed care with the LGBTQIA+ population includes advocating for clients throughout the treatment process, considering neurodiversity-affirming programming, and incorporating harm reduction approaches.
· The inclusion liberatory body image paradigms for LGBTQIA+ clients could contribute to better outcomes for individuals with EDs.